Skip to main content

Top 25 Holiday Songs

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS, AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS (ASCAP) Lists of Top 25 Holiday

Songs







"The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting…)" Tops "Most Performed" Song List Covering Past Five Years




New York, NY, November 27, 2006: With holiday tunes already on the airwaves, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) - the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing over 260,000 music creators and copyright owners - today announced its Top 25 most performed holiday songs for the past five years, based on performance data tracked by radio airplay monitoring service Mediaguide.



Mediaguide, co-owned by ASCAP, was launched in 2002 to monitor radio broadcast music in real-time and facilitate the accurate distribution of royalty payments to composers, lyricists 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.



Members of the press who would like a custom week-to-week or local run of "real-time" 2006 Holiday song airplay may contact Kathleen Reynolds (CooperKatz for Mediaguide) at 212-455-8062 or kreynolds@cooperkatz.com.



"Re-recorded and revived by each decade's most popular artists, these holiday favorites illustrate the vital connection between ASCAP music creators and the holiday spirit, which fills the airwaves each year," said ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman. "For Americans and many others around the world, these classic lyrics and melodies are inseparable from the celebration of the holiday season - brightening lives year after year, and serving as a cornerstone of the ASCAP repertory."



The most performed ASCAP Holiday song is "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)." Written by Robert Wells and the singing great, Mel Tormé, the song became a seasonal classic with the release of Nat "King" Cole's 1946 recording. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, Amy Grant and James Taylor, but Cole's version remains the most played on radio today.



Entering the Top 25 song list for the first time is "Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)" written by Midge Ure and Bob Geldof. Recorded in 1984 by Band Aid — an all-star band of British musicians — this benefit single assisted famine relief efforts in Ethiopia, and sold millions of copies over the '84 holiday season. Twenty years later, Band Aid 20 recorded a remake to aid famine relief efforts in Africa. The single featured over 50 artists and reached #1 on the U.K. charts.



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. 






Related Posts;

Top 10 Christmas Films

Santa Claus

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Dingdong Dantes & Marian Rivera Wedding Video Pre-nuptial

Dingdong and Marian's official prenuptial video is finally here! Watch this beautiful couple in a video that best describes who they are -- what truly makes them happy. Music Credits: A Sky Full of Stars - Warner Music Philippines Video Credits: Shot & Edited by: Nice Print Photography Concept by: Dingdong Dantes Direction by: Ian Galsim Production Design by: Teamba Designs Shot on Location in: Porac Pampanga

Alas Pilipinas Men's Team Reinforced with Fil-Am Players

 Here are the  additional Fililipino-America players for the Alas Pilipinas Men's National Training Pool. The Philippine National Volleyball Federation's tapped Fil-Am players as reinforcement for the Men's Team who will see actions in FIVB World Volleyball Championship next year. The event will hosted by the Philippines for the first time. Being the host nation means an automatic qualification for the Alas PilipinasMen's Team. 🏐 Patrick Paragas 🇵🇭🇺🇸 [6'1 Setter] 🏐 Kai Vogel 🇵🇭🇺🇸 [6'3 Outside Hitter] 🏐 Luca Mamone 🇵🇭🇮🇹 [6'6 Middle Blocker/Opposite Hitter] 🏐 Isaiah Vogel 🇵🇭🇺🇸 [6'3 Outside Hitter] 🏐 Jackson Reed 🇵🇭🇺🇸 [6'1 Outside Hitter] 🏐 Cameron Wurl 🇵🇭🇺🇸 [6'7 Setter] I am hoping that the PNVF will includ Opposite spiker, Francis Saura, 6'5'' of the Criss Cross Crunchers in the training pool. The men's tteam acquired a new Italian Coach, Angiolino Frigonie  #volleyballteam #volleyballplayer #volleybal...

Roxanne Guinoo is now a Kapuso

Another Kapamlya turns Kapuso. Former Star Magic talent Roxanne Guinoo will soon star in GMA-7's "Home SweetHome" opposite Raymart Santiago. After three years of absence, Roxanne Guinoo returns to showbiz via GMA-7's light comedy primetime series “Daddy Dearest.” During an interview Roxanne has this to say of her transfer to GMA Network: “Masayang-masaya. Ibang grupo, ibang klaseng work. I think light comedy po yata ito. First time kong makakatrabaho ang Kapuso stars so exciting.” Roxanne said of her new network.

Amaya TV Series now Available on DVD

Amaya wants to learn how to be a skilled and courageous warrior like the lumads so she can free her puod from Angaway, but the tribe's leader is wary of outsiders. Will Amaya be able to find a way to gain the trust of the lumads? Find out in the latest volume of AMAYA, now available in stores at Php225.00. Get your copy now! image credit:gma records

Mobile photos are hot, ringtones are not

Ringtones are out, photos are in. That's been the major shift in mobile phone use in the Philippines in the last two years, based on the results of two independent studies of Filipino users.   But a growing number of Filipinos are taking pictures with their mobiles not to send as MMS but to upload to social media, according to a recent media study by The Nielsen Company.   The Philippines is   one of the hottest countries in the world   when it comes to the use of Facebook. "Offhand, I think instead of MMS, which is a one-to-one sharing, mobile phone users would rather upload their photos or videos to their (preferred) social network to enable more people to have access and have a more interactive engagement. Plus, its free compared to the cost of sending MMS," Nielsen Media (Philippines) executive director Jay G. Bautista said. Another study notes that an increasing number of Filipino Internet users are accessing the web through their mobile devices rather than thro...

Sarah Geronimo nominated on MTV EMA 2013 in the Best Southeast Asia Act category

Sarah Geronimo was named one of the nominees in the Best Southeast Asia Act category of 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA). This year's MTV EMA will be held in Amsterdam on November 11, and will be broadcast via over 60 channels internationally. It is said to reach nearly 700 million households around the world. MTV EMA 2013 nomination for Sarah and describe her as "the Philippines' Popstar Princess." Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo, or simply Sarah Geronimo or Sarah G., is hailed as the Philippines' Popstar Princess. Born in Manila, she turned 25 on July 25, 2013. Sarah's showbiz career began at age 14 when she emerged as the champion of a singing contest called “Star For A Night” in 2002. For a decade now, she has achieved multiplatinum albums, record-breaking concerts, blockbuster movies, and high-rating TV shows. Sarah's phenomenal musical talent has earned her recognition not just in her homeland, but all over Asia. She won the title of Best Asian Artist (P...

How to Compute your PAG-IBIG, SSS and PhilHealth's Monthly Contribution

Here's the tutorial on how to compute on your Monthly Contribution with SSS, PAG-IBIG and PhilHealth if you are a public or private employee. Meanwhile, an individual at least 18 years old but not more than 65 years old may register with the Fund under voluntary membership. However, said individual shall be required to comply with the set rules and regulations for Pag-IBIG members including the amount of contribution and schedule of payment. In addition, they shall be subject to the eligibility requirements in the event of availing of loans and other programs/benefits offered by the Fund. SSS computation of your Monthly Contribution is 4.5% of your Total Salary while 2.25% of your salary for PHILHEALTH Contribution if below 90,000. If your salary is Ph 90,000 and 4.5% will be applied to your PhilHealth Contribution.  PAG-IBIG Contribution is pretty straightforward and there is no need for the Calculator because it is fixed for  Php100 Monthly Contribution only. “Monthly Compen...

Anak TV Seal Awards 2010 Winners

TOP 15 MOST ADMIRED MALE TV PERSONALITIES (in alphabetical order) Aga Muhlach (ABS-CBN 2) Arnold Clavio (GMA 7) Coco Martin (ABS-CBN 2) Gary V. (ABS-CBN 2) Gerald Anderson (ABS-CBN 2) John Lloyd Cruz (ABS-CBN 2) Julius Babao (ABS-CBN 2) Kim Atienza (ABS-CBN 2) Luis Manzano (ABS-CBN 2) Mike Enriquez (GMA 7) Piolo Pascual (ABS-CBN 2) Ryan Agoncillo (GMA 7 / TV5) Ted Failon (ABS-CBN 2) Vhong Navarro (ABS-CBN 2) Zaijian Jaranilla (ABS-CBN 2) TOP 15 MOST ADMIRED FEMALE TV PERSONALITIES (in alphabetical order) Angel Locsin (ABS-CBN 2) Anne Curtis (ABS-CBN 2) Bernadette Sembrano-Aguinaldo (ABS-CBN 2) Charo Santos-Concio (ABS-CBN 2) Jessica Soho (GMA 7) Judy Ann Santos (ABS-CBN 2) Karen Davila (ABS-CBN 2) Kim Chiu (ABS-CBN 2) Korina Sanchez (ABS-CBN 2) Mel Tiangco (GMA 7) Sarah Geronimo (ABS-CBN 2) Sharon Cuneta (ABS-CBN 2) Tintin Bersola-Babao (ABS-CBN 2) Toni Gonzaga (ABS-CBN 2) Vicky Morales (GMA 7) TOP 20 TV PROGRAMS - HOUSEHOLD FAVORITES (in alphabetical order) 24 Oras (GMA 7) Agua Bendi...