"Feliz Navidad" | ||||
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Single by José Feliciano | ||||
from the album Feliz Navidad | ||||
Language | Spanish, English | |||
B-side | "The Little Drummer Boy" | |||
Released | November 9, 1970 Preview warning: Page using Template:Start date with unknown parameter "mf" | |||
Recorded | June 13, 1970 and August 5, 1970 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:00 | |||
Label | RCA Victor Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | José Feliciano | |||
Producer(s) | Rick Jarrard | |||
José Feliciano singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"Feliz Navidad" (Spanish: [feˈlis naβiˈða(ð)]; lit. transl. "Merry Christmas") is a Christmas song written and first recorded in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano.[1][2] With its simple, heartfelt lyrics—the traditional Spanish Christmas/New Year greeting "Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad" ("Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness"), followed by text in English words "I wanna wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart"—, it has become a Christmas classic and has gained popularity around the world.
In 2010, Feliciano's original recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[3]
Two years later [in 1970, after the success of the album "Feliciano!" in 1968], in the midst of recording a Christmas album, it was [producer Rick] Jarrard who told Fèliciano they needed a new song and encouraged Feliciano as he virtually improvised the enduring classic "Feliz Navidad".