A legend weighs in on a Christmas classic

Summary

Consider This from NPR: Episode Summary

Title: A legend weighs in on a Christmas classic
Host: Scott Detrow
Guest: Brenda Lee
Release Date: December 15, 2024

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Introduction

As Christmas approaches, NPR's Consider This revisits the enduring legacy of Brenda Lee's iconic holiday song, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." Host Scott Detrow engages in a heartfelt conversation with the legendary singer, exploring the song's timeless appeal, Brenda Lee's illustrious career, and her reflections on enduring fame.

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The Timeless Christmas Classic

Brenda Lee, now celebrating her 80th birthday, discusses the remarkable journey of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," a song she recorded as a teenager that has become a staple during the holiday season.

• Song Longevity:
  Scott Detrow (00:37): "Brenda Lee's 1958 classic, 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree,' is arguably one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time."
  The song experienced a resurgence last year, reaching number one on the charts, prompting Brenda to reflect on its lasting impact.

• Recent Achievement:
  Brenda Lee (04:06): "I never thought that a Christmas song would be my signature song, but it is and I'm proud of it."
  Despite decades of popularity, Brenda expresses astonishment and pride over the song finally topping the charts.

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Recording the Classic

Brenda Lee shares vivid memories of recording "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," highlighting the fun and spontaneity behind its creation.

• Studio Experience:
  Brenda Lee (05:11): "My great producer, Owen Bradley, had the air conditioning turned to zero because we recorded it in the summer. We had a Christmas tree up and we just had a great time doing it."
  The relaxed and joyful atmosphere contributed to the song's authentic and enduring charm.

• Efficient Recording Process:
  Brenda Lee (05:11): "Good songs are easy to do, and we did that one maybe in one rehearsal and one take."
  This efficiency underscores the natural chemistry and talent involved in the song's production.

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Recent Success and Modern Comparisons

The episode delves into the song's latest chart-topping success and its place alongside other modern Christmas classics like Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas."

• Chart Achievement:
  Brenda Lee (06:15): "It's surreal that 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' hit number one last year. I was thrilled for the writer, Johnny Marks."
  She credits the song's writer and expresses gratitude for its continued relevance.

• Mariah Carey Comparison:
  Brenda Lee (06:33): "I love Mariah. I'm a big fan. There's room for all of us, and if it's good, it's everything."
  Brenda emphasizes mutual respect and the idea that multiple Christmas classics can coexist and thrive.

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Brenda Lee’s Career Highlights

Beyond her holiday hit, Brenda reflects on her broader musical career, including memorable moments and the challenges of early fame.

• The Beatles Anecdote:
  Brenda Lee (07:37): "The Beatles opened for me when I first toured England. I knew they were going to be huge, but my record company turned them down."
  This story highlights her keen musical insight and early interaction with one of the most influential bands in history.

• Navigating Early Fame:
  Brenda Lee (08:27): "Nobody ever told me I was famous. I loved what I did, I loved singing, and I just wanted to be a part of it."
  Brenda attributes her successful navigation of early fame to her passion for music and a grounded perspective on her career.

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Personal Insights and Reflections

Brenda shares personal anecdotes and philosophies that have sustained her throughout her long and fulfilling career.

• Enduring Joy of Music:
  Brenda Lee (08:27): "I didn't have to be number one to be happy. When you can get to that place in life, in anything that you do, you're going to be successful."
  Her focus on personal fulfillment over chart success has been a cornerstone of her enduring happiness.

• Favorite Hits and Early Career:
  Brenda Lee (09:18): "The early stuff is really how I cut my teeth and learned what I was doing. I appreciate the songwriters and the great team I worked with."
  She values her early work as foundational to her growth as an artist and acknowledges the collaborative efforts that shaped her career.

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Conclusion

The conversation wraps up with heartfelt sentiments and Brenda Lee expressing her gratitude and joy.

• Final Thoughts:
  Brenda Lee (10:40): "Thank you. Merry Christmas."
  Her warmth and genuine love for her music and fans shine through, encapsulating the spirit of the holiday season.

• Host’s Reflection:
  Scott Detrow (10:48): "This episode was produced by Connor Donovan and Brianna Scott..."
  While providing credits, the host underscores the personal and emotional depth of the interview, making it a valuable listen for those seeking inspiration and connection during the holidays.

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Key Takeaways

• Enduring Legacy: Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" continues to resonate across generations, achieving new heights decades after its release.
• Authentic Creation: The song's spontaneous and joyful recording process contributed to its timeless appeal.
• Personal Fulfillment: Brenda's focus on loving her craft over chasing fame has been pivotal to her sustained happiness and success.
• Broader Impact: Her interactions with legendary artists like The Beatles underscore her significant yet often understated influence in the music industry.

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This episode of Consider This offers a rich and engaging exploration of Brenda Lee's enduring influence on Christmas music, providing listeners with both nostalgic sentiment and insightful reflections on a remarkable career.

Transcript

[Scott Detrow]

In a little over a week, it'll be Christmas. Perhaps while you've been wrapping presents, decorating the tree, baking holiday treats, doing everything else, you've had some tunes going in the background.

[Brenda Lee]

Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas.

[Scott Detrow]

Is yous is most likely on your playlist. It is arguably one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time, a modern classic, but there's been some other gems out there. Eartha Kitts 1953 Santa Baby, Santa Baby.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Just slip a sable under the tree for me. Been an awful good girl, Santa Baby.

[Scott Detrow]

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by the Jackson 5 more recently, true Love by Ariana Grande.

[Brenda Lee]

And don't forget the Backstreet Boys. Today, though, we are going to talk.

[Scott Detrow]

About one Christmas hit that has lasted through the years, to the point where it went number one last year.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Rocking around the Christmas Tree at the.

[Scott Detrow]

Christmas party, the 1958 classic by Brenda Lee, Rocking around the Christmas Tree. Last year the song had a new music video with a cameo from Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker. I spoke to Brenda Lee last year all about it. So in this episode, ahead of the holidays, we are going to revisit that conversation. That's just ahead from npr, I'm Scott Detrow.

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[Brenda Lee]

It's consider this from NPR.

[Scott Detrow]

Brenda Lee turned 80 this month and she has been famous ever since she first recorded her hit Christmas song Rockin around the Christmas Tree. The song was a hit year after year, but it never hit number one on the charts until last year. And that is when I caught up with this living legend. When we spoke, she could still barely believe that she had a new number one.

[Brenda Lee]

Well, you know what? That is still not connecting with my brain. I'm just so thrilled for the writer. I was very close to the writer, Johnny Marks, and I wish he was here to witness all this. But it's a great song, it's a wonderful song and Lord, has it been good to me. I never thought that a Christmas song would be my signature song, but it is and I'm proud of it.

You know, there's always a moment to me every November where I'm in the.

[Scott Detrow]

Store and I hear a Christmas song.

[Brenda Lee]

For the first time and I think.

[Scott Detrow]

Up, all right, it's Christmas season.

[Brenda Lee]

I'm wondering, do you have a moment each year where you hear yourself in a store or out there when you hear rocking around the Christmas tree for the first time, for the season? And what does that feel like?

It still feels pretty surreal. It really doesn't. And when I say that, people say, oh, Brenda, good lord, that thing came out when you were 12 or 13 or however old you were. I said, but you know what, it never gets old.

Can we go back to when you first recorded it? Because you just mentioned right there you were 13 when the song came out. And I think this latest generation of fans have been surprised to learn you were so young because your voice sounds so full in the recording. You do not sound like a 13 year old. I mean, what, what was going on in your life at that time? What do you remember about going into the recording studio and recording this song?

Well, I remember that my great producer, Owen Bradley, he had the air conditioning turned to zero because we recorded it, of course, in the summer and he had a Christmas tree up and we just had a great time doing it. You know, good songs are easy to do and I think we did that one maybe in one rehearsal and one take.

You know, this, this past few weeks there's been so much attention. You've been climbing the charts. There's been this push to get this to number one. And of course Mariah Carey is the other singer who in recent years has been so identified with the number one Christmas hit. Have you and her had any conversation in recent weeks? I'm wondering.

No, but I'd love to. I love Mariah. I'm a big fan. Her Christmas song is great. You know, there's room for all of us and if it's good, it's everything.

So I, well, I listen to both of you a lot around this time of year. So I appreciate you both.

I bet you do. I bet you get tired of us.

No, not for another few weeks.

Well, that's big of you. Thank you so much.

[Unknown Interviewer]

In the new old fashioned.

[Brenda Lee]

You mentioned before, you are totally fine with the fact that this is the song that is in people's minds, but I wanted to talk about the rest of your career if you're up for it for a few minutes.

Absolutely.

[Unknown Interviewer]

A dum dum, a dididy dum oh yeah.

[Brenda Lee]

There's an anecdote that's floated around a lot of the profiles that mentions that there was one point in time where the Beatles opened for you.

That's exactly right. I used to work with the guys when I first started going to England, touring over there and just loved them. I was closest, I guess to John. Knew they were going to be huge. Brought back a little acetate that they made for me and I took it to my record company and I said, I need you to hear these guys and I need you to sign them. Well, they turned them down and of course the next thing you know it's all about the Beatles, so you just never know. But I knew they were good a.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Music sweet the lights are low playing a song on the radio.

[Brenda Lee]

You know, you, you had success so young and so many people who have success so young have a harder time in life. It seems like you've lived a really fulfilling, long life. It seems like things have worked out pretty well. What do you think? What do you think the trick was to navigating being so famous early on in your teen years and coming out of it seemingly pretty okay?

Well, I think that the greatest thing was nobody ever told me I was famous. I loved what I did, I loved singing, I loved the whole scope of the industry and I just wanted to be a part of it. I didn't have to be number one to be happy. And I think when you can get to that place in life, in anything that you do, you're going to be successful.

Of your other hits that people these days might not be as much familiar with, what's your favorite? What's one that we should make sure to include in this segment?

Well, you need to include. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

[Unknown Interviewer]

So sorry that I was such a fool.

[Brenda Lee]

The early stuff because that's really how I cut my teeth and, and learned what I was doing. I appreciate the songwriters that brought them to me. I appreciate the great A team, the musicians, because they were like my big brothers and the Anita Ker singers. It's just listening to all these great guys do their thing and share their talent with me.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Love was blind and I was too blind to see.

[Brenda Lee]

Sorry. And it just don't get any better than that.

Well, Brenda Lee, I've got to say I get a sentimental feeling every time I hear your song. And it was truly wonderful to talk to you. Thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you. Merry Christmas.

[Unknown Interviewer]

You will get us in our mental feelings.

[Scott Detrow]

This episode was produced by Connor Donovan and Brianna Scott. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Scott Detrow.

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