Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song,” first performed on Saturday Night Live in 1994, has become a beloved holiday tradition. The comedic tune, celebrating Jewish celebrities and culture, has evolved over the years with updated versions reflecting contemporary figures.
Sandler, known for his humorous and often meandering songs, struck a chord with audiences with “The Chanukah Song.” The simple rhyming lyrics, accompanied by Sandler’s guitar playing, cleverly listed famous Jewish individuals, though not always accurately. Sandler himself acknowledged a mistake in the original lyrics regarding Harrison Ford’s heritage, mistakenly stating he was “a quarter Jewish” when Ford clarified he was “half.”
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Adam Sandler performing “The Chanukah Song” on Saturday Night Live in 2002.
Another humorous anecdote involves former Seattle SuperSonics owner Barry Ackerley. Sandler recounted meeting Ackerley, who was mentioned in the song as being Jewish. Ackerley, however, informed Sandler he was not Jewish, requesting the line be removed. Despite the founding partners of the team being Jewish, Ackerley’s ownership led to a comical misunderstanding.
The original “The Chanukah Song” achieved commercial success, reaching No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and continues to receive radio airplay during the holiday season. Subsequent versions, including “The Chanukah Song, Pt. 2 – Live” in 1999, incorporated updated references to contemporary celebrities, replacing older mentions with figures like Winona Ryder and the Beastie Boys.
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Adam Sandler during a performance of “The Chanukah Song” on Saturday Night Live.
The 2002 animated Hanukkah film 8 Crazy Nights featured a new rendition of the song, further expanding its reach. Songwriter Lew Morton highlighted the abundance of famous Jewish individuals, justifying the continuous updates to the song’s lyrics. This third version included references to popular TV characters like Ross and Phoebe from Friends and actress Natalie Portman.
In 2015, Sandler updated the song once again for a performance at the New York Comedy Festival, incorporating contemporary figures such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Adam Levine.
The song’s enduring popularity has led to numerous covers and updated versions by other artists. Notably, the band Haim released their own rendition in 2021, earning Sandler’s praise.
Reflecting on the song’s 25th anniversary in 2019, Sandler humorously acknowledged its longevity and encouraged other Jewish artists to contribute their own Chanukah songs, further enriching the holiday tradition.
