THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

457-Bing Crosby with Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra-White Christmas.

1942-There was no UK chart until 1952, since then it’s highest chart peak was in 1977, when it reached Number 5.

Best Bit-At 2.37. Today my Christmas gift to you is ‘THE BEST SELLING SONG IN THE WORLD EVER.’

In the 1940’s there was no actual compiled listings for the best selling songs, so with sales of over 33 million in the modern era Elton John’s ‘Candle in the Wind,’ his tribute to Diana, Princess Of Wales is the official best seller. In 2007 in research done by ‘The Guinness World Records’ they concluded that ‘White Christmas’ had now sold in excess of 100 million copies, with at least 50 million of them sung by Bing Crosby.’White Christmas’ was one of 12 songs written by Irving Berlin for the 1942 musical film ‘Holiday Inn’ starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire (see also best songs 358.) Initially Crosby didn’t realise how iconic the song would become, casually telling Berlin,’I don’t think we have any problems with that one, Irving.’

Irving Berlin was born Israel Beilin on May 11th, 1888 in Tolochin, Russian Empire, he died on September 1989 at the age of 101 from a heart attack, and natural causes. He was a Russian Jew who uprooted with his family in 1893 at the age of five to Ellis Island, New York City, United States. Berlin is perhaps the most celebrated songwriter of the 20th Century, having written around 2000 songs, four of which appear on this countdown (see also best songs 731-358 and 100.)

Bing Crosby (see also best songs 934) was born Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. on May 3rd, 1903 in Tacoma, Washington, United States, he died after playing a round of golf at the ‘La Moraleja Golf’ course on October 14th, 1977, at the age of 74, from a massive heart attack, which killed him instantly, his last words were ‘That was a great game of golf fellas. Let’s go have a Coca-Cola.’ Crosby acquired his lifelong nickname ‘Bing’ at an early age when a neighbour called Valentine Hobart named him ‘Bingo from Bingville’ after a comic feature in the local paper called ‘The Bingville Bugle’ which young Harry liked, over time Bingo was shortened to Bing. Over the course of his illustrious career Crosby recorded more than 1,600 songs, and appeared in over 70 feature films.Crosby was also one of the first artists to experiment with technically better microphones, enabling him to perform in a more intimate manner, this style of singing would become an inspiration to many more, who would become known as ‘Crooners.’

‘May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmas’ be white.’