Behind The Christmas Hits with Drew Savage

This week on Behind The Christmas Hits - Drew gives you a peek behind the curtain about what goes into making this podcast - and the story behind the Bryan Adams hit - Christmas Time! Bryan Joins to give the real story of the massively popular song - and Rob Thomas recalls how important the song is to him!  

Pat Monahan from Train joins Behind the Christmas Hits with Drew Savage for exciting chat about the new version of ‘Christmas in Tahoe' album and all the new songs that have been added to it. Pat Monahan tells Drew the possible recipe for writing a Christmas hit. Pat chats about some of his favourite things to do during Christmas time. He shares more about the iconic album ‘Christmas i...

This week on Behind The Christmas Hits, Drew Savage is joined by Kevin Olusoa of Pentatonix to talk about their new holiday album Christmas in the City, working with Canadian Producer Dave Pierce - and how they managed to cover Frank Sinatra! Kevin Olusoa of Pentatonix tells Drew what songs Pentatonix has tried to cover with little success - and the different ways they approach different genres. K...

Taylor Momsen joins Drew Savage for a special edition of behind the Christmas Hits to talk about her new EP Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas - including her all-new recording of Where Are You Christmas - Which features a duet with her 6 year old self! Taylor Momsen talks about 25 years of the 2000 Classic live action Grinch movie, and how many fond memories she has on set from those days...

Some of the most popular animated characters of the last 60 years actually debuted in a Christmas song! This is the story of The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

The unauthorized use of one of the most famous characters in pop culture led to a future #1 Christmas Hit. This is the story behind Snoopy's Christmas by the Royal Guardsmen.

After getting kicked out of the studio during the sessions for one of the most revered Christmas albums ever, Brian Wilson would create a Christmas classic of his own. This is the story behind the Christmas hit 'Little Saint Nick' by The Beach Boys.

Pack Your Bags - We're going to the South Pacific to explore the sunniest Christmas Standard  ever . This is the story of Mele Kalikimaka.

This is a complicated one... and to complicate things even further - it began as a song that wasn't intended for anyone to hear!

How did the melody to a 300 year old New Years Dance become one of the most famous Christmas Carols of all!? This is the story of Deck The Halls

Mariah Carey is celebrating a milestone in 2024, but in this episode - we're going back to when Mariah was just becoming the Queen of Christmas! This is The Story of 'All I Want For Christmas is You'

The boyband era of the late 90s gave us a bunch of original Christmas hits from groups like NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and the group that joins us for this episode, 98 Degrees! Nick, Drew, Justin, and Jeff are all here to talk about their Christmas hit, 'This Gift'! They join Drew Savage to talk about their Christmas album & their My2K Tour! They also share times when they hear their own song 'Thi...

Ron Payne joins Drew Savage to talk about working with John Hughes on movies such as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and of course Home Alone.  Ron Payne worked alongside Hughes as either his music supervisor or post production supervisor on those films.  How shares how he came to work with John Hughs, the musical production & clips cut from the...

One of the most popular and unexpected new Christmas hits of 2024 is sung by a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and a future NFL Hall of Famer, but it was written by a Canadian. This is the story of Ron Sexsmith's 'Maybe This Christmas.' Drew Savage chats with Ron Sexsmith about the lyrics and meaning behind the song, what his childhood Christmas looked like & his favourite Christmas songs! He al...

In the fall of 2000, Britney Spears was arguably the most famous person on the planet. Her first two albums sold a combined 47 million copies worldwide. Her second album, "Oops!... I Did It Again" was released in May of that year and by the fall, she was preparing to release her third single from that album. But she took a slight detour to record a Christmas song.  This is the story of 'My On...

The Canadian legend Michael Bublé joins Drew Savage for a feature interview for Behind The Christmas Hits! They chat about Michael's personal inspiration behind the song, 'Maybe This Christmas' and the emotions he wants his fans to feel. Drew shows a clip of Phil Springer, the co-writer of 'Santa Baby' as Michael tells us the backstory of writing his interpretation of the song.  Michae...

Before becoming a household name, one of the biggest artists of 2024 dropped a Christmas album. This is the story of Sabrina Carpenter's 'Fruitcake'.

The iconic Andrew Ridgeley sits down with Drew Savage for a feature interview for Behind The Christmas Hits! Andrew and Drew chat about writing the iconic Christmas hit at the late George Michael's House, which modern day covers he prefers, and going Christmas caroling as Wham!

If it wasn't for a broken organ in an Austrian Church, we never would have heard what would become the most recorded Christmas hit ever. This is the story of 'Silent Night'.

Johnny Mathis says its his favourite Holiday song to sing! It's time to learn the story behind the Christmas hit 'Sleigh Ride'.

A case of mistaken identity led to the very first Christmas hit recorded by one of the greats.  This is the story of 'Here Comes Santa Claus' by Gene Autry. 

A song commissioned for one department store was inspired by an ad for another. This the story behind the Christmas hit 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus'. 

Who does a young punk-rocker from Orange County want to grow up and be just like? If you're Gwen Stefani, it's Mariah Carey! ... At least for part of the year. This is the story behind Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton's Christmas Hit 'You Make it Feel Like Christmas' 

Brenda Lee is a member of the Rock N Roll, Country Music, and Rockabilly Halls of Fame and has sold over 100 Million records worldwide - and Drew had the immense pleasure of talking to her! Behind The Christmas Hits is Presented by Tylenol Arthritis, fast and long-lasting pain relief. This product may not be right for you. Always read and follow the label.  

Christmas can, and probably should be a very simple time... but things always seem to spiral out of control. The feeling of what Christmas could be, and was - at least for one year inspired Katy Perry to write her platinum Christmas hit 'Cozy Little Christmas'. This is the story of Katy Perry's 'Cozy Little Christmas' Join Drew Savage for Behind The Christmas Hits - Season 4 every Monday throughou...