Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and The Island of Misfit Toys-Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer(English)
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a song based on the story of the same name, created by Robert L. May in 1939 as part of his employment with Montgomery Ward. It tells the tale of Rudolph, Santa Claus' ninth and lead reindeer, who possesses an unusually red-colored nose that gives off its own light (bioluminescence), powerful enough to illuminate the team's path through inclement winter weather.
The story is owned by The Rudolph Company, L.P. and has been sold in numerous forms including a popular song, a television special done in stop-motion puppetry, and a feature movie. Character Arts, LLC manages the licensing for the Rudolph Company, L.P.
Production information[]
Following the success of Robert L. May's original Rudolph story, created in 1939 for a giveaway storybook at Montgomery Ward, May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, decided to adapt his story into a song. Marks (1909–1985), who was Jewish, was a radio producer and wrote several popular Christmas songs. He was born in a New York City suburb and graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, before going off to Paris to study music. He had a heroic World War II combat record, winning the Bronze Star and four battle stars.
It was first sung commercially by crooner Harry Brannon on New York City radio in the latter part of 1948 before Gene Autry recorded it formally in 1949 and again in 1957. It has since filtered into the popular consciousness.
The lyric "All of the other reindeer" can be misheard in dialects with the cot-caught merger as the mondegreen "Olive the other reindeer" and has given rise to another character featured in a Christmas special of her own.
Lyrics[]
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They'd never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!"
Appearances in Christmas specials[]
The Simpsons sing the song at the end of "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1948) - Plays over the opening credits and the short reprise at the end.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) - Performed by Sam the Snowman (voiced by Burl Ives) with the backup choir on the special's closing scene/credits. An instrumental of the song is also used as part of the medley in the opening credits.
- Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) - Performed by Red Skelton (the voice of Father Time).
- Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) - The song is first sung during the flashback to Rudolph's backstory, and again at the very end.
- Robin's Nest: "Christmas at Robin's Nest" (1979) - Sung by Albert (David Kelly) as he folds some napkins.
- Disney's Very Merry Christmas Songs (1986) - Gene Autry's cover plays over clips from the Max Fleischer short.
- A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
- The Simpsons: "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (1989) - Sung by the Simpsons during the closing credits, with Grampa on the piano, and Bart constantly making snide remarks after each line.
- Keeping Up Appearances: "The Father Christmas Suit" (1991) - Sung by a drunken Richard (Clive Swift) and Emmett (David Griffin) at Emmett's piano.
- Playdays: "The Roundabout Stop - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1992) - Sung by Mr. Jolly (Robin Fritz), Morris Cog, Milly Sprocket (Nick Mercer and Michele Durler) and the children with their special guest Gordon the Gopher being Santa Claus.
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1992)
- A Flintstone Family Christmas (1993) - Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble briefly sing a parody version titled "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pterodactyl".
- Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas (1997)
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998) - Covered two times: The first version plays over the second set of the opening credits and over the first half of the closing credits, and the characters' version plays right at the closing sequence.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys (2001) - Covered by Tony Bennett over the opening credits.
- It's A Hi-5 Christmas (2003)
- Annoying Orange: "Midget Rudolph" (2011) - There's a parody of the song called "Midget the Tiny Apple".
- Home Sweet Home Alone (2021)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (2023) - DMX
Album releases[]
- Christmas with the Chipmunks (1961)
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
- Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm Singing Songs of Christmas (1965)
- Christmas with the Brady Bunch (1970)
- Raffi's Christmas Album (1983)
- Sesame Street Christmas Sing-Along (1984)
- A Pooh Christmas (1994)
- Rudolph, Frosty and Friends' Favorite Christmas Songs (1996)
- Nick at Nite: A Classic Cartoon Christmas (1996)
- Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas (1996)
- Happy Holidays Love, Barney (1997)
- Elmo Saves Christmas: Holiday Favorites (1998)
- A Flintstones Motown Christmas (1999)
- Santa Claus is Coming (1999)
- The Chipmunks' Greatest Christmas Hits (1999)
- It's A Hi-5 Christmas (2001)
- Rugrats: Holiday Classics (2004) - Sung by Kimi Watanabe-Finster and Susie Carmichael. This version was later reused on Nick Holiday (2006).
- Disney's Merry Little Christmas (2006)
- Bob! from Sesame Street: Christmas Sing Along (2006)
- A Looney Tunes Sing-A-Long Christmas (2006)
- Disney's Merry Little Christmas (2006)
- A Very Special Charlie Brown Holiday Collection (2010)
- Jingle Bell Fun (2012)
- Chipmunks Christmas (2012)
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