Christmas in the Sun

Last updated
"Christmas in the Sun"
Christmas in the Sun cover.jpg
Single by Rolf Harris and Rick Parfitt
from the album It's Christmas Time
Released7 December 2009 (2009-12-07)
Recorded2009
Genre Christmas music
Rock
Length3:11
Label Universal Music
Songwriter(s) Rick Parfitt
Hal Shaper
Andy Bown
Rolf Harris
Producer(s) Wolfgang Birnbacher
Rick Parfittsingles chronology
"It's Christmas Time"
(2008)
"Christmas in the Sun"
(2009)

"Christmas in the Sun" is a Christmas song by Rolf Harris and Rick Parfitt, released in 2009. It was included in the compilation box set album It's Christmas Time. [1] The single was released on 7 December 2009 and it was written by Parfitt, Harris, Hal Shaper and Andy Bown. [2]

Contents

Harris said the song took 20 years to write [3] and was inspired by memories of growing up in Western Australia in the 1930s (in the Southern Hemisphere, December 25 falls during the summer season). The final chorus features lyrics from "Whatever You Want", a song by Parfitt's band Status Quo. [4]

The proceeds of digital download sales and four Christmas in the Sun paintings by Harris were donated to the Australian charity The Smith Family. [5]

Track listing

  1. "Christmas in the Sun" (3:11)

Another original Christmas song entitled Christmas in the Sun [6] was written, recorded and copyrighted in 1983. A version of this song, sung by Leonard Tucker, was released several years later. The author/composer of this original Christmas Song provides a story behind the song in his own words: "Growing up in NYC, I always associated Christmas with cold or snowy weather. Moving to San Diego in 1983, I appreciated the beautiful weather. But, when the Christmas season came and it was still beach weather, I was confused, maybe a little sad, and certainly inspired to write this song. It features the vocals of my generous and talented friend, leonard Tucker, who has his own unique style but is on the same level as Johnny Mathis! With no snow or ice on Christmas Day, even I began to ask myself 'Is Santa Claus Real or Not?'"

Charts

Chart (2009)Position
UK Singles Chart 25

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolf Harris</span> Australian entertainer and sex offender (born 1930)

Rolf Harris is an Australian entertainer whose career has encompassed work as a musician, singer-songwriter, composer, comedian, actor, painter and television personality. He was convicted in 2014 of the sexual assault of four underage girls, which effectively ended his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Status Quo (band)</span> English rock band

Status Quo are an English rock band that formed in 1962. The group originated in London as The Scorpions and was founded by Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster while they were still schoolboys. After a number of lineup changes, which included the introduction of Rick Parfitt in 1967, the band became The Status Quo in 1967 and Status Quo in 1969. As of 2022, the group have been active for 60 consecutive years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Parfitt</span> English musician

Richard John Parfitt, was an English musician, best known as a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist with rock band Status Quo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do They Know It's Christmas?</span> 1984 charity song by Band Aid

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a charity song written in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. It was first recorded by Band Aid, a supergroup assembled by Geldof and Ure consisting of popular British and Irish musical acts at the time. It was recorded in a single day at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, in November 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Power of Love (Frankie Goes to Hollywood song)</span> 1984 single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

"The Power of Love" is a song originally recorded and released by British band Frankie Goes to Hollywood. It was written by Holly Johnson, Peter Gill, Mark O'Toole and Brian Nash, four of the five members of the band. It was released by the group as their third single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary's Boy Child</span> 1956 single by Harry Belafonte

"Mary's Boy Child" is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston. It is widely performed as a Christmas carol.

<i>Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo</i> 1968 studio album by The Status Quo

Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo is the debut studio album by the English rock band Status Quo, released in September 1968. It features several covers, including "Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers.

<i>Ma Kellys Greasy Spoon</i> 1970 studio album by Status Quo

Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon is the third studio album by English rock band Status Quo, released in August 1970. It was the first album by the band to leave behind their early psychedelic sound and begin experimenting with a hard rock style which still remains the band's signature sound, as well as the last album to feature keyboardist Roy Lynes. The album failed in sales and charts and was not successful.

"Two Little Boys" is a song written by American composer Theodore F. Morse and lyricist Edward Madden. It was written in 1902 and became a popular music hall song of the time, especially by Scottish singer Harry Lauder. It describes the story of two boys who grow up to fight in a war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport</span> 1957 song written by Rolf Harris

"Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" is a song written by Australian singer Rolf Harris in 1957 which became a hit around the world in the 1960s in two recordings. Inspired by Harry Belafonte's calypsos, most noticeably "The Jack-Ass Song", it is about an Australian stockman on his deathbed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of Pain</span> 1983 single by the Police

"King of Pain" is a song by English rock band the Police, released as the final single from their fifth and final studio album Synchronicity (1983). Written by the band's lead singer and bassist Sting as a post-separation song from his wife, "King of Pain" conjures up symbols of pain and relates them to a man's soul. A&M Records released "King of Pain" as the album's fourth single in the UK, while in many other countries it was released as the second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She & Him</span> American musical duo

She & Him is an American musical duo consisting of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward formed in 2006 in Portland, Oregon. The band's first album, Volume One, was released on Merge Records on March 18, 2008.

<i>Songs for Survival</i> 2008 studio album by Various artists

Bruce Parry Presents Amazon - Tribe - Songs for Survival is a double album released by Kensaltown Records in support of a tribal peoples charity.

<i>Under the Radar Over the Top</i> 2009 studio album by Scooter

Under the Radar Over the Top is the fourteenth studio album by German hard dance group Scooter. The album was released in Germany on 2 October 2009, preceded by the single "J'adore Hardcore" on 14 August. A second single, "Ti Sento", was released on the same day as the album. The album was released in the UK on 23 November 2009. The third single "The Sound Above My Hair" was released on 27 November 2009., and "Stuck on Replay", the 4th single from the album is being used as the official theme song of 2010 IIHF World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Christmas Time (Status Quo song)</span> 2008 single by Status Quo

"It's Christmas Time" is a Christmas song recorded by the British Rock band Status Quo in 2008. It was included in the compilation box set album Pictures - 40 Years of Hits. The single was released on 8 December 2008 and it was written by Rick Parfitt and Wayne Morris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Arise</span> 1960 single by Rolf Harris

"Sun Arise" is the fourth single released by Australian singer-songwriter Rolf Harris. Released in January 1961 in Australia and October 1962 in the UK, it was Harris' third charting hit in Australia and second in the UK. Unlike his early chart hits, "Sun Arise" was not a comedy record, but came within the genre of world music with its didgeridoo-inspired sound.

<i>Better Day</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Dolly Parton

Better Day is the forty-third solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on June 28, 2011, by Dolly Records and Warner Music Nashville. The album was produced by Parton and Kent Wells. To promote the album, Parton embarked on her Better Day World Tour. With 49 shows, the tour visited North America, Europe, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is Easy (McFly song)</span> 2012 single by McFly

"Love Is Easy" is a song by English pop rock band McFly which serves as the lead single from their second greatest hits album, Memory Lane: The Best of McFly. The song was written by McFly members Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones and Dougie Poynter as well as Antony Brant. Its music video was released on 24 October 2012, showing the band performing the song in a stage show that makes references to moments throughout their career.

References

  1. "It's Christmas Time". Amazon.co.uk. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  2. "Christmas in the Sun". Amazon.co.uk . Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  3. "Rolf's Aussie Christmas rocks UK". Daily Telegraph. 2009-12-10.
  4. "Christmas in the Sun" (PDF). Best Management Press Release. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  5. "Christmas In The Sun". Triple M.
  6. "Christmas in the Sun by John Salerno". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-01-03.