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:
- The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat "King" Cole
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders
- Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Bruce Springsteen
- White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby
- Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Andy Williams
- Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Bobby Helms
- Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra
- Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes
- Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry
- It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Written by: Edward Pola, George Wyle
Performed by: Andy Williams
- I'll Be Home For Christmas
Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
Performed by: Vanessa Williams
- Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Kenny G
- Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee
- Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano
- Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley
- Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Ronettes
- A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives
- It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Written by: Meredith Willson
Performed by: Johnny Mathis
- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
Performed by: John Mellencamp
- Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Elvis Presley
- Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: John Tesh and the Christmas Symphony Orchestra
- Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid
- (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: The Carpenters
- Santa Baby
Written by: Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
Performed by: Madonna
2 comments:
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?
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.
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