Feliz Navidad Tops Billboard Charts for the First Time After Its Release in 1970

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Dec 21, 2020 04:53 AM EST

Christmas time is truly just around the corner with the iconic tunes coming back to add the spirit of the most anticipated holiday.

Topping the Billboard charts was "Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano for the first time after it was initially released in 1970, according to an ABC 7 report.

Also hitting the first place in the charts was Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You." The famous Christmas song was reclaiming its top spot after it hit the number one last year.

Meanwhile, the last artist before Carey topped the charts was Alvin and the Chipmunks with their song The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late).

Feliz Navidad

Feliciano's classic Feliz Navidad just turned 50 years old this year, which is a milestone celebrated with the first major reimagining of the song.

Musician Bobby Sanabria, co-director of the Bronx Music Heritage Center, said that musically the song Feliz Navidad is simplistic. However, it does not take away from the charm of the song, Sanabria added.

"'Feliz Navidad's one of those kind of songs that, like 'Happy Birthday,' it's very, very iconic. And anybody can sing it," Sanabria was quoted on an NPR report.

Feliciano is celebrating the new version of Feliz Navidad by singing with 30 of his friends, which includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jason Mraz, Gloria Gaynor, and Linda Viero Caballero.

Caballero, who is famously known as La India, said that it was an honor and privilege to sing for Feliciano. La India said they have always been proud of Feliciano as he never left the Latin culture.

Feliciano said they decided to do it differently as they wanted to release a sugary Christmas album Feliciano sang bilingually, played the guitar, as well as the 10-stringed instrument called cuatro.

Feliciano recalled that there had been other Christmas songs that were bilingual such as Mamacita, Donde Esta Santa Claus by Hugo Rios. Feliz Navidad was known to be written by Feliciano in 10 minutes.

He said that that is why it is the simplest song ever written, with nineteen words to it, and six in Spanish. Feliciano said the he wanted a song that belonged to the masses, as reported by The New Yorker.

Recording Feliz Navidad

Feliciano recorded the iconic Christmas tune with the Brazilian drummer Paulinho Magalhães. The song drew on Spanish Christmas carols, which is known as villancicos.

Feliciano told the Billboard that the song Feliz Navidad came to him, without any rhyme or reason.

Feliciano went on and said that the first lyric came to him and he inserted an English lyric into it, without realizing that he had made it the only bilingual Christmas song ever.

The Man Behind the Song

Feliciano was born in Puerto Rico. He was just three-years-old when he started playing the ukulele. He then learned to play classical guitar after his family moved to New York.

He started playing in coffee houses and fold music clubs in Greenwich Village when he was 15-years-old.

A record executive them spotted him and there he started his career in the music industry.