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Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
| cover = Single Brenda Lee-Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree cover.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Brenda Lee
| album = Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee
| B-side = Papa Nol
| released = 1958 (US),
December 1962 (UK)
| recorded = October 19, 1958
| studio =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Decca 9-30776
| writer = Johnny Marks
| producer = Owen Bradley
| chronology = Brenda Lee
| prev_title = Rock-a-Bye Baby Blues
| prev_year = 1957
| next_title = I Want to Be Wanted (Per Tutta La Vita)
| next_year = 1960
| misc =
}}
"'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'" is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958; it has since been recorded by numerous other music artists. By the song's 50th anniversary in 2008, Lee's original version had sold over 25 million copies around the world with the 4th most digital downloads sold of any Christmas single.
Original recording by Brenda Lee
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was written by Johnny Marks, who had previously penned "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "A Holly Jolly Christmas". In spite of her adult voice, Lee recorded the song when she was only 13 years old. In a 2019 interview with 'The Tennessean', Lee recalled that she had no knowledge as to why Marks wanted her specifically to sing it: "I was only 12 [sic], and I had not had a lot of success in records, but for some reason he heard me and wanted me to do it. And I did." It is a rockabilly song. The recording features Hank Garland and Harold Bradley on guitar, Floyd Cramer on piano, Boots Randolph on sax, Bob Moore on bass, and veteran session player Buddy Harman on drums. The song is written in the key of A-flat major.
An instrumental version of the song appears as background music in the 1964 television special 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer', which exclusively featured music written by Marks. It can be heard in the scene where Rudolph first arrives at the Reindeer Games and meets another reindeer named Fireball. A fully sung version of the song would later appear in Rankin/Bass's 1979 sequel 'Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July'. The song was also used in the 1990 film 'Home Alone' during a scene when Kevin McCallister pretends that there is a holiday party taking place in his house, and discourages the burglars from robbing it. The song was also featured in 'The Christmas Special' episode of 'Regular Show' in 2012. The song was also used in 'D-TV' set to the Disney cartoons, 'Pluto's Christmas Tree' and 'Mickey's Christmas Carol'.
Chart performance and sales
Although Decca released the single in both 1958 and again in 1959, it did not sell well until Lee became a popular star in 1960. That Christmas holiday season, Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" placed on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart for the first time, eventually peaking at No. 14. It continued to sell well during subsequent holiday seasons, peaking as high as No. 3 on 'Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in December 1965. Lee said, "It was magic, and I think we all knew it. It took a few years to take off, but once it did, it really did."Lee's 1958 recording still receives a great deal of airplay, as radio station formats ranging from top 40 to adult contemporary to country music to oldies to even adult standards have played this version. It has since turned into a perennial holiday favorite, and due to rule changes in 2014 has returned annually to the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart, reaching an all-time chart peak of No. 2 during the 2019 holiday season.
The song reached over one million in digital downloads by 2016 according to Nielsen SoundScan, making it fifth on the list of all-time best-selling Christmas/holiday digital singles in SoundScan history. It has sold 1,170,000 copies in the United States as of December 2019.
On the official UK Singles Chart, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" peaked at No. 6 when it was released in the United Kingdom in 1962. In 2013, due to downloads, it became one of a number of songs to re-enter the UK Singles Chart near Christmastime each holiday season. The single peaked at No. 63 on Sunday, December 15, 2013. Then in 2017, it reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart, its highest chart position since 1963. On the week ending January 6, 2022, the song reached No. 5, peaking one place higher than its original release 60 years prior.
Charts
Weekly chartsYear-end charts
Certifications
|-
!colspan="3"|Streaming
|-
Track listing
'Side A'* "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (Johnny Marks) 2:02
'Side B'
* "Papa Nol" (Roy Botkin) 2:25
Personnel
* Brenda Lee lead vocals* Hank Garland guitar
* Harold Bradley guitar
* Floyd Cramer piano
* Bob Moore double bass
* Buddy Harman drums
* Boots Randolph saxophone
* Anita Kerr Singers background vocals
Kim Wilde and Mel Smith version
{{Infobox song
| name = Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
| cover = Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Mel & Kim.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Comic Relief presents Mel & Kim
| album =
| B-side = Deck the Blooming Halls
| released = November 23, 1987
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Christmas music
| length = 3:38
| label = Ten
| writer = Johnny Marks
| producer = Stuart Colman
| chronology = Kim Wilde
| prev_title = Say You Really Want Me
| prev_year = 1987
| next_title = Hey Mister Heartache
| next_year = 1988
| misc =
}}
A version of the song by Kim Wilde and Mel Smith (credited as "Mel & Kim" as a parody of then-popular sister act Mel and Kim), featuring Pete Thomas, reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart during the Christmas season 1987. The track was recorded to raise funds for Comic Relief. Its accompanying video featured the two hosting a Christmas party with guests including The Mekon and an appearance from Smith's comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones, carol singers played by the band Curiosity Killed the Cat and Spitting Image puppets of Bette Midler and Tina Turner.
Charts
Certifications
Hannah Montana version
American singer and songwriter Miley Cyrus under Hannah Montana name, released a cover version of the song as a single on November 6, 2007. She performed the song at Disney's 2006 Disney World Orlando Parade, as the song was first released as a track on the Holiday Edition of the album in 2006.
Kacey Musgraves and Camila Cabello version
American country singer Kacey Musgraves released a cover version of the song featuring Cuban-born American pop singer Camila Cabello as a track on her soundtrack album 'The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show' on November 28, 2019.
Personnel
* Kacey Musgraves lead vocals
* Camila Cabello featured artist, vocals
* Adam Keafer bass
* Brett Resnick pedal steel
* Kai Welch moog bass, organ
* Kyle Ryan background vocals, bells, electric guitar, mellotron, recording engineering, tambourine
* Nat Smith mellotron
* Scott Quintana bells, drums, percussion
* Timothy McKay baritone saxophone
* Gena Johnson production coordinating, recording engineering
* Mike Abbott recording engineering
* Leslie Ritcher studio personnel
* Chip Matthews studio personnel
* Darrell Thorp studio personnel
* David Ives studio personnel
Charts
Justin Bieber version
Canadian singer Justin Bieber released a cover version of the song as a promotional single on November 12, 2020, exclusively on Amazon Music. On October 29, 2021, the song was released on streaming platforms worldwide as single official.
Background
Talking about the cover, Bieber said: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" has always been one of my favourite songs to celebrate the holidays and I'm excited to team up with Amazon Music to share my own version, with my fans. I'm so thankful to be able to spend the season with loved ones, and to also use this opportunity to give back to LIFT, Inner-City Arts and Alexandria House: three incredible organizations that I've supported in the past. I hope my fans join me in reaching out to the communities and organizations they care about, to help spread joy to those who need it most."Charts
Certifications
Other recordings
Many artists have recorded the song. These include the following:
* '1968' Bill Haley & His Comets recorded the song on October 22, 1968; it has been released on various compilations (first in 1992).[https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/108134/versions Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Bill Haley and The Comets]. Secondhandsongs.com, Retrieved 2020-12-13
* '1999' Alabama, for their album 'Christmas Vol. II' (this cover version peaked at No. 64 on the 'Billboard' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.)
* '2004' LeAnn Rimes, for her album 'What a Wonderful World' (this cover version peaked at No. 3 on 'Billboard' Adult Contemporary chart, No. 48 on 'Billboard' Country Singles chart, and No. 30 on 'Billboard'
* '2013' Kim Wilde recorded a version of the song for her 2013 holiday album 'Wilde Winter Songbook' with Nik Kershaw.
* '2020' Harris & Ford and Gabry Ponte covered the BigRoom & Trance version of the song on their EP, 'Home Alone (On the Night Before Christmas)'.
* '2021' Meghan Trainor, for the deluxe edition of her 2020 holiday album 'A Very Trainor Christmas'.
*'2021' In Australia, Hit Queensland Breakfast Radio Hosts "Cliffo & Gabi" recorded a Queensland version of the track "Pluggers Around The Christmas Tree". It was met with a moderate response to audiences, especially to uncles called Ray.
References
Category:1958 singles
Category:1987 singles
Category:Brenda Lee songs
Category:1910 Fruitgum Company songs
Category:Alabama (American band) songs
Category:Lotta Engberg songs
Category:Toby Keith songs
Category:The Partridge Family songs
Category:LeAnn Rimes songs
Category:Jessica Simpson songs
Category:American Christmas songs
Category:Hannah Montana songs
Category:Bella Thorne songs
Category:Victoria Justice songs
Category:Comic Relief singles
Category:1958 songs
Category:Songs written by Johnny Marks
Category:Decca Records singles
Category:Def Jam Recordings singles
Category:Walt Disney Records singles
Category:Rockabilly songs
Category:Kacey Musgraves songs
Category:Camila Cabello songs
Category:Justin Bieber songs
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