Christmas
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...
One of the most famous Christmas song intros and probably most famous song intro in the history of songs. The simply named "The Christmas Song" has been a staple for many years. This song is a classic that came out back in 1946 and was sung first with the wonderful voice of Nat King Cole.
His voice might be the first one you think of when the song is mentioned and most likely the version that is played by a radio station. Even a radio station that doesn't usually play songs from 1946.
Like good Christmas songs are, this song was inspired by the fact that heat of summer are miserable and winter is cooler and best season. (Slight Bias) Mel Tormé’, a jazz singer, who in his lifetime composed many many hits for other acts and was notable in his in his own singing was the writer for this song.
Tormé’ along with lyrist Robert Wells were tasked with to compose two musical scores, it was a hot day, in the middle of summer. This got them talking about colder winter days.
"I saw a spiral pad on his piano with for lines written in pencil... They started, 'Chestnuts roasting...Jack Frost Nipping... Yule tide carols... Folks dressed up like eskimos."
-From Mel Tormé's autobiography It wasn't all Velvet as seen in Stories Behind the Greatest Hits of Christmas by Ace Collins page 61.
The idea wasn't really to make a song, it was a way to try and cool down in the mind. Tormé thought this was as good idea for a song and wrote it in 45 minutes. Tormé felt the best singer for the song would be Cole. Tormé knew Nat King Cole well. Meanwhile, another song was released by the record company, Captial, sung by Cole "(I love You) For Sentimental reasons" and that helped give Cole a smash it, which was more remarkable for an African American singer at the time. The listeners wanted more and this song came out.
This song paints a great picture of things we see at Christmas.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
The song sets up a great scene of the holiday. how there's turkey and decorations, that spice up the season, kids being happy at everything.
The song is simple and that really makes it work for a Christmas song and it's longevity, nothing really dates it too much and it's a comfortable song. Nat King Cole's version is the definitive version his voice is great for the song. There are other versions, many are great, but Tormé and Wells had great instinct to pick him. I don't think it would have fit Bing Crosby, for example, it just feels like it was fit for Cole.
That's our look at one of the pinnacle of Christmas songs.
Thanks to NPR and the book "Stories Behind the Greatest Hits of Christmas" by Ace Collins.
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