I let out a scream. I had had enough of sports talk radio, the rock station I was listening to seemed to fill the air with more talk than music, and Spotify and Audible weren’t cutting it.
I turned to one of the local radio stations playing Christmas music round-the-clock and, of course, within a few seconds of tuning in, the station started playing “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams.
Now I live in Pennsylvania and love snow as much as anyone, but despite Andy William’s pleas of “parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting,” I can’t recall that I’ve ever gone “caroling in the snow.” Oh, I have nothing against Andy Williams, but I just had had enough of his song and, quite frankly, his voice. It seems that anytime I turn on the radio anymore I come across his song.
So, I, of course, let out a scream in my car. Fortunately for me I had my window shut and the guy in the car in the next lane couldn’t hear me.
Same old song
There has to be thousands, if not millions, of Christmas songs, but I’m always amazed that radio stations and any store I ever enter, all seem to play from the same 20-song playlist. This could be a Southeastern Pennsylvania phenomenon, but I suspect it’s a universal issue. Where’s the creativity? Where’s the originality? (I think they’re giving me a hint: All the more reason for me to shop online.)
I’m a pretty even keel guy, but the repetition is enough to drive a person crazy. Oh I’m not talking about the silly novelty songs that I liked when I was 10-years-old, but now seem to drive me crazy, everything from “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” “All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” “Dominick the Donkey,” and “I Want a Hippotamus for Christmas.”
No, I’m talking about the traditional, secular Christmas songs that stations kill by playing over and over and over and over again.
Play it again Sam, and again, and again
With that background, here’s my top five list of Christmas songs that I could do without hearing again for another twenty years:
5. Tie — “All I Want for Christmas is You,”Mariah Carey and “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” Perry Como.
I think I actually once liked these songs, at least for the first 5,000 times I heard them. Now, not so much.
4.. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” Jackson 5.
Okay, I’ve never been a Michael Jackson fan. And, of course, every time I hear this song I want to shake this kid and go “Yo, what are you doing out of your room? Get to bed, kid.”
Eartha Kitt made this song famous in 1953, but most people think of Madonna’s 1987 version. I understand that Christmas has gone commercial. I understand that for many people it’s less about a baby in a manger and spiritual salvation and more about presents and lights and all the hoopla, but I can do without the Material Girl holding-up Santa for more dough. But, um can we get back to the real meaning of Christmas, please?
2. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”Nat “King” Cole.
I actually love this song. However, if I had a quarter for everytime this song gets played, I’d be a very rich man.
1. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Brenda Lee.
You crazy rocker Brenda Lee, go rock someone else’s Christmas tree. It’s a fine enough song, but why must we hear this song played incessantly. I’ve heard enough!
You’re up
When I started this list, I didn’t plan it this way, but noticed quickly that there’s no traditional Christmas carols on my list, such as “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” “Deck The Halls.” I’m not sure what that says, but I’ll take it.
What’s on your overplayed list?
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
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