NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - November 23, 2009) - Even as the digital music generation embraces
the latest technological innovations, the American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) reports that traditional favorites still
rule the holiday airwaves -- and the iPod. Interpreted over the years by
each decade's most popular artists, these Holiday favorites remain timeless
classics appealing to young and old alike.
Topping ASCAP's holiday songs list of the decade is one of the oldest songs
on the list: "Winter Wonderland." It was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard
and Richard B. Smith, and was an instant hit for legendary bandleader Guy
Lombardo And His Royal Canadians who took it to the #2 spot on the
Billboard charts the same year. Recordings by the Andrews Sisters and
Perry Como, in 1946, established the song as a Yuletide favorite. Versions
by the Eurythmics, Jewel and Air Supply are frequently heard on radio
today.
ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams knows something about holiday
songs, having received an Emmy nomination this year for "I Wish I Could Be
Santa Claus" from "A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa," an original
Christmas special with both story and songs by the renowned songwriter. He
commented: "This is a tough list for any of us to break into. There's a
sense that people tend to gravitate towards tradition, especially at the
holidays, and our top 25 list confirms this. So, whether you're listening
to holiday music on an iPod or a vintage record player, these time-honored
favorites are sure to evoke the magic of the season and memories of
holidays past."
The Top 25 most performed ASCAP holiday songs of the decade are listed
below. Each song includes songwriter credits, and cites the most popular
artist version played on radio today. The data was compiled with the help
of Mediaguide, the most comprehensive digital audio performance tracking
technology in the world.
1. Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics
2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat "King" Cole
3. Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Bruce Springsteen
6. White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby
7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Michael Bublé
8. Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Daryl Hall & John Oates
9. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry
10. Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra
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: Josh Groban
13. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee
14. Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Anne Murray
15. Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano
16. Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Beach Boys
17. A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives
18. Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley
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: Gene Autry
22. (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: Perry Como
23. Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)
24. Wonderful Christmastime
Written by: Paul McCartney (PRS)
Performed by: Paul McCartney
25. Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid
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 on the list 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.
Mediaguide, co-owned by ASCAP, monitors radio broadcast music in real-time
and facilitates the accurate distribution of royalty payments to
songwriters, composers and publishers. Its proprietary technology and
network of over 2,500 radio stations currently tracks more stations and
total airplay than any other monitoring service in the U.S.
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights
Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over
8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more
than 365,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has
representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the
ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world
where copyright law exists. 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 PRO owned and governed by its
writer and publisher members.
www.ascap.com