A Holly Jolly Christmas

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"Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (song)" redirects here. For the Burl Ives album, see Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.
"A Holly Jolly Christmas"
A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives.jpg
Single by Burl Ives
from the album Have a Holly Jolly Christmas[note 1]
B-side"Snow for Johnny"
ReleasedNovember 1964
StudioColumbia Studios, Nashville, TN
GenreChristmas, traditional pop
Length2:15
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Johnny Marks
Burl Ives singles chronology
"Pearly Shells (Popo O Ewa)"
(1964) 		"A Holly Jolly Christmas"
(1964) 		"Jealous"
(1965)

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" (also called "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas") is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and most famously performed by Burl Ives. The song has since become one of the top 25 most-performed "holiday" songs written by ASCAP members, for the first five years of the 21st century.[1]

Background[]

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" was written by Johnny Marks in 1962. It was the title song of The Quinto Sisters' first album, Holly Jolly Christmas, recorded in June 1964 for Columbia Records, featuring guitarist Al Caiola with arrangements by Frank Hunter and Marty Manning.[2]

The song was featured in the 1964 Rankin-Bass Christmas special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, in which Burl Ives voiced the narrator, Sam the Snowman. Originally to be sung by Larry D. Mann as Yukon Cornelius, the song, as well as "Silver and Gold", was given to Ives due to his singing fame.[3] This version was also included on the soundtrack album.

The song was re-recorded by Ives and released in 1964 as a single and later featured the following year in his 1965 holiday album, Have a Holly Jolly Christmas. This version of the song has a somewhat slower arrangement than the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer version and features an acoustic guitar solo introduction; it is this version that has since become the more commonly heard rendition on radio. This song mentions mistletoe in the bridge, where the singer asks the younger lover to "Kiss her once for me". The song features a mixed-gender chorus, whose repeated "Ding-dong" imitation of Christmas bells are heard in the outro of the song, before it fades out.

The song's enduring popularity is evidenced by its reaching No. 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1998, as well as No. 21 on the US Country Digital Songs chart and No. 5 on the Holiday 100 chart in 2011.[4][5] The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in 2017, after rules on chart eligibility for older songs had been relaxed several years before, and reached a peak of No. 38.[6]

On the week ending December 8, 2018, the song re-entered the Hot 100 chart. It reached No. 10 on the week ending January 5, 2019.[7][8] On the week ending January 4, 2020, it reached a new peak of No. 4.[9] With this feat, Ives now holds the record for the longest break between Hot 100 Top Tens as he returned to this minimum ranking after 56 years, seven months and two weeks since his previous Top 10 hit and, at 109 years after birth, surpassing Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" (which reached the Top 40 when Armstrong would have been 86 years old) as the oldest artist, living or deceased, to have a Top 40 hit. As of December 2019, Burl Ives' recording has sold 664,000 copies in the United States since becoming available for download in the digital era.[10]

Chart performance[]

Burl Ives version[]

Chart (1998–2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 42
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 14
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 39
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 96
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 14
Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[16] 50
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[17] 18
Latvia (LAIPA)[18] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 75
Portugal (AFP)[20] 79
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[21] 28
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 98
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 65
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 4
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[4] 30
US Country Digital Songs (Billboard)[24] 21
US Country Streaming Songs (Billboard)[25] 1
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[5] 3
US Rolling Stone Top 100[26] 4

Alan Jackson version[]

Chart (1997–98) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[27] 51

Michael Bublé version[]

Chart (2011–2021) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[28] 49
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[29] 25
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 52
France (SNEP)[30] 148
Germany (Official German Charts)[31] 31
Global 200 (Billboard)[32] 52
Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[33] 74
Hungary (Single Top 40)[34] 13
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[35] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[36] 32
Italy (FIMI)[37] 20
Latvia (LAIPA)[18] 17
Lithuania (AGATA)[38] 81
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[39] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[40] 36
Norway (VG-lista)[41] 39
Portugal (AFP)[42] 24
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[43] 40
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44] 64
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 36
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 22
UK Singles (OCC)[47] 24
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[48] 3
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[49] 22

Lady Antebellum version[]

Chart (2012–16) Peak
position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[50] 2
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[51] 37
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[52] 80
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[53] 35

Jerrod Niemann version[]

Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[54] 53

Certifications[]

Michael Bublé version[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Platinum 600,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes[]

  1. ^ The recording used in this single did not appear in the "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" TV special, nor was it on the corresponding soundtrack. The version in this single was newly recorded with a much slower and different rendition, the one most commonly heard today. Both the "Holly Jolly Christmas" and its B-side, "Snow for Johnny" heard on this single, would later appear on Ives' 1965 Christmas album Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.

References[]

  1. ^ "ASCAP Announces Top 25 Holiday Songs – "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting...)" Tops List". Ascap.com. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  2. ^ http://www.falalalala.com/the-quinto-sisters-first-to-sing-holly-jolly-christmas-even-before-burl-ives/
  3. ^ "Holly Jolly Christmas". songfacts.com.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Burl Ives Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Burl Ives Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Eminem & Ed Sheeran's 'River' Flows in at No. 11". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Burl Ives Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  8. ^ "Mariah Carey's 'Christmas' Climbs to No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100, Ariana Grande's 'Next' Leads for Seventh Week". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  9. ^ Trust, Gary (December 30, 2019). "Mariah Carey Becomes First Artist at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 in Four Decades, Thanks to 'All I Want for Christmas'". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  10. ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 8, 2019). "Top 30 Digital Country Tracks - Pure Sales: December 9, 2019". Rough Stock. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  11. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  12. ^ "Burl Ives Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 20185152 into search. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  15. ^ "Burl Ives Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 52/2018". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 2019-01-14. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  17. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mūzikas patēriņa tops gadu mijā" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  19. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  20. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 20185152 into search. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  22. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  23. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  24. ^ "Burl Ives Chart History (Country Digital Songs)". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Burl Ives Chart History (Country Streaming Songs)". Billboard.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  27. ^ "Alan Jackson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  28. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Michael Bublé – Holly Jolly Christmas" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  29. ^ "Michael Buble Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  30. ^ "Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming)". Syndicat National de l'édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Bublé – Holly Jolly Christmas" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  32. ^ "Michael Buble Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  33. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 52/2018". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 2019-01-14. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  34. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  35. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  36. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  37. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 52" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  38. ^ "2019 49-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  39. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Bublé – Holly Jolly Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  40. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 31, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  41. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 52, 2020". VG-lista. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  42. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Michael Bublé – Holly Jolly Christmas". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  43. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202051 into search. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Canciones: Semana 52". Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  45. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Michael Bublé – Holly Jolly Christmas". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  46. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Michael Bublé – Holly Jolly Christmas". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  47. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  48. ^ "Michael Buble Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  49. ^ "Michael Buble Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  50. ^ "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  51. ^ "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  52. ^ "Lady Antebellum – Chart history". Billboard Holiday 100 for Lady Antebellum. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  53. ^ "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  54. ^ "Jerrod Niemann Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  55. ^ "British single certifications – Michael Buble – Holly Jolly Christmas". British Phonographic Industry.

External links[]

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