Confessions of a Christmas Music Snob
I really love this time of year. As the air gets colder I can finally haul out the sweaters, the occasional swing through the Starbucks drive-through is even more enjoyable, and there’s just that electricity in the air that excites and energizes me. And yes, I’m one of those weirdos who enjoy raking leaves. As I write today, there is a slow, steady rain – I love a good dreary day now and then.
Perhaps my favorite thing about this time of year is Christmas music. I’ll admit that this year I was listening WELL before Halloween – I just couldn’t wait any longer. Any why should I? Why should I put off listening to music that celebrates the birth of Christ? (Okay, I know that He wasn’t actually born on 12-25, but it’s just the time we choose to observe the most important event in history.)
But it’s inevitable. I turn on the 24-hour Christmas music station and some genius is singing about giving his or her heart to someone only for it to be given away – you know the song. Or someone else confesses that they want nothing else for Christmas, just YOU! You know that one, too. I’ll confess that drives me nuts. When someone hijacks a musical genre that is intended to celebrate Christ’s birth and shoehorns in their lamentations over their long-lost love, well, it just puts me over the edge.
Now granted, I know there’s “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives or “Silver Bells” done up in Harry Connick Jr’s inimitable style, to name a few. But to me the message is still in keeping with the spirit of the season – family, giving, compassion. I know that people really do feel those emotions of unrequited love, etc., but it really bugs me when we treat Christmas music like a recipe: take one really depressing pop song, add the word “Christmas,” sprinkle in a few other holiday connotations and you now have Christmas song. If I wanted to hear that I’d tune into the local soft-rock station.
So what do you all think? How far do we go? Do we keep the message pure and focused on the message of Christmas?
Meanwhile, I need a cup of tea while Tony Bennett soothes my soul with “White Christmas.”
Perhaps my favorite thing about this time of year is Christmas music. I’ll admit that this year I was listening WELL before Halloween – I just couldn’t wait any longer. Any why should I? Why should I put off listening to music that celebrates the birth of Christ? (Okay, I know that He wasn’t actually born on 12-25, but it’s just the time we choose to observe the most important event in history.)
But it’s inevitable. I turn on the 24-hour Christmas music station and some genius is singing about giving his or her heart to someone only for it to be given away – you know the song. Or someone else confesses that they want nothing else for Christmas, just YOU! You know that one, too. I’ll confess that drives me nuts. When someone hijacks a musical genre that is intended to celebrate Christ’s birth and shoehorns in their lamentations over their long-lost love, well, it just puts me over the edge.
Now granted, I know there’s “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives or “Silver Bells” done up in Harry Connick Jr’s inimitable style, to name a few. But to me the message is still in keeping with the spirit of the season – family, giving, compassion. I know that people really do feel those emotions of unrequited love, etc., but it really bugs me when we treat Christmas music like a recipe: take one really depressing pop song, add the word “Christmas,” sprinkle in a few other holiday connotations and you now have Christmas song. If I wanted to hear that I’d tune into the local soft-rock station.
So what do you all think? How far do we go? Do we keep the message pure and focused on the message of Christmas?
Meanwhile, I need a cup of tea while Tony Bennett soothes my soul with “White Christmas.”
posted by aahrens at
Friday, November 14, 2008
3 Comments:
Ever notice there's no market for bumpers stickers that read "Let's kee Satan in Halloween?"
Anyway. I think the thing that drives me equally mad is when an artist manages to record a Christmas album that only ventures Santa and the sentimental. Certainly those are cool (although I'm near overpass jumping territory when I hear Kathy Lee Gifford do it), but refusing to acknowlege the reason for the day at all is an annoying venture into watching someone have AND eat their little cake of monetary opportunity.
-R
Ah, well said, my friend. Like I said - it's like "highjacking" a genre for personal gain. I'll agree that they are cool, but come on! What is the day all about? You know I have to drop this in - but that's why I love Harry Connick Jr. - he ALWAYS puts plenty of songs on his Christmas CD's that talk about Christ. Those, mixed with his amazing arrangements of all the fun songs are a great balance.
Oh, and good one on the Halloween bumper sticker! Never thought of it, but that's the TRUTH brother!
Ann, I share the passion for Christmas music. I agree that there is much about the season that is not in tune with the actual reason we are celebrating. Once of my new favorite Christmas songs is "I Believe" by Natalie Grant. Having said that, I must confess that my usual "snobbery" gets dismissed for holiday tunes. I listen to Kenny G, Mariah, and other sugar fluff pop sounding carol singers. I have Harry's Christmas stuff on the ipod year round, and on a really dreary day I put in the medieval Christmas CD. I love this time of year!
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