This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits

Music journalist Zaleski (Lady Gaga: Applause) spreads holiday cheer by highlighting the exuberant backstories of Christmas songs. She reveals that perennial staples, such as “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” were written in the middle of summer; that “Carol of the Bells” is adapted from the 1916 Ukrainian song “Shchedryk,” a tune that wishes a successful new year; and that the inspiration for “Do You Hear What I Hear?” was its songwriter’s fearful walk home during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Chronologically ordered, each song listing includes the artists; songwriters; cover versions; background about the year of its first recording; the song’s origins and review; and in some cases, its status on Billboard or UK music charts. Regardless of popularity, Zaleski gleefully writes about the songs with warm and cozy descriptors. The brisk song reviews vividly capture their beats and sounds.