It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is a Christmas song written in 1951 by Meredith Willson. The song was originally titled "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas". The song has been recorded by many artists, but was a hit for Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra on September 18, 1951, and released on RCA Victor as 47-4314 (45 rpm) and 20-4314 (78 rpm). Bing Crosby recorded a version on October 1, 1951, which was also widely played.

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
Song
Language	English
Published	1951 by Plymouth Music
Genre	Christmas
Songwriter(s)	Meredith Willson

Background and writing

A popular belief in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, holds that Willson wrote the song while staying in Yarmouth's Grand Hotel.[1] The song makes reference to a "tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well..."; the park being Frost Park, directly across the road from the Grand Hotel, which still operates in a newer building on the same site as the old hotel.[2] It also makes mention of the five and ten which was a store operating in Yarmouth at the time.

It is also possible that the "Grand Hotel" Willson mentions in the song was inspired by the Historic Park Inn Hotel in his hometown of Mason City, Iowa. The Park Inn Hotel is the last remaining hotel in the world designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and is situated in downtown Mason City overlooking central park.

In popular culture

Johnny Mathis recorded the song for his 1986 album Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis; this version gained popularity after its inclusion in the film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Gradually, Mathis's recording began to receive wide radio airplay, and for the past several years this version has been a Top 10 Christmas hit.

Perry Como version

Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra released their cover of "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" on September 18, 1951, becoming one of the biggest versions of the song, which is still widely played today, with over 87 million streams on Spotify as of June 16, 2019.

Weekly charts

Chart (2008–2019)	Peak position
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[3]	44
Germany (Official German Charts)[4]	90
Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[5]	45
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[6]	19
Latvia (LAIPA)[7]	20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8]	69
Portugal (AFP)[9]	89
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[10]	41
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11]	77
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12]	65
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[13]	47
US Billboard Hot 100[14]	28
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[15]	14
US Rolling Stone Top 100[16]	15

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17]	Silver	200,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Michael Bublé version

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
Single by Michael Bublé
from the album Christmas
Released	18 November 2012 (2012-11-18)
Recorded	2011
Genre	Christmas Traditional pop jazz
Length	3:27
Label	Reprise
Michael Bublé singles chronology
"Georgia on My Mind" (2012) "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (2012) "White Christmas" (2012)

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is a song performed by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. The song was first released on October 24, 2011, as the first track of Bublé's Christmas album. However, his cover was released as the album's second single on November 18, 2012, achieving greater success.

Weekly charts

Chart (2011–2020)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18]	16
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19]	14
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[20]	8
Denmark (Tracklisten)[21]	7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[22]	5
France (SNEP)[23]	68
Germany (Official German Charts)[24]	14
Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[25]	18
Hungary (Single Top 40)[26]	16
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[27]	2
Ireland (IRMA)[28]	11
Italy (FIMI)[29]	27
Latvia (LAIPA)[30]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31]	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32]	5
Norway (VG-lista)[33]	10
Portugal (AFP)[34]	16
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[35]	60
Singapore (RIAS)[36]	23
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[37]	75
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[38]	6
South Korea (Gaon)[39]	186
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[40]	45
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41]	4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42]	6
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[43]	7
US Billboard Hot 100[44]	96
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[45]	2
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[46]	32
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[47]	10
US Rolling Stone Top 100[48]	49

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[49]	Platinum	90,000
Italy (FIMI)[50]	Platinum	50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51]	Gold	7,500
United Kingdom (BPI)[52]	Platinum	600,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Other notable versions

• 2002: America on their album Holiday Harmony
• 2007: The Four Freshmen on their album.
• 2008: Harry Connick Jr. on his album What a Night! A Christmas Album
• 2009: Connie Talbot on her album Connie Talbot's Holiday Magic
• 2009: Andrea Bocelli along with Kenny Loggins, Olivia Newton-John and Richard Marx, on his album My Christmas
• 2015: Jann Arden on her album A Jann Arden Christmas
• 2016: Laura Pausini on her album Laura Xmas
• 2017: Noah Cyrus on her promotional single
• 2018: Pentatonix on their album Christmas Is Here!

References

1. Medel, Brian (2011-11-20). "Christmas looks a lot like Yarmouth in classic tune". The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
2. Yarmouth, N.S. Landmarks - The Old Grand Hotel, archived from the original on 2010-12-11, retrieved 2014-11-07
3. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 20185152 into search. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
4. "Offiziellecharts.de – Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
5. "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 52/2018". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
6. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
7. "Mūzikas patēriņa tops gadu mijā" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
9. "Portuguesecharts.com – Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
10. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 20185152 into search. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
12. "Swisscharts.com – Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
14. "Perry Como Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
15. "Perry Como Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
16. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
17. "British single certifications – Perry Como – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 16, 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
18. "Austriancharts.at – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
19. "Michael Buble Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
20. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201851 into search. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
21. "Track Top-40 Uge 52, 2018". Hitlisten. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
22. "Michael Bublé: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
23. "Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming)". Syndicat National de l'édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
24. "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
25. "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 52/2018". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
26. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
27. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
28. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
29. "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 52" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
30. "Mūzikas patēriņa tops gadu mijā" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
31. "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
32. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 31, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
33. "Norwegiancharts.com – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". VG-lista. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
34. "Portuguesecharts.com – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
35. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
36. "Singapore Top 30 Digital Streaming Chart – Week 52" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2019.
37. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201851 into search. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
38. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201851 into search. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
39. "Digital Chart – Week 52 of 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 2, 2020.
40. "Spanishcharts.com – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
41. "Swedishcharts.com – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
42. "Swisscharts.com – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
43. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
44. "Michael Buble Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
45. "Michael Buble Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
46. "Michael Buble Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
47. "Michael Buble Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
48. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
49. "Danish single certifications – Michael Buble – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved January 16, 2019. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2019 to obtain certification.
50. "Italian single certifications – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 16, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
51. "New Zealand single certifications – Michael Bublé – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
52. "British single certifications – Michael Buble – It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 13, 2019.