Friday, December 01, 2006

Top 25 Holiday Songs

ASCAP [the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers] has published their list of the Top 25 Holiday Songs. These are the
most performed holiday songs for the past five years, based on performance data tracked by radio airplay monitoring service Mediaguide.
Top Holiday Songs is not a politically correct statement, because some of the songs have nothing to do with Christmas. Here's the complete list:
  1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
    Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
    Performed by: Nat "King" Cole

  2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
    Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
    Performed by: The Pretenders

  3. Winter Wonderland
    Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
    Performed by: Eurythmics

  4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
    Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
    Performed by: Bruce Springsteen

  5. White Christmas
    Written by: Irving Berlin
    Performed by: Bing Crosby

  6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
    Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
    Performed by: Andy Williams

  7. Jingle Bell Rock
    Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
    Performed by: Bobby Helms

  8. Little Drummer Boy
    Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
    Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra

  9. Sleigh Ride
    Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
    Performed by: The Ronettes

  10. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
    Written by: Johnny Marks
    Performed by: Gene Autry

  11. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
    Written by: Edward Pola, George Wyle
    Performed by: Andy Williams

  12. I'll Be Home For Christmas
    Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
    Performed by: Vanessa Williams

  13. Silver Bells
    Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
    Performed by: Kenny G

  14. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
    Written by: Johnny Marks
    Performed by: Brenda Lee

  15. Feliz Navidad
    Written by: José Feliciano
    Performed by: José Feliciano

  16. Blue Christmas
    Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
    Performed by: Elvis Presley

  17. Frosty The Snowman
    Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
    Performed by: The Ronettes

  18. A Holly Jolly Christmas
    Written by: Johnny Marks
    Performed by: Burl Ives

  19. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
    Written by: Meredith Willson
    Performed by: Johnny Mathis

  20. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
    Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
    Performed by: John Mellencamp

  21. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
    Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
    Performed by: Elvis Presley

  22. Carol Of The Bells
    Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
    Performed by: John Tesh and the Christmas Symphony Orchestra

  23. Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)
    Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
    Performed by: Band Aid

  24. (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
    Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
    Performed by: The Carpenters

  25. Santa Baby
    Written by: Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
    Performed by: Madonna

2 comments:

Walking Church said...

Bah humbug! Gotta admit this is the least favorite time of the year despite what song number 11 declares!

Interesting offering. It is indeed a list of nothing more than 'Top 25 Holiday Songs'. Not knowing all the words to each, I would say there is really only one that even comes near the Christmas message - #8 Little Drummer Boy.

All of these mindless 'songs' pound the daylights out of the wood surrounding the nail. Meaning. . . they don't nail the centrality of the 'Gospel - the arrival of the Living Messiah found in Christ Jesus'

So let us continue to be numb in the season, content to sing of reindeer, snow, Santa and Blue Christmas' past present and future.

Anybody got some eggnog?

michael lewis said...

0.68% of people polled contemplated suicide after hearing only 30 seconds of one of those songs listed.

Terrible!


For many many people, Christmas is the worst time of the year. (Myself included.) It only serves to remind those who are marginalised and forgotten that once again they are being marginalised and forgotten.

Three "bah humbugs" for traditional Christmas and the Christian notion of social justice.