[BillT]

Here in the States, holiday music (including Christmas carol and other well-known gems) are played endlessly not only in stores and public places but also on the radio of classical music stations, including our local public radio station and on the classical station on satellite radio (Sirius XM).

Even when played and sung by classical stars, I hate the stuff. I am sick of it, not from last year, but from so many years past (I hate to say how many). The stuff bores me silly.

Does anyone else feel the same way, or are you enjoying it, at least when it's played or sung well, in a "classical" fashion?

Merry Christmas to you (if you do that), or Happy Holidays in any case. Or if you are in a country which does not celebrate Christmas, I wish you peace.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Kibbles Croquettes]

The generic popular christmas carol stuff is indeed nerve-wracking. I try to avoid it as much as possible.

 

[Manxfeeder]

I generally like it. It's less about the songs than the memories which accompany them.

Except by December 25th, I tend to strongly dislike it. Next December 1st, I'll be back in the holiday spirit.

 

[Ingélou]

I know what you mean. I like the tunes and the words, mostly. It's the treatment that makes the difference.
I like singing carols, and I like listening to them when they're sung by good singers who are 'ordinary people'. But I don't like the syrupy commercial Mary's-Boy-Child stuff in supermarkets, the piped Jingle Bells on Rotary Club Sleighs, (with a Father Christmas ho-ho-ho-ing in the background, it drives me mad ) and even the careful diction and dulcet tones of Cambridge King's College Choir singing folk carols sometimes get to me. Professional minstrels singing glees can set my teeth on edge. I like a bit of naturalness - carols with tousled hair.

 

[hpowders]

I like the Christmas music. What I don't like is hearing my first Jingle Bells in July accompanied by all the "pre-Christmas" store sales.

 

[Albert7]

I never get sick of Xmas music. I love it all.

Yes even that Taylor Swift Christmas song I really like.

I just prefer classical and jazz Xmas music like Christmas Oratorio by Bach.

 

[hpowders]

Three strikes and you are out!

 

[Dustin]

I enjoy holiday music, especially by singers I really respect such as Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Elvis.

 

[starthrower]

I don't get sick of the old carols once a year. I heard something by the Solid Brass Quintet, and I thought it was great. I don't have to be exposed to too much, as I don't go shopping, and I work on my own and can listen to what I want to.

 

[hpowders]

How can anyone hate holiday music?

For devout haters of holiday music, you might want to try the CD entitled "John Rutter Music for Christmas".

It contains beautiful choral arrangements of traditional as well as some obscure carols I've never heard before.

Beautifully done by the choral group Polyphony and the City of London Sinfonia under Steven Layton.

Really puts one in the mood!!

 

[Jeff W]

How can anyone hate holiday music?

Have you ever worked retail?

 

[composira]

I'm fond of carols like First Noel but I'm sick of Jingle Bells and Winter Wonderland (they're always on the radio). They're overplayed.

 

[Kibbles Croquettes]

Have you ever worked retail?

Your avatar quite neatly sums up my reaction to hearing Last christmas or Jingle bells.

(For future reference: his avatar was a picture of Fry from Futurama tearing his hair out)

 

[trazom]

I don't like it; I don't hate it...:tiphat:

 

[hpowders]

Have you ever worked retail?

No, but I catch your drift. It could get wearisome.

Smile! Smile! Another potential asshol..er....customer!!

 

[scratchgolf]

For the most part, the religious themed carols seem to be higher quality than the non-religious. I enjoy great renditions of great songs, such as "Oh, Holy Night" or "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". I also enjoy classics, such as the Judy Garland performing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", from Meet Me in St. Louis. If the quality is high, once a year is a welcomed treat. What I truly dislike are certain movies, ranging from bad (The Polar Express) to downright unwatchable (How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)).

 

[rspader]

I do like Christmas music but only want to hear each song ONCE! It's the repetition that gets to me -- very quickly.

 

[arpeggio]

Bad arrangements

My problem with Christmas music is that most of the arrangements are so BAD!!!!!!

A great composer/arranger can turn the most mundane Christmas tune into magic.

Check out the following Morton Gould Christmas CD: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?ordertag=Comprecom4642-146879&album_id=146880

It has the most fantastic arrangement of "Jingle Bells". I have performed it several times and it is pure (pardon for being redundant) magic.

 

[Dave Whitmore]

I love Christmas music. We own several Christmas cds. But this year I've only listened to a Christmas cd once. I'm too busy listening to classical! I do enjoy listening to holiday music in the car though, or in a store. I want to find a good Christmas cd with songs sung by opera singers. I never got the chance to buy one for this Christmas. Maybe next year.

 

[SiegendesLicht]

I do not dislike Christmas music, but sometimes I would listen to Christmas music in summer and to something absolutely non-Christmassy during the season. This CD puts me in a festive mood regardless of the season and the presence or absense of snow and Christmas tree: