I have to say one of my fondest memories of Christmas as a child was my sister and I every year getting so excited when my parents would break out their Christmas albums. They had all the Christmas classics sung by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Johnny Mathis, but the one I remember the most was “Here Comes Santa Claus” by the Ray Conniff Singers circa 1959. And even though it was recorded 10 years before I was born, I am of the opinion that this is the best version of the song EVER done!
I have to tell you what makes it the best is the DOOBALIADAS! You have to wait for them. They come after the Here comes Santa Claus when the girls are singing. My sister Becky and I would sing that EVERY time! I thought that DOOBALIADA was actually one of the words in the song. I thought it meant JOY AND HAPPINESS.
Now considering my parents would play these records every year from the time I was born, I never knew there was another version until I was about 9 years. But it was too late. To this day when I hear that song on the radio, after the Here comes Santa Claus line, you can hear me singing DOOBALIADA. And in my mind I am filled with JOY AND HAPPINESS!
My son and daughter now sing the song that way too! I called my mom the other to tell her about it and she got a laugh out of that. She still has the albums and is now passing them down to me.
DOOBALIADA!!!What is your fondest childhood Christmas memory?
