Guess who has been giving Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey a tough time at the charts these days? Unbelievable as it may seem it is Brenda Lee. Brenda Lee? Remember her from the ‘60s or even the late ‘50s? Brenda is doing it with Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, a song that is 65 years old.
And it is not just Mariah who has come up against Brenda, who is famous as the “little girl with the big, big voice.” She has sent chart mainstays like Taylor Swift, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo and others plummeting down the hit list. Brenda’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is now the No. 1 song in the Billboard Hot 100.
Brenda turned 79 last Dec. 11. She sings pop, rock and roll, country and gospel. She is small, only 4’9,” but her voice packs a wallop. She is considered one of the greatest singers of all time and one of the biggest sellers. That means only a few numbers behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles.
She was only 12 years old and billed as Little Brenda Lee when she notched her first No. 1 tune in the Hot 100, the bouncy oldie Jambalaya. It was followed by Dynamite which earned her the nickname Little Miss Dynamite. And then came the big ones, a cool hundred million records sold over the ensuing years.
Losing You, “Don’t sigh a sigh for me, don’t ever cry for me…” “Uuuh, sweet nothings…” “All alone am I ever since your goodbye…” “Come on baby, let’s jump the broomstick,” “I’m sorry, so sorry, I made you cry…” “I wanted to be wanted…” and others including Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.
Recorded when Brenda was only 13, it was one of the early rock and roll takes on Holiday songs. Other notable examples are Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms and Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree was composed by Johnny Marks, who also wrote, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Holly Jolly Christmas. It was no instant hit but has over the years grown in popularity until it made No. 1 last week and sent Mariah’s All I Want for Christmas is You down to No. 2.
Now you have to hand it to Brenda as far as selling a song is concerned. Spunky as ever and still with that signature voice she has kept up with the times and is very active on social media. She has a YouTube channel, is on Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok. She recently dropped a new party video of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and done some live guestings. Check her out on YouTube. It is such a joy watching her and hearing that audience burst into “DECK the halls with boughs of holly…”
Great songs do not grow old. When rediscovered at the right time, they become relevant and important and as always, sweet enjoyable treats.
By the way Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is not the only Holiday oldie to invade the Hot 100. Music lovers are in a nostalgic mood and YouTube, Spotify and other streamers are only too glad to keep those much-loved titles available.
Here now is how the Top 25 of the Hot 100 looks right now: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee; All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey; Lovin’ On Me by Jack Harlow; Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms; Last Christmas by Wham! Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives; Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift.
Paint the Town Red by Doja Cat; Snooze by SZA; It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams; Greedy by Tate McCrae; I Remember Everything by Zack Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves; Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Dean Martin; Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes; Water by Tyla; Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano.
Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson; Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande; The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) by Nat King Cole; Last Night by Morgan Wallen; Is It Over (Taylor Version) From the Vault by Taylor Swift; Thinkin’ Bout Me by Morgan Wallen; White Christmas by Bing Crosby; Agora Hills by Doja Cat; Fast Car by Luke Combs.