Feliz Navidad 1970 Song by Jose Feliciano, a Puerto Rican Singer and Songwriter
“Feliz Navidad,” which means Merry Christmas in Spanish, is a Christmas song written and first recorded in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. “Feliz Navidad” has simple, heartfelt lyrics, which go to show you can go a long way with a catchy tune. The traditional Spanish Christmas/New Year greeting “Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad” (“Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness”), followed by text in English words “I wanna wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.” It has become a Christmas classic and has gained popularity around the world. In 2010, Feliciano’s original recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Do you think this song has helped you learn Spanish?
“Feliz Navidad” Summary
Feliciano wrote “Feliz Navidad” while feeling homesick at Christmastime. He was missing his family in New York City and his extended family further afield as he sat in a studio in Los Angeles. He remembered celebrating Christmas Eve with his brothers, eating traditional Puerto Rican foods, drinking rum, and going caroling. “It was expressing the joy that I felt on Christmas and the fact that I felt very lonely”, he told National Public Radio in December 2020. “I missed my family, I missed Christmas carols with them. I missed the whole Christmas scene.”
“Feliz Navidad” was recorded in a remarkable ten minutes at RCA Studios on Sunset Boulevard with producer Rick Jarrard. “[‘Feliz Navidad’ is the]simplest song ever written. 19 words to it,” Feliciano told The New Yorker. “I wanted a song that belonged to the masses.”
Jose Feliciano’s 1970 recording of “Feliz Navidad,” in which he plays both an acoustic guitar and a Puerto Rican cuatro, is one of the most downloaded and aired Christmas songs in North America. As of November 25, 2016, total sales of the digital track are at 808,000 downloads according to Nielsen, placing it eighth on the list of all-time best-selling Christmas/holiday digital singles in SoundScan history. “Feliz Navidad” was also recognized as one of the top twenty-five most played and recorded Christmas songs around the world.
The original version of “Feliz Navidad” did not enter any of the US Billboard music popularity charts until well over two-and-a-half decades after it was recorded, first on the Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 3, 1998, when it reached number 18. Then on the Radio Songs chart the following week, it reached number70). Two years later, on the week ending January 8, 2000, the song re-entered the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart at a new peak of number 12. Since then, “Feliz Navidad” has appeared on a variety of worldwide charts.
Jose Feliciano, singer of “Feliz Navidad”
José Montserrate Feliciano GarcÃa, his full name, was born on September 10, 1945. He is a Puerto Rican musician. He recorded many international hits, including his rendition of the Doors’ “Light My Fire” and his Christmas song “Feliz Navidad,” which he wrote. Music genres Feliciano explores consist of a fusion of many styles, such as Latin, blues, jazz, soul, and rock music, created primarily with the help of his signature acoustic guitar sound.
In the United States, Feliciano became popular in the 1960s, particularly after his 1968 album Feliciano! reached number 2 on the music charts. Since then, in his career, he has released over 50 albums worldwide in both English and Spanish. “Feliz Navidad” is his biggest hit; he is well-known for the megahit.
Conclusion
“Feliz Navidad” is an all-time favorite Christmas song. The song has gone a long way to integrating Spanish and English music. It is unfortunate, but artist Jose Feliciano is a bit typecast as the singer of this song. It is important to note that Feliciano has released many songs in his career.
