Christmas Vacation is a beloved holiday movie that has been entertaining audiences for over 30 years. One of the most memorable parts of the film is the theme song, “Christmas Vacation”, which plays during the opening credits and throughout the movie.
But was this iconic song actually made for the movie? Let’s take a closer look.
The Origins of “Christmas Vacation”
Contrary to popular belief, “Christmas Vacation” was not written specifically for the movie. The song was actually written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, a husband-and-wife songwriting duo who had previously worked together on hits like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” and “On Broadway”. They wrote “Christmas Vacation” in 1989, around the same time that they were working on another holiday classic: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey.
The Recording Process
Once Mann and Weil had written the song, they needed to find someone to record it. They reached out to Mavis Staples, a gospel and R&B singer who had previously worked with The Staple Singers. Staples recorded the vocals for “Christmas Vacation” with producer Steve Tyrell, who had also worked on several other holiday albums.
The Use in Christmas Vacation
The producers of Christmas Vacation heard “Christmas Vacation” and decided it would be perfect for their movie. They reached out to Mann and Weil, who agreed to let them use the song. The version of “Christmas Vacation” that appears in the movie features different instrumentation than Staples’ original recording, but her vocals remain intact.
The Legacy of “Christmas Vacation”
Despite not being originally written for Christmas Vacation, “Christmas Vacation” has become synonymous with the film. It’s hard to imagine watching Chevy Chase getting into wacky hijinks without hearing those iconic opening notes. The song has also become a holiday staple in its own right, with numerous covers and parodies being released over the years.
Conclusion
So, was “Christmas Vacation” made for the movie? The answer is no.
But that doesn’t make it any less of a classic. Thanks to the work of Mann, Weil, Staples, and the producers of Christmas Vacation, “Christmas Vacation” has become an essential part of the holiday season. So next time you’re watching the movie, sing along to those catchy lyrics and remember that this song was a hit long before Clark Griswold started stapling lights to his roof.