Christmas Canon

Album: The Christmas Attic (1998)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The base of "Christmas Canon" is Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D major, which has been sneaking its way into Pop music for years. The Bee Gees borrowed the harmony for their debut hit "Spicks And Specks" in 1966 and, according to music producer Pete Waterman, Kylie Minogue's 1988 single "I Should Be So Lucky" was also based on Canon in D.

    Trans-Siberian Orchestra added new lyrics and melodies to the piece for "Christmas Canon" with strings and piano accompaniment for a traditional sound. Later, they added their signature rock edge for "Christmas Canon Rock" on 2004's The Lost Christmas Eve.
  • The marriage of Classical music and Rock is what Trans-Siberian Orchestra is all about, but it's not always easy under the rapid-fire pacing of their perfectionist producer/lyricist Paul O'Neill. TSO's Jon Oliva told us:

    "He'll say, 'Here's Brahms' Piano Concerto in A minor, write something to go along with it.' I've never even heard that - what are you talking about? Brahms' 48 Concerto Symphony to the 10th power, all right. You'd better give me a day on this, Paul."

    "I can't read music," Oliva added. "So I have to listen to this stuff. You get the track, they burn the track and the thing's 37 minutes long. I'm like, 'Where do you want me to write what? It's already a half hour long!' 'No, I want you to do something between this riff and this riff and make it hard rock.' I'm like, 'You'd better give me a day on this.'"

Comments: 2

  • Troy from IowaI think this is my favorite Christmas song. Its pure magic.
  • Angel Henderson from Tuscaloosa, Alabama AlSimply Beautiful! The sound & beat of orgastra is captivating ! Pulls you in at once and is spellbinding.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?