I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is an American Christmas song with music and lyrics by Tommie Connor.
The original recording by Jimmy Boyd on 15 July 1952 when he was 13 [1] reached #1 on the Billboard charts in December 1952, and on the Cash Box chart at the beginning of the following year. The song was commissioned by Saks Fifth Avenue to promote the store's Christmas card for the year, which featured an original sketch by artist Perry Barlow, who drew for The New Yorker for many decades.
The song describes a scene where a child creeps down from his/her bedroom to see his/her mother kissing "Santa Claus."
Boyd's record was condemned by the Roman Catholic Church in Boston when it was released on the grounds that it mixed kissing with Christmas, ignoring the fact that mistletoe, under which many couples kiss, is traditionally hung in many homes during the Christmas season. Boyd was photographed meeting with the Archdiocese to explain the song. After the meeting, the ban was lifted.
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[edit] Spike Jones version
A less successful version of the song was released in 1952 by Spike Jones[2] (with vocal by George Rock in the little boy voice used in Spike's hit "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"). Jones also recorded a parody for his personal pleasure titled "I Saw Mommy Screwing Santa Claus."[3]
[edit] Cover versions
Popular versions of the song were released by the Ronettes, Molly Bee, The Beverley Sisters and The Jackson 5. Reba McEntire, Amy Winehouse, John Mellencamp, John Prine, The Cheetah Girls, Bif Naked, Jessica Simpson, Teresa Brewer, Rica Fukami, Secret Chiefs 3 and Dionne Bromfield have also covered it. RuPaul and Kip Addotta both recorded versions with changed lyrics titled "I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus".
[edit] International versions
- Danish: "Jeg så julemanden kysse mor" (Danish text: Susanne Palsbo)
- Finnish: "Kun joulupukki suukon sai" (Finnish text: Saukki)
- French: J'ai vu maman embrasser le Père Noël
- Norwegian: "Jeg så mamma kysse nissen" (Norwegian text: Philip A. Kruse)
- Swedish: "Jag såg mamma kyssa tomten"
- Mexican: "Hoy vi a Santa Claus besar a mamá" (Spanish text: Anibal Pastor)
[edit] Film adaptation
A made-for-television movie based on the song was released in 2001.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ "The Top 40 Christmas Oldies Songs". Oldies.about.com. 1952-07-15. http://oldies.about.com/od/theculture/a/christmas35.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
- ^ "Billboard". 1952-12-06. http://books.google.com/books?id=CSAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26&dq=%22i+saw+mommy+kissing+santa+claus%22&hl=en&ei=D_cNTe_DN6SanAeT2NHODg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22i%20saw%20mommy%20kissing%20santa%20claus%22&f=false. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
- ^ Young, Jordan R.. "Spike Jones and his City Slickers". http://books.google.com/books?id=4PzZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22i+saw+mommy+screwing+santa+claus%22&dq=%22i+saw+mommy+screwing+santa+claus%22&hl=en&ei=pvcNTY7yJ8yknwf7yY3vDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAg. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
[edit] External links
- Lyrics to I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
| Preceded by "Why Don't You Believe Me?" by Joni James |
U.S. Billboard Best Sellers in Stores number-one single December 27, 1952 – January 3, 1953 |
Succeeded by "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" by Perry Como |
| Preceded by "Why Don't You Believe Me?" by Joni James |
U.S. Cash Box Best Selling Records Chart number-one record January 3, 1953 |
Succeeded by "Why Don't You Believe Me?" by Joni James |
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