His first musical success was Rosemary Clooney's "Come on-a My House", which he based the lyrics on dialogue from his famous cousin William Saroyan's novel The Human Comedy. He had a moderate hit in 1956 under the name Alfi & Harry with the novelty record "The Trouble With Harry." As David Seville, he had another #1 record in his song, "The Witch Doctor", which was also his first experiment with the technique of speeding up the playback of an audio track to get the "most-distinctive" higher pitched squeaky comical sound. This success led to his recording of "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" with The Chipmunks.
Bagdasarian also appeared in minor film roles, including Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), in which he plays an obsessed, piano-playing songwriter who composes, plays, and sings a song called "Lisa." Bagdasarian's dialogue is not clearly heard, and he appears only in long shots, but he is the only other person seen during Hitchcock's notorious cameo appearance. He also had bit parts in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), Viva Zapata! (1952), Destination Gobi (1953), Stalag 17 (1953), Alaska Seas (1954), The Proud and Profane (1956), Three Violent People (1956), Hot Blood (1956), The Deep Six (1957), and The Devil's Hairpin (1957).
He also provided the voice for the David Seville character in the Chipmunks' 1961 animated television series The Alvin Show.
Bagdasarian died of a heart attack at the age of 52. He was subsequently cremated at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles, California. His son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., continued to release Chipmunks recordings and took over as the voice for the Chipmunk characters in subsequent iterations of the cartoon.
Christmas Don't Be Late
David Seville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ready to sing your song?
I'll say we are!
Yeah!
Let's sing it now!
Okay, Simon?
Okay!
Okay, Theodore?
Okay, Alvin?
Alvin?
Alvin!
Okay!
Christmas, Christmas time is near
Time for toys and time for cheer
We've been good, but we can't last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Want a plane that loops the loop
Me, I want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late.
Okay fellas get ready.
That was very good, Simon.
Naturally.
Very good Theodore.
Ah
Ah, Alvin, you were a little flat, watch it.
Ah, Alvin.
Alvin.
Alvin!
Okay
Want a plane that loops the loop
I still want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late.
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late.
Very good, boys
Lets sing it again!
Yeah, lets sing it again!
No, that's enough, lets not overdo it
What do you mean overdo it?
We want to sing it again!
Now wait a minute, boys
Why can't we sing it again?
Alvin, cut that out
Theodore, just a minute.
Simon will you cut that out? Boys
"The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville is a classic Christmas song in which we can hear the voices of three chipmunks, Simon, Theodore, and the troublemaking Alvin, singing about their Christmas wishes. The song begins with David Seville asking the chipmunks if they are ready to sing their song, to which they excitedly reply that they are. The lyrics then go on to describe the excitement of Christmas time, with the chipmunks expressing their wishes for toys, particularly a plane and a hula hoop, and pleading with Christmas not to be late.
The lyrics of the song are a reflection of the innocent joy and anticipation that many children feel during the holiday season. The repetition of the phrase "Please Christmas, don't be late" emphasizes the eagerness and impatience of the chipmunks for the arrival of the holiday. There is also an element of humor in the song, particularly in the exchanges between David Seville and Alvin, who is scolded for singing flat and causing trouble.
Line by Line Meaning
All right you Chipmunks!
Greetings, fellow chipmunks!
Ready to sing your song?
Are you prepared to perform your musical number?
I'll say we are!
Absolutely, we are!
Yeah!
Affirmative!
Let's sing it now!
Let's begin singing at this moment!
Okay, Simon?
Simon, are you ready to commence?
Okay!
Affirmative!
Okay, Theodore?
Theodore, are you ready to begin?
Okay!
Affirmative!
Okay, Alvin?
Alvin, are you prepared to begin with us?
Alvin?
Alvin, are you present?
Alvin!
Hey, Alvin, we require your attention!
Okay!
Affirmative!
Christmas, Christmas time is near
The holiday of Christmas is forthcoming
Time for toys and time for cheer
A time to exchange gifts and enjoy merriment
We've been good, but we can't last
We have been well behaved, but cannot sustain our good behavior indefinitely
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Let us hasten, Christmas, come quickly!
Want a plane that loops the loop
I desire an airplane that performs aerial stunts
Me, I want a hula hoop
My personal desire is a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
We are impatient and cannot endure the anticipation
Please Christmas, don't be late.
We earnestly request for Christmas to arrive soon.
That was very good, Simon.
Simon, your performance was excellent.
Naturally.
As anticipated.
Very good Theodore.
Theodore, you performed magnificently.
Ah
Exclamation of disappointment
Ah, Alvin, you were a little flat, watch it.
Alvin, your vocals were a bit off-key, please take note.
Alvin.
Alvin, are you present?
Alvin!
Hey, Alvin, we require your attention!
Okay
Affirmative!
We can hardly stand the wait
We are impatient and cannot endure anticipation
Please Christmas, don't be late.
We earnestly request for Christmas to arrive soon.
Very good, boys
Boys, you performed admirably.
Let's sing it again!
We should perform the musical number once more.
Yeah, lets sing it again!
Agreed, let us perform the song again!
No, that's enough, let's not overdo it
No, that is sufficient, let's not overexert ourselves.
What do you mean overdo it?
I do not comprehend your notion of overdoing it.
We want to sing it again!
We insist upon performing the song once more!
Now wait a minute, boys
Hold on a moment, boys.
Why can't we sing it again?
What is the reason we cannot perform the song again?
Alvin, cut that out
Alvin, please cease that behavior.
Theodore, just a minute.
Theodore, please be patient.
Simon will you cut that out? Boys
Simon, would you discourage their behavior, boys?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ross Bagdasarian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nbuehster
A new version featuring The Chipettes:
It would start out the same, except, instead of Dave saying "Okay, Alvin? Alvin. AAALVIIIN!!!", and Alvin shouting "O-KAY!!!", Dave would just say "Okay, Alvin?", and Alvin would just say something like "Okay."
Then 0:58 to 1:36 wouldn't be instrumental. Dave would complement all of them. But then the Chipettes would appear. Dave would ask who they were, and the Chipettes would say who they were. Then they'd ask if they could sing, and Dave would be like "Why not.". Then they'd sing the whole song, instead of just the second half. But Britney would sing "Me, I want a hula hoop", and Alvin would be like "Wait a minute.". Then the Chipettes would finish. After that, Dave would tell the.Chipettes they did a great job. Then Alvin would say something to Britney about how he was the one who wanted the hula hoop. Not sure what would happen, after that, but I think Dave would somehow settle things, and he'd want both the Chipmunks, and the Chipettes to sing. Then they'd all sing the second half of the song, but Alvin and Britney would both ing sing "We both I want a hula hoop", and then they'd all finish the rest of the chorus. After that, instead of the song ending with the Chipmunks wanting to sing the song again, Dave saying "Let's not overdo it.", and the Chipmunks arguing about overdoing it, Dave would complement both the Chipmunks, and the Chipettes. "Great job, boys. And you were also great, Chipettes." There are two things that could happen after that. (I don't know which would be better.)
1. After they finish singing, and Dave complements the Chipmunks, and the Chipettes, Alvin, and Britney, would start arguing again about the hula hoop, and Dave would try to stop them. "Alvin!? Britney? Enough.". And the song would end with them still arguing.
2. After they finish singing, and Dave complements the Chipmunks, and the Chipettes, he would say "Oh, Alvin? Britney? Here.", (Dave, giving both of them hula hoops) and they both would thank Dave. Then Dave would say he was glad he made both of them happy, and he'd tell them to sing one last chorus, and they'd start singing.
The Chipmunks, and the Chipettes: Want a plane that loops the loop
Alvin and Britney: We both got a hula hoop
The Chipmunks, and the Chipettes: We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late
Then it would end like the original, but both the Chipmunks, and the Chipettes would want to sing again, Dave would say "Let's not overdo it", and they'd all start arguing about overdoing it.
@nbuehster
A few things:
1. 0:16 I wonder if that could be turned into a meme.
2. It's "The Chipmunk Song", not "The Christmas Song".
3. Are they chewing on Dave's head in the end? "Alvin cut that, Alvin, Wait, OW! OW! OW!"
4. Also I find it strange that Theodore's voice is lower than Simon's, since I always thought it was the highest. (His voice is definitely higher in the middle, when he laughs.)
Dave: Alright you chipmunks, ready to sing your song?
Chipmunks: I'd say we are
Yeah, let's sing it now
Dave: Okay, Simon?
Simon: OK
Dave: Okay, Theodore?
Theodore: OK
Dave: Wait. Isn't your voice supposed to be higher than Simon's?
Theodore: I don't know. You were the one who created our voices.
Dave: Hmm. You have a point. Okay, Alvin? Alvin? ALVIN!!
Alvin: OKAY!!
@nbuehster
Even though summer's almost over:
Alright you Chipmunks
Ready to sing your song?
I'll say we are
Yeah, let's sing it now!
Okay, Simon?
Okay
Okay, Theodore?
Okay
Okay, Alvin? Alvin? Alvin!
Where's my bathing suit?
Forget about that. Are you ready?
Okay
Summer, summertime is near
Time for speedos time for beer
???
I can't find my bathing suit
We can hardly stand the wait
Please summer, don't be late
Not sure about the middle section, other than Dave giving Alvin his bathing suit.
Oh, and here's your bathing suit, Alvin... Alvin? Alvin!
Oh, thanks!
???
I just found my bathing suit
We can hardly stand the wait
Please summer, don't be late
We can hardly stand the wait
Please summer, don't be late
Very good, boys
Let's sing it agan
Yeah, let's sing it again
No, that's enough, let's not overdo it
What do you mean overdo it? We gotta sing it again!
Now wait a minute, boys
Yeah, let's beat it, I'd like to sing it again
Alvin... it's not that... not but, what?
Theodore, just a minute...
Simon will you cut that out, get off me
@docgreen4
I had no idea the Chipmunks started out as a puppet show, always assumed it was a cartoon from the beginning.
@catholiccowboy8545
it was just a song at the beginning and never was a puppet show at all. This is just for Ed Sullivan.
@yoshiallaround4246
It wasnt a puppet show. It was actually when the guy was broke and needed money he used the rest of his money to buy a cassette recorder and he bought it and made "witch doctor" and it was a hit and it made him rich, later he wanted to make another hit and liked the voice he used from the witch doctor song and so he wrote "the Christmas song" and he needed an animal to be this mascot type thing and he was driving and a chipmunk walked in front of his car and stood there. He realized how confident this chipmunk was and decided to make the chipmunks sing this classic. That is the story of how Alvin and the chipmunks came to be.
@catholiccowboy8545
@@yoshiallaround4246 yes accurate except there was no cassette or cassette recorder in 1958. Good job though !
@yoshiallaround4246
@@catholiccowboy8545 it was something like that. I may of gotten mixed up. But i know he got recording equipment and stuff like that. My bad
@magicamadeye
@@catholiccowboy8545 lets face it, when we say Tape recorder, ones mind doesnt immediately jump to two giant rolls of magnetic tape does it?
@viveleshistoires4874
The fact that this spawned such a big franchise is honestly so impressive!
@cyb3rflour1
Alvin: * exists *
David: AAAALVIIIIIN
@pickaxe137
Fun Fact: Dave Seville is played by Ross Bagdasarian Sr, who also voiced the Chipmunks until his death in 1972. His son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr now voices Alvin and Simon, as well as Dave in the 2015 series, while the latter's wife Janice Karman voices Theodore, as well as the Chipettes. In the aforementioned series they accidently credit Karman as the creator, when it was her father in-law that did.
@michaelmartin4552
She created the "Chipettes", not Ross Sr. Originally it was a single one named Charlene for a 1982 album (Chipmunks Go Hollywood, "You're the One That I Want"), then in 1983 they were added to the TV series as Jeanette, Brittany, and Eleanor.
It is obvious, as when he was alive Ross Sr. did all of the voices, and there were never female chipmunks while he was alive. Ross Jr.'s wife urged him to add female ones so they can have a greater variety of songs.
Rumor has it that Charlene was to be in the 1983 TV series, but she did a photo spread for Larry Flint, and was quickly dropped from the show and replaced by Jeanette. :D