The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
Encyclopedia
"The Chipmunk Song" is a song written by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (a.k.a. David Seville) in 1958. Although it was written and sung by Bagdasarian (in the form of a high-pitched
chipmunk
voice), the singing credits are given to The Chipmunks
, a fictitious singing group consisting of three chipmunks by the names of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. The song won three Grammy Awards in 1958: Best Comedy Performance, Best Children's Recording, and Best Engineered Record (non-classical).
Pop Singles chart, becoming The Chipmunks' first (and only), as well as David Seville's second and final, #1 single. It has the distinction of being the only Christmas record to reach #1 on the same chart. The single sold 4.5 million copies in seven weeks, according to Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. Ironically, 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 1959 and 1962, the single managed to re-enter the Hot 100, peaking at #41 in 1959, #45 in 1960, and #39 in 1962. (Starting in 1963, Billboard would list re-current Christmas songs on a separate chart.) The song managed to chart on the Hot Digital Songs for the first time in 2005, peaking at #35 on that chart.
"The Chipmunk Song" is the last Christmas song to reach #1 on any US single record chart totaling performance of all available records.
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 #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 #66 and was credited as "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) (2007 Version)".
as one of its musical segments. The short depicts Alvin looking through various presents to find a hula hoop
, even as he reluctantly sings along with the other Chipmunks. At the end of the song, Seville rewards Simon and Theodore with toy planes and Alvin with his hula hoop. The subsequent argument about singing the song again ends abruptly with their Christmas tree falling over, and Seville and the Chipmunks emerge from the mess to wish the viewers a merry Christmas.
The song was featured in A Chipmunk Christmas
. A depressed Alvin sings along flatly at first (much like the 1958 original), but then leaves the studio to give away his harmonica
to a sick boy. As Seville starts to resume recording the song without Alvin, Alvin returns in the nick of time to sing the song with the others.
The song was featured in the 1980s and 1990s version of Alvin and the Chipmunks
, in the episode "Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll." In that version, Alvin is taken by Dave (as the Spirit of Christmas Past) to his old house, a cabin lodge where he saw Dave and younger versions of himself, Simon and Theodore. There, it was revealed that Dave wrote the song (called "The Christmas Song" in this episode), because it was inspired by the gifts that the young Chipmunks gave him (which was an eraser, a pencil and a piece of paper).
The song was featured in the film Alvin and the Chipmunks
. There were multiple versions of the song in that film, the original with Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.'s voice, a new one with Jason Lee's voice as David Seville, and a rock mix.
The original recording has been used in the feature films, Rocky IV
(1985), Donnie Brasco
(1997) and Almost Famous
(2000).
It can also be found on the 2-disc Christmas
compilation
album Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4
.
which was first issued as a single in 1968, which is a bonus track on the 2007 re-release of the Chipmunks' first Christmas album, Christmas with The Chipmunks
, this version is the official remix of the original version of the song. On the Solid Gold Chipmunks: 30th Anniversary Edition greatest hits album (1988), this song appears, but with an altered bridge and ending. Instead of Dave yelling at Alvin for how flat he is in the first verse, Alvin instead appeals that he has asked for the hula-hoop for years but has never gotten it. Dave answers by telling him to finish the song, and they'll discuss it later. After they finish, Dave tells Alvin that something came in for him. It s the hula-hoop that he has been asking for, and the song fades out with Alvin now rattling off a long list of what else he desires for Christmas. The Solid Gold Chipmunks album, Here's Looking at Me album, and The Chipmunk's 35th Birthday Party (1993) are currently the only known albums that contains this version. There are two versions of the song that both feature Kenny G
on the album A Very Merry Chipmunk
(1995), that features a more jazz version of the song with Kenny G playing the saxophone during the song, the first is the long version with Alvin complaining about Kenny G and his success as a jazz saxophone player and him helping Alvin to learn to play the sax, the second version called "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) (Reprise)" is the first version but with the talking removed and just the song with Kenny G playing the sax and the Chipmunks singing the song. There was also a version with the Chipmunks and CCM
singer, Jaci Velasquez
in which Alvin fell in love with Jaci and changed the line "Hula Hoop" into "Date With You".
On the album Disney's Merry Christmas Carols, Chip 'n' Dale sing "The Chipmunk Song" with Donald Duck
in the background.
In 2008, Rosie Thomas
released A Very Rosie Christmas, which featured a slower tempo contemplative rendering of "Christmas Don’t Be Late". Christian rock band Jars of Clay
did a rendition of the song during the last night of the Love Came Down Tour '08 event.
Pitch (music)
Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,...
chipmunk
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are small striped squirrels native to North America and Asia. They are usually classed either as a single genus with three subgenera, or as three genera.-Etymology and taxonomy:...
voice), the singing credits are given to The Chipmunks
The Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
, a fictitious singing group consisting of three chipmunks by the names of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. The song won three Grammy Awards in 1958: Best Comedy Performance, Best Children's Recording, and Best Engineered Record (non-classical).
Chart performance
The song was very successful, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
Pop Singles chart, becoming The Chipmunks' first (and only), as well as David Seville's second and final, #1 single. It has the distinction of being the only Christmas record to reach #1 on the same chart. The single sold 4.5 million copies in seven weeks, according to Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. Ironically, before the song's success, "The Chipmunk Song" was featured on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
's "Rate-A-Record" segment and received the lowest possible rating of 35 across the board.
Between 1959 and 1962, the single managed to re-enter the Hot 100, peaking at #41 in 1959, #45 in 1960, and #39 in 1962. (Starting in 1963, Billboard would list re-current Christmas songs on a separate chart.) The song managed to chart on the Hot Digital Songs for the first time in 2005, peaking at #35 on that chart.
"The Chipmunk Song" is the last Christmas song to reach #1 on any US single record chart totaling performance of all available records.
With the release and popularity of the film Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks (film)
Alvin and the Chipmunks is a 2007 comedy film directed by Tim Hill. Based on the animated series of the same name, the film stars Jason Lee, David Cross, and Cameron Richardson with the voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jesse McCartney. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox and...
in December 2007, "The Chipmunk Song" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #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
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the licensed soundtrack based on the 2007 film Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was released on November 20, 2007, three weeks before the film's release. The soundtrack is the first album to be released in three years by Bagdasarian...
, peaked at #66 and was credited as "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) (2007 Version)".
Adaptation in other media
The song has been adapted in The Alvin ShowThe Alvin Show
The Alvin Show is an American animated television series. It was the first to feature the singing characters Alvin and the Chipmunks, although a series with a similar concept The Nutty Squirrels Present had aired a year earlier...
as one of its musical segments. The short depicts Alvin looking through various presents to find a hula hoop
Hula hoop
A hula hoop is a toy hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck.Although the exact origins of hula hoops are unknown, children and adults around the world have played with hoops, twirling, rolling and throwing them throughout history...
, even as he reluctantly sings along with the other Chipmunks. At the end of the song, Seville rewards Simon and Theodore with toy planes and Alvin with his hula hoop. The subsequent argument about singing the song again ends abruptly with their Christmas tree falling over, and Seville and the Chipmunks emerge from the mess to wish the viewers a merry Christmas.
The song was featured in A Chipmunk Christmas
A Chipmunk Christmas
A Chipmunk Christmas is an animated christmas television special based on characters from Alvin and the Chipmunks. It aired on the NBC television network in 1981, nine years after the death of Alvin and the Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. . This was the first time that Alvin, Simon and...
. A depressed Alvin sings along flatly at first (much like the 1958 original), but then leaves the studio to give away his harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
to a sick boy. As Seville starts to resume recording the song without Alvin, Alvin returns in the nick of time to sing the song with the others.
The song was featured in the 1980s and 1990s version of Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks (TV series)
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated television series featuring The Chipmunks, produced by Bagdasarian Productions in association with Ruby-Spears Enterprises from 1983–87, and DIC Entertainment from 1988-90....
, in the episode "Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll." In that version, Alvin is taken by Dave (as the Spirit of Christmas Past) to his old house, a cabin lodge where he saw Dave and younger versions of himself, Simon and Theodore. There, it was revealed that Dave wrote the song (called "The Christmas Song" in this episode), because it was inspired by the gifts that the young Chipmunks gave him (which was an eraser, a pencil and a piece of paper).
The song was featured in the film Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks (film)
Alvin and the Chipmunks is a 2007 comedy film directed by Tim Hill. Based on the animated series of the same name, the film stars Jason Lee, David Cross, and Cameron Richardson with the voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jesse McCartney. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox and...
. There were multiple versions of the song in that film, the original with Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.'s voice, a new one with Jason Lee's voice as David Seville, and a rock mix.
The original recording has been used in the feature films, Rocky IV
Rocky IV
Rocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise...
(1985), Donnie Brasco
Donnie Brasco (film)
Donnie Brasco is a 1997 crime drama film directed by Mike Newell, starring Al Pacino, Johnny Depp and Michael Madsen. It is loosely based on the real-life events of Joseph D. Pistone, an FBI agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family, one of the Mafia's Five Families based in New York City...
(1997) and Almost Famous
Almost Famous
Almost Famous is a 2000 musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and telling the fictional story of a teenage journalist writing for Rolling Stone magazine while covering the fictitious rock band Stillwater , and his efforts to get his first cover story published...
(2000).
It can also be found on the 2-disc Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
album Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4
Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4
Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4 is a 2010 double album from the Now That's What I Call Music! series in the United States. It was released on October 12, 2010, and peaked at No...
.
Different versions
In most subsequent releases since the song's original release, the first verse on the original recording has been re-recorded, sounding more exaggerated than the original release, which contained "Almost Good" as the flip side. There is also a version with the Chipmunks and rock group Canned HeatCanned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
which was first issued as a single in 1968, which is a bonus track on the 2007 re-release of the Chipmunks' first Christmas album, Christmas with The Chipmunks
Christmas with The Chipmunks
Christmas with The Chipmunks is a Christmas music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, released in 1961, and contains 12 tracks. The tracks from this and its follow-up album, Christmas with The Chipmunks, Vol. 2 have been in continuous circulation since their original releases...
, this version is the official remix of the original version of the song. On the Solid Gold Chipmunks: 30th Anniversary Edition greatest hits album (1988), this song appears, but with an altered bridge and ending. Instead of Dave yelling at Alvin for how flat he is in the first verse, Alvin instead appeals that he has asked for the hula-hoop for years but has never gotten it. Dave answers by telling him to finish the song, and they'll discuss it later. After they finish, Dave tells Alvin that something came in for him. It s the hula-hoop that he has been asking for, and the song fades out with Alvin now rattling off a long list of what else he desires for Christmas. The Solid Gold Chipmunks album, Here's Looking at Me album, and The Chipmunk's 35th Birthday Party (1993) are currently the only known albums that contains this version. There are two versions of the song that both feature Kenny G
Kenny G
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick , better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986...
on the album A Very Merry Chipmunk
A Very Merry Chipmunk
A Very Merry Chipmunk is a 1994 music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, released by Sony Wonder. It is their fourth Christmas album. The album reached #147 on the Billboard 200. It was the first in a series of 25 Christmas compilation albums put forth by Turner Broadcasting company...
(1995), that features a more jazz version of the song with Kenny G playing the saxophone during the song, the first is the long version with Alvin complaining about Kenny G and his success as a jazz saxophone player and him helping Alvin to learn to play the sax, the second version called "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) (Reprise)" is the first version but with the talking removed and just the song with Kenny G playing the sax and the Chipmunks singing the song. There was also a version with the Chipmunks and CCM
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
singer, Jaci Velasquez
Jaci Velasquez
Jacquelyn Davette Velasquez is an American Contemporary Christian and Latin Pop singer—in both English and Spanish languages....
in which Alvin fell in love with Jaci and changed the line "Hula Hoop" into "Date With You".
On the album Disney's Merry Christmas Carols, Chip 'n' Dale sing "The Chipmunk Song" with Donald Duck
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
in the background.
In 2008, Rosie Thomas
Rosie Thomas
Rosie Thomas is an American singer-songwriter, originally from Michigan. It was through mutual friends that she met Trey Many and began playing shows with Velour 100. They recorded one EP together and played a few short tours, where she met Damien Jurado and Pedro the Lion...
released A Very Rosie Christmas, which featured a slower tempo contemplative rendering of "Christmas Don’t Be Late". Christian rock band Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
did a rendition of the song during the last night of the Love Came Down Tour '08 event.
See also
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1958 (U.S.)