I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Single |
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| Name = I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas |
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| Artist = [[Gayla Peevey]] |
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| Released = 1953 <small>([[United States|U.S.]])</small> |
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| Genre = [[Christmas song]] |
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| Label = [[Columbia Records]] |
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| Writer = [[John Rox]] |
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==History== |
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Peevey was a regional child star of the Oklahoma City area. When released nationally by Columbia Records, the song shot to the top of the charts and the city zoo acquired a baby hippo named Matilda. |
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| ⚫ | A popular legend holds that this 1953 hit had been recorded as a fund-raiser to bring the city zoo a hippo; but in a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based [[WNIC]] radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not originally recorded as a fundraiser. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas. |
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The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years <ref>"The Breakfast Club" morning show. WNIC, Detroit, MI. 19 December 2007.</ref>. |
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==B-side== |
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The [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of the original [[Gramophone record|78]] featured the song "Are my Ears on Straight?" |
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==Other releases== |
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==In popular culture== |
==In popular culture== |
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Revision as of 22:04, 16 December 2008
| "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" | |
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| Song |
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas is a Christmas novelty song written by John Rox and performed by Gayla Peevey (10 years old at the time) in 1953.
History
Peevey was a regional child star of the Oklahoma City area. When released nationally by Columbia Records, the song shot to the top of the charts and the city zoo acquired a baby hippo named Matilda.
A popular legend holds that this 1953 hit had been recorded as a fund-raiser to bring the city zoo a hippo; but in a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based WNIC radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not originally recorded as a fundraiser. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas.
The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years [1].
B-side
The B-side of the original 78 featured the song "Are my Ears on Straight?"
Other releases
It is a Dr. Demento Christmas staple, and is currently available on Dr. Demento's The Greatest Novelty Records of All Time Vol. 6: Christmas.
In popular culture
- The Great Luke Ski, in his 2007 holiday medley "It's a Fanboy Christmas II: The Wrath of Claus", included a parody of the song entitled "I Want a Classic Optimus for Christmas".
Notes
- ^ "The Breakfast Club" morning show. WNIC, Detroit, MI. 19 December 2007.
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