What list of contemporary Christmas songs would be complete without the inclusion of this classic?
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon
John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent a lot of time in the late 60's and early 70's working to promote peace. In 1969, they put up billboards in major cities around the world that said, 'War is over! (If you want it)'. Two years later, this slogan became the basis for this song when Lennon decided to make a Christmas record with an anti-war message. John and Yoko wrote this in their New York City hotel room and recorded it during the evening of October 28 and into the morning of the 29th, 1971. It was released in the US for Christmas, but didn't chart. The next year, it was released in the UK, where it did much better.
The children's voices are the Harlem Community Choir, who were brought in to sing on this track. They are credited on the single, along with Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band.
At the beginning of the song, two whispers can be heard ... Yoko whispers, 'Happy Christmas, Kyoko' (Kyoko Chan Cox is Yoko's daughter with Anthony Cox) and John whispers, 'Happy Christmas, Julian' (Julian Lennon, John's son with Cynthia Lennon).
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