
The Little Drummer Boy, originally known as Carol of the Drum, is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. The song exemplifies the idea of giving our very best in all we do. The song became an instant hit in 1958 when Harry Simeone, a famed orchestra and choir director, came across it and decided to blend voices to create a drum beat. Simeone's version of the song was released around Christmas every year from 1958 to 1962, and it made the US Top 40 all five years. The song has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, including Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, RuPaul, Justin Bieber, and Pentatonix. While there is evidence that the song was popular in Australia, with comments on a forum post mentioning it being from Australian users, it is unclear how it specifically fared in the Australian music charts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popularity in Australia | The song appears to be popular in Australia, with several Australians commenting on how much they love the song. |
| Versions recorded by Australians | A version was recorded by the Band of the South Australia Police in 2017. |
| Comments by Australians | Australians have commented on the song's lyrics, the pronunciation of "Simeone", and the quality of the Bing Crosby-David Bowie duet. |
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What You'll Learn

Australians recorded the song
"The Little Drummer Boy" is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. The song exemplifies a goal that many of us share in life: to give our very best in all we do.
The song was first recorded in 1951 by the Austrian Trapp Family, and it has been recorded many times since. Australians have also recorded the song over the years. The Band of the South Australia Police released an album in 2017 that included "The Little Drummer Boy".
In addition, Australians on the website songfacts.com have expressed their love for the song. One user from Nowra, Australia, commented on how the song gives them chills, especially the line "I have no gifts to bring, come see the newborn King". Another user from Melbourne, Australia, asked for help with the pronunciation of "Simeone", the conductor and arranger from Newark, New Jersey, who is associated with the song.
The song has been covered by numerous artists worldwide, including Ray Conniff, Bert Kaempfert, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, RuPaul, and Justin Bieber. It has become a Christmas classic and has been recorded and cherished by Australians as well.
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The song's popularity in Australia
"The Little Drummer Boy" is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. The song exemplifies a goal shared by many: to give their very best in all they do. The song's message resonated with people worldwide, and its popularity spread across the globe, including in Australia.
In Australia, the song has been well-received and beloved by many. Comments on online forums reveal Australians' appreciation for the song, with some sharing their favourite lines and getting "chills" from the lyrics. The song's simple yet powerful message seems to have resonated with Australians, just as it has with people in other parts of the world.
Additionally, the song has been covered by Australian artists, such as Terry Wogan and Aled Jones, who recorded a cover of the David Bowie/Bing Crosby duet "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy". This cover gained popularity in the UK, reaching No. 3 in the charts, and it may have also contributed to the song's popularity in Australia, given the involvement of Australian artists.
"The Little Drummer Boy" has become a Christmas classic in Australia, with its simple story and message resonating with people across the country. The song's enduring popularity has made it a staple of the holiday season, and it continues to be enjoyed and cherished by Australians year after year.
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Australians' opinions on the song
Australians have expressed varying opinions about the song "The Little Drummer Boy". Some Australians have indicated their love for the song, specifically mentioning their favourite lines and the chill they get from hearing them. Others have engaged in discussions about the song's pronunciation, while some have shared their experiences of purchasing DVDs and albums related to "The Little Drummer Boy".
The song has been described as a Christmas classic and has been covered by numerous artists, including Australians. The Band of the South Australia Police, for instance, released an album in 2017 that included "The Little Drummer Boy".
The song's history and origins have also sparked interest among Australians. Some have delved into the song's background, acknowledging its roots as a Czech song translated to English by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. They have also recognised the contributions of Jack Halloran, whose arrangement a year before the Harry Simeone Chorale's popular version is often overlooked.
The song's lyrics, which tell a simple story about a poor boy who wants to bring a gift to baby Jesus, resonate with Australians who appreciate its message of giving one's best despite humble circumstances. The song's success in the United States, where it charted multiple times and became a holiday classic, has also been noted by Australians.
Overall, "The Little Drummer Boy" has garnered a positive response from Australians, with some expressing their emotional connection to the song, analysing its lyrics, and recognising its impact on Christmas music and popular culture.
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The song's chart performance in Australia
"The Little Drummer Boy", originally known as "Carol of the Drum", is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. The song exemplifies the idea of giving our very best in all we do. It is a simple song about a poor boy who wanted to bring a gift to baby Jesus but, owning nothing of value, used his talent of playing the drum to honour the baby.
The song was first recorded in 1951 by the Austrian Trapp Family and was further popularised by the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1958. The album and the song were an enormous success, with the single scoring in the top 40 of the U.S. music charts from 1958 to 1962. By 1962, the song had been recorded more than a hundred times and had made it to the nation's pop charts five times.
In Australia, the song has been well-received, with comments on forums like Songfacts mentioning that they "love the song". There is also a mention of a DVD of the Little Drummer Boy being purchased by a user from Nowra, Australia. Additionally, the Band of the South Australia Police released an album in 2017 that included the song.
The Little Drummer Boy has been recorded by numerous artists, including Ray Conniff, Bert Kaempfert, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, RuPaul, Justin Bieber, and Pentatonix. The song has become a holiday classic and is listed among the Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs chart by Billboard.
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Australian artists who covered the song
"The Little Drummer Boy" is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. The song was first recorded in 1951 by the Austrian Trapp Family and was later popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale. The song has since been recorded by numerous artists from around the world.
Among those who have covered the song are Australian artists For KING & COUNTRY, a Christian pop duo made up of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone. The duo released their version of the song in 2017, putting a unique spin on the Christmas classic. Their performance was well-received, with many people praising their rendition and sharing it with their friends and family.
Another Australian artist who has performed "The Little Drummer Boy" is Aled Jones, who recorded a cover of the song as a duet with Terry Wogan. Their version was released as a single in 2008 in support of the Children in Need charity and reached No. 3 in the UK Top 40 singles chart.
While not solely Australian artists, the King's Singers, who have also covered the song, include an Australian, Christopher Gabbitas, among their members.
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Frequently asked questions
While I cannot find explicit evidence of the song's popularity in Australia, there are comments on the website songfacts.com from Australians who claim to love the song. Additionally, the Band of the South Australia Police released an album in 2017 that included the song.
"The Little Drummer Boy" was written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941.
"The Little Drummer Boy" is about a poor young boy who, without a gift for the newborn Jesus, plays his drum with approval from Jesus's mother, Mary.
The Austrian Trapp Family Singers first recorded the song in 1951. However, it was made popular by the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1958. Since then, notable artists such as Johnny Cash, RuPaul, Justin Bieber, and Frank Sinatra have recorded versions of the song.

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