Released 1953 (U.S.) Length 2:38 Writer(s) John Rox | Genre Christmas, Novelty Label Columbia (no. 4-40106) | |
B-side "Are My Ears on Straight?" | ||
"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" is a Christmas novelty song written by John Rox (1902–1957) and performed by Gayla Peevey (10 years old at the time) in 1953. The song peaked at number 24 on Billboard magazine's pop chart in December 1953.
Contents
History
Peevey was a child star (born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), before her family moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, when she was five. When released nationally by Columbia Records the song shot to the top of the charts, and the city zoo acquired a baby hippo named Matilda.
Peevey was filmed performing the song on The Ed Sullivan Show in October 1953, airing on November 15, 1953. A video of this performance is available on her website.
A popular legend holds that this 1953 hit had been recorded as a fundraiser to bring the city zoo a hippo; but in a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based WNIC radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not originally recorded as a fundraiser. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas.
The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years.
Gayla Peevey later recorded as Jamie Horton, scoring the Billboard Hot 100-charter "My Little Marine" in 1960.
B-side
The B-side of the original 78 featured the song "Are my Ears on Straight?"
Other releases
It is a Dr. Demento Christmas staple, and is currently available on Dr. Demento's The Greatest Novelty Records of All Time Vol. 6: Christmas.
Bob Keeshan, as Captain Kangaroo, recorded a version of the song in the 1960s.
Captain & Tennille included a version on their 2007 album The Secret of Christmas, and it was released as a single the same year.
The Three Stooges also recorded a version in 1959.
Country music singer Gretchen Wilson recorded a rendition in late 2009. It debuted at No. 54 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for January 2, 2010. It is included on her album Christmas in My Heart, released in 2013.
A version was also recorded by the British entertainer Terry Hall and his puppet Lenny The Lion.
The American pop band Jonas Brothers covered the song live in 2007 at the Radio Disney Jingle Jam in Katy, Texas.
American recording artist LeAnn Rimes released her cover of the song as a digital single for her EP, One Christmas: Chapter 1.
In the 2007 Sesame Street Christmas special "Elmo's Christmas Countdown", Big Bird sang a duet of the song with Anne Hathaway. However, in that version, they replaced hippopotamus with Snuffleupagus.
In 2016, country music artist Kacey Musgraves recorded a version for her album A Very Kacey Christmas.