Creating a success music is rarely simple, however crafting a Christmas hit could also be much more troublesome. Not solely are you competing with different modern artists, however you’re additionally going head-to-head with basic spiritual and cultural carols which have had lots of of years’ head begins to construct their reputation.
Despite this, many musicians take a swing at crafting memorable vacation music. And whereas nearly all of efforts fall by the wayside, these that do catch on inevitably crop up 12 months after 12 months, delivering festive cheer within the course of.
The origins of the under vacation classics are as diversified because the artists who ship them. In some instances, inspiration got here from a good friend or member of the family; in others, a charitable trigger helped get the inventive juices flowing. Here are the tales behind 15 of basic rock’s most-loved Christmas songs.
Slade, “Merry Christmas Everybody” (1973)
At the suggestion of his mother-in-law, Slade bassist and songwriter Jimmy Lea determined to attempt his hand at a Christmas tune. Lea took some concepts to the band’s singer, Noddy Holder, who mixed them with an unused idea created a number of years earlier. Lyrically, Holder needed to “mirror a British household Christmas.” “Economically, the nation was up the creek. The miners had been on strike, together with the gravediggers, the bakers and nearly everyone else. I feel individuals needed one thing to cheer them up — and so did I. That’s why I got here up with the road ‘Look to the longer term now / It’s solely simply begun,'” Holder explained to the Daily Mail in 2007. The result was “Merry Christmas Everybody,” a massively successful single that quickly sold millions of copies and remains popular to this day.
Read More: The Story of Slade’s Festive Glam Smash ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’
The Kinks, “Father Christmas” (1977)
The mugging of a department-store Santa highlights this unlikely Christmas hit by the Kinks. Penned by Ray Davies, the track was a thinly veiled commentary on class warfare, as jolly Saint Nick represented the rich elite, while his robbers were the poor working class. Even though it’s since become a holiday classic, reviews of “Father Christmas” were mixed upon its release – some critics loved the catchy riffs, others found the lyrics decidedly “anti-Christmas.”
Read More: When the Kinks Got Deceptively Festive on ‘Father Christmas’
John Lennon, “Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)” (1971)
Part Christmas song, part protest against the Vietnam War, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” reached No. 4 in the U.K. in 1971. The track reflected John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s peace campaign, which eventually spanned more than two years. The phrase “War is over, if you would like it” was used on publicity material supporting the couple’s cause before becoming a famous refrain in the song. With its heartfelt theme and sing-along chorus, the cut became one of Lennon’s most popular solo releases. It has been covered by a range of artists since its release, including John Legend, Miley Cyrus, Neil Diamond, REO Speedwagon and Diana Ross.
Paul McCartney, “Wonderful Christmastime” (1979)
Not to be outdone, Lennon’s former Beatle bandmate Paul McCartney released his own holiday song in 1979. Recorded during the sessions for his solo album McCartney II, “Wonderful Christmastime” became a global hit, charting in 19 different countries. Despite this success, the song was quite polarizing. Critics scrutinized the simplistic lyrics and keyboard-heavy arrangement, calling it one of McCartney’s weakest releases. Still, we like to see this cup of eggnog half-full. For all its faults, “Wonderful Christmastime” has managed to become a holiday mainstay, spreading festive cheer on a yearly basis.
David Bowie and Bing Crosby, “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” (1977)
In one of the most unlikely holiday duets of all time, David Bowie and Bing Crosby joined together in 1977 “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.” The observe, filmed as a part of Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas TV particular, nearly didn’t come collectively. Bowie wasn’t thrilled that he was being requested to sing “Little Drummer Boy” and reportedly requested the tune be altered. Meanwhile, producers have been shocked when Bowie arrived in make-up and earrings – a far cry from Crosby’s buttoned-down, conservative methods. Still, compromises have been made and the icons of two generations ended up sitting collectively on the piano for an enthralling – if awkward – efficiency. It stays a vacation pop-culture landmark second.
Read More: When David Bowie and Bing Crosby Rang within the Holidays
Greg Lake, “I Believe in Father Christmas” (1975)
Greg Lake had a guitar riff that refused to get out of his head. Making issues worse, he couldn’t discover the best technique to combine it right into a music. Frustrated, the rocker discovered himself buzzing the tune to “Jingle Bells” over the riff. It surprisingly labored, however it wouldn’t be till writing accomplice Peter Sinfield inspired Lake to go additional down this path that “I Believe in Father Christmas” took form. Inspired by the childhood innocence of the vacation – and pushing in opposition to its commercialization – the music grew to become an surprising hit in 1975, peaking at No. 2 on the U.Ok. chart.
Read More: How Greg Lake Stumbled Into His Famous Yuletide Song ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’
Band Aid, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (1984)
After seeing footage of the famine-ravaged Ethiopia, Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof was impressed to create a charity vacation single. He enlisted Ultravox’s Midge Ure to craft the music, creating the synth-pop foundation for what would develop into “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Many of period’s greatest musical acts have been concerned within the undertaking, together with Paul McCartney, Sting, David Bowie, Bono, Phil Collins and members of Duran Duran. A grueling 24-hour recording session would give the music life, with every artist recording numerous elements. The observe grew to become a right away stumble on launch, promoting greater than 1,000,000 copies and finally changing into the biggest-selling single of all time within the U.Ok. (a title it will lose in 1997 to Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997”). The single earned roughly $10 million for Ethiopian famine reduction in its first 12 months of launch.
Read More: The Story of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
Queen, “Thank God It’s Christmas” (1984)
In 1984, Queen released their enduring holiday single “Thank God It’s Christmas.” The original composition was created by drummer Roger Taylor, with guitarist Brian May contributing the chorus. Once the song was rounding into form, the two approached singer Freddie Mercury. “When it was almost finished, we presented it to Freddie, who loved it and did a beautiful vocal,” May recalled in a 2018 interview on the Ultimate Classic Rock Nights radio show. “I think it’s just the most understated vocal, and I love it.” The track peaked at No. 21 on the U.K. chart and was later included on Queen’s Greatest Hits III, released in 1999.
Read More: Brian May Praises Freddie Mercury’s ‘Beautiful’ and ‘Understated’ Vocal on Queen’s Christmas Song
The Pretenders, “2000 Miles” (1983)
Although many listeners believe “2000 Miles” is about long-distance romance during the holiday season, the song was actually inspired by tragedy. In June 1982, James Honeyman-Scott, guitarist and founding member of the Pretenders, was found dead in his girlfriend’s apartment. The band’s frontwoman, Chrissie Hynde, penned “2000 Miles” while thinking about her departed bandmate. The tender track struck a chord with listeners, becoming a seasonal hit upon release in December 1983.
Bruce Springsteen, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (1982)
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band initially began mixing a cover of the holiday classic “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” into their sets in 1973. It wouldn’t be until 1975 that they recorded the track during a performance at C.W. Post College in Greenvale, N.Y. Even then, the song would sit on the shelf for several years – later getting released on the Sesame Street compilation album In Harmony 2 (1982). Despite receiving little promotion, Springsteen’s rendition has arguably become the premier version of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.” His joyous delivery, coupled with a lively sax solo by Clarence Clemons, helped make the song a holiday staple for generations of fans.
Eagles, “Please Come Home for Christmas” (1978)
Eagles were in the midst of sessions for their overdue sixth album, The Long Run, and their record label was getting impatient. The band was behind schedule and, given the success of their previous album, Hotel California, executives wanted new material to release. In an effort to satiate their bosses, Eagles decided to record a Christmas song. Don Henley suggested “Please Come Home for Christmas,” a song originally recorded by blues singer Charles Brown in 1960. The band’s version of the track did the trick: Not only did the record label get off the band’s back, but the single became a holiday hit.
Read More: How ‘Please Come Home For Christmas’ Emerged From Eagles Time-Out
Tom Petty, “Christmas All Over Again” (1987)
Beginning in 1987, acclaimed producer Jimmy Iovine started releasing albums under the title A Very Special Christmas, with proceeds benefiting the Special Olympics. For the second edition, Tom Petty contributed an original track that would go on to become a celebrated holiday favorite. “Christmas All Over Again” layered chimes, bells, horns, percussion and harmonies over Petty’s rock croon, delivering an upbeat Yuletide jam.
Dee Snider and Celine Dion, “The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)” (1998)
Would pop singer Celine Dion actually file a vacation tune written by Dee Snider? The Twisted Sister frontman didn’t wish to take any possibilities. “Do not tell her that Satan wrote her Christmas song,” Snider recalled telling producer Ric Wake. “Just put it on the fuckin’ album.” And so – greater than 4 years after Snider initially wrote a Christmas music on the suggestion of his spouse – “The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)” was launched on Dion’s These Are Special Times LP. The album was a large hit, promoting greater than 14 million copies worldwide and changing into probably the most profitable Christmas albums in historical past.
Read More: Why Dee Snider Finally Recorded His Big Hit Christmas Song
Elton John, “Step Into Christmas” (1973)
It solely took someday – Nov. 11, 1973 – for Elton John to file his basic vacation observe “Step Into Christmas.” The music was the legend’s approach of claiming thanks to followers who had helped make 1973 an particularly profitable 12 months. “The Christmas single is a real loon about and something we’d like to do a lot more of,” John is quoted as saying in the biography Elton John in His Own Words. Thought of as more of a novelty single than a serious release, the song still managed to achieve mainstream popularity. “Step Into Christmas” hit No. 24 on the U.K. chart at its time of release and has continually popped up each holiday season since.
The Pogues, “Fairytale of New York” (1987)
Where “Fairytale of New York”‘s inspiration came from depends on whom you ask. The Pogues’ accordion player James Fearnley claims the idea to write a Christmas song came from the band’s manager, while late singer Shane MacGowan insisted it stemmed from a bet between himself and Elvis Costello (who produced the Pogues’ 1985 album, Rum, Sodomy & the Lash). “Fairytale of New York” took more than two years to complete. The band’s banjo player, Jem Finer, co-wrote the song and initially penned lyrics about a sailor missing his wife at Christmas. Finer’s own wife said it was corny. “So I said, ‘Okay, you suggest a storyline, and I’ll write another one,” he later recalled to The Irish Times. “The fundamental plotline got here from her: this concept of a pair falling on arduous occasions and coming finally to some redemption.” MacGowan would provide you with his personal lyrics, finally combining them with Finer’s to create the basic observe. Then singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl contributed vocals, basically making the music a dialogue between the embattled couple. “Fairytale of New York” peaked at No. 2 within the U.Ok. upon its launch and has since been ranked among the many biggest Christmas songs in rock historical past.
Discussion about this post