Winter Wonderland
{{Short description|Song written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith}}
{{About|the song||Winter Wonderland (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Winter Wonderland
| cover = Winter Wonderland sheet music.png
| caption = 1934 sheet music cover
| published = 1934 by Bregman, Vocco and Conn
| genre = Christmas
| lyricist = Richard Bernhard Smith
| composer = Felix Bernard
}}
"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.{{Cite book |title=Sleigh Rides Jingle Bells & Silent Nights: A Cultural History of American Christmas Songs |last=Lankford |first=Ronald D. |date=2013 |publisher=University Press of Florida |isbn=978-0813044927 |location=Gainesville, Florida |page=[https://archive.org/details/sleighridesjingl0000lank/page/109 109] |url=https://archive.org/details/sleighridesjingl0000lank/page/109 }}
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.Lankford, pp. 110-111
History
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.{{cite news |last1=Bonifanti |first1=Terry |date=December 25, 2014 |title=Honesdale lyricist wrote 'Wonderland' |url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-times-tribune/20141225/281487864706342 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200126231342/https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-times-tribune/20141225/281487864706342 |archive-date = 2020-01-26 |access-date = 2025-02-05 |work=The Scranton Times-Tribune}}
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.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/elvis-sings-the-wonderful-world-of-christmas-mw0000196862 | title=Elvis Presley - Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic | website=AllMusic }}
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,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-01-06/|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of January 6, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 3, 2024}} making her version of the song the first to enter the chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/meghan-trainor-cher-chloe-hot-100-new-holiday-hits/|title=Meghan Trainor, Cher & Chloe Bring New Holiday Cheer to the Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=December 26, 2023|access-date=December 27, 2023}}
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.{{cite web |title=Get Merry With New Spotify Holiday Singles From Laufey, Kirk Franklin, Ezra Collective, and Panter Bélico |url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-11-14/holiday-singles-laufey-kirk-franklin-ezra-collective-panter-belico/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523084927/https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-11-14/holiday-singles-laufey-kirk-franklin-ezra-collective-panter-belico/ |archive-date=23 May 2024 |access-date=24 May 2024 |publisher=Spotify |url-status=live}}
Sheet music
The sheet music for the song is in the key of E-flat 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.{{Cite web |last=Felix |first=Bernard |last2=Bob |first2=Hope |date=2002-11-05 |title=Winter Wonderland |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0043085 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=Musicnotes.com |publisher=Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. |language=en}}
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.[http://www.ascap.com/press/2007/111207_holiday.aspx ASCAP Announced Top 25 Holiday Songs]. November 12, 2007
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=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2014)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/tony-bennett/chart-history/xdt/|title=Tony Bennett Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 12, 2023}}
| 20 |
=Bing Crosby version=
=Michael Bublé version=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2017–2025)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)
| 84 |
| {{single chart|Germany|60|songid=921680|artist=Michael Bublé|song=Winter Wonderland|rowheader=true|access-date=January 1, 2025}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|142|artist=Michael Buble|rowheader=true|access-date=December 31, 2024}} |
| scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2024&dspp=52|title=Veckolista Singlar, vecka 52, 2024|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|lang=sv|access-date=January 3, 2025}}
| 83 |
| scope="row"| US Holiday 100 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-buble/chart-history/hsx/|title=Michael Bublé Chart History (Holiday 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 30, 2023}}
| 93 |
=Darlene Love version=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018–2025)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|93|artist=Darlene Love|rowheader=true|access-date=December 31, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|48|artist=Darlene Love|rowheader=true|access-date=December 31, 2024}} |
| scope="row"| US Holiday 100 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/darlene-love/chart-history/hsx/|title=Darlene Love Chart History (Holiday 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 30, 2023}}
| 31 |
| scope="row"| US Rolling Stone Top 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2019-12-24/|title=Top 100 Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 24, 2019|access-date=December 31, 2019|archive-date=December 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231173333/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2019-12-24/|url-status=dead}}
| 41 |
=Chlöe version=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2023–2024)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100
| 87 |
| scope="row"| US Holiday 100 (Billboard){{cite magazine |title=Holiday 100: Week of December 30, 2023 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-holiday-songs/2023-12-30/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 27, 2023}}
| 57 |
| scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/2024-01-06/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of January 6, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 3, 2024}}
| 19 |
=Laufey version=
Certifications
=Tony Bennett=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Denmark|artist=Tony Bennett|title=Winter Wonderland|award=Platinum|certyear=2023|id=13300|access-date=December 31, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Tony Bennett|title=Winter Wonderland|award=Gold|certyear=2024|relyear=2004|id=9417-693-1|access-date=December 13, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
=Michael Bublé=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Michael Buble|title=Winter Wonderland|award=Silver|certyear=2022|relyear=2012|id=9417-1273-1|access-date=January 6, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
=Bing Crosby=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Bing Crosby|title=Winter Wonderland|award=Silver|certyear=2024|relyear=2005|id=9417-1148-1|access-date=November 29, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
=Darlene Love=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Darlene Love|title=Winter Wonderland|award=Platinum|certyear=2023|relyear=1963|access-date=April 11, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
=Laufey=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Laufey|title=Winter Wonderland|award=Silver|certyear=2024|relyear=2023|id=9417-6924-1|access-date=December 27, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Andrews Sisters}}
{{Portal bar|music|United States}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American Christmas songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Phil Spector
Category:Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements
Category:Songs with music by Felix Bernard
Category:The Andrews Sisters songs
Category:Aretha Franklin songs