The reason why I like “Happy Xmas (War Is Over) is because it is an anti-war song, mainly protesting the Vietnam War and it was written by one of the Beatles. Although there have been many versions, I’d have to say my favorite version is the original, written and performed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Released in 1971, the song started as a demo in October of that year, recorded in a suite at the St. Regis Hotel in NYC, with Ono singing along, Phil Spector producing and children from the Harlem Community Choir contributing backing vocals. From this mash-up came a traditional tune that has filled the airwaves at Christmas ever since.

A fun fact about this song: at the beginning of the song, you hear Lennon and Ono whispering to each other. What they are doing is whispering season’s greetings to their respective children at the time–Ono whispers, “Happy Christmas, Kyoko”, and Lennon whispers, “Happy Christmas, Julian.” Although consensus says it sounds like they are whispering greetings to one another.