MovieChat Forums > The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) Discussion > Thistlewhite's Santa song the most under...

Thistlewhite's Santa song the most underrated in history?

posted 19 years ago by gregbrownmail
21 replies | jump to latest

I suggest that 'I Believe in Santa Claus' is the most underrated Christmas song ever. Furthermore, the visual progression is excellent. Dad sings about his time as a child...Santa visits him (hey! it would be the same fellow as the one sitting at the table) and Dad continues to sing Santa's lines...but then we transition back to modern Santa. I know that the Miser Brothers' songs are the big favorites. I suggest that this whole production is chocked full of classic songs -- Bass/Laws were totally in the game.

[–] melbatoast78 18 years ago

I agree greg, this song always pulls at my heartstrings. Actually, I usually end up in tears, but then again I'm a big sap, LOL. The Snow/Heat Misers are definitely of "cult status" among the Rankin/Bass films, but I think "I Believe in Santa Claus" along with this movie as a whole is pretty underrated. I'm 27 years old and had never even heard of this movie until a few years ago! Rudolph is the obviously popular one, but I had no idea such a number of excellent other Rankin/Bass films were made around the same time!

"Shut yer hole, Wang Chung"

[–] samclaireandy 18 years ago

So I'm not the only one that gets teary eyed during that song. I have been enjoying this special since 1974 when I was 3 years old. I now own it on DVD.

[–] sailorspysedna 9 years ago

I'd agree, this song is great, but I'd say this special is actually extremely popular today; the rating here on the IMDB is 8.0! 

[–] ivyandstone 18 years ago

The whole show is cute, but I got lucky channel surfing last night and switched it on right at my favorite part, when "I Believe In Santa Claus" started. Whoever sang that song (I'm not sure if he was the same actor who did the father's voice or not) did a GREAT job. "Look at me, and tell me, son, what is real to you." Beautiful.

[–] justabill-2 18 years ago

I've been converting my VHS tapes to DVDs. I'm working on the classic Christmas shows now. When I recorded TYWASC, I started crying like a baby when the song came on. I thought something was wrong with me.....looks like there isn't. There's just something about the song that touches me......even 30 years later.

[–] venus913 18 years ago

That song got me last night. My husband is stationed in Iraq so this Christmas is especially tough. But it's so good to watch these Christmas specials, and Heat Miser and Snow Miser always crack me up. It was a good time watching it last night. I'm glad ABC Family is running it. The Year Without a Santa Clause is my favorite and I always look forward to it. Rhonda

[–] richard.fuller1 17 years ago

I'm 40 and I've grown to like this song very much and would love for someone to cover it to some extent, as long as they do a decent version of it.

Of course when I first saw it, it was too slow for me to care about, but now I have watched it and am surprised to see that others notice; the way the father didn't spout some jargon about not believing in anything, as the doctor had done at the start; the father spoke about not believing in santa himself as a child, and yes, to see santa in the flashback and then go to him at the table, and santa singing in the father's voice (as well as I always noted the father's resemblance to his son as a child, not to mention the mother looked like Georgia Engel, lol!)

So is it lost behind the Miser's songs? Definitely.

But if someone did ever belt this tune, even in a little commercial, you know people would recognize it right off.

[–] raiderspur1 17 years ago

Glad to see I am not the only one who loves this song. I am 36 and it still gets me. Been looking for it on youtube with no luck.

[–] richard.fuller1 17 years ago

For the longest time I incorrectly thought the lyrics were "I believe in Santa Claus, CUZ I believe in love."

Of course, that is WRONG!

The words were "I believe in Santa Claus LIKE I believe in love."

I can abide Santa and love as a comparison (plus many of the other lyrics in the song are not as suggestive), but I didn't like the song because I thought it was comparing love (or general caring) to believing in a fictitious figure.

The wording still annoys me to an extent (especially as it was begun by Santa himself, very self-centered setup) but I have grown to like the song itself.

[–] sailorspysedna 9 years ago

It doesn't sound self-centered to me.

[–] caw08141968 17 years ago

I love this song and I am 38 years old. It is definitely underrated. Does anyone have the lyrics to the song or know where I can find it? I've been trying to find it online and am having no success.

[–] melbatoast78 17 years ago

I don't have the lyrics but I did find the song at Limewire. If you don't have it, it's really easy to load, then you can find all sorts of songs there.

"No, no smoking in bars now, and soon no drinking and no talking!"

[–] johandav 17 years ago

I believe that these are accurate, caw:

I believe in Santa Claus
Like I believe in love
I believe in Santa Claus
And everything he does
There's no question in my mind
That he does exist
Just like love I know he's there
Waiting to be missed

I believe in Santa Claus
But there was a time
I thought I had grown to old
For such a childish rhyme
He became a dream to me
Till one Christmas night
Someone stood beside my bed
With a beard of white
"So you're too old for Santa Claus"?
He said with a smile
Then you're too old for all the things
That make a life worth while
For what is happiness but dreams
and do they all come true
Look at me and tell me, son
What is real to you?

Just believe in Santa Claus
Like you believe in love
Just believe in Santa Claus
And everything he does
Wipe that question from your mind
Yes, he does exist!
Just like love you knows he's there
Waiting to be missed
Just like love I know he's there
Waiting to be be missed

Stuffed animals – unstuff 'em!
When a child objects, rebuff 'em!

[–] shaqhayter 17 years ago

I ABSOLUTELY agree that this song is incredible. I can't believe that no one knows about it enough to have anyone record it for their Christmas album.

I did hear a little girl sing it in a mall talent show at Christmastime back in the 80's and the crowd went nuts. It's a shame that some dog act won first place. I was just as disappointed as most of the crowd.

[–] thereseuphemiaabernathy 17 years ago

It could possibly be...it's a great/beautiful song.

Seriously..that was some pretty darn nice racing out there. BY ME!
Chick Hicks~#86

[–] mamu2 17 years ago

Great song. Very moving.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mrar118 11 years ago

Agreed - it's a gorgeous song - don't know why it never caught on.