While some FM stations have been running all Christmas music, all the time since approximately Halloween, we’ve decided to wait until the actual month the holiday occurs for our first-ever Christmas quiz. While this may not exactly be all about rock and roll, we’re willing to bet that Christmas has changed your life at least as much as it has.
The questions are based on data collected by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) during the past five years, based on radio airplay monitoring, of the top 25 Christmas songs.
1. What is the #1 most-performed Christmas song?
2. OK. Let’s assume you got that one right, Rudolph. Clearly you know that when it was first played, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians made it a hit. Here’s a tougher one about the same song: What group/performer version is the most currently played?
3. What downer song by The King makes the list?
4. What does Phil Spector have to do with Christmas?
5. “Happy Xmas/(War Is Over)” by John Lennon isn’t on the list. What anthem is?
6. Lighting round. Name the tunes associated with the following—Christmas songs, that is:
a. The Pretenders
b. Bobby Helms
c. John Mellencamp
7. Bonus question. Egg nog: Brandy or rum?
Answers after the jump…
1. “Winter Wonderland.” Oddly enough, the word “Christmas” doesn’t appear in the lyrics. And oddly enough, one verse of the tune written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith is a bit creepy: “Later on, we’ll conspire / As we dream by the fire / To face unafraid / The plans that we’ve made / Walking in a winter wonderland.” Conspire by the fire?
2. No, not Bing Crosby or Andy Williams. Rather, the Eurythmics. Who knew?
3. “Blue Christmas.” It was first recorded by Ernest Tubb in 1948. Elvis made it his own in ’57.
4. Plenty. The Ronettes score on the list with: #4, “Sleigh Ride” and #16, “Frosty the Snowman.” There is only one other performer with two in the top 25: Gene Autry. We’re sticking with Ronnie.
5. “Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)” by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. It is at #24. It is actually the newest song on the list. It is from 1984. (What’s with the parentheses in this and Lennon’s song?)
6. a., “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (#3); b. “Jingle Bell Rock” (#8); c. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (#21)
7. Peppermint schnapps.
The Top 25 most performed ASCAP holiday songs of the past five years are listed below. Each song includes songwriter credits, and cites the most popular artist version played on radio.
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 Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat “King” Cole
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders
4. Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Frank Sinatra
6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Michael Bublé
7. White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby
8. Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Bobby Helms
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. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee
13. Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Kenny G
14. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
Performed by: Amy Grant
15. Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano
16. Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Ronettes
17. A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives
18. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Written by: Meredith Willson
Performed by: Johnny Mathis
19. Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley
20. (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: Perry Como
21. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
Performed by: John Mellencamp
22. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Gene Autry
23. Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)
24. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid
25. This Christmas
Written by Donny Hathaway, Nadine McKinnor
Performed by Gloria Estefan