Walking in the Air
Encyclopedia
"Walking in the Air" is a song written by Howard Blake
for the 1982 animated film of Raymond Briggs
' 1978 children's book The Snowman
. In the film the song was performed by St Paul's Cathedral
choirboy Peter Auty
. For the subsequent single release, which reached number five in the UK pop charts in 1985, the vocals were sung by Welsh chorister Aled Jones
, who became a popular celebrity on the strength of his performance. Jones' version was not an official The Snowman tie-in though it was authorised by Howard Blake. "Walking in the Air" has subsequently been covered by several different artists, in a variety of styles.
The song forms the centrepiece of The Snowman, which has become a seasonal perennial on British television. The story relates the fleeting adventures of a young boy, and a snowman who has come to life. In the second part of the story, the boy and the snowman fly to the North Pole. "Walking in the Air" is the theme for the journey. They attend a party of snowmen, at which the boy is the only human. They meet Father Christmas
and his reindeer
, and the boy is given a scarf with a snowman pattern.
Howard Blake developed the melody of "Walking in the Air" from a theme in his 'Lullaby - A Christmas Narrative', an a cappella
choral work commissioned by The Scholars (Vocal Group)
in 1975 and first performed by them at St John's Smith Square, London on 21 December that year.
band Nightwish
, released as the third single from the album Oceanborn
.
The song was played live between 1999 and 2003, but wasn't played during the Once Upon a Tour
. On September 19, 2009, Nightwish performed Walking in the Air with the current frontwoman, Anette Olzon
, and with the English musician Troy Donockley
playing the Uilleann Pipes
. In this song, Marco and Emppu played two classic guitars.
The single was certified with Gold Disc in Finland
with more than 5,000 sold copies, and it reached the number-one spot in the Finnish Official Single charts.
advert, featuring a choir whose voices break and one of the singers asks 'What now?' when his high voice changes to a low voice, followed by the voice-over singing 'HARDY HARDY HARDY HARDY!' (another ad from the same period featured a couple, with the man asking 'Now we, the Pizza Hut?', again followed by the voice-over singing 'HARDY HARDY HARDY HARDY!')
The song has remained so popular that a parody version of it was used in a British television commercial in 2006, for an Irn-Bru
advert.
Howard Blake
Howard Blake, OBE is an English composer , particularly noted for his film scores, although he is prolific in several fields of classical and light music...
for the 1982 animated film of Raymond Briggs
Raymond Briggs
Raymond Redvers Briggs is an English illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist, and author who has achieved critical and popular success among adults and children...
' 1978 children's book The Snowman
The Snowman
The Snowman is a children's book by English author Raymond Briggs, published in 1978. In 1982, this book was turned into a 26-minute animated movie by Dianne Jackson for the fledgling Channel 4. It was first shown on Channel 4 late on Christmas Eve in 1982 and was an immediate success. The film was...
. In the film the song was performed by St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
choirboy Peter Auty
Peter Auty
Peter Auty is an English operatic tenor who has worked with most of the major opera companies in Britain and a number of companies in continental Europe.-Choirboy:...
. For the subsequent single release, which reached number five in the UK pop charts in 1985, the vocals were sung by Welsh chorister Aled Jones
Aled Jones
Aled Jones is a Welsh singer and television/radio personality, broadcaster and television presenter who first came to fame as a treble...
, who became a popular celebrity on the strength of his performance. Jones' version was not an official The Snowman tie-in though it was authorised by Howard Blake. "Walking in the Air" has subsequently been covered by several different artists, in a variety of styles.
The song forms the centrepiece of The Snowman, which has become a seasonal perennial on British television. The story relates the fleeting adventures of a young boy, and a snowman who has come to life. In the second part of the story, the boy and the snowman fly to the North Pole. "Walking in the Air" is the theme for the journey. They attend a party of snowmen, at which the boy is the only human. They meet Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name exists in several other countries, including France , Spain , Brazil , Portugal , Italy , Armenia , India...
and his reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
, and the boy is given a scarf with a snowman pattern.
Howard Blake developed the melody of "Walking in the Air" from a theme in his 'Lullaby - A Christmas Narrative', an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
choral work commissioned by The Scholars (Vocal Group)
The Scholars (Vocal Group)
The Scholars is the name of an English a cappella group of 4-5 solo singers active 1968-2010, mainly in the field of classical music. In the USA they were also known as The Scholars of London and The Voices of London.-Membership:...
in 1975 and first performed by them at St John's Smith Square, London on 21 December that year.
Nightwish version
Walking in the Air is the fourth single by Finnish symphonic metalSymphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
, released as the third single from the album Oceanborn
Oceanborn
-Personnel:Credits for Oceanborn adapted from liner notes.The band*Tarja Turunen - Vocals*Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards*Emppu Vuorinen - Lead guitar*Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar*Jukka Nevalainen - Drums and PercussionMain Crew...
.
The song was played live between 1999 and 2003, but wasn't played during the Once Upon a Tour
Once Upon a Tour
-In 2004:-In 2005:-External links:*...
. On September 19, 2009, Nightwish performed Walking in the Air with the current frontwoman, Anette Olzon
Anette Olzon
Anette Ingegerd Olsson , known by the stage name Anette Olzon, is a Swedish singer from Helsingborg, best known as the second lead vocalist of Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish. Olzon was formerly the vocalist in the Swedish AOR band Alyson Avenue...
, and with the English musician Troy Donockley
Troy Donockley
Troy Donockley is an English composer and multi-instrumentalist most known for his playing of uillean pipes.- Early life and career :...
playing the Uilleann Pipes
Uilleann pipes
The uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...
. In this song, Marco and Emppu played two classic guitars.
The single was certified with Gold Disc in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
with more than 5,000 sold copies, and it reached the number-one spot in the Finnish Official Single charts.
Personnel
- Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
- lead vocals - Tuomas HolopainenTuomas HolopainenTuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
- KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Emppu VuorinenEmppu VuorinenErno "Emppu" Matti Juhani Vuorinen is a Finnish guitarist, most famous for being a founding member and occasional songwriter of the symphonic metal band Nightwish...
- Lead guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Jukka NevalainenJukka NevalainenJukka Antero "Julius" Nevalainen is the drummer in the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish and the Finnish progressive metal band Sethian.- Biography :He spent his early years in the city of Kitee...
- Drums - Sami VänskäSami VänskäSami Vänskä is the former bassist of Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish.-Background story:He started playing bass as a private study. He has played in a few bands which have been mostly from the metal genre....
- Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Other recorded versions
- Andrew JohnstonAndrew Johnston (singer)Andrew Johnston is a British singer who rose to fame when he appeared as a boy soprano on the second series of the British television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. Although he did not win the series, he received a contract to record on the SyCo Music label owned by the Britain's Got...
performs a duet of the song with Faryl SmithFaryl SmithFaryl Smith is a British teen mezzo-soprano who rose to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. She received praise throughout the competition, and although she was the favourite to win after the second round, she finished...
on his 2008 album One VoiceOne Voice (Andrew Johnston album)One Voice is the debut album by British boy soprano Andrew Johnston, who rose to fame in 2008 after his appearance on the second series of Britain's Got Talent. The album was released on 29 September 2008 by Syco Music, Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell's record label... - Aled JonesAled JonesAled Jones is a Welsh singer and television/radio personality, broadcaster and television presenter who first came to fame as a treble...
(Treble) and Aled JonesAled JonesAled Jones is a Welsh singer and television/radio personality, broadcaster and television presenter who first came to fame as a treble...
(Adult Baritone) as part of his 2007 Album You Raise Me Up-The Best of Aled JonesYou Raise Me Up-The Best of Aled JonesYou Raise Me Up: The Best of Aled Jones is a Greatest Hits album by Welsh singer Aled Jones, released on November 27, 2006.In addition to many of Jones' best-known songs, the album includes a new version of his song "Walking in the Air." Like other Jones recordings "O Holy Night" and "Dear Lord and... - AngelisAngelis (album)Angelis is the debut album from British classical singing group Angelis, released in the United Kingdom on the 6 November 2006. It reached number 2 in the official British music chart and sold over 350,000 copies and received platinum status...
2006 - Joseph McMannersJoseph McMannersJoseph McManners is an English actor and singer. He lives on a non-working farm in Petham near Canterbury and recently left Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys for Tonbridge School after being awarded a drama and academic scholarship.-Singing career:McManners decided to become a singer after he...
(In Dreams (Joseph McManners album)) 2005 - Bill ThompsonBill ThompsonBill Thompson may refer to:*Bill Thompson , 42nd New York City Comptroller and Democratic nominee for New York City Mayor*Bill Thompson , voice actor who played Droopy Dog and in a number of Disney films...
did 6 versions of "Walking in the Air", including a duet version with Peter AutyPeter AutyPeter Auty is an English operatic tenor who has worked with most of the major opera companies in Britain and a number of companies in continental Europe.-Choirboy:...
. - BreakcoreBreakcoreBreakcore is a style of electronic music largely influenced by hardcore techno, drum and bass and Intelligent dance music. Its sound is largely characterized by a high-tempo, well-timed mingling of distorted kick drums , break beats arranged from samples of the Amen break, and audio samples from a...
musician ShitmatShitmatShitmat is the performing name of Henry Collins, aka Henry Collinz, a breakcore artist from Brighton, England.-Biography:His music, sometimes referred to as "Mashcore", is known for the humorous use of samples atypical of "serious" electronic artists and deliberate use of clichés...
uses samples from "Walking in the Air" on his song "Dis Dancehall Ting Is Better Than That T.V. Ting Tony". - Chloë AgnewChloë AgnewChloë Alexandra Adele Emily Agnew is an Irish singer who is one of the current members of the Celtic music group Celtic Woman as the youngest member. She comes from Knocklyon, County Dublin where she lived with her mother Adele "Twink" King and younger sister Naomi...
from Celtic WomanCeltic WomanCeltic Woman is an all-female musical ensemble conceived and assembled by Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show Riverdance...
, on her title album, in the song "Last Rose of Summer/Walking in the Air" - Christine GuldbrandsenChristine GuldbrandsenChristine Guldbrandsen is a singer who is best-known internationally for being the Norwegian entrant in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. With a crystal-clear voice and a impressive vocal range she is often compared to sopranos like Sissel Kyrkjebø and Hayley Westenra...
used part of the lyrics from "Walking in The Air" on her song "Surfing in the Air" found in the album with the same name - Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
on his 2003 album "Cliff at Christmas" - Connie TalbotConnie TalbotConnie Talbot is an English child singer from Streetly, Aldridge, in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands. She rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the final of the television talent show Britain's Got Talent, where she was runner-up to Paul Potts...
2007: Over the RainbowOver the Rainbow (Connie Talbot album)Over the Rainbow is Connie Talbot's debut album, released 26 November 2007 by Rainbow Recording Company. It received poor reviews from critics and peaked at #35 on the British charts. Despite this, additional copies of the album had to be pressed after sales were higher than expected... - Declan GalbraithDeclan GalbraithDeclan John Galbraith is an English singer. He is best known for his 2002 hit single, "Tell Me Why", which peaked at #29 in the UK Singles Chart.-Early influence:...
2001 - Foxy ShazamFoxy ShazamFoxy Shazam is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 2004. The band is composed of lead vocalist Eric Sean Nally, guitarist Loren Turner, pianist Sky White, and bass player Daisy. Later, trumpeter and back-up vocalist Alex Nauth joined, and Aaron McVeigh became the band's permanent...
recorded a cover version which was released in 2009. - Danish musician Ste van HolmSte van HolmSte van Holm is a Danish musician and video artist living in North Zealand, Denmark....
released an ambient version sung by Edith Tvede in december 2010. - George LamGeorge LamGeorge Lam Chi Cheung, also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor of Xinhui area origin. Lam studied at the Diocesan Boys' School in Kowloon, Hong Kong...
Waiting for a Night (Traditional Chinese: 在等一個晚上) 1989 - George WinstonGeorge WinstonGeorge Winston is an American pianist who was born in Michigan, and grew up mainly in Miles City, Montana as well as Mississippi and Florida. He attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida and lives in Santa Cruz, California.-Background:...
(The Snowman, Walking in the Air) 1992; (Forest with two other selections from The Snowman: "Building the Snowman" and "The Snowman's Music Box Dance") 1994 http://www.georgewinston.com/notes/01934-11157-2.php - Grand Belial's KeyGrand Belial's KeyGrand Belial's Key is a black metal band formed in 1992 by guitarist Gelal Necrosodomy and vocalist Lord Vlad Luciferian. Lord Vlad Luciferian was later ejected from the group due to internal differences and joined the formerly Norwegian band Ancient that had moved to the USA, using the new stage...
play an organ version of Walking in the Air on "At the Blessed Grotto" in their 1997 album, Mocking the Philanthropist - Jackie EvanchoJackie EvanchoJacqueline Marie "Jackie" Evancho is an American child singer described as a classical crossover artist. After entering some talent competitions, issuing an independent album, Prelude to a Dream, and attracting interest on YouTube, she gained wider popularity in 2010 with her performances in the...
on her album Heavenly ChristmasHeavenly ChristmasHeavenly Christmas is American singer Jackie Evancho's first full-length Christmas album, and her fourth album overall. It contains ten tracks and was produced by Rob Mounsey, with arrangements by Mounsey and Ryan Shore for Sony Music Entertainment....
(Columbia/Sony) 2011 - Joshua RedmanJoshua RedmanJoshua Redman is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who records for Nonesuch Records. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991.-Biography:...
2007: Back EastBack East- Track listing :# "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" # "East of the Sun " # "Zarafah" # "Indian Song" # "I'm an Old Cowhand" # "Wagon Wheels"...
first instrumental version of the song - Kenneth SmithKenneth SmithSignalman Kenneth Smith GC of the Royal Corps of Signals, was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the bravery he showed on the night of 10 January 1945 on the island of Ist in the Adriatic when attached to the Long Range Desert Group.-Life:Smith was born in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire on 7...
1992 - Kenny LogginsKenny LogginsDuring the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
on his 1998 album "December" - King's SingersKing's SingersThe King's Singers is a British a cappella vocal ensemble who celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2008. Their name recalls King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars in 1968. In the United Kingdom, their popularity peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s...
(Kid's Stuff, EMI) 1988 - Michael Chertock (Christmas At the Movies) 1998
- NightwishNightwishNightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
(Walking in the Air on OceanbornOceanborn-Personnel:Credits for Oceanborn adapted from liner notes.The band*Tarja Turunen - Vocals*Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards*Emppu Vuorinen - Lead guitar*Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar*Jukka Nevalainen - Drums and PercussionMain Crew...
) 1998 - OceansizeOceansizeOceansize were a British rock band, formed in Manchester, England on 19th October 1998. The band consisted of Mike Vennart , Steve Durose , Richard "Gambler" Ingram , Mark Heron and Jon Ellis for the majority of its career, with Steve Hodson replacing Ellis on bass in 2006...
played it live twice during their EffloresceEffloresce (album)Effloresce is the debut album by British rock band Oceansize, released on 29 September 2003.-Track listing:All songs written by Oceansize.# I Am the Morning – 4:18# Catalyst – 6:40# One Day All This Could Be Yours – 4:19...
tours, recorded a studio version in December 2007 and released it on their Myspace as a 1st Xmas Single - Plácido DomingoPlácido DomingoPlácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
and Riccardo CoccianteRiccardo CoccianteRiccardo Cocciante, also known in French-speaking countries as Richard Cocciante , is an Italian singer-songwriter and actor. His oeuvre includes recordings in Italian, French, and Spanish; he has recorded some of his songs in all three languages.He was born in Saigon, French Indochina, now Ho Chi...
in A Gala Christmas in ViennaA Gala Christmas in ViennaA Gala Christmas in Vienna or Christmas in Vienna V is a DVD released in 1998. Plácido Domingo, Sarah Brightman, Helmut Lotti and Riccardo Cocciante perform traditional and European Christmas songs in Vienna, Austria... - Rainbow Snowman (Bent Out of Shape) 1983
- Royal Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraThe Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
/Tring Music School (Hybrid) 1995 - St. Philips Boy's ChoirLibera (music)Libera is a non-profit all-boy English vocal group directed by Robert Prizeman. Most members come from the parish choir of St. Philip's, Norbury, in South London. The albums, tours and TV appearances they do as Libera are in addition to their regular singing as part of the full choir of men and...
on their 1997 album Angel Voices 3, Soloist Liam O'Kane - Tangerine DreamTangerine DreamTangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
, used as the end music in the 1983 film The KeepThe Keep (film)The Keep is a 1983 horror film directed by Michael Mann and starring Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Jürgen Prochnow, Alberta Watson and Ian McKellen. It was released by Paramount Pictures. The story is based on the F... - Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
(Henkäys IkuisuudestaHenkäys Ikuisuudesta-Breath from Eternity Tour:To promote the album, Turunen a released a special tour playing in Finland and also in Russia; on December 6, 2006, Turunen performed a big concert at the Sibelius Hall in Lahti, Finland and the full show was live broadcasted by the Finnish channel YLE TV2 for 450,000...
) 2006/2010 - The ShadowsThe ShadowsThe Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
(Simply Shadows) 1987 - The Swingle SingersThe Swingle SingersThe Swingle Singers are a mostly a cappella vocal group formed in 1962 in Paris, France by Ward Swingle with Anne Germain, Jeanette Baucomont, Jean Cussac and others. Christiane Legrand, the sister of composer Michel Legrand, was the group's lead soprano through 1972. Until 2011 the group...
(Walking in the Air) 2006 - WestlifeWestlifeWestlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
with Mary BlackMary BlackMary Black is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland, and in many other parts of the world....
sang this song live - The two guitarists of Iron MaidenIron MaidenIron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Adrian SmithAdrian SmithAdrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English musician and one of three guitarists in the heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. He is also one of the band's regular songwriters and, along with bassist Steve Harris, performs backing vocals on some songs.-Biography:While at school, Smith purchased his first...
and Dave MurrayDave Murray (musician)David Michael Murray is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as one of the earliest members of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden.-Biography:...
, played an altered version during their tourSomewhere On TourThe Somewhere On Tour was a concert tour by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden from 10 September 1986 to 21 May 1987.-Tour dates:-Setlist:# "Intro: Theme from Blade Runner"# "Caught Somewhere In Time"...
to support Somewhere in Time, first half containing a solo duel between the two guitarists, the second half of which Murray played the vocal melody while Smith played supporting rhythm. This combination is known as "Walking On Glass" - Woods of Infinity interpreted the song on their 2011 album Förlåt
- Kurt NilsenKurt NilsenThe following is a discography of albums and singles released by Norwegian music artist Kurt Nilsen.-Albums:-Singles:-Other releases:*1998 Shoe...
, the 2003 World Idol winner, performed a version together with Kringkastingsorkesteret (the Norwegian broadcasting company orchestra) on his 2010 album "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Jackie EvanchoJackie EvanchoJacqueline Marie "Jackie" Evancho is an American child singer described as a classical crossover artist. After entering some talent competitions, issuing an independent album, Prelude to a Dream, and attracting interest on YouTube, she gained wider popularity in 2010 with her performances in the...
recorded this song on her 2011 Heavenly Christmas album.
Uses in other media
This is also the opening/closing theme (and on the radio) in Baby Rabbit: The Movie (2009). Also on Baby Rabbit Goes to Dancing Class. It was used in December 1993 in a Pizza HutPizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
advert, featuring a choir whose voices break and one of the singers asks 'What now?' when his high voice changes to a low voice, followed by the voice-over singing 'HARDY HARDY HARDY HARDY!' (another ad from the same period featured a couple, with the man asking 'Now we, the Pizza Hut?', again followed by the voice-over singing 'HARDY HARDY HARDY HARDY!')
The song has remained so popular that a parody version of it was used in a British television commercial in 2006, for an Irn-Bru
Irn-Bru
Irn-Bru is a carbonated soft drink produced in Westfield, Cumbernauld, Scotland. It is made by A.G. Barr of Glasgow since moving out of their original Parkhead factory in the mid-1990s and at a second manufacturing site in Mansfield, England...
advert.