“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms

“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms is one of the most famous American Christmas songs of all time. Helms’ version of this Christmas classic was written and performed well over 60 years ago. Yet despite its antiquity, it is indeed a classic that has survived throughout the decades and remains popular on airwaves during Christmas season to this day. 

The song uses the phrase “jingle bells”, which is derived from another, even-more classic Christmas carol, as an impetus to inspire listeners to get into the holiday spirit… and boogie. The rest of the track is dedicated to just having a “swell time” around the backdrop of a “frosty”, celebratory Christmas.

Facts about “Jingle Bell Rock”

• Despite being his most famous song, American country Bobby Helms didn’t write “Jingle Bell Rock”. It was written by the late American songwriters Joe Beal and Jim Boothe. This is the pair’s most famous work. 
• Helms released this song just a couple of days before the Christmas of 1957.
• Since Helms’ version of this Christmas classic came out in 1957, it has been covered by several musical artists. Some of these artists include George Strait, Blake Shelton (with Miranda Lambert), Hilary Duff and Hall & Oates.
• Of all the numerous versions of this song, Helms’ is the most famous.
• Several years after the song was released, noted American studio musician Hank Garland claimed he co-wrote the song. According to him, he co-wrote it with Helms but never received credit for it. In effect, he claimed Boothe and Beal weren’t the song’s original writers. Garland died in 2004.
• With a time of just 2:12, the length of this song is considered massively shorter than that of the average song. An average song length is about 3:00.
• All the three key people (Helms, Beal and Boothe) involved in the original version of the song are dead. Beal died in 1967. Boothe died in 1976. Helms died in 1997.

Was a music video made for “Jingle Bell Rock”?

No. Helms’ record label (Decca Records) didn’t make music video for this song.

How did “Jingle Bell Rock” perform on the charts?

In the United States, Helms’ version reached number 6. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 63.