WhiteChristmas

Bing Crosby with Danny Kaye,
Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen

"White Christmas" is the most famous Christmas song that Bing Crosby had a big　hit with. Irving Berlin wrote it for the movie "Holiday Inn" in　1941, and the next year Bing Crosby recorded it with John Scott Trotter orchestra.

The movie "White Christmas" was realized in 1954. The left picture is from that film. I watched it at Togeki (Tokyo Theater), and　I bought that record to be able to sing the song "White Christmas" in English. It was the time when I knew only "jingle Bells". What was the song on the other side of it? Well...I wonder it must have been "Jingle Bells" which was the only English Christmas song I had known until I bought that record. I tried Crosby's tune and his whistles when I　was 13.

Now I'll tell you about its verse that Crosby never sang.

A young man born in L.A. went to the front in Europe as a soldier during the 2nd world war. When he was injured and stayed in a hospital in Denmark or some another country, he spent a "White Christmas" on his bed for the first time in his life. Irving Berlin wrote this song based on this fact. Once we see the verse we can understand the reason why they sing "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas". Here is the verse.

The sun is shining
The grass is green
The orange and palm trees sway.
I've never seen such a day
In Beverly Hills LA.
But it's December the 24th
And I am longing to be up North.

We must sing this song with remembering the first experience of　"White Christmas" in a foreign country. It caused a lump in my throat. Also, the Japanese female singer Izumi Yukimura said that she can't stop crying every time she sings that song after she knew it.

Some years ago, my friend Yasushi Sawada sang that verse only,　questioned me what song that verse came from, and told that story. I didn't　know "White Christmas" had a verse till then. Did you know it, didn't you?