| "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Spike Jones & His City Slickers | |
| Released | 1948 |
| Genre | Novelty, Christmas |
| Label | Witmark |
| Writer(s) | Donald Yetter Gardner |
"All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" is a novelty Christmas song written in 1944 by Donald Yetter Gardner (b. 20 August 1913, Portland, Pennsylvania – d. 15 September 2004, Brockton, Massachusetts)[1] while teaching music at public schools in Smithtown, New York. He asked his second grade class what they wanted for Christmas, and noticed that almost all of the students had at least one front tooth missing as they answered in a lisp. Gardner wrote the song in 30 minutes. In a 1995 interview, Gardner said, "I was amazed at the way that silly little song was picked up by the whole country."[2][3] The song was published in 1948 after an employee of Witmark music company heard Gardner sing it at a music teachers conference.[2][3]
The song was originally recorded by Spike Jones & His City Slickers on December 6, 1948, with lead vocal by George Rock. That version reached the top of pop charts in 1949.[3] The song has also been recorded by numerous other singers and performers, including George Strait, Danny Kaye with The Andrews Sisters, The Platters, Dread Zeppelin, The Kelly Family,[4] Nat King Cole (reportedly Gardner's favorite version),[2] The Chipmunks, the Hampton String Quartet, The Three Stooges Count von Count of Sesame Street.
Drag performer and singer RuPaul parodied the song on her Christmas album Ho, Ho, Ho. In RuPaul's version, which is an up-tempo electronica/disco style, she lists the various plastic surgery procedures she wants for Christmas, so she can, as she sings, "Look real purdy!".
Country music parodist Cledus T. Judd parodied the song on his 2002 Christmas album Cledus Navidad. Titled "All I Want for Christmas Is Two Gold Front Teef", Judd's parody is performed in rap.