Christmas Music Already????

[5ft Diva]

What is up w/ all the Christmas music all of a sudden? I'm not ready for the stations to be playing it yet. What are your thoughts about this? Do you like that the stations are playing Christmas music now or would you prefer them to wait a few weeks? I personally would like it if we waited because it seems like we missed something...oh, yes, THANKSGIVING!!!!

[Dia Minha]

Last year a couple of stations started right after Halloween. That is all the kids wanted to listen to. Just a few days before Christmas, we were driving into Salt Lake and listening to a station that was playing continous holiday music. My oldest asked if we could listen to something else. I think her words were "fall music". I changed the stations until she told me to stop, on country. I guess country music sounds like fall to her.

But, yeah, it is a little early. If you start now, you might be tired of it before Christmas. I don't mind listening to it the week of Thanksgiving, because it just kind of gives that festive, family, feeling. Any earlier is too much. However, my mother-in-law listens to it all year long. That isn't the only thing she listens to, but she does pull out her Christmas CDs on a regular basis.

Dia

[Big_Sissy]

WAAAAAAY too early Not until after T-Day. And yes Country is good all year round

[natickgirl]

Gotta love the comercialism of everything these days. I saw Christmas displays out before Halloween, and heard Christmas music in Wal-Mart last week. Ugh!

I love Christmas music, and listen to it occasionally throughout the year, but having it blared at me for 2 whole months is a little much. Especially the pumped up, awful "pop" music they try to pass as Christmas music. (I'm sorry, but Silent Night really shouldn't have a beat...it was a SILENT night, not a Rockin' night.) After Thanksgiving is OK. Here in MA there are large Jewish, Muslim, and Hindi communities. I'm sure THEY don't appreciate the Christmas music so early & constant, either.

And, country music doesn't count as music any time of the year, as far as I'm concerned. (No offense.) OK, I am exaggerating a little; but just a little.

[bookworm]

LOL! NG, I am totally with you on all counts. Except I don't pull it out during the year. I love traditional Christmas music in December. There is very little country music that I can stand...

My Dad joked that soon it'll just be HalloThankMas starting in September. It is ridiculous how early they start pulling the next holiday out. And it's so funny how on December 26th, they will start decorating for Valentine's Day. Which isn't even technically a holiday! Whatever makes money, I guess.

[teeny]

I think any other year it would have bothered me for the Christmas music to start so early, but for some reason, this year I'm liking it. I think it's just that I'm sick and tired of all the regular stuff that I listen to all the rest of the year, so it's refreshing to hear something that brings good thoughts/memories. But who knows? Maybe I'll be sick of it by the time Christmas comes!

[bookworm]

Well, last Sunday we started singing our Christmas music in the choir, and I really enjoyed it! I also enjoyed that my two oldest sons are participating this year!!! The YM 1st. counselor (who's wife is the choir director) bribed the young men to start coming, and my 12yo and 11yo sons have decided they both want to sing! I'm so excited, I can't even express it!!! Singing in school and college and even professional community choirs was one of my most favorite, beloved experiences of all.

So welcome to the Christmas music after all- I'm so happy with it at church! Also, I got invited to sing in a duet, which I always love doing, so I get to look forward to (and agonize about) that, too!

[5ft Diva]

Congratulations! I would love to come see you sing, or even practice. Let me know when and where.

That's great your boys want to sing. If anyone deserves children who sing, it's you!!!

[bookworm]

LOL! I'm not sure what that means, but it made me smile.

you know where we meet, Diva, if you want to come...

[5ft Diva]

I know where, but I don't know when I'll hear you.

[bookworm]

I don't know yet, either...

[5ft Diva]

The kids have broken out the Christmas music already. I guess we've officially started listening to it. It is nice, but I do have to admit, three weeks ago was way too early for me.

[Big_Sissy]

UHM -- Just wait, I've not come upstairs yet. But when I get there, I'll be sure to TURN IT OFF!!!

[natickgirl]

OK, all kidding aside, what kind of Christmas music DO you all like?

I was raised listening to "oldies" like Jonny Mathis, the Lennon Sisters, Barbra Streisand, Roger Whittaker, and the Singers Unlimited. I even "grooved" by the fire with Aretha Franklin. I used to really love Manheim Steamroller & went to a couple of their Christmas concerts, but now it kind of gets on my nerves. I also clogged to "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" once & can't sing "Rudolph" without cringing. (RUDYYYYYY the red-nosed reindeer. RUDYYYYYY. Remember that, BW? Good times.)

I like Kurt Bestor's music, but it's so dramatic that a little goes a long way. Same with Charlotte Church. I LOVE choral music that I can sing to. And, my entire extended family used to sing Handel's "Messiah" (the WHOLE thing) every Christmas. (It sounded pretty hilarious since most of the women were altos & most of the men were tenors.)

What about you? What are your favorite nostalgic Christmas songs?

[bookworm]

Oh, NG, I LOVED performing that number- it was the best! It's Miss Vicky I didn't love. Add her to the list of people I've forgiven... I'm still just a tad bitter about that clogging number, so don't get me started. She was just cruel to me. (I know, and almost everyone else too.)

Okay, I absolutely love the Messiah. I performed in the local production of it like 6 years ago or something and it was so much fun- I've wanted to do it again, but just haven't gotten around to it. I've also wanted to audition for a solo, but I get very intimidated by the talent, so I chicken out. I sing all the soprano parts by myself at home from time to time, though.

I have the same reaction to Mannheim Steamroller- it gets on my nerves now. I like the old style of most of the songs- the new rock-ier styles bug me, and I despise that song, "Mary Did You Know?" - oh for pete's sake- did she know???? Duh.

I'm not crazy about the modern versions of my old favorites, but I tolerate much of it. I really don't listen to much Christmas music at home, since I hear it everywhere else I go, I get sick of it pretty fast, but I have some collections of golden olden versions of classic songs that I enjoy. I do like Josh Grobin's "Oh Holy Night", too. mmmm.... he's like listening to chocolate.

[Dia Minha]

I love Christmas music. We have been listening since Halloween. To me Christmas music is a feeling, not a season. In other words, I have never felt that by listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, I am passing it up. Christmas music is about giving thanks, being with family, a feeling of magic in the air, anticipation of good times, joy and laughter, which encompasses all holidays. One of my children's favorite Sunday movie is Mr. Kruger's Christmas. We watch it year round. I love it when they pull it out in July and I get to feel all those feelings the music brings to me.

Dia

[5ft Diva]

That analogy about Josh Grobin is a good one, BW. I'd have to agree.

I don't necessarily have favorite Christmas music, but I can tell you I'm so sick of the song "Santa Baby". I just want to gag when I hear it.

Listening to Christmas music bring back memories of putting up the tree, baking candies, and for my family - making gingerbread houses. Oh, I do like it - when it's time to listen to it.