ASCAP's List of the Best Pop Christmas Songs, 1939-1994: Part 2

Welcome to the second and final part of my look at the 2007 ASCAP list of the most popular American pop Christmas songs. As you will see by running down this part of the list, you will find the two youngest entries as well as the oldest entry on the list.

You will also learn a little about the pop culture of the US over the last 50 years as morals and attitudes change, as well as the shift in how we celebrate Christmas from a religious holiday toward a secular (and more commercial) one for better or worse. So refill your egg nog mug (or if you prefer get a steaming cup of cocoa) and remember to check this list twice for your favorite songs and let's begin.

13. Silver Bells
Music by Jay Livingston and Lyrics by Ray Evans
The third Oscar nominated Christmas song on this list, this tune was written for the 1951 Bob Hope film The Lemon Drop Kid. Based on stories from famed NY writer Damon Runyon the film is about a race track tout (played by Hope) who finds himself in hock with a group of gangsters but saddled with an orphan child. The song was written by one of the most underrated song teams of the 20^th Century but had the odd original title of Tinkle Bells until composer Livingston pointed out the double meaning of the title. The song would become the first Christmas carol that glories the holiday in the big city rather than either the past or the farm while being inspired by the familiar bell ringers from the Salvation Army on each corner during the season. Having won the Oscar the year before with Mona Lisa the team had high hopes that history would repeat itself but instead the title song from High Noon won instead. Livingston & Evens had to be satfied with having the most popular Christmas song for three years running thanks to Bing Crosby (who made more of these songs hits than anyone else). Though the team went on to successful careers in film (another Oscar for what Doris Day's What Ever Will Be Que Sera,Sera) and TV (themes from Bonanza & Mr Ed) Silver Bells was their favorite song together. No one definite recording exists but a few artists who have covered it include Crystal Gayle, Dean Martin and The Brady Bunch