Think about how many songs have been recorded in the last century. An immeasurable amount of melodies, lyrics, and creativity continue to contribute to this ever-evolving art form we call music.
Among these timeless hits, there is one that has been physically purchased more than all the rest. The track in question has sold over 50 million copies and, to this day, continues to brighten moods and signify a new, exciting season every time it’s played.
Known and loved by many across the globe, this single’s origins date back to the 1940s when it was first introduced in the Irving Berlin film, Holiday Inn. Per Guinness World Records, the iconic hit remained on top of “the National List of Best-Selling Retail Records chart” (preceding Billboard’s Hot 100) for 11 consecutive weeks.
The best-selling single of all time is (drumroll please)… Bing Crosby‘s “White Christmas“, topping Elton John and Bernie Taupin‘s 1997 chartbuster “Candle in the Wind” which sold 33 million copies worldwide.
Outshining the likes of other timeless Christmas crooners of the time like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Burl Ives, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Brenda Lee (to name only a few), Crosby’s “White Christmas” gained additional popularity among servicemen in the 40s due to its proximity to the attack on Pearl Harbor, according to UDiscoverMusic.
Listen to the “best-selling single of all time” below and read more facts about the timeless track on Guinness World Records.
