ASCAP Announces Top 25 Most Performed Christmas Songs

[AwallaceUNC]

ASCAP today announced the 25 Most Performed Christmas songs based on the last five years.

The list is below. Under each, the artist who has the most popular (i.e. most played on radio) version of each of these songs is listed.

Note: That does not necessarily mean that the individual version listed is the most-played overall... for example, "Winter Wonderland" is #1, which just means that all versions of the song taken together make the song #1... and then of all those versions, the most popular is by the Eurythmics. At least, that is my understanding.


1. Winter Wonderland
Performed by: Eurythmics

2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Performed by: Nat "King" Cole

3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Performed by: The Pretenders

4. Sleigh Ride
Performed by: The Ronettes

5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Performed by: Frank Sinatra

6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Performed by: Michael Bublé

7. White Christmas
Performed by: Bing Crosby

8. Jingle Bell Rock
Performed by: Bobby Helms

9. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Performed by: Gene Autry

10. Little Drummer Boy
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra

11. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Performed by: Andy Williams

12. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Performed by: Brenda Lee

13. Silver Bells
Performed by: Kenny G

14. I'll Be Home For Christmas
Performed by: Amy Grant

15. Feliz Navidad
Performed by: José Feliciano

16. Frosty The Snowman
Performed by: The Ronettes

17. A Holly Jolly Christmas
Performed by: Burl Ives

18. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Performed by: Johnny Mathis

19. Blue Christmas
Performed by: Elvis Presley

20. (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Performed by: Perry Como

21. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Performed by: John Mellencamp

22. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Performed by: Gene Autry

23. Carol Of The Bells
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)

24. Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)
Performed by: Band Aid

25. This Christmas
Performed by Gloria Estefan


You can read more, including interesting facts about the song, in the official press release: http://www.ascap.com/press/2008/1124_holiday.aspx

[Just Myself]

I'm kinda surprised that neither "All I Want For Christmas Is You" or "Santa Baby" are on this list. The Orlando area radio stations overplay these songs to the point of insanity....

Cheers,
JM

[Luke]

Cool list. Frankly, I'm a little surprised that nothing from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... z"><i>Home for Christmas</i></a> made the cut.

[carolinakid]

I LOVE Christmas songs but I am VERY particular about the versions! I love Santa Baby but ONLY by Eartha Kitt! She alone "gets" the song. The Madonna version and the others I've heard are pure crap! There's a gay club we go to that always starts the night off with Santa Baby during the season. And it's a hoot to see the guys get into it!

Jon

[AwallaceUNC]

Cool list. Frankly, I'm a little surprised that nothing from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... z"><i>Home for Christmas</i></a> made the cut.

Something from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... z"><i>Home for Christmas</i></a> did make the cut.

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[Disneykid]

Good list, but I find some things questionable. How the heck is Judy Garland not the most popular artist for "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas?" The same goes for Perry Como's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," and Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." I find the lack of "All I Want for Christmas is You" very peculiar, as well (though I'm sure Albert's breathing a sigh of relief ).

[AwallaceUNC]

Good list, but I find some things questionable. How the heck is Judy Garland not the most popular artist for "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas?" The same goes for Perry Como's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," and Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." I find the lack of "All I Want for Christmas is You" very peculiar, as well (though I'm sure Albert's breathing a sigh of relief ).

Last year, AG was #1 or HYAMLC. (Or maybe the year before that). I don't think I have ever heard Judy Garland's version on the radio before.

All I Want for Christmas is You not being on there makes sense to me. There aren't that many covers of it and very few of them get much airplay. For the most part, it's only Mariah's original that gets a lot of radio time. Compare that to these other songs on the list that have hundreds of versions floating around out there, which can really increase how many times they are played.

But then, the list says "25 Most Performed", which is a little ambiguous.

-Aaron

[AwallaceUNC]

Oh, and speaking of... do you happen to know if the Judy Garland version of HYALC on Now That's What I Call Christmas! 3 is the same as the MMISL version?

-Aaron

[Flanger-Hanger]

I LOVE Christmas songs but I am VERY particular about the versions! I love Santa Baby but ONLY by Eartha Kitt! She alone "gets" the song. The Madonna version and the others I've heard are pure crap! There's a gay club we go to that always starts the night off with Santa Baby during the season. And it's a hoot to see the guys get into it!

Jon

Lol, sounds like fun. I wonder what it's like when they've all had too much egg nog/booze and start singing along to "Last Christmas"?

Good list, but I find some things questionable. How the heck is Judy Garland not the most popular artist for "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas?"

'Cause MMISL is the most overrated movie musical ever and there are better recordings of that song.

Your other songs are good mentions though, "It's beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas especially".

Glad to see David Foster "Carol of the Bells" but nothing by the Trans Siberian Orchestra? And I'm surprised White Christmas by Bing Crosby isn't number 1.