By the time this post is published, I will have started my holiday vacation, and you better believe that that means Christmas music all of the time. While I like to change it up between several different playlists (you can find my Spotify Christmas playlists here), there are a few songs that are a constant no matter which I choose. And much like “All I Want for Christmas is You”, this particular song has been covered several times. For the last instalment of our Song of the Day this year, we have “A Holly Jolly Christmas”!
“Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” or “A Holly Jolly Christmas”?
You will see this song referred to as both “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas”. And both are correct!
“A Holly Jolly Christmas” was written by composer and singer Johnny Marks in 1962 and was included in a holiday special (see below) in 1964. However, Burl Ives recorded the song and included it on his 1965 holiday album as “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas”. If you hear it on a playlist or on the radio, you’re most likely hearing Ives’ 1965 version.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
If you are like me and grew up with the 1964 Claymation classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, you mostly know “A Holly Jolly Christmas” as a Rudolph song. Ives plays Sam the Snowman in the special, so he sings both the Rudolph and non-Rudolph versions. The Rudolph version is a bit faster but they are similar.
I personally love the Michael Buble version- it’s got pep and still has the same feeling, but doesn’t necessarily feel like it’s from the Claymation classic. However, the Ives’ version remains a classic to this day.
Miss our other Song of the Day posts for Blogmas this year? You can catch up here:
Do you have a favourite version of “A Holly Jolly Christmas”?
Cheers,
The Historian
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