Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer began as a 1939 story by Robert L. May and became a song written by Johnny Marks, popularised by Gene Autry in 1949. The melody has since been recorded by many artists, including The Temptations, whose soul version is tagged on this file. Chiptune versions later spread through gaming forums, video sites and soundboards, where creators shortened the tune into a brief holiday cue. Its familiarity and simple hook explain why it still returns each December in memes, streams and festive edits.