COVER TO COVER: It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
A few hours before Christmas eve, I was entertaining my adorable niece by singing children’s songs and Christmas carols. She particularly likes to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, occasionally singing along and pausing to clap her hands. As for the carols, she just listened intently.
I was browsing online for lyrics and chords and randomly clicked “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”. I couldn’t remember how it goes so I searched YouTube for reference. I found myself listening to Andy Williams and instantly singing along. I got so engrossed in learning it that I spent half an hour repeatedly playing along and memorizing. It’s a beautiful Christmas tune!
Later on I found out that it was a classic Christmas song written by Eddie Pola and George Wyle in 1963. Recorded and released by pop singer Andy Williams in his Christmas album released the same year. Johnny Mathis also released another popular version in 1986. The most recent was a 2008 recording of the song by Harry Connick Jr.
Here’s my impromptu cover version recorded during Christmas eve with a rough Marimba solo. My older brother built that huge instrument nestled in a corner of our living room and I’ve been toying with it for sometime now. Also, notice the ambient sound of fireworks in the background. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
The Marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. Keys or bars (usually made of wood) are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys (similar to a piano) to aid the performer both visually and physically.
It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Christmas Cover)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you “Be of good cheer”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It’s the hap- happiest season of all
There’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time
It’s the most wonderful time
It’s the most wonderful time
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
Dragonfly Collector 
3 Responses to “COVER TO COVER: It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”
I don’t celebrate Christmas. therefore, i don’t really care much for Christmas songs either. however there are only 2 songs i like to listen whenever they’re played John Lennon’s War is Over and The Carpenters’ “Merry Christmas, Darling”. I like the mood of the songs. now for your impromptu cover of this song, i’m adding this to the above. i really like your take on this song. you captured that lighthearted yet contemplative mood without the bravado. i really like it. the marimba really added to its perfection. thanks so much for sharing. :)
My sister mentioned how the lyrics are so idealistic in terms of setting. Certainly may not fit the average Filipino family’s way of spending the holiday. I think the most wonderful time of the year is New Years Eve. Just sharing.
Thanks for including my version on your top 3. I dig the melody and overall classic mood of the song and just the way I envisioned it, can be sung with a touch of melancholia. I’m planning to use that marimba on a proper record very soon.
cool. and why’d i discover this only after christmas? oh, well advance merry christmas!