I have a confession to make. Please don’t judge me by this. I am not a Scrooge – I have just as much holiday spirit as the next person. But… I really don’t like hearing Christmas music in the grocery store. Or the shopping mall. Or the gas station. I don’t know what it is about this ambient fa-la-la, it just isn’t natural. I know that the music is meant to be perky and upbeat and get us all in a festive, shopping mood. But for some reason it has the opposite effect on me. It bugs me! It that weird?
It’s not the songs themselves that are a problem. Although most of these places play the same dozen or so Christmas songs in an endless loop. There is a place for tradition, and ritual. There is a time and place for this music – and I think it’s in a place where you actually go to hear music, and maybe a week or so before the actual holiday. When I hear those piped-in tunes it’s like some kind of a reminder that there’s more to do, more to get ready for, and that this is the “hap-happiest time of the year” so we’d better darn well get with the program. But maybe it’s just me.
On the bright side – I love that there are some new holiday albums out this year that really look promising – and hopefully some of these songs will get into the piped-in rotation soon. Elliot Yamin, of American Idol runner-up fame, recorded a song called “Let’s Be Naughty, and Save Santa the Trip.” And Harry Connick. Jr. has a whole album out that gives a nice jazzy feel to holiday standards. Almost every year I get the Cost Plus World Market compilation CD that has Christmas songs played by world music artists, it’s very international and sophisticated – and yes, fun!
I dunno…sounds a bit like Scrooge is Back to me!
But guess you will know yourself best! Maybe you need to take my Santa test! http://universalcollectiveprayer.blogspot.com/200…
Yes, I believe! I do, I do!
OK… I guess you're off the Scrooge list!
Hi Lisa,
I do enjoy Christmas music, in all the stores, but not for an entire month before Christmas, which most stores have started doing in the past few years.
The retail industry plays them for their profit margin.
Most people in all countries who celebrate Christmas enjoy hearing it very much and surveys have shown people spend more money while shopping,.. when they are shopping to Christmas music.
Ironically, many of those same retailers do not allow their employees to wish their customers a "merry Christmas." Go figure. …However,they are allowed to say happy holidays.
Peace and love,…oh yes and merry Christmas too,
Razz