# Is "White Christmas" really the best Christmas song Evah?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 23, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375 "2006-12-23T20:13:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/1 "2006-12-23T20:13:00Z")
It seems like any time 20th Century Christmas songs come up, “White Christmas” is held up as the standard by which all others are measured. I don’t doubt that by all-time sales it is, but I wonder if it is still the most bought, most requested, most covered, and most beloved song, or if it’s just become one of those truisms everybody repeats because they know it’s true because they’ve heard it so many times, etc.
Personally, I’d place it around #9 or #10, but not #1. “White Christmas,” is not even my favorite Bing Crosby Christmas standard, since “Silver Bells,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” have, imnsho, lovelier music and better lyrics. Even “Happy Holiday,” which debuted in the same movie (“Holiday Inn,” not “White Christmas”) is a notch more likeable. Of course, that’s just the list in my head, but it makes me wonder if anyone’s done a scientific poll or has some numbers to back the continued assertion that “White Christmas” is the most popular Christmas song of all time.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/2 "2006-12-23T21:14:26Z")
Perhaps it’s the nostalgia factor? That and it’s one of those soft, cozy, dreamy tunes that make you feel all, oh, I dunno, warm and fuzzy? It’s like the musical equivalent of comfort food, if that makes sense.
Ditto Nat King Cole’s _The Christmas Song_.
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### Author:  [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/3 "2006-12-23T21:23:15Z")
I didn’t ask why people like the song at all, just if it’s really the most popular song of all time. Because more or less all Christmas music would be soft and cozy, war and fuzzy. And I am not among those who hate Christmas music – I quite like a lot of the not-that-religious stuff.
Oooh. The Christmas Song. I would accept _that_ as the best Christmas song more readily. I actually prefer Mel Torme’s version to Nat’s, though their both nice. After all, Mel wrote it.
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### Author:  [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/4 "2006-12-23T21:24:41Z")
Make that, “they’re both nice.”
I’m always tripping over the homophones. If the damned kids would stop leaving them strewn about…
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### Author:  [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/5 "2006-12-24T08:11:11Z")
Little trivia about the song White Christmas…it was originally “just a song” in the film Holiday Inn…but became such a mega-hit, there was actually another film made, “White Christmas” to capitalize on the song.
I think the reason the song still sells well is, as mentioned, the nostalgia factor - no matter what your age. Most likely as a kid you heard the song at some point in a happy period of childhood - with the Christmas tree and gifts and family, etc. and now, whenever you hear it, no matter how old you are, the song brings you back to those days.
The song has just the right touch of melancholy to make it both a sad, and happy memory.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/6 "2006-12-24T15:30:25Z")
No, _A Fairytale Of New York_ is the best Christmas song ‘evah’.
Though Stiff Little Fingers’s version of _White Christmas_ I like quite a lot.
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### Author:  [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/7 "2006-12-24T15:49:35Z")
[QUOTE=DMark]
Little trivia about the song White Christmas…it was originally “just a song” in the film Holiday Inn…
[/QUOTE]
Little trivia about DMArk… he doesn’t read the OP very carefully. 😉
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### Author:  [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/8 "2006-12-25T00:34:18Z")
[QUOTE=Walter Windchill]
Oooh. The Christmas Song. I would accept _that_ as the best Christmas song more readily.
[/QUOTE]
According to [ASCAP](http://www.ascap.com/press/2006/112706_xmassongs.html), _The Christmas Song_ is the most-played copyrighted Christmas song on the radio. _White Christmas_ is #5. In between are _Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas_- which, as _Entertainment Weekly_ recently pointed out in a interview with the songwriter, changed from a somewhat-sad-but-optimistic song into a totally happy one at the request of Frank Sinatra\*- and two other upbeat oldies, _Winter Wonderland_ and _Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town_ (the two oldest songs on the list).
\*The unusued original lyrics were even sadder. “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last. Next year we may all be living in the past…”
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### Author:  [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/9 "2006-12-25T00:57:54Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]
No, _A Fairytale Of New York_ is the best Christmas song ‘evah’.
[/QUOTE]
Absolutely. Mods, the question has been answered, you can close the thread now.
🙂
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### Author:  [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/10 "2006-12-25T02:08:29Z")
What, no love for **Wham** ’s immortal _Last Christmas_?
_Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special_
Every year I hear it and then can’t get it out of my head for the next hour or two. In fact I’ve done it to myself just now just typing this. Arrgh!
Same goes for **The Waitresses** ’ classic _Christmas Wrapping_.
My personal list of “Christmas Classics” would also include **Elvis Presley** ’s _Blue Christmas_, the **Ronettes** ’ version of _Sleigh Ride_ and of course, **John Lennon** ’s _Happy Christmas (War Is Over)_.
Also the **Kinks** ’ song _Father Christmas_.
_Father Christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
We’ll beat you up if you don’t hand it over
Give all the toys… to the little rich boys_
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### Author:  [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/11 "2006-12-25T02:32:29Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]
No, _A Fairytale Of New York_ is the best Christmas song ‘evah’.
[/QUOTE]
For some reason, I cant listen to this song this year. Its not only one of my favourite Christmas songs; its one of my favourite songs, period.
But this year, I always change station whenever its played. Cant explain why. Its been a bittersweet ol’ year for me… maybe that has something to do with it. So, this year, I’ve really loved listening to Slade’s “So here it is, Merry Christmas” or Paul McCartneys “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” (Note; High Probability that these are not the actual titles… I’ve always just known them to hear, rather than their names").
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/12 "2006-12-25T02:48:00Z")
Now see, I adore the movie _White Christmas_, but my favorite song is not the title tune, but rather _Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)_. I LOVE that song.
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### Author:  [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/13 "2006-12-25T04:33:22Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85]
According to [ASCAP](http://www.ascap.com/press/2006/112706_xmassongs.html), _The Christmas Song_ is the most-played copyrighted Christmas song on the radio. _White Christmas_ is #5. In between are _Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas_- which, as _Entertainment Weekly_ recently pointed out in a interview with the songwriter, changed from a somewhat-sad-but-optimistic song into a totally happy one at the request of Frank Sinatra\*- and two other upbeat oldies, _Winter Wonderland_ and _Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town_ (the two oldest songs on the list).
\*The unusued original lyrics were even sadder. “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last. Next year we may all be living in the past…”
[/QUOTE]
I don’t find Frank’s version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little…” at somewhat wistful… Maybe Judy Garland’s version was even more somber, but Frank’s isn’t “totally happy,”
just a bit brighter.
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### Author:  [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/14 "2006-12-25T04:35:19Z")
Bah, that’s what I get for editing a post and not reading it carefully before posting. I _do_ find Frank’s version wistful, not at all “totally happy,” just a bit less somber than Garland’s.
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### Author:  [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/15 "2006-12-25T13:16:20Z")
I personally think Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) is the best christmas song. I checked [acclaimedmusic.net](http://acclaimedmusic.net) for all songs with “christmas” in the title, and this one was the second highest rated, the highest rated being Band Aid - Do They Know It’s Christmas?
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### Author:  [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/16 "2006-12-25T17:07:06Z")
Doesn’t crack the top 100 for me.
My tastes run towards non-overdone carols and/or esoteric takes on the old familars, with a soft spot for multipart harmony.
“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” and “For Unto Us a Child is Born” and “The Wassail Song”, stuff like that.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/17 "2006-12-25T17:15:19Z")
Let me cast my vote for “Little St. Nick” by the Beach Boys. Better harmonies than any of the others, and a catchy little tune as well. It’s about the only Christmas song I can stand by the end of the holiday season.
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### Author:  [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/18 "2006-12-25T17:35:39Z")
I forgot to add that the only reason “White Christmas” might crack the top ten is because I love the Drifters version. It’s the one playing in this brilliant cartoon that’s been making the rounds:
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### Author:  [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/19 "2006-12-25T18:36:06Z")
I vote for The Christmas Song and Santa Baby.
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### Author:  [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-white-christmas-really-the-best-christmas-song-evah/385375/20 "2006-12-25T23:16:22Z")
What, no credit to its composer, Israel Baline?
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