Irving Berlin: “Sisters” (from the movie, “White Christmas”)

The movie “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” is ubiquitous this time of year, and whether you find the song “Sisters” campy, charming, clever, or divine, chances are good that more than a few somebodies, somewhere are currently humming a few bars of the tune. Perhaps even recreating the dance number in which the Haynes Sisters, played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, sashay and sing of a sisterly devotion which knows — almost — no bounds.

Case in point: last year, Kelly Clarkson and her bandmates went all out to recreate the scene for a holiday Kelly-oke, giant turquoise burlesque feather fans and all. The talk show even made sure to invoke the film’s reprise, an improvised scene in which Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye frolic, pose, lip-sync, and preen with the sisters’ giant feather fans, all in the service of getting the Haynes sisters out of a jam.

You can find digital music for “Sisters” online, but some (like me) would perhaps prefer the coziness of this vintage sheet music. Behind the festive red, white, and green cover is an accessible and satisfying two-page arrangement of the song.

It turns out there’s a robust selection of “Sisters”-themed merchandise to be found online: Christmas ornaments, pillows, prints, sweatpants, hand towels, and stickers, as of this writing. And personalized mugs, to celebrate sisterhoods in all their forms. Talk about devotion!

You might even be able to find some of those oversized feathery burlesque fans, or craft a set of your own. Here’s a post in which a team from the South Dakota State University theatre department recounts how they created sturdy versions of the fans for a local production of “White Christmas.”

Where to find it:
“Sisters”
Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin

VINTAGE SHEET MUSIC: on eBay or on Amazon
Publisher: Irving Berlin Music Corporation (1953)
Status (2023): Out of Print

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: sheet music for “Sisters” available for purchase as a digital download on musicnotes.com. Singers.com provides a list of vocal arrangements for the song.

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION: 
- The blog That’s My Bix has a charming, in-depth look at the costumes Edith Head designed for the movie “White Christmas.”
- Kovel’s Antique Trader also celebrated Edith Head’s designs.
- The official Irving Berlin Facebook page has an active timeline, including this post about the song.
- The Rosemary Clooney House boasts of having “the largest collection of ‘White Christmas’ memorabilia anywhere in the world” though in late 2023, the collection will be on exhibit at The Durham Museum.
- this NPR Jazz Profile of Rosemary Clooney includes interviews with the singer.