WINTER WONDERLAND

:''This article is about the song. For the 1999 interactive fiction game, see Winter Wonderland (game).''
'"Winter Wonderland"' is a pop standard written in 1934 by Felix Bernard (composer) and Richard B. Smith (lyricist). It has been recorded many different times by such artists as Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Karen Carpenter, Cyndi Lauper, and the Cocteau Twins.
Smith, a native of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, was reportedly inspired to write the song after seeing Honesdale's Central Park covered in snow.
The original recording was by Richard Himber and his Hotel Carelton Orchestra on RCA Bluebird in 1934. At the end of a recording session with time to spare, it was suggested that this new tune be tried with an arrangement provided by the publisher. This excellent "studio" orchestra included many great New York studio musicians including the legendary Artie Shaw.
Due to its seasonal theme, "Winter Wonderland" is often regarded as a Christmas song on the Northern Hemisphere, although the holiday itself is never mentioned in the lyrics. In the Swedish language lyrics, ''Vår vackra vita vintervärld'', the word tomtar is mentioned.
The song has been parodied by Bob Rivers as "Walkin' 'Round in Women's Underwear".

Contents

Parson Brown

Other recordings

Parson Brown

The following lyrics compose the musical bridge of the song:

"In the meadow we can build a snowman,

then pretend that he is Parson Brown.

He'll say 'Are You Married?'

We'll say 'No man, but you can do the job when you're in town!"

Being that a Floridian orange grower was the only well-known person by the name of "Parson Brown" at the time the song was composed, one can assume that "Parson" is used as a title, instead of a first name. In the period when this song was written, parsons (now known as a Protestant minister) often travelled among small rural towns to perform wedding ceremonies for denominational followers who did not have a local minister of their faith. Therefore, the children are most likely pretending that their snowman is a Parson with the surname "Brown," which would be visiting the town again in the future. Though the words parson brown were also featured in the 1929 Al Jolson song Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away).
In modern-day versions of the song, the term "Parson Brown" is sometimes substituted with "Charlie Brown", either for comical or secular reasons, or for a sense of familiarity. An example of such usage is in the cover by pop band ''Hellogoodbye''.

Other recordings

★ Air Supply

★ Cap'n Jazz

★ The Andrews Sisters

★ Louis Armstrong

★ Eddy Arnold

★ Ashanti

★ Chet Atkins

★ Babyface

★ Tony Bennett (including a duet with Vanessa Williams on the live Christmas album ''Our Favourite Things: Christmas in Vienna'')

★ Boston Pops Orchestra

★ Dave Brubeck

★ The California Raisins

★ The Carpenters (as part of a medley with "Silver Bells" and "White Christmas")

★ Larry Carlton

★ Ray Charles

★ Charlotte Church

★ Rosemary Clooney

★ The Cocteau Twins

★ Ray Conniff

★ Vic Damone

★ Kikki Danielsson (as part of a medley with "Sleigh Ride")

★ Neil Diamond

★ Eurythmics

★ Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops

★ Ella Fitzgerald on Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas

★ John Fleming

★ Connie Francis

★ Aretha Franklin

★ Kenny G

★ Robert Goulet

★ Amy Grant

★ Macy Gray

★ Al Green

★ Gary Hoey

★ Engelbert Humperdinck

★ Burl Ives

★ Jewel

★ The Judds

★ Keahiwai

★ Dave Koz

★ Darlene Love

★ Barry Manilow

★ Aimee Mann

★ Mantovani

★ Dean Martin

★ Johnny Mathis

★ Cravin Melon

★ Mormon Tabernacle Choir

★ The Nashville Brass

★ The Nashville Superpickers

★ Willie Nelson

★ Donny & Marie Osmond

★ The Monsters In The Morning, parodied as Trailer Park Winter Wonderland

★ Anne Murray

★ Brad Paisley

★ Dolly Parton (as part of a medley with "Sleigh Ride")

★ The Partridge Family

★ The Platters

★ Elvis Presley

★ Radiohead

★ Leon Redbone

★ Diana Ross

★ George Strait

★ Stryper

★ Steve Taylor

★ Kiri Te Kanawa

★ The Three Tenors

★ Randy Travis

★ Tanya Tucker

★ Andy Williams

★ Carnie Wilson & Wendy Wilson

★ Jason Mraz

★ Phantom Planet

★ Joy Electric

★ Brooks & Dunn

★ Hellogoodbye

★ Grandaddy (renamed "Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland")

★ Diana Krall

★ Ednita Nazario

★ Point of Grace

★ Jesse McCartney