"Do you hear what I hear?"
By Rocketj1
@rocketj1 (6955)
United States
December 23, 2009 8:26am CST
I know that this may seem a little bit "anti-holiday". I'm really not a scrooge at all. I love Christmas time and all of the traditions associated with it. But.... I am not a fan of Christmas music overkill. Do you know what I mean? There are only so many songs and many radio stations in my area switch to an "All Christmas music" format for the ENTIRE month of December. Talk about killing a good thing! 
How many different versions of the same 25 songs are there? And of those, how many really good versions exist?
Personally, I am not a fan of "Do you hear what I hear" and "The little drummer boy". The only reason that I can think of for my dislike, could be that I marched in the Christmas parade for about 6 years playing both of these songs with our high school marching band. By the time a parade is over, we would have played the same song over a dozen times.
So, this makes me wonder what your least favorite Christmas songs may be? Do you know of a certain artist's rendition that just doesn't sit well with you? Tell us!
Oh...... and Merry Christmas!!
How many different versions of the same 25 songs are there? And of those, how many really good versions exist?
Personally, I am not a fan of "Do you hear what I hear" and "The little drummer boy". The only reason that I can think of for my dislike, could be that I marched in the Christmas parade for about 6 years playing both of these songs with our high school marching band. By the time a parade is over, we would have played the same song over a dozen times.
So, this makes me wonder what your least favorite Christmas songs may be? Do you know of a certain artist's rendition that just doesn't sit well with you? Tell us!
Oh...... and Merry Christmas!!6 people like this
16 responses
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I know, there is this one station that is playing Christmas music until December 25th, I only flip over to that station every now and then but I don't listen to it all the time. Here is my thinking though, somebody who doesn't know Christ may flip to that station and be ministered to so I don't mind it being on there I just hope somebody can find the real reason for Christmas through a song on a radio station.
2 people like this
@ErrollLeVant (4353)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I love Christmas, rj1, but sometimes things get a bit wearisome. I laugh at the first time I hear Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, but I don't need to hear it more than once a year.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
24 Dec 09
I cannot stand Here Comes Santa Claus. I mean is not Christmas supposed to be about celebrating Christ's birth? And they have to play that Santa Claus song. And every year, we have these silly movies where children who are around ten still believe in the fat guy.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Dec 09
It makes people think that Christmas is not about Christ but about getting as many presents as possible. I classify Santa the same way I classify fairies and other mythical creatures. It used to be that he symbolizes the spirit of Christmas and helping others, but now he symbolizes the spirit of greed. Not a good example for our children to follow.
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
5 Jan 10
Amen! That's why we told our kids right from the start that Santa was just pretend. He was fun to tell stories about but he was not real! We told them that some families like to tell their kids that he is real and that we shouldn't spoil it for other kids. But that he was NOT the reason for Christmas but simply a fun story.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
31 Dec 09
I feel the same about Deck The Halls. one year I counted and I had heard that song about 100 times between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.The one song I hate because I Had top play over and over isn't a Christmas song. It was a Mozart piece. to this day whenever I hear it , I cringe.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
6 Jan 10
Do you mean Know a song so well that you hear it in your head? It becomes the soundtrack of your dreams? Yes I agree.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
24 Dec 09
i KNOW WHAT U MEAN, hEIDI. THEY DO A OVERKILL FOR SURE. i LIKE MOST CHRISTMAS MUSIC BUT THE ONLY ONE I COULD REALLY LISTEN TO FOR HOURS IS 'BLUE CHRISTAMS' BY ELVIS. If i did that tho i would reaklly be depressed.
@crimsonladybug (3112)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I don't mind when an artist takes a classic and rearranges it to make it fit their style....as long as that artist with a certain style isn't Megadeath and the song isn't Silent Night. 
That is to say, these songs are classics for a reason. If you want to tweak them to make your version recognizable as yours, that's fine, but don't completely (I wonder if this word will get past the censor) bastardize it until it no longer sounds like the original.
I use Megadeath as an example, but I've actually noticed the worst "perversions" in Country music. For some reason, nine times out of ten, when a country singer gets ahold of a classic Christmas carol (under the musical heading of "standard") we somehow always end up down on the farm, square dancing to Chestnuts Roasting. I find that to be terribly irritating.
That is to say, these songs are classics for a reason. If you want to tweak them to make your version recognizable as yours, that's fine, but don't completely (I wonder if this word will get past the censor) bastardize it until it no longer sounds like the original.
I use Megadeath as an example, but I've actually noticed the worst "perversions" in Country music. For some reason, nine times out of ten, when a country singer gets ahold of a classic Christmas carol (under the musical heading of "standard") we somehow always end up down on the farm, square dancing to Chestnuts Roasting. I find that to be terribly irritating.1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85484)
• United States
23 Dec 09
We have only one radio station that is playing constant Christmas music. They started doing all Christmas music on Thanksgiving Day, and they will stop on December 26th. But they are the only radio station here that does Christmas music 24/7. I was curious to know how many other cities had stations that did 24/7 Christmas music this time of the year. All of the other radio stations play Christmas music in spurts. There really isn't a constant stream of them. The one Christmas song I've heard most this season on the radio is Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas. Fortunately, I like that song. But I AM getting sick of Elvis' Blue Christmas.1 person likes this
@1corner (744)
• Canada
26 Dec 09
Hello rocketj1. Like you, I'm not into changing arrangements drastically. Tend to like the 1st versions usually, unless it's really unappealing to the ear. There are also original ones that I don't find Christmas-y at all, eg. Santa Baby, and the one about Grandma getting run over.
Have a blessed Christmas season. (Sorry for being a bit late; been away from myLot for some time)
1 person likes this
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
26 Dec 09
I don't really have any that are my least favorite, I love Christmas music, we only hear it once a year, I know some radio stations play the same songs over and over, but it always gets me in the Christmas spirit, and I love this time of year, it brings back good memories for me.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
23 Dec 09
By about now I'm tired of all Christmas music in general. We have 2 stations that have played nothing but Christmas music since Thanksgiving, and the rest of the stations throw on a Christmas song at least once or twice an hour. Even my oldest son is complaining how he just keeps hearing the same songs over and over and over. And we've yet to hear much of our favorite holiday songs, like "I want a Hippo for Christmas" and "Dominick the Italian Christmas donkey".
I don't really have a least favorite, but I'm not fond of any of the really slow ones. I'm a fan of really upbeat music.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I think the chipmunk songs are about the worse for me. Mose of them are like visiting old friends and are one of my favorite part of the season. It wasn't until I started to sing them this year that I realized I hadn't sung since last year, my voice was terrible, now it's a little better but at this rate I better sing more often or by next year I won't be able to sing at all.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
23 Dec 09
You are lucky it's only December. One of our local stations swapped to an all-Christmas format on November 1st. No doubt with encouragement from local retailers to put people into the 'buying' spirit. And that station is one of my favorites normally because they play a lot of oldies, which I like. At home I've pretty much swapped over to Pandora. Then I get to listen to what I like.
Probably the only Christmas music that I don't like is the Musak version played at malls and stores. I worked in retail years ago and to hear those same 25 songs over and over without end drove me crazy. Like a smell that triggers past memories, 2 or 3 bars of listening to that stuff makes me feel like I did all those years ago. I'm also not particularly fond of the new rap/hip-hop versions. I make a point not to listen to it, otherwise I'd give you a title or artist.
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I think that working in an environment that plays those songs all day long would really get to me. Especially the muzak versions! And I'm really happy to say that I have been spared any rap/hip-hop versions! LOL!
Thanks for the response. Have a wonderful Christmas!
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
23 Dec 09
OMG I love both of thoughs songs so much because I sang them in the choir when I was in grammer and intermediate school. They have to be my two top favorite Christmas songs. I actually had to reread what you wrote to make sure you said "that you are not a fan of either of these songs. Merry Christmas to you too!1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Isn't that funny!? I guess that's just one of those differences in tastes things. I have lots of other faves however and generally enjoy most Christmas music. Just so you don't think that I'm altogether nuts!LOL
Thanks for your response and I wish you a very merry Christmas!
I guess that's just one of those differences in tastes things. I have lots of other faves however and generally enjoy most Christmas music. Just so you don't think that I'm altogether nuts!LOL
Thanks for your response and I wish you a very merry Christmas!
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Oh, I never said that I don't like Christmas music. I merely don't like it when you hear it all day long. And there are just a couple that I don't care for.
Maybe I should add that my favorite Christmas songs are "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", "O Holy Night", "Silent Night", and "Mary did you know". Beautiful songs!
@legendforever4 (137)
• India
24 Dec 09
exactly you thought is correct.. in x-mas days of sacred hour there is a chance of getting equal responses..from my lord jesus!
