Hard Candy Christmas
Encyclopedia
"Hard Candy Christmas" is a song written by composer/lyricist Carol Hall
for the musical
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
.
Near the end of the original play, individual girls of the brothel sing lines of the verses as they are preparing to leave; they join together on the refrain
s. This pattern was adopted for the film version of the musical, except for the fact that Dolly Parton
(who played Miss Mona) is featured as soloist on the refrains, with the girls accompanying her. A further alteration can be found on the soundtrack
album for the film, in which Parton alone sings the verses.
Parton's version of the song was released as a single and reached #8 on the U.S. country singles chart in November 1982. In 1998, the song re-entered the country charts and peaked at #73 based on unsolicited airplay.
In 1997, the song was covered by RuPaul
on the album "Ho, Ho, Ho
" featuring Michelle Visage and Barbara Mitchell. The song has also been recorded by indie rocker Dan Bryk
, and former Sixpence None The Richer
vocalist Leigh Nash on their respective 2006 releases "Christmas Record" and Wishing for This
.
The Venture Bros.
released a version of the song in 2005 as performed by Henchmen nos. 21 and 24 and The Monarch.
Carol Hall
Carol Hall is an American composer and lyricist, born in Abilene, Texas.Hall is best known for composing the music and lyrics for the Broadway stage musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas...
for the musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a musical with a book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall...
.
Near the end of the original play, individual girls of the brothel sing lines of the verses as they are preparing to leave; they join together on the refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
s. This pattern was adopted for the film version of the musical, except for the fact that Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
(who played Miss Mona) is featured as soloist on the refrains, with the girls accompanying her. A further alteration can be found on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
album for the film, in which Parton alone sings the verses.
Parton's version of the song was released as a single and reached #8 on the U.S. country singles chart in November 1982. In 1998, the song re-entered the country charts and peaked at #73 based on unsolicited airplay.
In 1997, the song was covered by RuPaul
RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles , best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta...
on the album "Ho, Ho, Ho
Ho, Ho, Ho
Ho, Ho, Ho is an album of Christmas music by American drag queen and singer RuPaul, released on October 28, 1997 by Rhino Records.-Album information:...
" featuring Michelle Visage and Barbara Mitchell. The song has also been recorded by indie rocker Dan Bryk
Dan Bryk
Dan Waldemar Bryk is a Canadian-born singer-songwriter and recording artist. Originally from Toronto, Bryk is currently based in New York City...
, and former Sixpence None The Richer
Sixpence None the Richer
Sixpence None the Richer is an American rock/pop band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss Me" and "Breathe Your Name" and their covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes". The name of the band is...
vocalist Leigh Nash on their respective 2006 releases "Christmas Record" and Wishing for This
Wishing for This
Wishing For This is a Christmas EP by the alternative rock/indie pop artist and Sixpence None the Richer member Leigh Nash. It was released for download on November 14, 2006...
.
The Venture Bros.
The Venture Bros.
The Venture Bros. is an American animated television series that premiered on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on February 16, 2003. The series mixes action and comedy together while it chronicles the adventures of the Venture family: well-meaning but incompetent teenagers Hank and Dean Venture; their...
released a version of the song in 2005 as performed by Henchmen nos. 21 and 24 and The Monarch.
Chart performance
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 8 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 27 |