Santa Baby (1953)

"Santa Baby" is a 1953 Christmas song written by Joan Javits (the niece of Senator Jacob K. Javits) and Philip Springer.


Read "The Originals" about this song

The song is a tongue-in-cheek look at a Christmas list addressed to Santa Claus by a woman who wants extravagant gifts such as sables, yachts, and decorations from Tiffany's.

Original recording

"Santa Baby" was originally recorded by Eartha Kitt with Henri René and his orchestra in New York City, in July 1953. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5502 (in the USA), and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10728. The song was a huge hit for Kitt, and she later said that it was one of her favorite songs to record; she reprised it in the 1954 film New Faces. Kitt re-recorded the song for Kapp Records in 1963, using a more uptempo arrangement (Madonna's popular rendition for the 1987 charity album A Very Special Christmas was based on this latter version). In 1954, Kitt recorded a new version of the song with new lyrics titled "This Year's Santa Baby" to no commercial success. Writers listed did not change.

The song is heard in the films Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Mixed Nuts (1994), Elf (2003), and Boynton Beach Club (2005).

"Santa Baby" has been covered in recorded and live performances by many artists throughout the years, including Pink Martini, Maria Muldaur, Everclear, RuPaul, Mariah Carey, Kate Ceberano, Homer & Jethro, Taylor Horn, Raini Rodriguez, Shakira, Madonna, Jhene, Macy Gray, Natalie Merchant, Cynthia Basinet, Faith Evans, Gino Frisella, Boney James, Kylie Minogue, Girls' Generation, Ste van Holm, Naya Rivera, The Pussycat Dolls, LeAnn Rimes, VersaEmerge, Kellie Pickler, Lynn Anderson, Paloma Faith, Taylor Swift, Colbie Caillat, Chris Mitchell, The Swingle Singers, Ariana Grande featuring Elizabeth Gillies, Halie Loren, Michael Bublé, Debby Ryan and Glee's version by Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera), which was omitted from the episode, but remained on the season 3 soundtrack. It was sung in an Ally McBeal episode by the title character (Calista Flockhart). 1 on disc 1 of The Perfect Christmas 2006 album.

In December 2007, Kylie Minogue's version of the song reached #76 in the UK due to download sales. It was first released as a b-side to her 2000 single "Please Stay" (released in December of that year), which charted #10 a b-side to her version of the Christmas classic "Let It Snow". Both were released during December 2010 on iTunes on A Kylie Christmas. On 23 December 2010, Kylie released the video for "Santa Baby" via YouTube. Minogue's version of the song is featured in the 2006 film The Holiday.