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Many classic rock stars contributed to the canon of Christmas music. On the other hand, George Harrison decided to give us a New Year’s song. His decision to buck a trend worked out artistically. However, the tune isn’t as popular now as it could be for an undeniable reason.

Why George Harrison’s New Year’s song is great and underrated

Christmas music is such a big deal that The Beatles got in on it. They released an original song called “Christmas Time (Is Here Again).”After the band broke up, John Lennon put out “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” Paul McCartney put out “Wonderful Christmastime,” and Ringo Starr released the album I Wanna Be Santa Claus. George never released a solo Christmas song, instead giving us the New Year’s anthem “Ding Dong, Ding Dong.”

While the track celebrates the New Year rather than Christmas, it takes some cues from Christmas music. Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound became a popular Christmas music trope since the producer put out his masterpiece A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. “Ding Dong, Ding Dong” has its own Wall of Sound. It also uses some bells in its production.

However, it still embodies the spirit of New Year’s. For some, the holiday is about cleansing oneself from negative habits and trying to get off on the right foot. “Ding Dong, Ding Dong” is all about trying to become a better version of yourself. It’s downright inspiring and it makes “Wonderful Christmastime” look embarrassing by comparison (although that song never seemed too good in the first place).

However, “Wonderful Christmastime” will always be more popular than “Ding Dong, Ding Dong” because our culture values Christmas more than New Year’s.

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The song was part of an album designed to feel like a soap opera

“Ding Dong, Ding Dong” was part of George’s album Dark Horse. During a 1974 interview from the book George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters, the “My Sweet Lord” singer was asked about the gap between his albums Living in the Material World and Dark Horse. “I’ve been busy working,” he said. “I was busy being deposed. I’ve been doing some tracks of my own, did the Splinter album, finished up Ravi [Shankar]’s album, been to India for two months, organized the music festival from India; I’ve done a million things.”

George was asked why he didn’t grant personal interviews. “There’s nothing to say, really,” the “Isn’t It a Pity” singer explained. “I’m a musician, not a talker. If you get my album, it’s like [soap opera] Peyton Place, I mean it’ll tell you exactly what I’ve been doing.”

George Harrison’s ‘Ding Dong, Ding Dong’ was a hit

“Ding Dong, Ding Dong” became a minor hit in the United States. The tune reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for six weeks. “Ding Dong, Ding Dong” appeared on the album Dark Horse. That record peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and charted for 17 weeks.

According to The Official Charts Company, “Ding Dong, Ding Dong” was similarly popular in the United Kingdom. The track climbed to No. 38 and lasted on the chart for five weeks. Meanwhile, Dark Horse did not chart in the U.K.

“Ding Dong, Ding Dong” is a fun, uplifiting pop song — and it might have been a bigger hit if our culture valued New Year’s more.

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