Mele Kalikimaka: Difference between revisions
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One of the earliest recordings of this song was by [[Bing Crosby]] and [[the Andrews Sisters]] in 1950 on Decca 27228 (78 rpm) / 9-27228 (45 rpm)<ref>{{cite web |title=Decca 27228 (10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/objects/detail/321091/Decca_27228 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu |accessdate=17 December 2018}}</ref> and it has been [[cover song|covered]] by many artists. It has also been used in several films, including ''[[L.A. Confidential (film)|L.A. Confidential]]'', ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]'' and ''[[National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation]].'' |
One of the earliest recordings of this song was by [[Bing Crosby]] and [[the Andrews Sisters]] in 1950 on Decca 27228 (78 rpm) / 9-27228 (45 rpm)<ref>{{cite web |title=Decca 27228 (10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/objects/detail/321091/Decca_27228 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu |accessdate=17 December 2018}}</ref> and it has been [[cover song|covered]] by many artists. It has also been used in several films, including ''[[L.A. Confidential (film)|L.A. Confidential]]'', ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]'' and ''[[National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation]].'' |
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[[The Beach Boys]] released a song of the same name but with completely different lyrics and music on their 1998 album ''[[Ultimate Christmas]]''; it had been first released under the name "Kona Coast" on their 1978 album ''[[M.I.U. Album]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Beach Boys - Mele Kalikimaka (1977)|url=https://abitlikeyouandme.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-beach-boys-mele-kalikimaka-1977.html |website=A Bit Like You And Me |author=Zolland |date= December 24, 2012 |accessdate=28 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228203958/https://abitlikeyouandme.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-beach-boys-mele-kalikimaka-1977.html|archive-date=28 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
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[[The Beach Boys]] recorded a song of the same name for their album ''[[Ultimate Christmas]]'', but it contains lyrics and music completely different from the song written by Robert Alex Anderson. |
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== Origin of the phrase == |
== Origin of the phrase == |
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Revision as of 20:54, 28 December 2019
| "Mele Kalikimaka" | |
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| Single | |
| Released | 1950 |
| Genre | |
| Songwriter(s) |
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"Mele Kalikimaka" (pronounced [ˈmɛlɛ kəˌlikiˈmɐkə]) is a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written in 1949 by Robert Alex Anderson. The song takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase Mele Kalikimaka, meaning "Merry Christmas".[1] One of the earliest recordings of this song was by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1950 on Decca 27228 (78 rpm) / 9-27228 (45 rpm)[2] and it has been covered by many artists. It has also been used in several films, including L.A. Confidential, Catch Me If You Can and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
The Beach Boys released a song of the same name but with completely different lyrics and music on their 1998 album Ultimate Christmas; it had been first released under the name "Kona Coast" on their 1978 album M.I.U. Album.[3]
Origin of the phrase
The expression Mele Kalikimaka, despite its foreign sound, is actually borrowed directly from English. But since the Hawaiian language has a different phonological system from English, it is not possible to render a pronunciation that is especially close to Merry Christmas. Standard Hawaiian does not have the /r/ or /s/ of English and its phonotactic constraints do not permit consonants at the end of syllables or consonant clusters. Thus the closest approximation to Merry Christmas is Mele Kalikimaka.[4]
Notable versions
 |
- 311
- Blue Hawaiians
- Jimmy Buffett, from Christmas Island (1996)
- Jimmy Buffett and Jake Shimabukuro, from 'Tis the SeaSon (2016)
- Teresa Carpio
- Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters – recorded September 7, 1950, with Vic Schoen and His Orchestra.[5]
- The Good Lovelies
- Hawaii Calls
- Nick Hexum
- Don Ho
- Chris Isaak, on Christmas (2004)
- Davy Jones
- Genoa Keawe
- Arthur Lyman
- Seth MacFarlane, from Holiday for Swing (2014)
- Dead Meadow
- Bette Midler, from Cool Yule (2006)
- Mina
- The Monkees, from Christmas Party (2018)
- Kacey Musgraves and The Quebe Sisters Band, from A Very Kacey Christmas (2016)
- Jake Owen
- Poi Dog Pondering
- Dick Powell, Richard Diamond, Private Detective; A Christmas Carol radio episode
- The Puppini Sisters, from Christmas with The Puppini Sisters
- Reel Big Fish
- She & Him
- Train, from Christmas in Tahoe (2015)
- KT Tunstall, from Sounds of the Season: The KT Tunstall Holiday Collection (2007)
- Walk off the Earth
- The Lost Fingers (2016)
- Straight No Chaser, from ‘’I’ll Have Another... Christmas Album’’ (2016)
- Götz Alsmann (2015), translated into German[6]
- Ingrid Michaelson with Allie Moss and Bess Rogers from Songs for the Season (2018)[7]
References
- ^ Elbert, S. & Pukui, M.; Hawaiian Dictionary, page 481
- ^ "Decca 27228 (10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Zolland (December 24, 2012). "The Beach Boys - Mele Kalikimaka (1977)". A Bit Like You And Me. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ Golston, Chris; Yang, Phong (2001), "White Hmong loanword phonology", in Féry, A.D. Green; van de Vijver, R. (eds.), Proceedings of HILP, vol. 5, University of Potsdam: Potsdam, pp. 40–57
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ Alsmann, Götz. "Winterwunderwelt Vol. 2" [winter wonder world volume 2] (in German). Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ Shackleford, Tom. "Ingrid Michaelson announces 'Songs for the Season' holiday album and tour". AXS. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
