The 30 Most Popular Holiday Songs Are…

0

ASCAP has released a list of the 30 most-played holiday songs of the last 50 years. Data accumulated since 1966 shows that “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” written by ASCAP songwriters Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and copyrighted in 1934, is the most-played holiday song of the last five decades. The song was first performed live by singer and comedy performer, Eddie Cantor, on his radio show, and recorded by banjoist Harry Reser and his orchestra in 1934 when it topped the sheet music charts.

Here are the 30 most-played holiday songs for the recent holiday season, all written or co-written by ASCAP songwriters and composers.

1. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
Written by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, 1934

2. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
Written by Ralph Blaine and Hugh Martin, 1943

3. “Winter Wonderland”
Written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, 1934

4. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow”
Written by Sammy Chan and Jule Styne, 1945

5. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting…)”
Written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, 1946

6. “Jingle Bell Rock”
Written by Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe, 1957

7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Written by Edward Pola and George Wyle 1963

8. “Sleigh Ride”
Written by Leroy Anderson and Michelle Parish, 1950

9. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
Written by Johnny Marks

10. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”
Written by Meredith Wilson, 1951

11. “White Christmas”
Written by Irving Berlin, 1940

12. “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas”
Written by Johnny Marks, 1962

13. “Carol of the Bells”
Written by Mykola Leontovych and Peter Wilhousky, 1936

14. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
Written by Johnny Marks, 1958

15. “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
Written by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey

16. “Frosty the Snowman”
Written by Steve Nelson and Walter E. Rollins, 1950

17. “Blue Christmas”
Written by Billy Hayes and Jay Johnson, 1948

18. “Home for the Holidays”
Written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman, 1954

19. “Little Drummer Boy”
Written by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, and Harry Simeone, 1958

20. “Do You Hear What I Hear”
Written by Gloria Shayne Baker and Noël Regney, 1962

21. “Silver Bells”
Written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, 1950

22. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Written by Frank Loesser, 1948

23. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
Written by Tommy Connor, 1952

24. “Feliz Navidad”
Written by Jose Feliciano, 1970

25. “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)”
Written by Robert Kinkel, Paul O’Neill, and John Oliva

26. “Last Christmas”
Written by George Michael

27. “Here Comes Santa Claus”
Written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman, 1947

28. “Santa Baby”
Written by Joan Javits, Philip Springer, and Tony Springer, 1953

29. “Happy Holiday (From Holiday Inn)”
Written by Irving Berlin, 1948

30. “Wonderful Christmastime”
Written by Paul McCartney

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here