Bing Crosby ft Ella Fitzgerald - Silver Bells (1950)

"Silver Bells" is a classic Christmas song, composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. The lyric is unusual for a Christmas song in that it describes the festival in the city and not a rural setting. Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian and actor. The first multimedia star, Crosby was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1930 to 1954. He made over seventy feature films and recorded more than 1,600 different songs. His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed him, including Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Dick Haymes, Elvis Presley, and John Lennon. Yank magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive," ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII.: Also in 1948, Music Digest estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hours allocated to recorded radio music. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella. She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. After a tumultuous adolescence, Fitzgerald found stability in musical success with the Chick Webb Orchestra, performing across the country but most often associated with the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Her rendition of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" helped boost both her and Webb to national fame. After taking over the band when Webb died, Fitzgerald left it behind in 1942 to start her solo career. Silver bells, silver bells It's Christmas time in the city Ring-a-ling, hear them sing Soon it will be Christmas day City sidewalks, busy sidewalks Dressed in holiday style In the air there's a feeling of Christmas Hear the snow crunch, see the kids rush This is Santa's big scene And above all this bustle you'll hear Silver bells, the corner Santa Claus Silver bells, is busy now because It's Christmas time in the city Ring-a-ling, it feels the winter air Hear them ring, you hear it everywhere Soon it will be Christmas day City sidewalks, busy sidewalks Dressed in holiday style In the air there's a feeling of Christmas Hear the snow crunch, see the kids rush This is Santa's big scene And above all this bustle you'll hear Children laughing, people passing Meeting smile after smile Very soon it will be Christmas day Silver bells, silver bells It's Christmas time in the city Ring-a-ling, hear them ring Soon it will be Christmas day