Merry Christmas from Winn Technology Group! Here are links to twelve of our favorite Christmas songs along with a brief history of each one. Enjoy!
Mariah Carey: All I Want For Christmas Is You
She was inspired by her "dysfunctional" childhood and love of all things Christmas. Coming off the success of her 1993 third album "Music Box," which was No. 1 for eight non-consecutive weeks, Carey's team came to her with the idea of recording a holiday album.
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
Gayla Peevey was 10-years-old when she recorded the song “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” in 1953. The child star, often confused with Shirley Temple, acquired adoring fans quickly, especially in her hometown of Oklahoma City.
The Jackson 5: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is a Christmas song with words and music by British songwriter Tommie Connor. The original recording by 13-year-old Jimmy Boyd rose to #1 on the Billboard charts in December 1952. The words tell of a child who sees Mommy kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe.
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created by the department store chain Montgomery Ward as one way to save money on some of their annual Christmas promotions. Robert L. May created Rudolph in 1939 as an assignment for the department store.
Dean Martin: Let It Snow
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", also known as "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945. It was written in Hollywood, California during a heat wave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Christmas Canon
Trans-Siberian Orchestra added new lyrics and melodies to the piece for "Christmas Canon" with strings and piano accompaniment for a traditional sound. Later, they added their signature rock edge for "Christmas Canon Rock" on 2004's The Lost Christmas Eve.
Celine Dion: O Holy Night
"O Holy Night" (French: "Minuit, chretiens", "Minuit, chretien" in original edition,[1] or "Cantique de Noël") is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) written by wine merchant and poet Placide Cappeau (1808–1877). In both the French original and the English version of the carol, as well as in many other languages, the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and on humanity's redemption.
Taylor Swift: Santa Baby
Santa Baby, the song about wanting lots of extravagant items for Christmas, was first recorded in 1953 by Eartha Kitt, AKA Catwoman. Lots of people have covered the song. Philip Springer first got involved with the song Santa Baby in 1953, when he was working with Joan Javitts and financed by an older gentleman.
Bing Crosby: White Christmas
It was written by Irving Berlin (the same composer behind "Cheek to Cheek," "God Bless America," and many more classics), a Russian-born immigrant who, interestingly enough, did not celebrate Christmas, as he was Jewish. ... In 1954, it was the title track of another Bing Crosby Christmas musical, White Christmas.
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" is a novelty Christmas song. Written by Randy Brooks, the song was originally performed by the husband-and-wife duo of Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire in 1979.
Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas
While most people think 'Blue Christmas' was originally recorded by Elvis Presley, the first time it hit No.1 on the charts was 1949, eight years before the 'King' would make it one of his most popular recordings. Although the song was performed by a couple of big bands and orchestras in 1948, the first major successful recording of 'Blue Christmas' came from Country superstar Ernest Tubb in 1949.
John Denver & The Muppets-Twelve Days of Christmas
Most people believe it began as a memory game sung at Twelfth Night parties. The 12 days of Christmas in Western Christianity refer to the time between Christ's birth on Dec. 25 and the arrival of the Magi to honor the newborn, known as Epiphany, on Jan. 6.
