On Thanksgiving Day, it happened. Radio stations all over the country temporarily switched to a 24/7 all-Christmas music format. This year, in the United States, more than 500 radio stations will be playing holiday classics through Christmas Day.
I happen to love Christmas music. Who doesn’t enjoy Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” or Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”? But there are certain songs I just cannot tolerate, like those dogs who bark “Jingle Bells”.
According to a survey conducted by Edison Media Research, I am not alone. The novelty version of “Jingle Bells” performed by Don Charles’s Singing Dogs is the most-hated Christmas recording of all-time. Unbelievably, it’s been around since 1955 (when it might have truly been a novelty). The song was…wait for it…re-released in 1970. Really? You shouldn’t have….
Runners up for most annoying Christmas tunes include: Barbra Streisand’s version of “Jingle Bells” (Google it and you might decide you actually prefer the barking dogs!), Elmo & Patsy’s “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”, and “O Holy Night” as performed by cartoon characters from Comedy Central’s “South Park” (which is not only disrespectful, but also annoying, even if you’re a fan of the show).
Thankfully, to make up for the less satisfying tunes, there are songs like Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” to get your toes tappin’ and your heart in the spirit of the season.
But what intrigues me most about the line-up of holiday music, are the novelty songs. The public’s appetite for them is insatiable. Songs like “The Chipmunk Song”, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”, “Dominck the Donkey”, “Nuttin’ for Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” are the most requested songs by radio listeners in December.
And, of course, let’s not forget the ever-popular “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” sung by 10-year-old Gayla Peevey in 1953. I have so much to say about this novelty classic, I’ve written next week’s post about it. So, even if you’re changing that radio dial to escape certain Christmas songs, I hope you’ll stay tuned to Just Another Mary Monday.
Meanwhile, I want to know where you stand. Do you love the 24/7 Christmas music format or does it drive you crazy? Weigh in our Facebook page and….
Have a Holly Jolly Monday,
Mary
