Why the Writer of Eartha Kitt’s ‘Santa Baby’ Disliked It

Some Christmas music is classy. Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” uses a dignified old-school pop sound in service of a goofy novelty hit. The writer of “Santa Baby” was not impressed with his own song at first. Here’s what changed all that.

A writer composed ‘Santa Baby’ specifically for Eartha Kitt

Philip Springer is a prolific songwriter who wrote tunes like “Never Ending” by Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard’s “The Next Time.” However, he is most known for his risque Yuletide tune “Santa Baby.” While the track has been widely covered, the most famous version of the song is Eartha Kitt’s. During a 2023 interview with Songwriter, Springer revealed that he wrote “Santa Baby” because he was commissioned to write a Christmas song for Kitt.

Springer wasn’t a big fan of his most famous work. “I really didn’t think much about it [after writing it] because I was not impressed with the whole thing of writing a Christmas song for Eartha Kitt,” he said. “I only went along with it because [co-writer] Joan [Javits] talked me into it. So I didn’t feel anything when it was recorded.”

Eartha Kitta was far from the only star to record the song

Springer warmed up to the tune for very specific reasons. “And the first time I felt anything was when I got a telephone call from Boston in October from my first solo writing partner, [Richard Adler], who was then writing the show Pajama Game in Boston,” he recalled. “He said, ‘Phil, do you know that you’ve got a hit?’ And I said, ‘What is it? I have no idea what you’re talking about, Richard.’ And he said, ”Santa Baby’ is a hit.’ Then I started feeling pretty good about it.”

While Springer has had decades to think about “Santa Baby,” he has no idea why it’s such a success. “I’m still puzzled by why this song has the magic that it seems to have, but I do know that it has a magic,” he said. Springer said that the tune seems to appeal to young and old listeners alike.

The appeal of “Santa Baby” can be measured by its popularity as a cover song. The track inspired renditions by many female pop stars with sexy public images. Some of them include Ariana Grande, Gwen Stefani, and Kylie Minogue. The punk rock group Me First and the Gimme Gimmes also put out a jokey gay version of the track. It might have worked as a kitschy novelty if not for the fact that it’s a pain on the eardrums.

‘Santa Baby’ appeared on 2 hit albums

“Santa Baby” has been a perennial favorite, but it’s only had modest success on the charts in the United States. Thus far, the tune reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, lasting on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks.

Only two of Kitt’s albums reached the Billboard 200 and both of them included “Santa Baby.” The Essential Eartha Kitt peaked at No. 72 and charted for eight weeks. Meanwhile, Platinum & Gold Collection climbed to No. 127 and charted for two weeks.

“Santa Baby” didn’t impress Springer at first . However, he couldn’t help but be flabbergasted by its success.