# Hatin' on Christmas music! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 20, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897 "2023-12-20T18:18:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/83 "2023-12-28T18:51:42Z")
I’ve just remembered this, erm, “gem”: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/btEpF334Rtc/hqdefault.jpg "The Wurzels - Combine Harvester") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btEpF334Rtc) And this parody: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Qk_T0Kx3kJ4/maxresdefault.jpg "Dora Bryan--All I Want For Christmas is a Beatle") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk_T0Kx3kJ4) But for sheer plumptious gooiness: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/w4EbUIWEk8I/maxresdefault.jpg "Vera Lynn - The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4EbUIWEk8I) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/84 "2024-11-11T21:16:31Z")
A local station was playing “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” on Friday night, and I lunged for the Scan button. Too soon, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/85 "2024-11-11T21:29:18Z")
right. The biggest issue is they start playing these songs 2+ months before actual Christmas. If they only started playing Christmas music like 2 weeks before, I would have a much higher tolerance for it. To try to prevent burnout, I actively turn off any christmas song I hear until then. It allows me to enjoy the music for 2 weeks, and then be done with it for another year. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/86 "2024-11-11T21:51:44Z")
I used to work in radio, which meant I had to play the damn Christmas songs on my boss’s schedule, for hours at a stretch, and it wasn’t like we had hundreds of songs to choose from. As a result, I now happily embrace Christmas music all day on December 24th and until 6:00 p.m. December 25th. Any other time, I’d rather listen to AM talk radio. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/87 "2024-11-11T22:05:25Z")
What is odd is that most top ten Christmas song playlist have nothing religious. Mostly secular, with maybe 1/2 to 1/3 being _winter_ songs, nothing to do with Christmas- _Jingle Bells,Walking in a winter Wonderland., Frosty the Snowman, Let it Snow, Baby its Cold Outside_ plus more- and then one which is not religious, not Christmas, and not even specifically winter- “A few of my Favorite Things”. 🤪 So Secular Christmas and general Winter songs predominate. In fact, this list has not one religious carol- > **[The Official Top 40 most-streamed Christmas songs](https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-most-streamed-christmas-songs__31778/)** > > Christmas songs are like Brussels sprouts: they only appear in December and you either love or loathe them - but either way they are an essential component of the festive season. Like distant relatives bounding into your family home on Christmas... Oh and _Baby it’s Cold Outside_ is _not evil_, nor is "_All I want for Christmas is you"_ (altho that one is often overplayed, which means it can be annoying) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/88 "2024-11-11T22:07:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What is odd is that most top ten Christmas song playlist have nothing religious. Why do you find that odd? The Christmas shopping season getting earlier is what is driving the Christmas music getting played earlier. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/89 "2024-11-11T22:16:24Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Why do you find that odd? The Christmas shopping season getting earlier is what is driving the Christmas music getting played earlier. The atheists who hate on anything Christmas, not knowing they won the war some decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/90 "2024-11-11T22:29:49Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I love Christmas music, because I refuse to listen to the crap that’s been produced in the last few decades. All of which falls into 2 categories: a rant about how awful the Christmas season is, or a “gee I miss my baby” song\* with a tenuous tie-in to Christmas. > > Just put on a playlist of Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and get your head right. > > And I’ve got nothing against secular xmas tunes. Sleigh Ride, and Winter Wonderland, are bangers. > > \*The exception that proves the rule: Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is one of the best songs of any genre ever. Of course it’s also 60 years old. I have always loved some of Harry Bellafonte’s renditions of Christmas songs. Maybe it’s the nostalgia aspect. I was told that my grandmother (who died before I was born) loved his music. Sometimes I can enjoy a good Silent Night sung in German. In years past I enjoyed Maggie Sansone’s _Ancient Noels_ CD. I try to avoid most of the Christmas season though. It’s a survival time of year for me. Not much joy at all. So I generally don’t listen to Christmas music. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/91 "2024-11-12T03:35:52Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Sometimes I can enjoy a good Silent Night sung in German. _Silent Night_- German or english or just the music is my one fave “religious” Christmas carol (as a kid I loved _Little Drummer Boy,_ but no more of that glurge. _I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas_ I like maybe once a season). My Fave is Claymation Christmas and Mannheim Steamroller. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/em1Vx2UEa5k/maxresdefault.jpg "Mannheim Steamroller - Faeries (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em1Vx2UEa5k) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/92 "2024-11-12T08:04:17Z")
Some of the old traditional carols still get me sentimental (at Christmas, not earlier). But I have a deep loathing for tearjerkers like _Scarlet Ribbons_ and _The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot_ ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/93 "2024-11-12T08:53:59Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > “Little Drummer Boy” This song has been criticized, dissed, condemned, and figuratively shat on more times than I can remember. The problem is, I strongly associate it with being a young pup and hearing it on the radio a lot as Christmas approached, looking forward to vacation from school and the excitement of Christmas morning, and enthusiastically spraying “artificial snow” on stencils to create Christmas scenes on our doors and windows while “Little Drummer Boy” played in the background. Meh, I think you’re just a Grinch! 😉 > [@LSLGuy](#): > > The two worst by far are _Jingle Bell Rock_ and the _Jingle Bells_ version where the “singing” is barking dogs. Ya got a problem wit dogs, pal? 😉 Here, lemme entertain ya … [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xam01uaj6Vg/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGC8gZSg2MA8=&rs=AOn4CLBAw4973ju2_mYkwbqmpbGd5yaSTA "Barking Dogs - Jingle Bells") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xam01uaj6Vg) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/94 "2024-11-12T09:03:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Meh, I think you’re just a Grinch! 😉 No problem with dogs here, though if somebody really wants to get creative, they could record cat meows, for a change. Imagine it: _Mao, mao, mao,_ _Mao, mao, mao,_ _Mao, mao, mao, wa! Maouuuu!_ I like Christmas music, but I see no need for it to be played in supermarkets and malls after Hallowe’en. At least, wait until December. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/95 "2024-11-12T09:15:41Z")
I love many Christmas songs but there are two that I would be happy if they dropped off the face of the Earth: 1. Silent Night. The melody is trivial and rather sad. 2. Baby It’s Cold Outside. Again, the melody is unimpressive, and the dialog between the woman and the man talks about a dated social dynamic. So much from me. ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/96 "2024-11-12T09:53:49Z")
Christmas music with cats? It’s been done: > **[Jingle Cats 2015 Jingle Bells Meowy Christmas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VelDf3SwUes%5C)** > > Jingle Cats 2015 Sing a New Jingle Bells Meowy ChristmasJingle MeowJingle MeowJingle All the MeowOh What MeowIt is to Meowon a One Horse Open Sleigh MeowJing... ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/97 "2024-11-12T10:21:27Z")
Ha! Perfect! I did also click on “Bohemian Catsody,” which was recommended. Lots of fun, and as a former cat owner (I once owned—er, was employed by—seven of them), I recognize a lot. With a tip of the hat to our friend @wolfpup , cats rule and dogs … are fine companions. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/98 "2024-11-12T10:23:56Z")
This seems like a good time to remind everyone of the rules of Wham!ageddon. > **[Whamageddon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whamageddon)** > > Whamageddon is a game played during the 24 days before Christmas in which players try to go from 1 December to the end of Christmas Eve (24 December) without hearing the song "Last Christmas" by Wham! If the player hears the song between those days, they are out of the game and have to post "#Whamageddon" on social media to indicate that they have lost. The exceptions to this game are that the player can only listen to remixes and cover versions of the song. Whilst not encouraged on the website, ... ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/99 "2024-11-12T10:27:15Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > Baby It’s Cold Outside. Again, the melody is unimpressive, and the dialog between the woman and the man talks about a dated social dynamic. My ex-wife and I used to sing this to each other, at Christmastime. She had a beautiful voice, which she was always reluctant to use. But she would sing in private, with me, and we had a lot of fun with this song. We danced around the kitchen while singing it. Any ladies want to duet? ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/100 "2024-11-12T11:44:19Z")
Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ I detest that song. It can be sung beautifully (k.d. lang, for one) but it’s use as a Christmas song (read the lyrics, people!) has totally soured me on it. Currently the best thing about managing my retail store is that **I** get to decide when the Christmas music starts! That won’t be until the week before Christmas, probably, and I curate the list, ha! ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/101 "2024-11-12T12:18:49Z")
I don’t think i’ve ever heard that song in any Christmas type scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897/102 "2024-11-12T12:18:52Z")
@saje I had no idea that Leonard Cohen’s _Hallelujah_ has being used as a Christmas song. Also I don’t like to hear the Twelve Days of Christmas. It seems like it is the holiday equivalent of 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hatin-on-christmas-music/994897.md?page=6)