What year did Adam Sandler first perform "The Chanukah Song"?
Jewish kids in the 90s had zero holiday songs to call their own until SNL's resident goofball, Adam Sandler, grabbed a guitar and decided to fix that. Armed with nothing but a list of Jewish celebrities and his signature smirk, Sandler created an instant classic. But when did "The Chanukah Song" first hit the air?
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The answer is: 1994
Sandler scribbled down "The Chanukah Song" just hours before SNL went live on December 3, 1994. He and writer Ian Maxtone-Graham sat there naming every Jewish celebrity they could think of, not caring if they were actually right. Rod Carew made the cut (he's not Jewish) and Captain Kirk got a shoutout (very Jewish).
The song's popularity exploded immediately. Warner Bros. released it as a single that December, and radio stations put it in heavy rotation alongside traditional holiday music. The song went on to crack the Billboard Hot 100 at #80 and was a certified gold single. He even recorded a studio version for his 1996 comedy album "What the Hell Happened to Me?"
The genius was in its simplicity. Just Sandler, his guitar, and quick punchlines like "O.J. Simpson... not a Jew!" Sandler went on to record three more versions over the years, updating the celebrity references each time. Part II arrived in 1999, Part III in 2002, and Part IV in 2015. But nothing beats that first time.
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