{"id":305,"date":"2007-12-28T01:01:56","date_gmt":"2007-12-28T01:01:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2007\/12\/favorite-holiday-songs-section-2.html"},"modified":"2007-12-28T01:01:56","modified_gmt":"2007-12-28T01:01:56","slug":"favorite-holiday-songs-section-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2007\/12\/favorite-holiday-songs-section-2.html","title":{"rendered":"Favorite Holiday Songs (Section 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 4 in the series: More Christmas Carol Surprises<\/em>
\nPermalink for this post<\/a> \/ Permalink for this series<\/a>
\nThree years ago I posted the list of the top 25 Christmas songs according to ASCAP (The American Society of Composers and Publishers). This list reflects the songs that have been performed the most in the past five years. You can find ASCAP’s list, with discussion and details here<\/a>. I’m going to post simply the names of the top 25 songs. But I’ll add in parentheses the change in order since 2004. So, with no further ado, here’s the latest list.
\nThe Top Christmas Songs according to ASCAP: The 2007 List <\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Winter Wonderland (+2)
\n2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (-1)
\n3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (-1)
\n4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (=)
\n5. White Christmas (=)
\n6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (=)
\n7. Jingle Bell Rock (+3)
\n8. Sleigh Ride (+4)
\n9. Little Drummer Boy (=)
\n10. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (-2)
\n11. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (+3)
\n12. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (-5)
\n13. Silver Bells (-2)
\n14. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree (+2)
\n15. Feliz Navidad (-2)
\n16. Frosty The Snowman (+1)
\n17. A Holly Jolly Christmas (+1)
\n18. Blue Christmas (-3)
\n19. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (+1)
\n20. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (-1)
\n21. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) (=)
\n22. (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays (new)
\n23. Carol Of The Bells (=)
\n24. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World) (new)
\n25. Wonderful Christmastime (-3)
\nDropped off:
\nSanta Baby (was 24)
\nThis Christmas (was 25)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As I look at this list, I’m struck by how stable it is. Only two new songs since 2004. And relatively little movement up or down. Almost all of these songs, by the way, were written in the 40s and the 50s (see my earlier list<\/a>).
\n“Winter Wonderland” <\/strong>
\nPerhaps the most significant change in the list from 2004 is the ascendancy of “Winter Wonderland,” which took the top stop for the first time. This song was written in 1934, and, according to ASCAP, it shot up to #2 in popularity almost immediately. You’ll notice that “Winder Wonderland” is not a Christmas song in any obvious way. It’s a winter celebration song, with sleigh bells, snow, and a snowman.
\n<\/a>Have you every paid attention to the storyline of “Winter Wonderland”? In the midst of a celebration of winter, a couple (presumably) is walking along, until they come to a meadow, where they build a snowman. They pretend that the snowman is “Parson Brown,” a Protestant minister, who asks if the couple is married. They say no, but invite him to marry them when he comes to town. Later on, after the thrill of the snowman moment, as the couple is dreaming by the first, they decided to go ahead “unafraid” with “the plans that we’ve made.” In other words, “Winter Wonderland” is a song about couple who, charmed by the beauty of a winter night, become engaged. (Photo: my current favorite version of “Winter Wonderland” is by James Taylor on his Christmas<\/em><\/a> album)
\n“Do They Know It’s Christmas”<\/strong>
\nThis song was was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 in an effort to raise money for people suffering in the Ethiopian famine. The original recording features many prominent artists of the 80s, including: Phil Collins, Bono, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Boy George. Check out a Youtube video here<\/a>.
\nThis song is quite unusual among popular Christmas songs because it is not especially romantic. It recognizes that there is suffering in the world, and that Christmastime is a good time to do something about it. So the song urges: “Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime.” The bridge says: “Feed the World. Let them know it’s Christmastime again.”
\nThis song stands in the long tradition of seeing Christmas as a special season of charity. This popular notion owes much to Charles Dickens, who used his verb “Christmas Carol” to spread his gospel of Christmas benevolence. (See my study of Dickens<\/a>.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 4 in the series: More Christmas Carol Surprises Permalink for this post \/ Permalink for this series Three years ago I posted the list of the top 25 Christmas songs according to ASCAP (The American Society of Composers and Publishers). This list reflects the songs that have been performed the most in the past…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christmas-carols"],"yoast_head":"\nFavorite Holiday Songs (Section 2) - Mark D. 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Roberts","description":"Mark D. Roberts: Thoughtfully Christian Reflections on Jesus, the Church, and the World","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/1ff094a57b7e41f534434b1723df3d73","name":"Mark D. Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=305"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}