Tired Out Christmas Music Blues

Published on November 14, 2003 By CariElf In Music

My two favorite radio stations, 100.3 WNIC and 105.1 WMGC, which both play soft rocks and have great morning shows, have already started their Christmas music marathons. They started playing Christmas songs occasionally almost immediately (if not immediately) after Halloween. I changed my radio station to 96.3, and will probably stick with that and CDs until after Christmas.

Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas music, and I have no problem that we're already practicing Advent and Christmas Music in my church Choir and Lawrence Tech's Musicians' Society. But the radios play the same music over and over non-stop through most of November until Christmas, and by the time that Christmas finally comes, I'm ready to puke when I hear sleigh ride. Also, just the fact that they start so early is unnerving. My pastor last year was harping on people rushing Christmas, and I'm a lot more sympathetic with his views this year. Christmas starts losing its specialness when it's so prolonged. The rule in my family has always been that you start decorating and playing Christmas music the day after Christmas, and you take down the decorations, etc, after the Epiphany (the day we celebrate the arrival of the 3 Wise Men). I think that it's the 6th of January, but I don't have my Catholic calendar here at work, so I can't check.

My solution to the problem of hearing the same old Christmas music year after year has been to increase my own more eclectic collection of Christmas Music. Here are some excellent CDs if you're looking for some new Christmas music:

Christian Rock Selections:

WOW Christmas
One Silent Night
Christmas Shoes by Newsong
Christmas by Rebecca St. James

Other:

A Christmas Together (John Denver and the Muppets)
Snoopy's Christmas Classiks On Toys
Snoopy's Nutcracker And Other Tchaikovsky's
Merry Snoopy's Christmas (I have this one on a tape I got from a bargain bin somewhere - it has the songs telling the story of Snoopy vs. the Red Baron. The other songs aren't great, but the tape was worth it for the Red Baron songs)

Pop Artists:
Jewel
Hey Santa - Wendy and Carnie Wilson
Christmas Extrodinaire by Mannheim Steamroller (who now have a boxed set for $50 of 4 of their Christmas albums)

I also have a 2 tape set called Christmas Favorite Carols (Peformed by the Riga Boys Choir). It's pretty good and it has a lot of carols. I also found these in a bargain bin. Bargin bins of Christmas music can occasionally turn up real treasures if you have the patience to go through them.

If anyone knows where I can get a copy of "Twelve Things At Christmas That Really Get To Me" let me know. It's hysterical.

One of my favorite CDs you probably won't be able to find as it was produced one year as a fundraiser for Right to Life. It's called Christmas Around the World. I know one of the people who was in the choir who made the CD, so I'll ask her at choir practice on Wednesday if she knows if it's still available.

Comments

JeremyG

on Nov 14, 2003

John Denver with the Muppets is the best Christmas album EVER.

And i totally agree with you. They're starting the xmas music WAY too early this year. Even when they start it just after Thanksgiving it gets tiresome by the time xmas actually comes...but this is rediculous. Most of the reason is that there's rarely new Christmas songs that aren't parodies. Mostly it's people re-recording old songs.

Two of the very very few new xmas songs are
John Lennon - "So This Is Christmas"
BandAid - "Do They Know It's Christmas Time" (which isnt really a good xmas song, kinda depressing)

JillUser

on Nov 14, 2003

Maybe someone could write some Thanksgiving songs

They were playing Christmas music at the salon when I got my son's hair cut last night. At least wait until after Turkey day! The poor kids are going to explode with anxiety waiting from Halloween until Christmas morning, being teased with Christmas music.

CariElf

on Nov 14, 2003

JeremyG: those have both been around awhile, but I do really like "Do They Know It's Christmas Time" because it makes me so much more grateful for what I have. John Lennon's "So This is Christmas" gets played a lot on the radio stations I listen to.

JillUser: I know of lots of songs appropriate for Thanksgiving, but they're all religious, and not of a style to play on a pop rock station. Although I'm not above "rocking" a church song. I might have to see what I can do along those lines.

Ian Hanschen

on Nov 14, 2003

I really like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I think it's the guitars

JillUser

on Nov 14, 2003

If you come up with a "rocking" Thanksgiving song, I gotta hear it!

I don't really get sick of the Christmas music, I just think it diminishes the joy of the actual holiday when it starts in the wrong month

TexasNurse2

on Nov 15, 2003

The only problem that I have with Christmas music is that it makes me want snow. Almost every Christmas song that I can think of sets a picture of a warm, crackling fireplace inside and fluffy, white snow outside. Here in Southeast Texas, we've been neglected of snowfall for the past, oh say 16 years...So, I listen to all of this wonderful Christmas music and I step outside to humidity and NO SNOW!!!!! My poor children look at me as if I have lobsters crawling out of my ears when I even say the word "snow". "Will we ever see snow, momma?" Good luck, little people..good luck.

JillUser

on Nov 15, 2003

TexasNurse2, I like the snow until about Jan 15. If it could snow from 12/1 - 1/15, I would be in heaven! About midwinter I would gladly switch with you

I was raised in Northern Michigan so I know snow. Are you a native Texan? I know Michiganders that moved to Texas and like to come visit the snow for Christmas but are quite happy to return to the warmth.

I'm with you though. Christmas and snow go together. We already have an inch in Northern MI (maybe more in the U.P.). The cold weather does help get you in the mood.

TexasNurse2

on Nov 15, 2003

Yes, I'm a native Texan. I live down in Beaumont, Texas which is just about 1.5 hours from Houston. I can vaguely recall a snow that we had when I was around 8 years old, and it was wonderful. I am looking to bring my little boys (5 and 4) to either Red River, NM or Winter Park so that they can see some snow and enjoy the fun. I forgot to mention, one of my favorite Christmas collections is from Rosie O'Donnell...

Kim

on Nov 17, 2003

We've got a radio station out here in the NYC area that just went all Christmas music all the time. The station has had it's problems over the past year -- their most successful dj's were fired, they couldn't pick a format, and now they are 24/7 Christmas music.

I also like the occasional Christmas music but there needs to be some kind of law that it can't be played until at least after Thanksgiving.

My favorite Christmas CD is Harry Connick, Jr. His voice is amazing and he does a little traditional, a little modern, and a little modern twist on traditional songs.

CariElf

on Nov 17, 2003

Furan: I also like TSO, although I haven't been exposed to them as to Manheim Steamroller. Did you know that TSO is going to be at the Palace in December?

zergimmi

on Nov 17, 2003

I don't know about the US, nut InUK, Europe and Australia, two great sings that get a great work out rare, John Lennon - "So This Is Christmas" and one which may be less known to you guys but is just as populat and worth a listen is a song by "Slade: ( 70's and 80's British Rock Group) Merry Xmas Everybody, both are great in their own way and generally positive especially the latter.

Dynosoar

on Dec 16, 2003

Hey Texasnurse, try out Jimmy Buffett's " Christmas in the Carribean ! Perfect subtropical tune.
Makes you just imagine that Corona commercial with the lights in the palm tree.
As for best Christmas song ever - Bing Crosby and David Bowie duet of "Little Drummer Boy".

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