Jingle Bell Rock
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Jingle Bell Rock is the name of a popular Christmas song. It was first released by Bobby Helms in 1957 and has received frequent airplay during every Christmas time since then.
It has been performed by many, but Helms' version is the best-known. Its title and some of its lyrics are takeoffs on the old Christmas standard, "Jingle Bells". It also makes brief references to other popular songs of the 1950s, such as "Rock Around the Clock", and mentions going to a "Jingle hop".
Despite being titled a Jingle Bell "Rock", Helms' version of the song was performed in the crossover style known as Rockabilly, and to modern ears it sounds a lot more "Country" than it does "Rock and Roll". Example lyrics:
- What a bright time
- It's the right time
- To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
- Giddy-up, Jingle Horse, pick up your feet
- Jingle around the clock
- Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' beat 1
- That's the Jingle Bell Rock
A notable cover version of the song was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets (coincidentally the originators of the referenced "Rock Around the Clock") in 1968 for United Artists records. Intended for a seasonal single release, it was decided not to release the recording, and it was considered lost for nearly 30 years until it was finally issued in the mid-1990s.
[edit] Footnote
1Transcribers of the lyrics disagree on whether Helms is saying "beat" or is redundantly repeating the word "feet" from the earlier line.
