Song 29 - Jingle Bells - James Lord Pierpont

There is so much I didn't know about one of the most famous Christmas songs there can be which is of course Jingle Bells, which was written in 1857 and came under the title In a one horse open sleigh.  Fact number one; although it is known as a Christmas song, it was originally written for America's Thanksgiving. Fact number two; it was first song sang in  space so someone could say that this song is known throughout the solar system! Okay, maybe comedy is not my strong point.

The original lyrics have changed in the one hundred and fifty eight years it had been sung, with the original version having the line oh what sport to ride and sing, which is now oh what fun it is to ride and sing. I know when we were growing up we used to sing Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Rudolf ran away. Anyway the first version was also cited to be more classical in its chorus structure and was said to have the same chord progression as Pachelbel's Canon. But historians believe that it would have been too upbeat to be sung at church as it was more a jolly drinking song, where people who use the ice in their glasses for sleigh bells. This is funny to think as like Little Donkey this is one of the first Christmas songs that children learn.

The best version of Jingle Bells I ever sang was at high school with a mixed choir, where the boys had the baseline of Jingle, Jingle, Jingle, Jingle and then the girls would come in with Dashing through the snow, and then the boys would go ho, ho at the end of each line of the version. I have never found a recording of it done professionally but it was a great version to sing at choir and brought new life to a very familiar song. The best version that I have found that matches this is Michael Buble's version with the Puppini Sisters (but who doesn't like a bit of Buble at Christmas?).

As the song is so famous, it is not surprising that it has been covered by all the great from Glenn Miller to the Beatles, but it has never been number one for Christmas. The first notes of the chorus have been used a motif in other famous Christmas hits; Bruce Springsteen's version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"has the notes appearing on the piano at the end of it. It can also be heard on Nat King Cole's version of The Christmas Song.

However and whoever you like singing Jingle Bells, it wouldn't be Christmas with it:

Enjoy Michael Buble's version
Michael Buble's Jingle Bells

Written by James Lord Pierpont
Year: 1857
Album: Every Christmas album released to date!