The Chipmunk Song (And Other Nonsense) - A Christmas Music Countdown
Christmas, Christmas time is here
Time for joy and time cheer
We’ve been good but we can’t last
Hurry, Christmas, hurry fast!
“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)” was written by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (a.k.a. David Seville) in 1958. Although it was written and sung by Bagdasarian (in the form of a high-pitched chipmunk voice – hope he didn’t hurt himself; but I seem to recall someone explaining that they simply speeded up the recording), the singing credits are given to The Chipmunks, a fictitious singing group consisting of three chipmunks by the names of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. The song won three Grammy Awards in 1958: Best comedy performance, Best children's recording, and Best engineered record (non-classical).
The song was very successful, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, becoming The Chipmunks' first (and only), as well as David Seville's second and final, #1 single (guess that’s why they called it ‘The Chipmunk Song’. It has the distinction of being the only Christmas record to reach #1 on the same chart. The single sold 4.5 million copies. Ironically, before the song's success, “The Chipmunk Song” was featured on American Bandstand's “Rate-A-Record” segment and received the lowest possible rating of 35 across the board. Well, teenagers – what do they know?
Between 1959 and 1962, the single managed to re-enter the Hot 100, peaking at No. 41 in 1959, No. 45 in 1960, and No. 39 in 1962. (Starting in 1963, Billboard would list re-current Christmas songs on a separate chart.) The song managed to chart on the Hot Digital Songs for the first time in 2005, peaking at No. 35.
"The Chipmunk Song" is the last Christmas song to reach #1 on any US single record chart totaling performance of all available records.
With the release and popularity of the film Alvin and the Chipmunks in December 2007, “The Chipmunk Song” re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 70. They remixed the album for the 21st Century, but there’s still nothing like the original “Chipmunk Song.” *
Ready for more nonsense? Then I highly recommend these very silly songs:
• March of the Wooden Soldiers – Harry Connick, Jr. (the first time I’ve heard words to this song. The whole album by the way is terrific. He also makes a great Little Drummer Boy).
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer - The Irish Rovers. Poor Grandma.
• Monster Holiday – Lon Chaney
• The Happy Reindeer – The Singing Reindeer
• Christmas at Ground Zero – Weird Al Yankovic. If the signal’s clear, we’ll go count all the mutants on New Year’s.
• The 12 Days of Christmas – Bob & Doug McKenzie. On the 5th day of Xmas – beer!
• The 12 Days of Christmas – Allan Sherman. Japanese radios
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – Stan Freberg. “Read it to me again, Uncle Stan!”
• Jingle Cats – The Jingle Cats. Meowlly Christmas.
• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters. He’s the big fat man with the long white beard. Not Bing; Santa.
• Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys; The Muppets
• The Man with All the Toys – The Beach Boys
• Christmas is Coming – John Denver and The Muppets – Be sure catch the bit about “piggy pudding”.
* Source: Wikipedia
Time for joy and time cheer
We’ve been good but we can’t last
Hurry, Christmas, hurry fast!
“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)” was written by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (a.k.a. David Seville) in 1958. Although it was written and sung by Bagdasarian (in the form of a high-pitched chipmunk voice – hope he didn’t hurt himself; but I seem to recall someone explaining that they simply speeded up the recording), the singing credits are given to The Chipmunks, a fictitious singing group consisting of three chipmunks by the names of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. The song won three Grammy Awards in 1958: Best comedy performance, Best children's recording, and Best engineered record (non-classical).
The song was very successful, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, becoming The Chipmunks' first (and only), as well as David Seville's second and final, #1 single (guess that’s why they called it ‘The Chipmunk Song’. It has the distinction of being the only Christmas record to reach #1 on the same chart. The single sold 4.5 million copies. Ironically, before the song's success, “The Chipmunk Song” was featured on American Bandstand's “Rate-A-Record” segment and received the lowest possible rating of 35 across the board. Well, teenagers – what do they know?
Between 1959 and 1962, the single managed to re-enter the Hot 100, peaking at No. 41 in 1959, No. 45 in 1960, and No. 39 in 1962. (Starting in 1963, Billboard would list re-current Christmas songs on a separate chart.) The song managed to chart on the Hot Digital Songs for the first time in 2005, peaking at No. 35.
"The Chipmunk Song" is the last Christmas song to reach #1 on any US single record chart totaling performance of all available records.
With the release and popularity of the film Alvin and the Chipmunks in December 2007, “The Chipmunk Song” re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 70. They remixed the album for the 21st Century, but there’s still nothing like the original “Chipmunk Song.” *
Ready for more nonsense? Then I highly recommend these very silly songs:
• March of the Wooden Soldiers – Harry Connick, Jr. (the first time I’ve heard words to this song. The whole album by the way is terrific. He also makes a great Little Drummer Boy).
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer - The Irish Rovers. Poor Grandma.
• Monster Holiday – Lon Chaney
• The Happy Reindeer – The Singing Reindeer
• Christmas at Ground Zero – Weird Al Yankovic. If the signal’s clear, we’ll go count all the mutants on New Year’s.
• The 12 Days of Christmas – Bob & Doug McKenzie. On the 5th day of Xmas – beer!
• The 12 Days of Christmas – Allan Sherman. Japanese radios
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – Stan Freberg. “Read it to me again, Uncle Stan!”
• Jingle Cats – The Jingle Cats. Meowlly Christmas.
• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters. He’s the big fat man with the long white beard. Not Bing; Santa.
• Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys; The Muppets
• The Man with All the Toys – The Beach Boys
• Christmas is Coming – John Denver and The Muppets – Be sure catch the bit about “piggy pudding”.
* Source: Wikipedia
posted by Belle | 7:14 AM
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