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S38E6: Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around | Clip

The success of Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”

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Brenda Lee recorded “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” written by Johnny Marx, when she was 12 years old. The song didn’t have much success until it was released in Europe, and it received an even bigger boost thanks to its inclusion in the classic holiday movie “Home Alone.” Brenda became the oldest woman to reach #1 on the Top 100 Billboard Charts when “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” charted in 2023.

TRANSCRIPT

- Turns out that my very first awareness of her was not being aware that it's her, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

Hearing that as a kid, but I didn't know who sang it.

I was too little at the time.

I just loved the song.

- I recorded "Rockin'" when I was 12.

Johnny Marx wrote it.

I said, "Johnny, you don't even believe in Christmas."

And I said, "Tell me how you wrote 'Rockin'."

He said, "I was laying on the beach in New York "and pine trees were over to this side."

And he said, "I kinda went to sleep to take a little nap.

"And I woke up and I was facing the pine trees, "and they were just kinda swaying like this."

And he said, "And I thought, rocking around Christmas tree."

And there it was.

- They put it out, it didn't sell.

Then she had some big success in Europe, and they released it in Europe, and it then became a huge seller.

- I got a call on the phone, and they said, "Brenda, Brenda, there's a movie out.

"It's called 'Home Alone,' and your song's all over it."

And I said, "Which song?

"What are you talking about?"

They said, "'Rockin'' is all over it."

Well, it just went from there.

- Brenda Lee is a part of millions of families, and has been a part of their life, their entire life, and that's an extraordinary accomplishment with just one song.

(upbeat music)