Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", also known as simply "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in Hollywood, California, during a heat wave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions.[1][2] The song was first recorded that fall by Vaughn Monroe, was released just after Thanksgiving, and became a hit by Christmas.[3]
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" | |
---|---|
Song | |
Published | 1945 |
Composer(s) | Jule Styne |
Lyricist(s) | Sammy Cahn |
Despite the lyrics making no mention of any holiday, the song has come to be regarded as a Christmas song worldwide due to its winter theme, being played on radio stations during the Christmas and holiday season, and having often been covered by various artists on Christmas-themed albums.[4] In the Southern Hemisphere, it can be played during the winter months of June, July, and August; and in New Zealand, some play it at Matariki.
Frank Sinatra version
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" | |
---|---|
Single by Frank Sinatra | |
from the album Christmas Songs by Sinatra | |
B-side | "Remember Me in Your Dreams" |
Released | 1950 |
Genre | |
Length | 2:36 |
Label | Columbia |
Composer(s) | Jule Styne |
Lyricist(s) | Sammy Cahn |
American singer Frank Sinatra released a version as a single in 1950 that featured The B. Swanson Quartet.[5][6]
Chart (1950–2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[7] | 17 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] | 55 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] | 45 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] | 28 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[11] | 13 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] | 13 |
France (SNEP)[13] | 105 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] | 73 |
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] | 41 |
Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[16] | 22 |
Hungary (Single Top 40)[17] | 22 |
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[18] | 6 |
Ireland (IRMA)[19] | 34 |
Italy (FIMI)[20] | 33 |
Latvia (LAIPA)[21] | 9 |
Lithuania (AGATA)[22] | 19 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] | 16 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] | 15 |
Portugal (AFP)[25] | 19 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[26] | 19 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[27] | 69 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] | 12 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] | 16 |
UK Singles (OCC)[30] | 33 |
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[31] | 45 |
US Rolling Stone Top 100[32] | 81 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[33] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[34] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[35] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[36] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[37] | Gold | 5,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Greece (IFPI Greece)[39] | Gold | 1,000,000† |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Dean Martin version
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Dean Martin | ||||
from the album A Winter Romance | ||||
Released | 1959 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 1:55 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Composer(s) | Jule Styne | |||
Lyricist(s) | Sammy Cahn | |||
Dean Martin singles chronology | ||||
|
American singer Dean Martin released a version of the song in 1959, as part of his album A Winter Romance, and a re-recorded version in 1966, as part of The Dean Martin Christmas Album. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in 2018.[40]
Chart (1966–2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[7] | 20 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[41] | 11 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[42] | 25 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[43] | 12 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[44] | 12 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[45] | 11 |
Denmark (Tracklisten)[46] | 15 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[47] | 11 |
France (SNEP)[48] | 11 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[49] | 11 |
Global 200 (Billboard)[50] | 11 |
Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[16] | 51 |
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[51] | 9 |
Ireland (IRMA)[52] | 13 |
Italy (FIMI)[53] | 10 |
Latvia (LAIPA)[21] | 15 |
Lithuania (AGATA)[54] | 6 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[55] | 17 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[56] | 17 |
Norway (VG-lista)[57] | 23 |
Portugal (AFP)[58] | 11 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[59] | 7 |
Slovenia (SloTop50)[60] | 26 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[61] | 99 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[62] | 30 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[63] | 7 |
UK Singles (OCC)[64] | 20 |
US Billboard Hot 100[65] | 8 |
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[66] | 6 |
US Rolling Stone Top 100[67] | 7 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[68] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[69] | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[71] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[72] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Greece (IFPI Greece)[73] | Gold | 1,000,000† |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Jessica Simpson version
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" | |
---|---|
Single by Jessica Simpson | |
from the album Rejoyce: The Christmas Album | |
Released | November 22, 2004[74] |
Recorded | 2004 |
Genre | |
Length | 2:01 |
Label | Columbia |
Composer(s) | Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne |
Lyricist(s) | Sammy Cahn |
American singer Jessica Simpson released a version of the song in 2004, as part of her album Rejoyce: The Christmas Album. Her version was produced by Billy Mann. The song has a music video. Simpson's version reached No. 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard AC[75] | 20 |
Other charting recordings
Glee Cast version
Chart (2011–2012) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[76] | 22 |
Michael Bublé version
Chart (2021–2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Ireland (IRMA)[77] | 61 |
UK Singles (OCC)[78] | 44 |
US Billboard Adult Contemporary (chart)[79] | 1 |
Other notable versions
Widely heard recordings of the song include:
- 1945 (first recording) – Vaughn Monroe for RCA Victor, which became a popular hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard "Best Sellers" music chart for five weeks from late December into early 1946.[3] Vaughn later re-recorded the song in stereo for his 1958 album There I Sing/Swing It Again.[80]
- 1946 – Woody Herman for Columbia Records, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard chart. Other 1946 versions were recorded by Connee Boswell for Decca Records and Bob Crosby for ARA Records.
- 1962 – Bing Crosby, on his album I Wish You a Merry Christmas.[81]
- 2005 – Carly Simon, on a CD single. Her version is unusual in being sung from the point of view of the host instead of the guest.[82] It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[83]
- 2012 – Rod Stewart, on his album Merry Christmas, Baby. Stewart's version reached No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in December 2012 and remained there for a total of five weeks, tying it for the longest leading rendition of a holiday title in the history of the chart.[84][85]
- 2021 – Lele Pons sang a version of the song.
See also
References
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