Eurythmics Winter Wonderland again #1 – Most performed Xmas song in 10 years
In both the last two years, 2007 and 2008, I was happy to report here in the news at ethrill.net in late November that the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced “Winter Wonderland” (written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934) as the most-performed christmas holiday song (based on radio airplay) and that the recording of it by Eurythmics was the “the most popular artist version played today” over the past 5 years. This year ASCAP dug even deeper and found out that “Winter Wonderland” and Eurythmics’ version of it are not only still the most played ones of the past 5 years but of the whole past decade!
The follow-up top ASCAP Christmas song is still “Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” as performed by Nat “King” Cole while the previous #3, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” as performed by the Pretenders and #4, “Sleigh Ride” as performed by the Ronettes, switched places in this year’s top 25 list.
“Winter Wonderland” is the oldest song in the top 25 and Eurythmics’ recording of it is included on the album “A Very Special Christmas” (red edition) which is becoming available each November again all over the world (Amazon Germany, USA, UK). “A Very Special Christmas” is an high class act album series for the benefit of the Special Olympics.
The Top 25 most performed ASCAP holiday songs of the decade are listed below. Each song includes songwriter credits, and cites the most popular artist version played on radio today.
1. Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics
2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat “King” Cole
3. Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Bruce Springsteen
6. White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby
7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Michael Buble
8. Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Daryl Hall & John Oates
9. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry
10. Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra
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: Josh Groban
13. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee
14. Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Anne Murray
15. Feliz Navidad
Written by: Jose Feliciano
Performed by: Jose Feliciano
16. Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Beach Boys
17. A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives
18. Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley
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: Gene Autry
22. (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: Perry Como
23. Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)
24. Wonderful Christmastime
Written by: Paul McCartney (PRS)
Performed by: Paul McCartney
25. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid
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