by 
On this Day:
In 1958, the “Chipmunk Song” reaches #1.
“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” is a novelty Christmas song written by Ross Bagdasarian (under the stage name of David Seville) in 1958. Bagdasarian sang and recorded the song, varying the tape speeds to produce high-pitched “chipmunk” voices, with the vocals credited to Alvin and the Chipmunks, Seville’s cartoon virtual band. The song won three Grammy Awards in 1958, for Best Comedy Performance, Best Children’s Recording, and Best Engineered Record (non-classical).
The song was very successful, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, becoming The Chipmunks’ first (and only), as well as David Seville’s second and final, No. 1 single. It had the distinction of being the only Christmas record to reach No. 1 on the same chart until Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” did so 61 years later in 2019. The single sold 4.5 million copies in seven weeks, according to Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Before the song’s success, “The Chipmunk Song” was featured on American Bandstand’s “Rate-A-Record” segment and received the lowest possible rating of 35 across the board.
Between 1958 and 1962, the single re-entered the Hot 100 several times, peaking at No. 41 in 1958, No. 45 in 1960, and No. 39 in 1962. (Starting in 1963, Billboard would list recurrent Christmas songs on a separate chart.) The song charted on the Hot Digital Songs for the first time in 2005, peaking at No. 35.
With the release and popularity of the film Alvin and the Chipmunks in December 2007, “The Chipmunk Song” re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 70. At the same time, a remixed version of the song that appears on the Chipmunks’ 2007 album (and soundtrack to the film) Alvin and the Chipmunks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, peaked at No. 66 and was credited as “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) (2007 Version)”.
As of December 25, 2011, Nielsen SoundScan estimated total sales of two versions of the digital track by The Chipmunks at 867,000 downloads, placing it third on the list of all-time best-selling Christmas/holiday digital singles in SoundScan history (behind Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit single “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s 1996 track “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24”) (per Wikipedia).
First, a Story:
A man walks into a bar after a long day at work.
He sits down, orders a beer, and begins to mull over his day.
After a few minutes he hears a quiet, and high pitched voice say “I like your plaid shirt”. He looks around and doesn’t see anybody, so he goes back to his drink.
A few sips later he hears the same voice say “You have a great beard”. He looks around again half expecting to see Alvin the chipmunk, but there is nothing.
After a few more sips, he hears it again, “I bet your parents are real proud of you”. Finally he has had enough. He slams his drink down, looks over at the bartender, and says “What the heck is that high pitched voice I am hearing?!”
The bartender looks up and says “Its the peanuts…
They’re complimentary.”
Second, a Song:
Here are Alvin and the Chipmunks performing The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late). I hope you enjoy this!
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcvlWtYqEhE)
Thought for the Day:
David “Dave” Seville: ALVIN!!!
Have a great day!
Dave & Colleen
© 2021 David J. Bilinsky and Colleen E. Bilinsky
Leave a Reply