Christmas Song Search — Everyone is a Winner!
Christmas Song Search 2008 is underway! As an ascap member, I hope that one day soon, some of our songwriters will have a Top Christmas Classic on this List:
The Top 25 most performed ASCAP holiday songs are listed below. Each song includes songwriter credits, and cites the most popular artist version played on radio.
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
Some facts about the Top 25 ASCAP Holiday Songs:
Oldest songs:
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “Winter Wonderland” (both 1934)
Newest song:
“Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)” (1984)
Most recorded Holiday song:
“White Christmas” with well over 500 versions in dozens of languages.
Songs introduced in Film and Television:
“White Christmas” in Holiday Inn (1942)
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
“Silver Bells” in The Lemon Drop Kid (1950)
“A Holly Jolly Christmas” in TV special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1962)
Writer with most top Holiday songs:
Johnny Marks with three - “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas”
“Sleigh Ride” is the only Holiday song written originally as an instrumental piece for a symphony orchestra. The Boston Pops Orchestra gave the first performance in a concert conducted by Arthur Fiedler at Symphony Hall in Boston, May 4, 1948. Mills Music published it that same year. The Boston Pops Orchestra recorded it in June of 1949. Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1949.
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world’s largest repertory totaling over 8 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 260,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with over 70 music rights organizations such that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com
Hear some new Christmas Songs on Santa.net Christmas Song Search 2008
