Jingle Bells

Year: 1850

Written By: James Lord Pierpont

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Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1850, 'Jingle Bells' is one of the most well recognised and loved winter songs in the world. The song was originally release under the title of 'One Horse Open Sleigh' but was reprinted in 1859 under a different title,' Jingle Bells, or the One Horse Open Sleigh'. As well as a different title for the song over the years, the song has also undergone lyrical changes which differ from the 1857 version. The inspiration for song came from Pierpont's home town's sleigh races which had much popularity throughout the 1800's according to the Medford Historical Society.

A common misconception is that 'Jingle Bells' is actually a Christmas song, when in fact the song was written and performed for Thanksgiving. It was tagged as a Christmas classic as the popularity of the song led it to be performed again, but throughout the Christmas period. The song had such popularity that it has become a hugely popular and much loved Christmas song around the world. Its popularity has led Pierpont being given recognition of his achievement, by being voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters recorded the song in 1943 and achieved a peak position of number nineteen in the charts and also managed to sell over a million copies of their version.  'Jingle Bells' has also been performed and recorded as a cover most notably by Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Boney M, and Kimberley Locke. In 2006, Kimberley Locke managed to get 'Jingle Bells' to reach number one in the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts.

This Christmas classic has an extraordinary record of being the first ever song to be broadcast from space. This record came courtesy of a prank by two astronauts from Gemini 6; these astronauts were Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra. The prank was complete on December 16, 1965 when the pair produced a rendition of 'Jingle Bells' with a harmonica they has managed to smuggle on board.

The popularity of 'Jingle Bells' and its catchy tune has led to the song becoming the subject of many parodies. The most well-known parody happens to be 'Jingle Bells, Batman Smells' which has been circulating since the mid-1960s. Bart Simpson also sings a version on The Simpsons.