Even when she was just a child, Brenda Lee had an angelic singing voice, a commanding stage presence, and physical beauty. As a result, she managed to win people’s attention and started her illustrious music career at a young age. With so many hits put out throughout the years, we’ve compiled a list of what we consider the most memorable Brenda Lee songs.
1. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
No one can do “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” better than Brenda Lee. It became a top ten hit single in various nations and easily became Brenda Lee’s most beloved song. The song is also one of the best-selling Christmas singles ever, selling more than a million copies in the US alone as of 2019.
2. I’m Sorry
Released in 1960, “I’m Sorry” became Brenda’s first number-one single. It’s also the song that catapulted a 15-year-old Brenda from local talent to international stardom. Despite not getting an official release on the official country music charts, the song still became a standard in country music.
3. Nobody Wins
Brenda Lee’s “Nobody Wins” entered the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart as a number-five hit. It also took the number-one spot on the Canadian Country Singles chart. This song was a testament that Brenda can produce country music chart toppers, especially powerful ballads that dwell on the theme of a love gone wrong where no one wins.
4. Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
If there were a song that started it all for Brenda, it would be “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” in 1956. It is a song that has always left a strong impression on her listeners whenever the young songstress performed it.
The song’s theme revolves around Jambalaya, one of Bayou’s most famous cuisine, a dish where Cajun meets Creole. Country music legend Hank Williams first recorded the song in 1952, and various artists have covered it ever since.
5. Too Many Rivers
“Too Many Rivers” peaked at number two on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in 1965. It climbed to number thirteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 and fifteen at the US Cash Box office.
“Too Many Rivers” is another of the many Brenda Lee songs that inspired plenty of covers from other artists. One notable cover of this song came from The Forester Sisters, with their rendition peaking at the number five spot on the US Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and four on the Canadian Country Singles charts.
6. Big Four Poster Bed
The song “Big Four Poster Bed,” released in 1970, marked Brenda’s return to her first love, country music. It turned out to be a number two hit on the Canadian Country Singles chart. In 1974’s US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the song peaked at the number four spot.
The sentimental song Brenda sang masterfully was about a woman who is about to start a new life with her husband, receiving an old bed that her father made. As such, it became a favorite song to play by many during wedding receptions.
7. Losing You
In 1963, thanks to its versatility and overall appeal, “Losing You” became one of the few Brenda Lee songs that climbed the most music charts. The song peaked at the number two spot on the US Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and New Zealand’s Official Singles chart.
The powerful ballad has since got covered by many artists. Some notable covers came from artists such as Bobby Russell, Alison Krauss, and Doris Day.
8. All Alone Am I
In 1962, Brenda Lee released a heartbreaking ballad titled “All Alone Am I,” which became massively popular on the US Billboard Adult contemporary chart when it reached number one. It also hit the number three spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Cash Box. In the UK, the song became a number seven hit and a number ten in Australia.
9. Sweet Nothin’s
In 1959, Brenda Lee released a swingy single called “Sweet Nothin’s,” which became her first breakthrough and jump-started her into stardom. The song peaked at the number four spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles chart, while it landed on the number three spot on the US Cash Box.
The song’s toe-tapping impression made prince adapt Brenda Lee’s vocal performance and turn it into the distinctive backup vocals of “Kiss,” his hit single. Brenda’s harmonic vocals also got samples in Bound 2, Kanye West’s single, leading to Nobody to Love, Sigma’s 2014 single.
10. I Want to Be Wanted
Brenda Lee’s “I Want to be Wanted” is one of her best-charting singles. The song managed to peak at the number one spot on both the US Cash Box and US Billboard Hot 100. The song is an English adaptation of an Italian song called Per Tutta La Vita (For All Lifetime) by Pino Spotti and Alberto Tesla.
“I Want to be Wanted” came with “This is…Brenda,” her third studio album featured twelve tracks. The song and the album showcased perfectly orchestrated music that harmonized so well with her trademark angelic vocals.
Other Notable Brenda Lee Songs
These are what we consider the most memorable Brenda Lee songs of all time. Brenda is such a wonderful songstress. Her looks, appearance, and angelic voice make her a dominant artist in the music industry. Even more impressive is that she started all that while she was still a young girl.
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