Soul Music

Original version

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Documentaries

Factual: Life Stories

Music

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 LW

Soul Music: Series 17: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Series 17

BBC Radio 4 - Soul Music, Series 17, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The story of the melancholic song, first performed by Judy Garland in 1944.

Exploring the emotional impact of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas', famously sung in 1944 by Judy Garland. From 2013.

The story behind the song, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'.

It was first performed by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me In St Louis', for the now famous scene in which she and her seven year old sister, played by Margaret O'Brien are downcast about the prospect of moving away from their beloved home.

Garland asked the composer, Hugh Martin to modify his original lyric, explaining it to be too depressing for her to sing, or the audience to hear. 

Martin's collaborator and friend, John Fricke, explains the importance this song had for the composer and the joy he experienced in hearing it covered by every major artist since, from Frank Sinatra to Chrissie Hynde, Punk band Fear to Cold Play, Rod Stewart to James Taylor.

It's clear that the song's enduring power lies in a beautiful melody with a melancholic feel that sums up our emotional ambivalence to the Christmas season. 

We hear from those who have a special connection to the song.

Soul Music is a series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.

Producer Lucy Lunt 

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Soul Music: Series 17

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Soul Music

Series 17

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra