The Christmas Song facts for kids

"The Christmas Song" is a very famous Christmas song. People often call it "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire". It was written in 1945 by two talented songwriters, Robert Wells and Mel Tormé.

How the Song Was Created

Mel Tormé shared a fun story about how the song was made. It was a very hot day in July. Robert Wells was trying to "stay cool by thinking cool" thoughts. He wrote down some wintery lines on a pad. These lines included "Chestnuts roasting...", "Jack Frost nipping...", and "Yuletide carols...". Wells didn't even think he was writing a song at first!

Tormé saw the lines and got an idea. Forty minutes later, the whole song was finished! Tormé wrote all the music and helped with some of the words. This song later became one of the most played Christmas songs ever.

Nat King Cole's Famous Recordings

The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded "The Christmas Song" in June 1946. Nat King Cole really wanted to record it again with more instruments. Even though his record company, Capitol Records, wasn't sure, they made a second recording in August. This time, they added a small group of string instruments. This new version became a huge hit on both the pop and R&B music charts.

Nat King Cole recorded the song two more times. In 1953, he used a full orchestra led by Nelson Riddle. Then, in 1961, he made a stereo version with another full orchestra led by Ralph Carmichael. Cole's 1961 recording is the one most people know and love today. It's often called the "definitive" version. In 2004, it was the favorite holiday song for many women. The very first 1946 recording was honored in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974. In 2022, the 1961 recording was chosen by the Library of Congress to be saved in the United States National Recording Registry. This means it's considered very important for culture and history.

Nat King Cole's Recordings Over the Years

"The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)"
1962 US single release
Single by The King Cole Trio
B-side	"In the Cool of Evening"
Released	November 1946 (1946-11) (2nd recording)
Recorded	August 19, 1946
Genre	Jazz pop
Length	3:10
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Robert Wells Mel Tormé

Nat King Cole in 1958

First Recording: June 1946

The very first recording of "The Christmas Song" was made on June 14, 1946. It was recorded at WMCA Radio Studios in New York City. The performers were The King Cole Trio, which included Nat King Cole singing and playing piano, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass. This recording wasn't released until 1989.

Second Recording: August 1946

The second recording was made on August 19, 1946, also at WMCA Radio Studios. This was the first version released to the public in November 1946. For this recording, the King Cole Trio added a "String Choir" with four string players and a harpist. This version became very popular.

Third Recording: August 1953

The third recording happened on August 24, 1953, in Hollywood. This was the first time the song was recorded using magnetic tape. Nat King Cole sang with an orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle. This recording was released in November 1953.

Fourth Recording: March 1961

The fourth and most famous recording was made on March 30, 1961, in New York City. This was the first time the song was recorded in stereo. This version is played all the time on the radio during the Christmas season. The music arrangement is very similar to the 1953 version, but Nat King Cole's voice sounds deeper and more focused. This recording was included on his 1963 album, The Christmas Song, and is still widely available today.

Chart Performance

The 1961 version of "The Christmas Song" has appeared on many music charts over the years.

Awards and Certifications

The song has received awards and certifications for its popularity:

Other Famous Versions

Christina Aguilera's version reached a high spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Many other artists have recorded "The Christmas Song" over the years.

• In December 1946, Bing Crosby sang it on a radio show. He also made a studio recording in 1947.
• In 1953, Perry Como included the song on his album Around the Christmas Tree.
• In 1999, Christina Aguilera recorded her version for her album My Kind of Christmas. Her song became very popular and reached number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was the second highest position for the song after Nat King Cole's original.
• In 2003, Michael Bublé covered the song for his EP Let It Snow. It reached number 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
• In 2018, Lauren Daigle's version reached number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Christian Songs chart.
• In 2021, Jacob Collier's cover was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Many other famous singers have also covered this song, including Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, The Carpenters, Celine Dion, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, The Jackson 5, John Legend, Justin Bieber, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, NSYNC, Pentatonix, and Shawn Mendes.

Mel Tormé's Own Recordings

Mel Tormé, who co-wrote the song, also recorded it many times himself. Some of his versions were released in 1955, 1961, 1970, 1990, and 1992.

His 1970 recording and later versions sometimes include an extra opening verse. Mel Tormé wrote this verse in 1963 for The Judy Garland Show. He first sang it with Judy Garland on their Christmas TV special.

All through the year we waited
Waited through spring and fall
To hear silver bells ringing, see wintertime bringing
The happiest season of all

Tormé's recordings also often end with a special musical part called a coda. This part is taken from another old Christmas song called "Here We Come A-wassailing".

Love and joy come to you
And to you your Christmas too
And God bless you and send you a happy New Year
And God send you a happy New Year

See also

In Spanish: The Christmas Song para niños