"Santa Baby," Madonna

[bubblepop15]

I was surprised not to find any threads for this when I searched "Santa Baby!"

When did Madonna release this *Winter Holiday* ( ) song?

[HolidayGuy]

The track appeared on the 1987 album, A Very Special Christmas (which remains one of the best holiday releases, and definitely the best of that series). It's a cute rendition, with M doing her take on Betty Boop even better than when she did it later on on "Cry Baby."

Chart-wise, Santa Baby did chart on Hot 100 Singles Recurrent in January 2002, peaking at No. 24.

[bubblepop15]

holidayguy said:

The track appeared on the 1987 album, A Very Special Christmas (which remains one of the best holiday releases, and definitely the best of that series). It's a cute rendition, with M doing her take on Betty Boop even better than when she did it later on on "Cry Baby."

Chart-wise, Santa Baby did chart on Hot 100 Singles Recurrent in January 2002, peaking at No. 24.

Thanks for posting!!!

Was it the slighest bit popular on iTunes last Christmas?

Cause, if it gets high on iTunes this Christmas, it could debut on the Hot 100.

But I doubt it would be that popular.

[Deleted]

bubblepop15 said:

Cause, if it gets high on iTunes this Christmas, it could debut on the Hot 100.

No it can't.

[bubblepop15]

rebirthxperience said:

bubblepop15 said:

Cause, if it gets high on iTunes this Christmas, it could debut on the Hot 100.

No it can't.

I forgot about the Holiday rule

I hate Hot 100's rules!!!!!!!!!!

[bubblepop15]

How long has that holiday song rule been in place?

And what exactly is the rule? Any song that has to do with Christmas is not eligible for the Hot 100?

[The Black Bird]

It's a little weird to hear Madonna singing Christmas songs (for whatever reasons), But I like this, it's cute....

[JCMF3]

I don't like it.

[HolidayGuy]

The holiday rule took effect around 2000.

Santa Baby hasn't charted on Digital Songs as of yet. Through September, its to-date digital tally was 11,000+.

[★Disco★]

This has been a favorite of mine. Although, many artists have re-done it, Maddy's version is the one that shines in my book.

[HolidayGuy]

Tick/Tock- if there's a *new* Christmas-related recording, it's eligible to chart on the Hot 100. But, any track that's a year old, I believe, isn't. It's the same for the catalog albums chart- that rule also took effect around the same time as the tracks (a holiday album- following its initial run on the chart- then goes straight to the catalog chart the following season).

I didn't know Santa Baby had charted on Hot 100 Singles Recurrent until about a year ago.

[bubblepop15]

holidayguy said:

Tick/Tock- if there's a *new* Christmas-related recording, it's eligible to chart on the Hot 100.

Thanks for responding!

[candyperfumegirl]

This song rules. Eartha Kitt, who?! Love the statement it makes. The material girl cleverly pontificating on our material holiday season.

[musicradio77]

Madonna's version is okay, but Eartha Kitt's original was much better.

[bubblepop15]

I heard this on the radio today, but I'm not sure if it was Madonna or not. I can always tell if its her on every other song, but with "Santa Baby," her voice sounds so different!

[BillboardBoy]

I love Madonna, but this is by far her worst song on the radio. She sings in this horrible New York/little girl voice. It's not cute at all.

[HolidayGuy]

Oh, it's adorable. Actually, it's more Betty Boop to me. Done better than when she tried again with Cry Baby on the I'm Breathless album.

Truly, that whole A Very Special Christmas album is probably one of the best holiday albums ever out out.

I really can;t imagine Madonna singing another kind of holiday song- by rule, most of them are corny in sentiment (except when humor's at work, i.e. Elmo & Patsy. The so-called Material Girl *had* to sing this song.

"...ring... I DON'T MEAN A PHONE!"

[chartfreak]

Does anyone know the Audience Impressions for this song?

[HolidayGuy]

SB currently has 20.341m, per Mediabase; 1,993 spins total.

AC: 1,021 spins
Hot AC: 540 spins (No. 16 on the Golds chart)
Country: 6 spins
Pop: 326 spins (No. 7 on the Golds chart)
AAA: 4 spins
Urban: 3 spins
Rhythmic: 93 spins

[HolidayGuy]

Update to include Christmas Day (at least part of it):

Total Audience: 22.521 million (+6.7m); 2,320 spins (+915)

Pop: No. 6 Golds, 439 spins (+315)- 3.34m audience (not much difference on the expanded Mainstream Hit chart, still No. 6)
Rhythmic: No. 30 Golds, 107 spins (+86)- 2.099m audience (not much difference on the expanded chart, just ranked higher at 26)
Hot AC: No. 15 Golds, 479 spins (+256)- 3.934m audience; on the bigger Hot AC chart, it's at 16 with 659 spins (+324), for an audicne of 5,496m.
AC: 1,054 spins (+143)-
Country: 10 spins (+9)
AAA: 4 spins (+4)
Urban: 3 spins (+1)

As a comparison, Eartha Kitt's standard has 1,561 spins (+563)- 16.536m audience (+6m)

[HolidayGuy]

Even though Eartha Kitt's is considered the standard version, Madge's continues to garner more airplay at the holidays, even at AC. Interesting.

[giovannina]

eros said:

This has been a favorite of mine. Although, many artists have re-done it, Maddy's version is the one that shines in my book.

I think Maddona's version is a little too contrived and "campy" sounding.
I don't think anyone's version will ever compare to Eartha Kitt's original.

(DK if she was the first to record it, but she certainly "owned" that song at least up to the time Madonna recorded it.  And, arguably, still does.)

[music]

It's worth noting that this wasn't a single or or anything but radio stations started playing it anyway.

She *intentionally* sings it in the high girly voice to set a mood and capture an era, some people forget that when they bash it.

Anyway, I would *love* for Madonna to record a holiday album, just because I know it would be different from all the others and I would be intersted in what kind of xmas songs *she* would come up with.

[HolidayGuy]

Nah, I could do without M doing a Christmas album. Maybe if everybody stopped doing them and then she did it- but just maybe.

A video for SB would have been cool, though. Imagine how scandalous it could have been. hehehehe

[giovannina]

candyperfumegirl said:

This song rules.  Eartha Kitt, who?!  Love the statement it makes.  The material girl cleverly pontificating on our material holiday season.

Eartha "made the statement" long before Madonna copied it. (And does copying some other songwriter's "statement" and some other singer's delivery of that statement make Madonna "clever?")

Not saying Madonna's version is bad, just that it's hardly fair to give her credit for the song or the "clever pontification on our material holiday season." It's a cover -- and not really a new "take" on the original either.

(BTW, if you haven't heard Eartha's version, you're not looking very hard. It can be heard on many radio stations every Christmas season.)

[giovannina]

music said:

She *intentionally* sings it in the high girly voice to set a mood and capture an era, some people forget that when they bash it.

Duh.
I know she's 'doing' Betty Boop, but I think it comes off as corny.
I do like Madonna's version. I just like Eartha's better.

As for radio play, hey, Phil Collins's cover of "You Can't Hurry Love" gets more spins now than the Supremes' original, but that doesn't mean it's better. Just that Phil has more radio clout right now than Diana Ross does.
Same goes for Madonna getting the most airplay for Santa Baby.

[chartfreak]

This song has another two weeks to go to increase it's peak in sales.

[HolidayGuy]

Probably will peak in sales with the chart that was just released (either that, or not see much ofa nincrease). Most holiday titles (inc. albums) peak a couple weeks before the holiday.

Since it *is* a cover, I don't think anyone's crediting Madonna with anything for it- but, it WAS a perfect holiday track for the *Material Girl* to do, wasn't it now? Her version is more playful and campy than Eartha's, though, too.

By the by- was there a recording even before Earth recorded it?

[giovannina]

holidayguy said:

Since it *is* a cover, I don't think anyone's crediting Madonna with anything for it- but, it WAS a perfect holiday track for the *Material Girl* to do, wasn't it now?

Who's crediting Maddy, you ask?

candyperfumegirl said:

This song rules. Eartha Kitt, who?! Love the statement it makes. The material girl cleverly pontificating on our material holiday season.

I agree the song is a perfect fit for Madonna, and since so many others have covered it since Eartha introduced it, I'd have been shocked if she hadn't.

holidayguy said:

Her version is more playful and campy than Eartha's, though, too.

By the by- was there a recording even before Earth recorded it?

It's different, which is great. More playful? I don't think so. Eartha always had her own brand of camp and playfulness.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Baby

Santa BabyFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Santa Baby" is a Christmas song written by Joan Javitz, Philip Springer, and Tony Springer.
The song was originally sung and recorded in 1953 by Eartha Kitt. The song was a huge hit for Kitt.
The song is a tongue-in-cheek look at a Christmas list sung by a woman who wants the most extravagant gifts like sables, yachts and decorations from Tiffanys. This fits into the long running theme of "gold digging" songs for which Kitt was initially famous. It was considered quite provocative in its day, with its chorus of pleading Santa to "hurry down the chimney," but today it is a campy and slightly naughty Christmas song.
"Santa Baby" has been covered in recorded and live performances by several artists throughout the years, including Madonna, Cynthia Basinet, Kylie Minogue and The Pussycat Dolls, as well as in an Ally McBeal episode by the title character (Calista Flockhart).
The version recorded by Cynthia Basinet is mistakenly credited to having been sung by Marilyn Monroe on many websites, although Monroe never recorded the song.
Categories: 1953 songs | Christmas songs

[HolidayGuy]

Actually, you were saying something about it being hard to give Madge credit for the track, etc.

I think M's is more playful since the vocals are obviously done up like Betty Boop, who was a cartoon character.

Even though M's version gets decent holiday airplay, it's not like the song is up there with White Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, etc. in terms of airplay. That may have to do with its "naughtiness," who knows.