Song: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Artist: Brenda Lee (1958)
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Merry Christmas! Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is the fourth most popular selling Christmas single ever. It mixes the spirit of Christmas with Rockabilly, a style of rock and roll music that blends bluegrass and rhythm and blues with rock and roll.
Written by Johnny Marks, who had previously penned “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas”, it was recorded by young star Debra Lee and released in 1958 when she was only 14 years old.
The song was used in the 1990 film Home Alone during a scene when Kevin McCallister pretends that there is a holiday party taking place in his house, and discourages the burglars from robbing it.
Learn more about Christmas music and 1960s star Brenda Lee in our latest podcast episode.