NewYearsDayProject | a song a day blog

“ Jingle Bells ” is perhaps one of the most quintessential Christmas carols. Penned in 1850 by James Lord Pierpont , the song was written in 1850 and published as “One Horse Open Sleigh” in 1857. There is nothing specific in the lyrics that makes it a Christmas song, but it has been included as a Christmas standard due to its snowy images. It’s one of the most performed, recorded, and recognized secular Christmas songs since its first 1889 recording, now lost. The song was first recorded by banjoist Will Lyle and became a Christmas favorite after the Hayden Quartet recorded it in 1902. Other notable versions of the song are the 1935 Benny Goodman version , the 1943 Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters version , and the 1951 Les Paul version, which became a radio hit for the guitarist’s use of multi-tracking. Today’s version comes from contemporary Christmas crooner Michael Bublé, whose classic 2011 album Christmas featured covers of holiday tunes reminiscent of the Sinatra era....

It's important during the creative process to get feedback and look at your work from every possible angle. Jim Adkins reportedly hates his band name, Jimmy Eat World , especially because of the band's acronym, J-E- you get the point. Today's song was released in 1950 and was inspired by the sound of the Salvation Army Santa Clauses ringing their tinkling bells. But when songwriter Ray Evans brought his work home, his wife said, "Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word tinkle is?" And just like that, the song changed to " Silver Bells " and it wasn't the first Christmas song about pee. We'd have to wait for that, apparently. Google if you dare. CITY SIDEWALKS, BUSY SIDEWALKS. First recorded by William Frawley and popularized in the film The Lemon Drop Kid   sung by Bob Hope and Marylin Maxwell, "Silver Bells," like most Christmas standards has so many recordings, it's hard to choose a favorite. The song was recorded by...