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Winter Wonderland
Song written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Winter Wonderland" is a song written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith. Due to its seasonal theme, it is often regarded as a Christmas song in the Northern Hemisphere. Since its original recording by Richard Himber, it has been covered by over 200 different artists. Its lyrics are about a couple's romance during winter.[1]
A later version of "Winter Wonderland" (which was printed in 1947) included a "new children's lyric" that transformed it "from a romantic winter interlude to a seasonal song about playing in the snow". The snowman mentioned in the song's bridge was changed from Parson Brown to a circus clown, and the promises the couple made in the final verse were replaced with lyrics about frolicking. Singers like Johnny Mathis connected both versions, adding a verse and chorus.[2]
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History
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Smith, a native of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, was reportedly inspired to write the lyrics after seeing Honesdale's Central Park covered in snow. He wrote the lyrics while being treated for tuberculosis in the West Mountain Sanitarium in Scranton.[3]
The song was originally recorded in 1934 for RCA Victor. At the end of a different recording session by Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra, with extra time to spare, RCA Victor suggested arranging and recording "Winter Wonderland" using some additional members of its own orchestra, which included Artie Shaw and other established New York City studio musicians.
Guy Lombardo’s version that same year would go on to be one of the biggest hits of 1934.[citation needed]
In 1946, Perry Como recorded the song on his album Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music.
Also in 1946, The Andrews Sisters recorded the song with Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians.
In Johnny Mathis' version, heard on his 1958 LP Merry Christmas, the introduction is sung between the first and the second refrain.
In 1960, Ella Fitzgerald recorded a jazz arrangement of the song for her Verve release Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.
In 1963, Phil Spector recorded an energetically-paced version of the song, employing his characteristic Wall of Sound production technique for the A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector album. Darlene Love performed lead vocals.
In 1968, Tony Bennett recorded the song on his album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. He recorded it again in a duet with Lady Gaga in 2014.
In 1971, Elvis Presley recorded the song on his album Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas.[4]
In 1999, Ringo Starr recorded the song on his album I Wanna Be Santa Claus.
In 2023, Chlöe covered the song for Amazon Music as part of their Amazon Original Music series. The cover peaked at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100,[5] making her version of the song the first to enter the chart.[6]
Also in 2023, Laufey covered the song for Spotify as part of their Spotify Singles Holiday series. The cover became the highest-charting version of the song in the Core Anglosphere countries, excluding the United States.[7]
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Sheet music
The sheet music for the song is in the key of E♭ major for the verses and chorus and G major for the first half of the bridge, with a moderate tempo of 72 bpm and a time signature of cut-time, according to Musicnotes.com.[8]
Awards and achievements
Guy Lombardo's version was the highest on the charts at the time of introduction. Johnny Mercer's version of the song placed at No. 4 on the Billboard airplay chart in 1946. The same season, a version by Perry Como hit the retail top ten; Como would re-record the song for his 1959 Christmas album.
In November 2007, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) listed "Winter Wonderland" as the most-played ASCAP-member-written holiday song of the previous five years, and the Eurythmics' 1987 version as the one most commonly played.[9]
In December 2023, Chlöe's version was the first version to enter the Hot 100 ever and Laufey's version became the highest-charting version of the song in the Core Anglosphere countries, excluding the United States.
Charts
Tony Bennett version
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga version
Bing Crosby version
Michael Bublé version
Darlene Love version
Chlöe version
Laufey version
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Certifications
Tony Bennett
Michael Bublé
Bing Crosby
Darlene Love
Laufey
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References
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