Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has always been 1 of my favorite Christmas songs. However there aren't many versions of the song I like. But Burl Ives performance of Rudolph is fantastic. This version is slower and longer than the version from the TV show featured on the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer soundtrack. But this version is still up tempo and very well sung. Unfortunately too many artists ruin this song by trying to make their renditions too much their own. Dean Martin refers to Rudolph as "Rudy" in a few lines of the song and Jewel performs this song in a horribly slow and dragged out manner. Burl Ives sings this song the way it's supposed to be sung and keeps it at that and that's why Burl Ives performances of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer are the best versions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer that exist.