When nation music singer Bobby Helms was first supplied the prospect to sing a brand new festive track known as “Jingle Bell Rock,” he was initially skeptical in regards to the thought of blending rock’n’roll and Christmas. However he was shortly gained over, and his single, issued by Decca Data in October 1957, quickly grew to become a vacation traditional. “‘Jingle Bell Rock’ has made itself a part of Christmas,” Helms stated. “It lifts people up.” Right now, you will discover it on playlists alongside staples like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song,” and extra.
The recording and reception of “Jingle Bell Rock”
On the time Helms recorded the track, he was already a preferred singer. His single “Fraulein” had been one other hit for Decca and the Indiana-born singer had develop into a daily visitor on TV, showing on each American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Present.
“Jingle Bell Rock” was composed by two middle-aged males: a public relations skilled known as Joseph Carleton Beal and an promoting government known as James Ross Boothe. In a 1986 interview, Helms stated he made a major contribution to the track, with out being credited. “Jingle Bell Rock” didn’t initially have a bridge and Helms stated he wrote the one which ended up on the ultimate lower: the memorable strains “What a bright time/It’s the right time/To rock the night away.”
The rockabilly beat of the track – Hank Garland’s electrical guitar is heard taking part in the primary notes of the refrain – together with the regular beat of jingle bells and candy back-up singing from The Anita Kerr Quartet all added to the attraction of a track that contained vibrant lyrics akin to “Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet.” Ever questioned what a jingle horse is? A adorned reindeer, in fact!
The one was an on the spot hit and featured an intriguing B-side known as “Captain Santa Claus (And His Reindeer Space Patrol).” Helms first appeared within the Billboard High 100 in 1958 – and was again there greater than six a long time later when “Jingle Bell Rock” re-appeared within the charts in 2018.
The track’s legacy
The recognition of Helms’ festive hit has prompted quite a few cowl variations down the years, together with one on Decca, launched in 1959, by Max Bygraves, that went to No. 7 within the UK. Kylie Minogue, The Seaside Boys, Corridor & Oates, Chubby Checker, and The Platters have additionally recorded “Jingle Bell Rock.” Extra lately, the track has been coated by artists like Ariana Grande, Brenda Lee, and Mariah Carey. (Mariah’s model might be heard on her Christmas album that options “All I Want For Christmas.”)
However Helms’ model is the go-to track for soundtracks. His tackle “Jingle Bell Rock” has been utilized in The Simpsons, It’s All the time Sunny In Philadelphia, South Park and Household Man, and in quite a few films, together with Deadly Weapon and Dwelling Alone 2: Misplaced In New York. It even makes an look within the Imply Women Jingle Bell Rock choreography on the expertise present.
Helms continued touring and recording for the remainder of his life with out matching his early hits. He additionally acquired into the nightclub enterprise and took on sponsoring nation music festivals. The singer died from emphysema and bronchial asthma on the age of 63, in June 1997. His music will reside on so long as Christmas is well known. So everytime you really feel like having just a little jingle hop, throw this track on to have a jingle bell time.
In search of extra? Uncover the very best Christmas songs of all time.
