Bing Crosby

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Bing Crosby]
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

[Verse 2: Bing Crosby]
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
"May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white"

[Verse 3: Bing Crosby & Ken Darby Singers]
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

[Verse 4: Bing Crosby & Ken Darby Singers, Bing Crosby]
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
"May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white"

If there's one classic Christmas song that everyone knows, it's "White Christmas". This Irving Berlin song has been covered countless times, but there's one version that stands out among the rest: Bing Crosby's 1947 recording. Not only is this rendition beautifully arranged and performed, but it is also the best-selling single of all time, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide.

About White Christmas (1947 Release)

Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas" in the early 1940s, and it quickly became a hit. The song is a wistful ode to Christmases past, full of nostalgic memories and a longing for snow. Bing Crosby recorded the song for Decca Records in 1942, but it wasn't until the song was re-released in 1947 that it truly took off. The 1947 recording features Crosby's smooth vocals, backed up by John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers.

What makes this version of "White Christmas" so special? For one, Crosby's performance is absolutely sublime. His voice is warm and inviting, perfectly capturing the sentimentality of the lyrics. The orchestration and choral arrangement are also top-notch, creating a lush, layered sound that perfectly complements Crosby's vocals. The result is a truly timeless Christmas classic that remains just as beloved today as it was over 70 years ago.

But it's not just the quality of the recording that makes "White Christmas" so remarkable - it's also the song's enduring popularity. Even all these years later, it remains a staple of the holiday season, played in malls, coffee shops, and radio stations across the country every year. Part of the song's appeal lies in its timeless message of home, family, and nostalgia - themes that resonate just as strongly today as they did in 1942 when the song was written.

It's also worth noting the cultural impact that "White Christmas" has had over the years. The song's popularity helped to cement Bing Crosby's status as one of the biggest stars of his era, and it helped to launch the career of Irving Berlin, who went on to write countless other hits. "White Christmas" was even adapted into a hit 1954 film starring Crosby himself, which went on to become a classic in its own right.

All in all, there's simply no denying the power and appeal of "White Christmas". From its timeless lyrics to its beautifully arranged instrumentation and Crosby's iconic vocals, this song is a true masterpiece that has earned its place in the annals of music history.

• Release Date: 1947
• Artist: Bing Crosby