Dec 14, 2018 - One of the best-known renditions of this song is Burl Ives' contribution from the 1964 Christmas special, 'Rudolph the. 'Jingle Bell Rock'.
Billboard's Holiday Songs chart ranks airplay of seasonal tracks on U.S. adult contemporary radio. Because a hefty 75% of the format switches to all-holiday programming by Thanksgiving each year, the format's airplay effectively serves as the barometer for mainstream yuletide fare. Traditionally, the survey sports a wide variety of eras and styles, from Burl Ives (pictured, above) and Brenda Lee to the more modern sounds of Band-Aid and Mariah Carey. Other radio formats, however, decorate their playlists with holiday music, as well, and an analysis reveals that all genres feature individual holiday favorites. Here, then, is a comparison of the top 10 most-played seasonal songs on country, R&B, Christian, rock and oldies radio from Nov. 1 through Dec. 6, 2009, according to Nielsen BDS. (Thanks to Nielsen Entertainment-Music Director of Data Services Adam Foster for providing the rankings.) Variety is, indeed, evident, as no one song appears on every chart. Classics by Ives, Lee, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Jose Feliciano and Trans-Siberian Orchestra dot two format breakdowns each. One song graces three of the following charts: Bobby Helms' 1957 evergreen 'Jingle Bell Rock.' Country 1, Vince Vance & the Valiants, 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' 2, Brenda Lee, 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' 3, Bobby Helms, 'Jingle Bell Rock' 4, Taylor Swift, 'Last Christmas' 5, Burl Ives, 'A Holly Jolly Christmas' 6, George Strait, 'Christmas Cookies' 7, Jeff Foxworthy, 'Redneck 12 Days of Christmas' 8, Alan Jackson, 'A Holly Jolly Christmas' 9, Jose Feliciano, 'Feliz Navidad' 10, Garth Brooks, 'Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy' R&B 1, Donny Hathaway, 'This Christmas' 2, Boyz II Men, 'Let It Snow' 3, Luther Vandross, 'Every Year, Every Christmas' 4, the Emotions, 'What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas' 5, the O'Jays, 'Christmas Ain't Christmas' 6, Johnny Gill, 'Give Love on Christmas Day' 7, Kurtis Blow, 'Christmas Rappin' ' 8, Stevie Wonder, 'Someday at Christmas' 9, Nat King Cole, 'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)' 10, the Whispers, 'This Christmas' Christian 1, Jeremy Camp, 'O Come All Ye Faithful' 2, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 'Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)' 3, Bing Crosby, 'White Christmas' 4, Amy Grant, 'Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)' 5, NewSong, 'The Christmas Shoes' 6, Matthew West featuring Amy Grant, 'Give This Christmas Away' 7, Casting Crowns, 'Away in a Manger' 8, Aaron Shust, 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel' 9, MercyMe, 'What Child Is This?' 10, Bobby Helms, 'Jingle Bell Rock' Rock 1, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 'Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)' 2, U2, 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' 3, Adam Sandler, 'The Chanukah Song' 4, Band-Aid, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' 5, Jimmy Eat World, 'Last Christmas' 6, Colbie Caillat, 'Mistletoe' 7, David Bowie & Bing Crosby, 'Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy' 8, No Doubt, 'Oi to the World' 9, Bruce Springsteen, 'Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town' 10, Barenaked Ladies, 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' Oldies 1, Brenda Lee, 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' 2, Bobby Helms, 'Jingle Bell Rock' 3, Burl Ives, 'A Holly Jolly Christmas' 4, Andy Williams, 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' 5, Nat King Cole, 'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)' 6, Jose Feliciano, 'Feliz Navidad' 7, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' 8, Bing Crosby, 'White Christmas' 9, Paul McCartney, 'Wonderful Christmas Time' 10, Gene Autry, 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'