The Christmas Song

1949 Christmas song by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé

This article is about the song by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé. For other uses, see Christmas music and Christmas Song (disambiguation).

"The Christmas Song"

Song
Published| 1945 by Burke and Van Heusen
Genre| Christmas
Songwriter(s)|

* Robert Wells
* Mel Tormé

"The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You") is a Christmas song written in 1945[note 1] by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé. The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song in June 1946.

At Cole's behest - and over the objections of his label, Capitol Records - a second recording was made in August utilizing a small string section. This version became a massive hit on both the pop and R&B charts. Cole again recorded the song in 1953, using the same arrangement with a full orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, and once more in 1961, in a stereophonic version with another full orchestra arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael. Cole's 1961 version is generally regarded as definitive, while the original 1946 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.[7] In 2022, the 1961 Nat King Cole recording was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."[8]

## History

[edit]

Man roasting chestnuts on an open fire.

According to Tormé, the song was written in July 1945[1] during an exceptionally hot summer. It was in an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool" that the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song of all time was born.[2][4][5] "I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells's) piano with four lines written in pencil", Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics."

## Nat King Cole recordings

[edit]

"The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)"

1962 US single release

Single by The King Cole Trio
B-side| "In the Cool of Evening"
Released| November 1946 (1946-11) (2nd recording)
Recorded| August 19, 1946
Genre|

* Jazz
* pop

Length| 3:10
Label| Capitol
Songwriter(s)|

* Robert Wells
* Mel Tormé

Nat King Cole (1958)

### First recording

[edit]

Recorded at WMCA Radio Studios, New York City, June 14, 1946. Label credit: The King Cole Trio (Nat King Cole, vocals & piano; Oscar Moore, guitarist; Johnny Miller, bassist).[9][10] Not issued until 1989, when it was (accidentally [citation needed]) included on the various-artists compilation Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits (1935–1954) Rhino R1 70637(LP) / R2 70637(CD).

### Second recording

[edit]

Recorded at WMCA Radio Studios, New York City, August 19, 1946. First record issue. Label credit: The King Cole Trio with String Choir (Nat King Cole, vocals & piano; Oscar Moore, guitarist; Johnny Miller, bassist; Jack "The Bear" Parker, drummer; Charlie Grean, arranger and conductor of 4 string players and a harpist).[11][12] Lacquer disc master #981. Issued November 1946 as Capitol 311 (78rpm). It is available on the Cole compilation CDs Capitol Collectors Series and Christmas for Kids: From One to Ninety-Two, as well as on a CD called The Holiday Album, which has 1940s Christmas songs recorded by Cole and Bing Crosby.

### Third recording

[edit]

Recorded at Capitol Studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, on August 24, 1953. It was the song's first magnetic tape recording. Label credit: The King Cole Trio with String Choir (Nat King Cole, vocals; Buddy Cole, pianist; John Collins, guitarist; Charlie Harris, bassist; Lee Young, drummer; Ann Stockton, harp; Charlie Grean, Pete Rugolo and Nelson Riddle, orchestral arrangement; Nelson Riddle, orchestra conductor).[12][13] Master #11726, take 11. Issued November 1953 as the "new" Capitol 90036(78rpm) / F90036(45rpm) (Capitol first issued 90036 in 1950 with the second recording). Correct label credit issued on October 18, 1954, as Capitol 2955(78rpm) / F2955(45rpm). Label credit: Nat "King" Cole with Orchestra Conducted by Nelson Riddle. This recording is available on the Cole compilation CD Cole, Christmas, & Kids, as well as on the various-artists CDs Ultimate Christmas and Casey Kasem Presents All Time Christmas Favorites. It was also included, along with both 1946 recordings, on the Mosaic Records box set The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio.

### Fourth recording

[edit]

Recorded at Capitol Studios, New York City, March 30, 1961. This rendition, the first recorded in stereo,[12] is widely played on radio stations during the Christmas season, and has become the most popular/familiar version of this song.[4] Label credit: Nat King Cole (Nat King Cole, vocals; Hank Jones, pianist; John Collins, guitarist; Charlie Harris, bassist; Lee Young, drummer; Charlie Grean, Pete Rugolo and Ralph Carmichael, orchestral arrangement; Ralph Carmichael, orchestra conductor).[12][14] The instrumental arrangement is nearly identical to the 1953 version,[12] but Cole's vocals are deeper-sounding and more focused. Originally done for The Nat King Cole Story (a 1961 LP devoted to stereo re-recordings of Cole's earlier hits), this recording was later included in a reissue of Cole's 1960 album The Magic of Christmas replacing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". Retitled The Christmas Song, the album was issued in 1963 as Capitol W-1967(mono) / SW-1967(stereo) and today is available both on compact disc and streaming on iTunes. This recording of "The Christmas Song" has also been included on numerous compilation albums of Christmas pop standards (for example, WCBS-FM's Ultimate Christmas Album Volume 3). An alternate take of the 1961 recording, featuring a different vocal and missing the solo piano on the instrumental bridge, appears on the Deluxe Edition of the 2014 compilation The Extraordinary Nat King Cole.[12] There were several covers of Nat Cole's original record in the 1940s. The first of these was said to be by Dick Haymes on the Decca label, but his was released first - not recorded first. The first cover of "The Christmas Song" was performed by pop tenor and bandleader Eddy Howard on Majestic. Howard was a big Cole fan, and also covered Nat's versions of "I Want to Thank Your Folks" and "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", among others.

### Charts

[edit]

For the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated January 7, 2023, the song entered the top 10 for the first time, giving Cole a record span between appearances of 59 years, six months and a week (since June 29, 1963's "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" appearance) and giving the song the record for longest journey to the top 10 (62 years and 26 days), surpassing "Run Rudolph Run" by 8 days. The song had previously peaked at number 11 during the 2018 holiday season.[15]

Chart (1960–1962)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 65
Chart (1991–2025)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[17] | 25
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] | 31
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[19] | 46
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] | 13
Denmark (Tracklisten)[21] | 27
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[22] | 40
France (SNEP)[23] | 44
Germany (GfK)[24] | 30
Global 200 (Billboard)[25] | 15
Greece International (IFPI)[26] | 18
Hungary (Single Top 40)[27] | 32
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[28] | 31
Ireland (IRMA)[29] | 23
Italy (FIMI)[30] | 40
Latvia (LaIPA)[31] | 12
Lithuania (AGATA)[32] | 18
Luxembourg (Billboard)[33] | 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] | 41
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[35] | 19
Norway (VG-lista)[36] | 32
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[37] | 44
Portugal (AFP)[38] | 38
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[39] | 75
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] | 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] | 27
UK Singles (OCC)[42] | 32
US Billboard Hot 100[43]
[44] | 9
US Rolling Stone Top 100[45] | 33

### Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[46] | Platinum  | 90,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[47] | Gold  | 35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48] | Gold  | 15,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[49] | Gold  | 5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] | Platinum  | 600,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[51] | Gold  | 1,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

## Other versions

[edit]

Aguilera's (pictured) version became the second highest charting position of the song on the Billboard Hot 100 after the original 55 years earlier

"The Christmas Song" has been covered by numerous artists from a wide variety of genres. In December 1946, Bing Crosby performed it on a recorded radio broadcast with an introduction including Skitch Henderson on piano.[52] Crosby, with the Ken Darby Singers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, also made a studio recording on March 19, 1947, which went on to be released as a single later that same year.[53][54] In 1953, Perry Como performed the song for both the Christmas Joy single and his album Around the Christmas Tree.[55]

In 1999, Christina Aguilera recorded a version and included it on her album, My Kind of Christmas (2000).[56] The song found critical and commercial success and peaked at number eighteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; the second highest position for the song on the chart after the original.[56] Aguilera's cover also reached number seventy-two on the Hot 100 Singles Sales 2000 year-end chart, compiled by Billboard.[57]

In 2003 for his EP Let It Snow, Michael Bublé recorded a cover of the song.[58] It charted at number 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[59] In 2018, Lauren Daigle's cover of the song reached number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Christian Songs chart.[60][61][62] In 2021, Jacob Collier's cover of the song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals at the 64th Annual ceremony.[63]

The song has also been covered by Doris Day with the Les Brown Jr. Orchestra of Renown, Ariana Grande,[64] Camila Cabello,[65] The Carpenters,[66] Celine Dion,[67] Ella Fitzgerald,[68] Elizabeth Gillies,[64] Frank Sinatra,[69] The Jackson 5,[70] John Legend,[71] JoJo,[72] Justin Bieber,[71] Kenny Burrell,[73] Luther Vandross,[71] Mariya Takeuchi, Mary J. Blige,[71] Ne-Yo,[74] NSYNC,[75] Pentatonix,[71] Peter Hollens,[71] Shawn Mendes,[65] Brandy,[76] and Toni Braxton,[71] among others.[71]

### Mel Tormé recordings

[edit]

Mel Tormé himself made several recordings of the song, including versions released in 1955 (on his live Coral Records album At the Crescendo), 1961 (on his Verve Records album My Kind of Music), 1970 (on a Columbia Records promo single), 1990 (in a medley with "Autumn Leaves", on his live Concord Records album Mel Tormé Live at the Fujitsu–Concord Festival 1990), and 1992 (on his Telarc Records album Christmas Songs).

The 1970 Columbia version of the song adds an opening verse, written in 1963 while Tormé was working as musical arranger for The Judy Garland Show. He first performed and introduced the opening verse while duetting with Garland on the song for the show's Christmas Special, which aired on December 22, 1963:

> All through the year we waited
>  Waited through spring and fall
>  To hear silver bells ringing, see wintertime bringing
>  The happiest season of all

Additionally, Tormé's recordings typically include a coda adapted from "Here We Come A-wassailing":

> Love and joy come to you
>  And to you your Christmas too
>  And God bless you and send you a happy New Year
>  And God send you a happy New Year

## See also

[edit]

* List of Christmas carols

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Primary sources indicate the song was written in 1945.[1][2][3] Other sources say 1944.[4][5][6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Torme, James. "James Torme - Home for the Holidays". Jamestorme.com. Tormé Entertainment LLC. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020. "Nearing the show's end, [James] Tormé satisfies the crowd's anticipation: he tells the story of the July 1945 afternoon when his father Mel and music partner Bob Wells famously wrote the world's no.1 holiday song 'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire)', bequeathing it to close friend Nat 'King' Cole later that same day."
2. ^ a b Torme, James; King, Noel (December 25, 2017). "The Story Behind 'The Christmas Song'". Npr.org. NPR. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020. ""NPR's Noel King spoke with Mel Tormé's youngest son, James—an accomplished jazz singer himself—to get the story behind the creation of this Christmas classic. According to James, it was on a hot, oppressive summer day in 1945 that his father, Mel, went over the house of one of his writing partners, Bob Wells. 'Wells was nowhere to be seen,' James says, 'But there was a spiral pad at the piano. There were four lines scribbled down on it in pencil.' Those four lines were: 'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire / Jack Frost nipping at your nose / Yuletide carols being sung by a choir / And folks dressed up like Eskimos.' When Bob Wells eventually appeared, he told Mel that he had been trying to do everything to cool down on that hot day. Wells said, 'I thought that maybe if I could just write down a few lines of wintry verse, I could physiologically get an edge over this heat.' Forty-five minutes later, the lyrics of what would be "The Christmas Song" were finished.'"
3. ^ Hutchinson, Lydia (December 5, 2016). "The Christmas Song". Performingsongwriter.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020. "As Tormé relates in his autobiography, 'Improbable though it may sound, 'The Christmas Song' was completed about 45 minutes later. Excitedly, we called Carlos Gastel [manager of Nat Cole and Peggy Lee], sped into Hollywood, played it for him, then for [lyricist] Johnny Burke, and then for Nat Cole, who fell in love with the tune. It took a full year for him to get into a studio to record it [in 1946], but his record finally came out in late fall of 1946; and the rest could be called our financial pleasure.'"
4. ^ a b c Kim, Wook (December 14, 2012). "Music Yule Laugh, Yule Cry: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Beloved Holiday Songs". Time. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2020. "...the song was written during a sweltering patch of weather in the summer of 1944. The music was written by Mel 'The Velvet Fog' Tormé—he was inspired by a few lines he saw jotted down in a pad by his friend and lyricist Bob Wells. They began writing the song as a way to temporarily distract themselves from the heat—it was finished in 45 minutes. Nat King Cole was the first to record the song. He did four different recordings (with his trio and as a solo performer) between 1946 and 1961—the final version is the likely the one you're most familiar with."
5. ^ a b McPhate, Tim (December 2, 2014). "Deck The GRAMMY Hall". Grammy.com. Recording Academy. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020. "Mel Tormé and lyricist Bob Wells wrote the song during a hot Los Angeles summer in 1944 as a way to trick themselves into feeling cooler. Cole recorded four versions. The inducted version was first, cut simply with his trio. A final version made in 1961 with a full orchestra is the one to which you likely roast chestnuts today. The list of covers is nearly infinite, and includes unlikely versions by Big Bird and the Swedish Chef, Daffy Duck, Bob Dylan, Twisted Sister, and Kim Taeyeon of K-pop group Girls Generation, highlighting the song's universal reach. After the initial 1946 recording, according to Performing Songwriter, Tormé and Wells pointed out the grammatical error Cole sang in the bridge: "To see if reindeers really know how to fly." Cole was a perfectionist, but correcting that error was not likely the reason for the three additional versions of the song."
6. ^ "Mel Tormé - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)". Allmusic.com. AllMusic, Netaktion LLC. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020. "Comp Date: 1944"
7. ^ Grammy Hall of Fame Archived February 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved November 29, 2011
8. ^ "National Recording Registry Inducts Music from Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Journey and More in 2022". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
9. ^ King Cole Trio (March 15, 1946). "I'm in the Mood for Love, etc". Jazz Disco.
10. ^ King Cole Trio (June 14, 1946). "The Christmas Song / You Should Have Told Me". Jazz Disco.
11. ^ King Cole Trio with Charlie Grean's Orchestra (August 19, 1946). "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)". Jazz Disco.
12. ^ a b c d e f Zirpolo, Mike (December 15, 2018). "'The Christmas Song' and Nat 'King' Cole". Swing & Beyond.
13. ^ Nat King Cole with Nelson Riddle's Orchestra (August 24, 1953). "Why, etc". Jazz Disco.
14. ^ Nat King Cole with Ralph Carmichael's Orchestra (March 30, 1961). "Unforgettable, etc". Jazz Disco.
15. ^ Trust, Gary (January 3, 2023). "Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Adds 12th Week Atop Hot 100, Nat King Cole Hits Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
16. ^ "The Hot 100: Week of December 29, 1962". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
17. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 30, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
18. ^ "Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
19. ^ "The King Cole Trio – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
20. ^ "Nat King Cole Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
21. ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 52, 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
22. ^ "Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
23. ^ "Top Singles (Week 52, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
24. ^ "Natalie Cole, Nat "King" Cole & The London Symphony Orchestra – The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
25. ^ "Nat King Cole Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
26. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week 52/2023". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
27. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
28. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on December 30, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
29. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
30. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 52" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
31. ^ "Latvijas mūzikas topā gada nogalē valda nostalģija un svētku noskaņa" [Nostalgia and festive mood prevail in Latvian music chart at the end of the year] (in Latvian). TV Net [lv]. December 30, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2025.+[lv]&rft.date=2024-12-30&rft_id=https://sejas.tvnet.lv/8163292/latvijas-muzikas-topa-gada-nogale-valda-nostalgija-un-svetku-noskana&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:The+Christmas+Song" class="Z3988">
32. ^ "2024 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
33. ^ "Nat King Cole Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
34. ^ "Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
35. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
36. ^ "Singel 2024 uke 52". VG-lista. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
37. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 20.12.2024–26.12.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
38. ^ "Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
39. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 51+52. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
40. ^ "Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)". Singles Top 100.
41. ^ "Natalie Cole, Nat "King" Cole & The London Symphony Orchestra – The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
42. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
43. ^ "Nat King Cole Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
44. ^ Trust, Gary (January 3, 2023). "Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Adds 12th Week Atop Hot 100, Nat King Cole Hits Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
45. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 24, 2020. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
46. ^ "Danish single certifications – Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
47. ^ "Italian single certifications – Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 3, 2022. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "The Christmas Song" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
48. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
49. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
50. ^ "British single certifications – Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
51. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 48/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
52. ^ Crosby, Bing; et al. (December 5, 2014). "The Christmas Song (1946) - Bing Crosby". YouTube: Croonr1. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
53. ^ "Song Index". A Bing Crosby Discography. December 7, 2018.
54. ^ Crosby, Bing; et al. (November 24, 2015). "1947...The Christmas Song". YouTube: MusicProf-78.[dead YouTube link]
55. ^ Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres & his Orchestra (October 30, 2017). "Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)". Kokomo.
56. ^ a b "Christina Aguilera: Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
57. ^ "The Year in Music: 2000". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53\. December 20, 2000. p. YE–50. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
58. ^ Grein, Paul (December 19, 2012). "Chart Watch Extra: Christmas Albums, From Bing To Buble". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
59. ^ "Michael Bublé - Adult Contemporary Billboard Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
60. ^ "Lauren Daigle Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
61. ^ "Lauren Daigle Sings 'The Christmas Song' - Christian Music Videos". GodTube.
62. ^ "Sarah Grace & Lauren Daigle Debut in Hot Christian Songs Chart's Top 10". Billboard.
63. ^ Cohn, Gabe (November 23, 2021). "Grammy Awards 2022: The Full List of Nominees". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
64. ^ a b "Ariana Grande & Elizabeth Gillies - 'The Christmas Song'". YouTube. December 23, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
65. ^ a b "Shawn Mendes – Chart history (Billboard Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
66. ^ Garrett, Thad (December 19, 2017). "The American Christmas Songbook: "Merry Christmas, Darling" (1970)". Lib.cua.edu. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019. "In 1978, at Karen's request, the vocals were re-recorded for the release of Christmas Portrait, their first Christmas album."
67. ^ "David Foster – The Christmas Album". Discogs. Zink Media, Inc. October 19, 1993. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
68. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 491\. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
69. ^ Balke, Jeff (November 28, 2019). "10 Old School Christmas Albums Worth a Listen". Houston Press. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
70. ^ "Album review: 'Jackson 5 Christmas Album'". December 11, 2017. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
71. ^ a b c d e f g h "Who Sang It Best? "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"?". Retrieved October 20, 2021.
72. ^ "The Quintessential Holiday Pop Playlist". Refinery29. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
73. ^ All About Jazz Kenny Burrell discography accessed August 3, 2012
74. ^ "The Best Modern Covers of Classic Christmas Songs to Put You in the Holiday Spirit". People. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
75. ^ Willman, Chris (December 4, 1998). "Just Say Noel (Page 2)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019.
76. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (November 9, 2023). "Brandy's Back, and She Wants You to Listen to Her New Christmas Album All Year Round". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Update page with link to "Mark Evanier on Tormé and 'The Christmas Song'"
* PerformingSongwriter.com - The Story Behind "The Christmas Song"

* v
* t
* e

Nat King Cole

* Discography

Studio albums|

* The King Cole Trio
* Nat King Cole at the Piano
* King Cole for Kids
* Penthouse Serenade
* Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love
* The Piano Style of Nat King Cole
* After Midnight
* Just One of Those Things
* Love Is the Thing
* Cole Español
* St. Louis Blues
* The Very Thought of You
* To Whom It May Concern
* Welcome to the Club
* A Mis Amigos
* Tell Me All About Yourself
* Every Time I Feel the Spirit
* Wild Is Love
* The Magic of Christmas
* The Nat King Cole Story
* The Touch of Your Lips
* Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays
* Ramblin' Rose
* Dear Lonely Hearts
* More Cole Español
* Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer
* Where Did Everyone Go?
* Nat King Cole Sings My Fair Lady
* Let's Face the Music!
* I Don't Want to Be Hurt Anymore
* L-O-V-E

Compilation albums|

* Harvest of Hits
* Top Pops
* Unforgettable
* 10th Anniversary Album
* Ballads of the Day
* This Is Nat King Cole
* The Beautiful Ballads
* 20 Golden Greats
* For Sentimental Reasons
* Love Songs

Tribute albums|

* All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio
* Dear Mr. Cole
* Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
* The Nat King Cole Songbook
* P.S. Mr. Cole
* A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole
* With Respect to Nat
* You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs)
* Nat King Cole & Me

Songs|

* "That Ain't Right
* "All for You"
* "Straighten Up and Fly Right"
* "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You"
* "It's Only a Paper Moon"
* "The Frim-Fram Sauce"
* "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66"
* "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons"
* "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)"
* "What'll I Do"
* "Nature Boy"
* "Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea"
* "Don't Blame Me"
* "For You My Love"
* "I Almost Lost My Mind"
* "Mona Lisa"
* "Orange Colored Sky"
* "Frosty the Snowman"
* "Too Young"
* "Red Sails in the Sunset"
* "Unforgettable"
* "Somewhere Along the Way"
* "Walkin' My Baby Back Home"
* "Because You're Mine"
* "Pretend"
* "I Am in Love"
* "Lover, Come Back to Me"
* "Answer Me, My Love"
* "Tenderly"
* "Smile"
* "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup"
* "A Blossom Fell"
* "That's All There Is to That"
* "Night Lights"
* "To the Ends of the Earth"
* "Ballerina"
* "When I Fall in Love"
* "Stardust"
* "Send for Me"
* "Looking Back"
* "Acércate Más (Come Closer to Me)"
* "Non Dimenticar"
* "You Made Me Love You"
* "Just as Much as Ever"
* "Let There Be Love"
* "Ramblin' Rose"
* "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer"
* "That Sunday, That Summer"
* "People"
* "L-O-V-E"
* "Let's Face the Music and Dance"

Family|

* Maria Cole (wife)
* Carole Cole (daughter)
* Natalie Cole (daughter)
* Eddie Cole (brother)
* Ike Cole (brother)
* Freddy Cole (brother)
* Lionel Cole (nephew)

* v
* t
* e

Frank Sinatra singles

Discography

Columbia singles
(1939–1940)|

* "It's Funny to Everyone but Me"
* "On a Little Street in Singapore"
* "Ciribiribin"
* "All or Nothing at All"

RCA Victor singles
(1940–1942)|

* "Imagination"
* "I'll Be Seeing You"
* "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)"
* "I'll Never Smile Again"
* "The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)"
* "Our Love Affair"
* "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)"
* "Stardust"
* "Dolores"
* "It's Always You"
* "Oh! Look at Me Now"
* "Without a Song"
* "Let's Get Away from It All"
* "This Love of Mine"
* "Blue Skies"
* "Pale Moon (An Indian Love Song)"
* "Embraceable You"
* "Just as Though You Were Here"
* "Take Me"
* "In the Blue of Evening"
* "How About You?"
* "There Are Such Things"

Bluebird singles
(1942–1943)|

* "Night and Day"
* "The Night We Called It a Day"
* "The Song Is You"

Columbia singles
(1943–1953)|

* "Close to You"
* "You'll Never Know"
* "Sunday, Monday, or Always"
* "People Will Say We're in Love"
* "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'"
* "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening"
* "White Christmas"
* "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)"
* "I Dream of You (More Than You Dream I Do)"
* "Ol' Man River"
* "Stormy Weather"
* "When Your Lover Has Gone"
* "Dream"
* "If I Loved You"
* "You'll Never Walk Alone"
* "Mighty Lak' a Rose"
* "Nancy (with the Laughing Face)"
* "America the Beautiful"
* "Day by Day"
* "Full Moon and Empty Arms"
* "Soliloquy (Part 1 & 2)"
* "Begin the Beguine"
* "Silent Night"
* "Adeste Fideles"
* "Jingle Bells"
* "Oh! What It Seemed to Be"
* "September Song"
* "Five Minutes More"
* "Sweet Lorraine"
* "Time after Time"
* "Mam'selle"
* "Almost Like Being in Love"
* "Tea for Two"
* "My Romance"
* "So Far"
* "A Fellow Needs a Girl"
* "But Beautiful"
* "I've Got a Crush on You"
* "All of Me"
* "Nature Boy"
* "Everybody Loves Somebody"
* "My Melancholy Baby"
* "Autumn in New York"
* "Why Can't You Behave?"
* "Some Enchanted Evening"
* "Bali Ha'i"
* "Let's Take an Old Fashioned Walk"
* "I Only Have Eyes for You"
* "The Old Master Painter"
* "Peachtree Street"
* "Goodnight, Irene"
* "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)"
* "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
* "We Kiss in a Shadow"
* "April in Paris"
* "I Could Write a Book"
* "The Birth of the Blues"

Capitol singles
(1953–1961)|

* "I'm Walking Behind You"
* "I've Got the World on a String"
* "My One and Only Love"
* "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)"
* "I Love You"
* "Young at Heart"
* "Don't Worry 'bout Me"
* "Three Coins in the Fountain"
* "The Gal That Got Away"
* "Someone to Watch Over Me"
* "Melody of Love"
* "Learnin' the Blues"
* "Love and Marriage"
* "(Love Is) The Tender Trap"
* "You're Sensational"
* "True Love"
* "Well, Did You Evah!"
* "Mind If I Make Love to You?"
* "Hey! Jealous Lover"
* "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
* "All the Way"
* "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)"
* "Witchcraft"
* "Mistletoe and Holly"
* "French Foreign Legion"
* "High Hopes"
* "Old MacDonald"
* "My Blue Heaven"
* "I'll Remember April"
* "I Love Paris"

Reprise singles
(1961–1983)|

* "Granada"
* "I'll Be Seeing You"
* "The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)"
* "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You"
* "Polka Dots and Moonbeams"
* "Without a Song"
* "Stardust"
* "Come Rain or Come Shine"
* "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
* "Me and My Shadow"
* "Call Me Irresponsible"
* "I Have Dreamed"
* "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
* "My Kind of Town"
* "Softly, as I Leave You"
* "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
* "The Little Drummer Boy"
* "It Was a Very Good Year"
* "Strangers in the Night"
* "Summer Wind"
* "You Make Me Feel So Young"
* "That's Life"
* "The September of My Years"
* "Somethin' Stupid"
* "The World We Knew (Over and Over)"
* "My Way of Life"
* "My Way"
* "Goin' Out of My Head"
* "Something"
* "Bein' Green"
* "Send In the Clowns"
* "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"
* "Theme from New York, New York"
* "Here's to the Band"
* "To Love a Child"

Qwest singles
(1983–1984)|

* "Teach Me Tonight"
* "Mack the Knife"
* "It's All Right with Me"
* "Until the Real Thing Comes Along"

Compositions|

* "This Love of Mine"
* "Sheila"
* "Peachtree Street"
* "Take My Love"
* "I'm a Fool to Want You"
* "Mistletoe and Holly"
* "Mr. Success"

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Barbra Streisand songs

* Discography

1960s singles|

* "Miss Marmelstein"
* "Happy Days Are Here Again"
* "People"
* "I Am Woman"
* "My Man"
* "Second Hand Rose"
* "Sleep in Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)"
* "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)"
* "Jingle Bells?"
* "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
* "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"
* "I'd Rather Be Blue over You (Than Be Happy with Somebody Else)"
* "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?"
* "Hello, Dolly!"

1970s singles|

* "On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)"
* "Stoney End"
* "Flim Flam Man"
* "Where You Lead"
* "Mother"
* "Sweet Inspiration" / "Where You Lead"
* "Sing" / "Make Your Own Kind of Music"
* "Didn't We"
* "If I Close My Eyes"
* "The Way We Were"
* "All in Love Is Fair"
* "Guava Jelly"
* "Jubilation"
* "How Lucky Can You Get"
* "My Father's Song"
* "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)"
* "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)"
* "My Heart Belongs to Me"
* "Songbird"
* "Prisoner (Love Theme from Eyes of Laura Mars)"
* "You Don't Bring Me Flowers"
* "Superman"
* "The Main Event/Fight"
* "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"

1980s singles|

* "Woman in Love"
* "Guilty"
* "What Kind of Fool"
* "Promises"
* "Comin' In and Out of Your Life"
* "Memory"
* "The Way He Makes Me Feel"
* "Papa, Can You Hear Me?"
* "Left in the Dark"
* "Make No Mistake, He's Mine"
* "Emotion"
* "Somewhere"
* "Send In the Clowns"
* "Till I Loved You"
* "All I Ask of You"
* "What Were We Thinking Of"
* "We're Not Makin' Love Anymore"
* "Someone That I Used to Love"

1990s singles|

* "Speak Low"
* "The Music of the Night"
* "As If We Never Said Goodbye"
* "I've Got a Crush on You"
* "I Finally Found Someone"
* "Tell Him"
* "I've Dreamed of You"
* "If You Ever Leave Me"

2000s singles|

* "I Won't Be the One to Let Go"
* "Stranger in a Strange Land"
* "Night of My Life"
* "Come Tomorrow"
* "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning"

2010s singles|

* "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
* "When You Wish Upon a Star"
* "It Had to Be You"
* "What Kind of Fool"
* "Enough Is Enough 2017"
* "Don't Lie to Me"

* Category
* Template

* v
* t
* e

Christina Aguilera songs

* Discography
* Songs

1990s–2000s|

* "Reflection" (1998)
* "Genie in a Bottle"
* "What a Girl Wants"
* "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"
* "I Turn to You"
* "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)"
* "Genio Atrapado"
* "Falsas Esperanzas"
* "Pero Me Acuerdo de Ti"
* "Ven Conmigo (Solamente Tú)"
* "Si No Te Hubiera Conocido"
* "Contigo en la Distancia"
* "Por Siempre Tú"
* "Una Mujer"
* "Mi Reflejo"
* "Lady Marmalade"
* "Dirrty"
* "Beautiful"
* "Fighter"
* "Can't Hold Us Down"
* "The Voice Within"
* "Car Wash"
* "Ain't No Other Man"
* "Hurt"
* "Candyman"
* "Slow Down Baby"
* "Oh Mother"
* "Keeps Gettin' Better"

2010s|

* "Not Myself Tonight"
* "Woohoo"
* "You Lost Me"
* "I Hate Boys"
* "Express"
* "Show Me How You Burlesque"
* "Your Body"
* "Just a Fool"
* "Say Something"
* "We Remain"
* "Change"
* "Telepathy"
* "Accelerate"
* "Fall in Line"
* "Like I Do"
* "Haunted Heart"
* "Fall on Me"

2020s|

* "Loyal Brave True"
* "Reflection" (2020)
* "Pa Mis Muchachas"
* "Somos Nada"
* "Santo"
* "Suéltame"
* "No Es Que Te Extrañe"
* "Learning to Fly"

Featured songs|

* "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely"
* "What's Going On"
* "El Ultimo Adios (The Last Goodbye)"
* "Tilt Ya Head Back"
* "A Song for You"
* "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)"
* "Tell Me"
* "Castle Walls"
* "Moves like Jagger"
* "Feel This Moment"
* "Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti"
* "Do What U Want"

Other songs|

* "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
* "Angels We Have Heard on High"
* "This Christmas"
* "Miss Independent"
* "Genie 2.0"
* "Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)"
* "Bionic"
* "Elastic Love"
* "Something's Got a Hold on Me"
* "The Beautiful People (from Burlesque)"
* "Army of Me"
* "Make the World Move"
* "Let There Be Love"
* "Blank Page"
* "Shotgun"
* "You've Got a Friend"
* "Twice"
* "Ya Llegué"
* "La Reina"
* "Cuando Me Dé la Gana"

* v
* t
* e

Shawn Mendes

* Awards and nominations
* Discography
* Songs
* Live performances

Studio albums|

* Handwritten
* Illuminate
* Shawn Mendes
* Wonder
* Shawn

Live albums|

* Live at Madison Square Garden
* MTV Unplugged

EPs|

* The Shawn Mendes EP

Singles|

* "Life of the Party"
* "Something Big"
* "Stitches"
* "I Know What You Did Last Summer"
* "Treat You Better"
* "Mercy"
* "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back"
* "In My Blood"
* "Lost in Japan"
* "Youth"
* "Where Were You in the Morning?"
* "Nervous"
* "If I Can't Have You"
* "Señorita"
* "Wonder"
* "Monster"
* "Summer of Love"
* "It'll Be Okay"
* "When You're Gone"
* "What the Hell Are We Dying For?"
* "Why Why Why"
* "Nobody Knows"
* "Heart of Gold"

Featured singles|

* "Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)"
* "Lover" (remix)
* "Count On Me"

Promotional singles|

* "Under Pressure"

Other songs|

* "The Christmas Song"

Films|

* Shawn Mendes: In Wonder
* Shawn Mendes: For Friends and Family Only (A Live Concert Film)

Concert tours|

* Shawn's First Headlines
* Shawn Mendes World Tour
* Illuminate World Tour
* Shawn Mendes: The Tour
* Wonder: The World Tour

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Camila Cabello

* Awards and nominations
* Discography
* Songs

Studio albums|

* Camila (2018)
* Romance (2019)
* Familia (2022)
* C,XOXO (2024)

Singles|

* "I Know What You Did Last Summer"
* "Bad Things"
* "Crying in the Club"
* "Havana"
* "Never Be the Same"
* "Sangria Wine"
* "Consequences"
* "Mi Persona Favorita"
* "Señorita"
* "Liar"
* "Shameless"
* "Cry for Me"
* "Easy"
* "Living Proof"
* "My Oh My"
* "First Man"
* "Don't Go Yet"
* "Oh Na Na"
* "Bam Bam"
* "Psychofreak"
* "Hasta los Dientes"
* "Mon amour"
* "Ku Lo Sa"
* "I Luv It"
* "He Knows"
* "Godspeed"

Featured singles|

* "Love Incredible"
* "Hey Ma"
* "Know No Better"
* "Almost Like Praying"
* "Beautiful"
* "Find U Again"
* "South of the Border"
* "Move"

Promotional singles|

* "I Have Questions"
* "OMG"
* "Real Friends"
* "Million to One"

Other songs|

* "She Loves Control"
* "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
* "The Christmas Song"
* "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
* "June Gloom"

Concert tours|

* Never Be the Same Tour
* Yours, C Tour

Related articles|

* Fifth Harmony
* Discography

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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