There are any number of so-called Christmas carols, some of which are related to Christmas in an at best tenuous fashion …
What’s Frosty the Snowman have to do with Christmas? Not counting the cartoon made about that song of course – in the cartoon Frosty goes to the North Pole to stay with Santa so that he won’t melt … but that’s not in the song. So other than the obvious reference to snow, nothing to tie it to Christmas as such – and as our antipodean friend tt92 mentioned, you won’t see much snow in Australia this time of year. Jingle Bells? Again, snow, even a sleigh … but this sleigh is pulled by a horse. My brother tells me it should actually be in March or April – that doesn’t sound like Christmas to me. Sleigh Ride? Depends … some versions mention a Christmas party, others say birthday party. Presuming the latter is the original, then all you have is a sleigh and snow again.
Then there’s my personal favorite … what does a song from The Sound of Music have to do with Christmas? Sure, My Favorite Things mentions presents, but if you’ve ever seen the movie it takes place during a thunderstorm – Maria is trying to help one of the kids who is scared by the thunder to feel better by singing to them. No relation to Christmas at all.
And of course, any song that does mention Christmas or New Year’s automatically becomes “seasonal”, even if it’s a song about a suicidal veteran who killed himself on Christmas Eve. Yes, I do like “Something to Believe In”, but I wish they wouldn’t overplay it in December and then never play it the rest of the year.
And somehow they also like “Baby It’s Cold Outside” in the month before Christmas, and no other times. Cute song, with a mention of snow and of course cold … but December is not the coldest month of the year (and especially not in Australia again), so what’s the tie in to Christmas? Winter Wonderland? Let It Snow? No Christmas or Santa in either one.
Of course, being in retail I’ve heard Christmas music for the last 5 weeks now non-stop … even so there are some songs I could listen to year ’round, and some I could live without. So don’t imagine I’m just “Bah, humbugging” the whole thing. Of course, maybe it’s silly to expect things to make sense …
Haven’t listened to Christmasy music the past several years but I always listen to the Carol of the Bells.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_of_the_Bells
That was a great entry. Fact is… I just haven’t given much thought to the “Christmas” music until I read this blog piece and you’re right. “Winter Wonderland” is another that’s played during the “season” and yet has little if anything to do with the season.
I used to view “The Nutcracker” as a Christmas imposter with its hits always constantly playing this time of year. It used to get on my nerves until I saw the production a few times. Now I like it.
A bit odd: I like “Silent Night” (Stille Nacht) in German better than I do English even though I don’t speak any German. It mesmerizes me.
I live in a township that’s dominated by Muslim and Hindu store owners. So I don’t get bombarded by Christmas carols every year like I used to. I can get a little trying when some store start playing carols from September onwards! lol
One particular Christmas Carol says, “It’s the most wonderful time … of the year.” So, if you follow that avenue of thinking, I would say that those Christmas Carols that don’t have anything to with Christmas fall into the category of Christmas Carols because of a certain vibe / feel that they have, create / radiate. It’s usually a certain happy, cheerful mood. Of course, that is in the ears of the beholder.
I’ve never been a lyrics guy even with regular songs. I’m a melodies guy. So, I go more by the melody of the Christmas Carols and the arrangements. I like the ones with intricate Jazzy arrangements. Again, a certain vibe. But, that’s just me.
That’s not to say I like all Christmas Carols. I don’t like Elvis’ Blue Christmas. At this instant I don’t even know what the lyrics say, but that weird accompanying howling or whatever it is, annoys me.
You called Elvis’ singing… howling? Fifty lashed with the noodle! haha (Better not let my wife hear you say that!)
He did say “accompanying”, so presumably he means the background vocals, which if I recall are sort of in the “ooo ooo …” category. Mind you, this year we had another version on the in-store music featuring periodic shrieks as if performed before a small audience (very small) – but I’m not sure that was actually Elvis.
Then again, there’s always that fake Porky Pig version …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjxiLtw8LnI
I find most of Elvis’ Christmas music to be enjoyable though Blue Christmas makes me feel like I should be alone and drunk in a bar somewhere.
Then I wake up the next morning with Peter Frampton on the radio singing, “Woke up this morning with a wine glass in my hand”.
No, Elvis isn’t the one howling in Blue Christmas.
Elvis does sound a bit drunk on that one though. [img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pBdFzu4oO6A/UnwNLw28URI/AAAAAAAAAOE/TdBiB7AC_Oc/s1600/ROFL.gif[/img]
Yes, the howling of which I speak is that background — Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo [img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/–9ySJk6JJp4/UnwD_qo6riI/AAAAAAAAALQ/8d7UDDjwSSw/s1600/Insane.gif[/img]
At least the Porky Pig version is hilarious! [img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lu_9E2BgtGU/Un6hMzTO4jI/AAAAAAAAASI/19pOBfKLmMo/s1600/LOL2.gif[/img]
You only disrespect Elvis because you know I don’t have my Fish Smilie to smack you with Sunny Boy! 🙁
Alone in a bar? Isn’t that Kenny Loggins’ Celebrate Me Home? :p
Well, Annette, I only disrespect Elvis 50% because you don’t have your Fish Smack Smiley right now. [img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nBeQSzhignk/UnvA0KnyHSI/AAAAAAAAAFY/exeTtZeWrgM/s1600/Whew.gif[/img] The other 50%, I only disrespected him because he asked for it on that one. [img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sXNBo9cWNXU/UnwFLhPpORI/AAAAAAAAALg/9BwBlontOss/s1600/JC_Run.gif[/img]
Today is his birthday. You can’t disrespect Elvis any day…especially on his birthday. Shame on you Sunny Boy. 🙁
Okay, I won’t disrespect him today. Then again, the chances are slim and none that I’ll hear a certain song on the radio today.
Venturing off the original topic, but my favorite Elvis song was Suspicious Minds. Though Kentucky Rain is up there too.
My favorite Elvis song is Love Me Tender sgunhouse. 🙂 Unchained Melody is my second, but I love anything Elvis.