I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" |
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| Single by Gayla Peevey | |
| B-side | "Are My Ears on Straight?" |
| Released | November 11, 1953 (U.S.) |
| Genre | Christmas, novelty |
| Length | 2:38 |
| Label | Columbia (no. 4-40106) |
| Songwriter(s) | John Rox |
"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" is a fun and silly Christmas song. It was written by John Rox and first sung by Gayla Peevey in 1953. She was only 10 years old then! This song became very popular. It even reached number 24 on the Billboard pop chart in December 1953.
Song History
Gayla Peevey was a child star. She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her family moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, when she was five years old. When her song was released by Columbia Records, it quickly became a hit.
The Hippo Story
A popular story says that the song was made to raise money for a hippo at the Oklahoma City Zoo. However, Gayla Peevey later explained that this wasn't true. The song was just for fun!
But because the song was so popular, the Oklahoma City Zoo and a local newspaper started a special fund. It was called the "Gayla Peevey hippo fund." Their goal was to get a real hippopotamus for Gayla for Christmas.
The campaign worked! Gayla Peevey received a real baby hippo. She then donated it to the Oklahoma City Zoo, as planned. This hippo lived at the zoo for almost 50 years.
In 2017, Gayla Peevey, who was 73 at the time, was there again. The Oklahoma City Zoo got a rare pygmy hippopotamus from the San Diego Zoo.
TV Performance
In October 1953, Gayla Peevey sang "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" on The Ed Sullivan Show. This TV show aired on November 15, 1953.
Other Versions
Many other artists have recorded their own versions of this fun Christmas song over the years.
- A version by Vicki Dale and the Peter Pan Orchestra came out in 1953.
- The Three Stooges also recorded a version in 1959.
- Bob Keeshan, known as Captain Kangaroo, recorded it in 1961. He sang it with his friend Lumpy Brannum, who played Mr. Green Jeans.
- Malcolm T Elliot released his version in 1975.
- Country music singer Gretchen Wilson recorded it in 2009. It appeared on her album Christmas in My Heart.
- American singer LeAnn Rimes released her cover in 2014. It was on her EP called One Christmas: Chapter 1.
- American artist Kacey Musgraves recorded a version in 2016. It was part of her Christmas album, A Very Kacey Christmas.
