Fa-la-la-la-la…
Hey! Cut that out.
The ‘Holiday Season’ may begin with Thanksgiving, even before, but that doesn’t mean Thanksgiving should be usurped by Christmas to the point where it doesn’t matter. For me, the Christmas season should not commence until after the bird has been consumed, burped up a few times and sandwiches made from the leftovers. Not before.
Each year, someone or some organization is pushing the envelope of when the holiday display can begin. Walmart rolls out their holiday displays right after Halloween, for crying out loud. Keep that crap up and some kid will feel perfectly justified wearing a Santa costume. That’s just unacceptable.
A few years ago, I started keeping note of when I heard the first Christmas song each year. It seemed to be earlier and earlier. But up around Troy, NY or Vermont (they are reasonably close to each other), I heard my first Christmas song on November 10. That is just bullshitake. I don’t care if winter arrives earlier in the northern latitudes, there has to be some limits. Most of the trees are still showing color that time. You can’t play Christmas music when there are still leaves on the trees.
Around here, the local easy listening station has held steady to on or about Nov. 16, a full two weeks before Thanksgiving. I don’t like it, but what the hell can I do? As the season progresses their play list gets shorter and shorter, to coincide with the dwindling sunlight, I suppose. Eventually they are down to about 10 – 15 songs, none of which I am fond of, that they cycle through endlessly. So they kill the joy of the season by the very means with which they proclaim it.
I understand that Mariah Carey has a great voice and is easy on the eyes, but I don’t like her version of the classic.
…all I want for Christmas is…
…for you to shut the fark up!
Then, on the 26th of December they switch back to their usual musical genre with a smattering of the same 10 holiday songs. By New Year’s Day they are done. Time to hunker down for the long winter and dream about St. Patrick’s Day.
Not that it matters to anyone except me, but here are some of my favorites:
All I want for Christmas is you – Vince Vance and the Valiants (Lisa Layne has a great voice).
Have yourself a merry little Christmas – Chrissy Hynde and the Pretenders. (her voice really shines in this song).
Felice Navidad – Jose` Felici-Ceurvo.
You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch – The Whirling Dervishes (so much more rockin’ than the original).
It’s the happiest season of all – Andy Williams (the slap-happiest of seasons).
Jingle Bell rock – Bobby Helms (NOT, Hall and Blokes).
But these songs are long gone by the time the shopping rush is upon us and we are left with Mariah, Burl Ives and Bing Crosby going over the same material ad nauseum.
What with the volume of material out there to choose from, I just don’t get that.