“I LOSE IT WHEN I HEAR WHITE CHRISTMAS” BY TONI WINE AND ARTIE WAYNE
September 19, 2006
“As a long time lover of pop music I’ve always been curious about the story behind the song. Knowing that many of you feel the same way, I’d like to share the story behind “I Lose it When I Hear “White Christmas”, A new song that I wrote with Toni Wine (“Groovy Kind of Love”, “Candida”) which is on the Tony Orlando and Dawn “Reunion” album.
In 1995, after 20 years of being in the music business as a singer, songwriter, producer, being an exec at April-Blackwood, Warner Brothers music, and running Irving/ Almo, I had become too weak to even hold a guitar. Finally, I could no longer work at Allan Rinde’s legendary Chinese restaurant in Hollywood, Genghis Cohen, [which I named and hosted off and on for ten years].
When I kept falling down in the street, I knew that something was seriously wrong with me! I was uninsured, and was facing this crisis all alone. My two closest friends, Allan Rinde, was spending more and more time in Nashville with his fiance, Toni Wine…and Patti Dahlstrom, had moved back to Houston, to teach music and critical thinking at the Art Institute of Houston. I had taken to wearing all black, as I stumbled around the back streets of Hollywood, hoping I wouldn’t see anybody that I knew. I felt, for the first time in my life, that I had reached the end of the road.
Fortunately, Patti was in town for a conference, and came over to visit. I didn’t want her to see me broke and broken…but now I’m glad I did. She convinced me to swallow my pride, and seek help from social services, which saved my life! I went to the USC medical center for 2 days of tests, and they kept me for 3 weeks.
It was a few days before Christmas, I was in a ward with many who were far worse off than me…and we did our best to keep each others’ spirits up. Somehow, I lost my phone book, and the only numbers that I could remember was my Mothers’, who had moved to West Virginia, and that my long time friend Alan O’Day, who was on his way out of town.
It’s a policy of most hospitals to send as many patients home for the holidays to be with their family and friends. Soon, I was the only one left in the ward, since I had nowhere else to go. One lonely night, as I sat feeling sorry for myself, I heard a group down the hall, singing Christmas carols. I followed the voices to the children’s ward…where I heard the joyous sounds of “Jingle Bells”. It was the Salvation Army, passing out toys and candy, and singing to the kids, who were confined to their beds. I joined in on “Silent Night”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, and “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer”, but when they started singing “White Christmas” tears started running down my face, and I had to sit in another room to compose myself. This song, written by Irving Berlin, always brings back memories of family and friends in a snow covered New York City blanketing me with emotions.
10 years later, I told Toni Wine (whom I’ve known since she was 14…and showed her some lyrics I had written that night “I Lose it When I Hear “White Christmas”.
She loved it, but wanted to make the story more universal. Over two writing sessions, which we started on Irving Berlin’s piano Toni bought many years ago, we came up with….”
“I LOSE IT WHEN THEY HEAR “WHITE CHRISTMAS”
words and music by Toni Wine and Artie Wayne
They can play “Jingle Bells” all day
talk about Santa’s Sleigh
I’m alright on a very “Silent Night”
But then my tears begin
when they sing I can’t join in
‘Cause I Lose it When I Hear “White Christmas”
Being’ without you just ain’t no fun
what kind of thrill is cookin’ for one?
Can’t deny I wanna’ cry myself out
Here’s to Holiday spirit
don’t wanna’ be anywhere near it
‘Cause I Lose it When I Hear “White Christmas”
And Baby I know…You needed to go
But why did you have to leave me now?
[Instrumental]
Don’t feel like spreading good cheer
Just wanna’ sleep in the New Year
‘Cause I Lose it When I Hear “White Christmas”
‘Cause I Lose it When I Hear “White Christmas”
Copyright 2005-CasmoTwine
If you like it, please feel to share it with a friend…if you love it, however, feel free to share it with your entire address book!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and best of holidays, from Artie Wayne On The Web ENJOY TO THE WORLD!
Copyright 2012 by Artie Wayne
WHILE FIGHTING LARGE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE TRYING TO KEEP ROYALTIES AWAY ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER ARTISTS, SONGWRITERS AND PUBLISHERS, MY ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME IS FROM THE SALE OF MY BOOK. ” I DID IT FOR A SONG”, WITH OVER 100 STORIES FROM THE MUSIC BUSINESS OF THE ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. I HOPE YOU’LL CONSIDER BUYING ONE DIRECTLY FROM ME THROUGH PAYPAL FOR ONLY $9.99 AT artiewayne@gmail.com OR BY CHECK TO…ARTIE WAYNE P.O. BOX 1105, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92240
THANKS AND REGARDS, ARTIE WAYNE https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/celebrating-two-million-views-today-on-artie-wayne-on-the-web/
Artie Wayne On The Web 
September 20, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Looks like the server trashed my comment beyond Artie’s quote – Personally, I’d like to hear the demo. Often songwriter’s demos, especially for songs this personal, tend to be more intimate and less polished and closer to the first intent of the author. On the one hand it communicates an emotion that is if not universal at least that everyone reacts to in some way, but the writer it can be agreed on is definitely going to sing it like he means it.
December 13, 2006 at 2:54 pm
I love this song. I can’t be with my boyfriend right now at Chrismastime and this song is so true. Everytime I hear a Christmas song, I don’t even want to be there.
July 25, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Hey can I get you designers contact info? This is an awesome skin.
December 7, 2011 at 3:46 am
Beautiful Artie and I can certainly share that sentiment -having spent many a Christmas sick in bed. And alone.
December 7, 2011 at 4:46 am
Artie, This spoke to me! Thank you to you and Toni for writing this. But I must confess that I have “lost it” over a different song: All i Want For Christmas Is You”! This was the Christmas song for my wife Judy and I. When it came on the radio or she played it on the cassette player in the kitchen we would sing our hearts out and dance. The first Christmas after her untimely death in Sept 2005 I would literally “lose it” and cry my heart out..espacially that first Christmas!!
Lisa Layne’s lead vocal, the arrangement, the lyrics all spoke to myself and Judy!!
December 14, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Artie, I had never heard all of the details regarding your illness and hospital stay & how it inspired the song “I Lose It When I Hear White Christmas”. Just listened to the song and love it !!
December 17, 2011 at 12:45 am
I hope I’ll someday have the opportunity to see Toni sing that song at a writers night here in Nashville. We Nashvillians are very lucky to have Toni and Alan O’Day (whom I’ve been able to see perform many times) among us.
December 17, 2011 at 5:01 am
Right on! Cool toon! I lose it when i hear it too, especially when it’s played in July!
November 18, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Artie,
We have so much in common on the health front. More or less being in the same boat you are in, I – nonetheless, wish you a prosperous, joyous New Year and to keep the faith, my man.
Bob ,
ps. Oh, yes, the song. Took a few listens and a half hour later I was singing it.
November 21, 2012 at 12:14 am
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