Over the weekend, I found my jacket and umbrella and braved the rain, the long lines, and the traffic and did a bit of holiday shopping. Yes…it was a mess, but when I got home I was still smiling – I heard “Clay Aiken” in two of the three stores I visited. I must admit, I stopped what I was doing and just listened for a moment. Who would have thought that listening to Sleigh Ride in Michael’s Arts and Craft could put me in the Christmas mood.
Sleigh Ride was originally written as an instrumental piece in 1946 by Leroy Anderson. Words for Sleigh Ride were added in 1950 by Mitchell Parish, and the song has since become a Christmas classic. Arthur Fiedler premiered the song with the Boston Pops.
More than 60 years after Leroy Anderson created Sleigh Ride, the composition is still ranked as one of the 10 most popular pieces of Christmas music worldwide. This is in spite of the fact that the word “Christmas” is never mentioned in the lyrics.
ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, named Sleigh Ride the most popular piece of Christmas music in the USA in 2009, 2010, 2011 and again in 2012. Leroy Anderson’s original recording of Sleigh Ride was the version most often played in 2010 based on performance data tracked by airplay monitoring service, Mediaguide, from over 2,500 radio stations nationwide. According to ASCAP, Sleigh Ride is in 6th place this year (2019).
Just hear those sleigh bells
Jingling ring ting tingling too
Come on it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
Clay Aiken included Sleigh Ride in his Joyful Noise Tours. It was a light, fun song that moved quickly…in fact, the words were so fast that sometimes Clay stumbled on the words. Add to that, his animated face and directing hands, Sleigh Ride became a fan favorite.
I’m loving the following video!
What is your favorite Christmas Song?
My Favorite Christmas song is Merry Christmas with Love.
It's so hard to pick any favorites of Clay – I love every thing he sings but All Is Well and
O Holy Night have to be near the top. How great that you got to hear Clay while shopping.
That makes for joy for sure! Loved the video – and would love for another Christmas Tour at some time!
Thank you so very much, CANN.
That was fun to watch. I remember attending Clay's Christmas concert that year. The year that Clay's Christmas CD came out, I rushed right out and bought it. 'Mary Did You Know' became my favorite song. The next day I took the CD to work along with a little player and every time one of the teachers stopped by my desk, I'd take them into the file room and play the song for them. Several of them then went out and bought the album. Good memories.
I was sooo lucky to see the Christmas show twice in
LA!! Thanks for the memories
Thank you for the pictures and the video. I have never seen the video before. It is hard to pick my favorite song, when Clay sings them. It is nice to go shopping and hear Clay singing. It has happen to me and I have to stop moving and just stand there and listen to Clay sing until the song is over and then move on. Thank you.
It's about time more places are playing Christmas songs by our favorite guy! I heard
"Oh Holy Night" just recently! They are enjoying his songs that we have known all along!
Thank you so much, CANN for the pictures and the special video of OMC!
my favorite Christmas song is oh holy night