Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Carols -Too Much of a Good Thing?

I love listening to Christmas music, and, even though I'm not a good singer, I love to sing along.

When Christmas rolls around, I drag out our special musical wreath and hang it on the front porch. The wreath has a string of lights imbedded in it and a music box attached. It plays six Christmas tunes in a continuous loop. The music is catchy. The music is loud. If you're any where near the front of the house, you can hear the songs. I love it.

I hit the play button every evening when I turn on the Christmas lights. Shortly thereafter someone else in the house hits the stop button.

"Why do you like listening to the same songs all the time?" Grandchild #1 says. "Don't you get tired of it?" She's the one who blasts the same CD in the bathroom while taking a shower at 11 p.m. each night.

"That is so annoying," Grandchild #2 says. "The whole neighborhood can hear it." I want to tell him that he and his friends are also annoying when the whole neighborhood can hear them playing outside.

"Turn that crap off," Husband says, grabbing the TV remote. "It's time for O'Reilly."

Away from home, I sing along with the radio and hum as I'm buzzing through stores. It puts me in a festive mood as I try not to think about how much I'm spending.

Yesterday while I was at Macy's I was enjoying the music and getting energized listening to the upbeat song, "All I Want for Christmas is You."  Every time that song comes on the radio while I'm driving I turn it up and sing along. The lyrics give me chills. Sometimes the lyrics make me cry. People in other cars give me strange looks.

Apparently not everyone shares my love for that song. While I was paying for a gift, two Macy's cashiers were discussing Christmas music, oblivious to the fact that they were waiting on a customer, I guess.

"I'm so sick of that song," says Cashier #1 as she folds a sweater.

"Me, too," said Cashier #2 as she rings up my order. "I'll be glad when Christmas is over so we don't have to listen to it any more."

By the time I left the Service Counter I was bummed. "Bah, humbug," I mumbled. Then another song came on and I was humming along again.

How about you? Do you get tired of listening to Christmas carols? Or do you love the way they make you feel and are a bit sad when it's time to take down the tree, bundle up the lights, and turn off the music?

23 comments:

  1. Oh, Donna, I am JUST like you. I love the music and have been too busy to use mine as much as usual. It is on this minute though, GLORIA! But I have lived in a house full of men who complained just like your family...and a father before him. Testosterone and Caroling don't seem to mix--until I hear Andrea Bocelli! AVE, AVE...

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  2. Oh yeah!! I'm singing and humming right along with ya! And I LOVE Andrea Bocelli! Do either of you have his newest Xmas CD? The one that has a white cover and goes along with the DVD from last year? Goose-bumps! And, sadly to say....my husband also wants me to turn it way down, or off...so he can watch some "crap" on TV!

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  3. P.S. I forgot to say that sometimes I DO get tired of hearing the same old songs on the radio stations that play "continuous" Xmas music from like...November 1st. If they're going to play it 24 hours a day, for that many days....why don't they add to their playlist??!!

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  4. I sing along in stores...on sidewalks, in the car, in the house. When my kids were young, it probably drove them nuts but they were all about staying on Santa's Nice list, so they kept their opinions to themselves!

    I still sing but I don't bother anybody (unless you count the folks who have to LISTEN to my singing. :-)

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  5. Hi Claudia,
    Yay! I'm glad I'm not alone. Andre B was on TV the other night. Talk about getting chills listening to singing. His voice is a gift.

    Hi Becky,
    I don't have his newest Christmas CD. Maybe I should put it on my list. He is amazing.

    Hi Cathy,
    Yay! I bet you have a great singing voice.

    I'm getting over a cold and sound like a drunken toad when I sing, but I still sing along with Christmas songs.

    Donna

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  6. I can't get enough of the old fashioned carols, and though Ic an;t carry a tune, I carry the love of music in my heart and sing off key at the top of my lungs.

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  7. Hi Linda,
    Like you, I try to make a "joyful noise."
    Donna

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  8. I've been listening to Christmas music in the car every day since the oldies station went Christmas. I think that was just before Thanksgiving. Yesterday, I heard my son singing, "Bah! Rumpa bum bum!" along with The Little Drummer Boy.

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  9. Hi Val,
    Yay! Sounds like your son has the Christmas spirit too.
    Donna

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  10. I would love to go out caroling, but I don't guess folks do that any more. Maybe we should start that tradition again!

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  11. Hey Lynn,
    I'm in, but I fear that people would pay me not to sing or to stop singing.
    Donna

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  12. I did a dog rescue thing last year at the Convention Center--Holiday Magic. When I walked in, Transiberian Orchestra was playing, and I thought, 'Great music. This will really energize me.'

    However, six hours later, after hearing that song many, many times while subjected to the light show that happened each time that same song played, I was having epliptic seizures and had assaulted several people.

    It's a great thing--the music--as you cruise the aisles for an hour or so. But having to listen to loops of music without a break--not fun!

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  13. Hi Sioux,
    I can see your point. Six hours listening to the same music could grate on one's nerves.
    Donna

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  14. I think it's because the Christmas "season" begins so early (after Halloween) that I have to fight the humbug syndrome. Every store I go to, every radio channel I listen to, I hear Christmas songs. So it does get to me in a not so good way.

    I have to keep my sanity throughout the commericalism. Somehow, I do it and enjoy the holiday season to its fullest.

    Have a wonderful Christmas.

    Teresa

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  15. I ADORE Christmas music--just not before Thanksgiving. LOL
    Have a wonderful Christmas!!! I'll think of you as I'm listening to my carols tonight. :)

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  16. Hi Teresa,
    I agree the Christmas season starts too early, but I still love the music.

    Hi Jennifer,
    Me too. Hope you have fun tonight.

    Donna

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  17. I love Christmas music between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but by the time Christmas is over, I'm ready to put the music away for another year.

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  18. I love the old versions of the Christmas songs--Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Perry Como. Most of the new versions by today's artists just don't have the same . . . feeling. *sigh* Guess I'm just getting old! LOL

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  19. Hi Carol,
    Hope your Christmas is a great one!
    donna

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  20. I love listening to Christmas songs, especially Elvis. I think I'm going to miss hearing them.

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  21. I love the Christmas songs, too! I have dozens of albums on my ipod, and I hit "shuffle" and listen for hours. This year I made a quilt for my oldest daughter, and it went together super fast. I think it's because I had my Christmas music going non-stop the entire time I was piecing the quilt!

    It's good music!

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  22. Hi Janet,
    I'm going to miss them too.

    Hi Sandi,
    Hitting the shuffle button is a great way to listen to Christmas music. And it's wonderful that you are a quilter.

    Donna

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