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I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

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This article is about the song. For the film, see I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (film).

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
Ten-inch shellac variant of US picture sleeve
Single by Jimmy Boyd
LanguageEnglish
B-side"Thumbelina"
Released1952 (1952)
Recorded1952 (1952)
Composer(s)Tommie Connor
Lyricist(s)Tommie Connor

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is a Christmas song with music and lyrics by British songwriter Tommie Connor and first recorded by American singer Jimmy Boyd in 1952.[1] The song has since been covered by many artists, with the Ronettes's 1963 and the Jackson 5's 1970 versions being the most famous.

Jimmy Boyd original version

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The original recording by Jimmy Boyd, recorded on 15 July 1952, when he was 13 years old,[1] reached No. 1 on the Billboard pop singles chart in December 1952, and on the Cash Box chart at the beginning of the following year. It later reached number three in the UK Singles Chart when released there in November 1953. The song was commissioned by Saks Fifth Avenue to promote the store's Christmas card for the year, which featured an original sketch by artist Perry Barlow, who drew for The New Yorker for many decades.

The song describes a scene where a child walks downstairs from his bedroom on Christmas Eve to see his mother kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe. The lyric concludes with the child wondering how his father will react on hearing of the kiss, unaware of the possibility that Santa Claus is merely his father in a costume.

It was reported that Boyd's record was condemned by the Roman Catholic Church and Banned in Boston when it was released, believing that it described an adulterous encounter.[2] The story goes that Boyd was then photographed meeting with the Archdiocese of Boston to explain the joke behind the song, after which the ban was lifted.[2][3] However, the Archdiocese has no records of any ban, and no contemporaneous records or photographs can be found of a meeting between Boyd and any officials, leading the story to appear as a myth.[2]

Cover versions

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A slightly less successful version of the song (#7 on the US Charts) was released in 1952 by Spike Jones[4] (with vocal by George Rock in the little boy voice used in Spike's hit "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"). Jones also recorded a parody for his personal pleasure titled "I Saw Mommy Screwing Santa Claus."[5]

A recording by 13-year-old Molly Bee appeared on the US Country charts in 1952.[citation needed]

Versions by the Beverley Sisters and by Billy Cotton and His Band charted on the UK Singles Chart in December 1953, peaking at, respectively, No. 6[6] and No. 11.[7]

In 1962, The Four Seasons (band) released a version of the song on their Christmas Album. This version differs from the others as it features the distinct falsetto of Frankie Valli.

The Ronettes recorded their own version in 1963 for A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. This version both debuted and peaked at No. 84 on Billboard's Holiday 100 chart on the week ending 10 December 2016.[8]

The Jackson 5 recorded the song for their 1970 Christmas album. The version entered the UK Singles Chart at its peak position, No. 91, on the week ending 5 December 1987, and charting for four weeks total.[9] It also peaked at No. 30 on Billboard's Holiday 100 chart on the week ending 2 December 2023,[10] at No. 43 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on the week ending 6 January 2024,[11] and at No. 100 on a Swiss singles chart on the week ending 29 December 2019.[12]

John Cougar Mellencamp recorded the song in 1987 that was included on the first A Very Special Christmas compilation album, which benefits the Special Olympics.

Film adaptation

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A made-for-television movie based on the song was released in 2001.

Charts

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Jimmy Boyd version

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Weekly chart performance for "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by Jimmy Boyd
Chart (1953) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 3

Billy Cotton and His Band version

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Weekly chart performance for "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by Billy Cotton and His Band
Chart (1953) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 11

Beverley Sisters version

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Weekly chart performance for "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by Beverley Sisters
Chart (1953) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 6

The Jackson 5 version

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Weekly chart performance for "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by the Jackson 5
Chart (2019–2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 97
Global 200 (Billboard)[17] 79
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 94
Portugal (AFP)[19] 146
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 100
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 84
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 43
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[23] 30


Certifications

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Certifications for "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by the Jackson 5
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[24]
The Jackson 5 version 		Gold 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]
The Jackson 5 version 		Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Top 40 Christmas Oldies Songs". Oldies.about.com. 15 July 1952. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Freedman, Jan (19 December 2023). "Boston banned lots of things. But not 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.'". Boston Globe. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  3. ^ Nelson, Valerie J. (11 March 2009). "Jimmy Boyd: 1939-2009". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  4. ^ "This Week's Best Buys". Billboard. 6 December 1952. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  5. ^ Young, Jordan R. (1984). Spike Jones and his City Slickers. Disharmony Books. ISBN 9780940410732. Retrieved 25 December 2011. i saw mommy screwing santa claus.
  6. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 12: 11 December 1953 – 17 December 1953". Official Charts.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 12: 18 December 1953 – 24 December 1953". Official Charts.
  8. ^ "The Ronettes: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 29 November 1987 – 05 December 1987". Official Charts.
  10. ^ "Holiday 100 (Week of December 2, 2023)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 (Week of January 6, 2024)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Jackson 5 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 January 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1765. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 January 2024. p. 4.
  17. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of January 6, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Jackson 5 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  19. ^ "Jackson 5 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  20. ^ "Jackson 5 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  22. ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of January 6, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Holiday 100 - Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Danish single certifications – The Jackson 5 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  25. ^ "British single certifications – Jackson 5 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
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