Question of the Day, Sunday, November 22, 2015

i'm looking forward to 'the holiday season'. while i don't decorate for Thanksgiving or Christmas myself, i do enjoy seeing pretty holiday decorations. i also love Christmas music, and i think that's what i look forward to the most.

so with the holiday season on my mind, for today's Question of the Day.........

Let's talk about holiday music!

Do you listen to holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc) or seasonal music? And if so, when do you start listening to it?

i'll start!

i love Christmas music! it's so very pretty, and it's relaxing to listen to. while i look forward to listening to Christmas music all year, i wait until Thanksgiving or the day after to start listening to it each year.

my favorite Christmas music is the 'oldies' -- like Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall, etc. though, i also enjoy Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline singing Christmas songs.

Okay, now it's your turn!

I love all the Religious Christmas music: We Three Kings, Mary, did you Know?, Holy Night, The Little Drummer Boy, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Etc . Just beautiful, but of course they are rarely ever played anywhere for obvious reasons, so I have to listen to them on my own, or sing them during a service.

And I of course enjoy The Nutcracker! And Carol of the Bells.

I can't STAND all the other ones - Jingle Bell Rock, Winter Wonderland, Frosty the Snowman. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Baby t's Cold Outside, Let it Snow etc



I know it might sound awful of me, but I just find them generic, annoying and painfully overplayed.



On average, start listening or hear Christmas music around Mid-November, give or take. 


 

I love all the 'old traditional' Christmas music that I grew up on as a child - Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, Andy Williams, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mathis, Judy Garland, Tony Bennet, Ella Fitzgerald, Eddie Arnold, Dean Martin and the list goes on. It brings back warm memories and an occasional  tear to my eye.

But I also LOVE some really good smooth saxophone Christmas music - Kenny G, Grag Vail, Boney James, Jason Kendall, and Gran Turismo 5. 

Most of the 'new' stuff they have out now just makes me cringe! I mean, come on! Hip-Hop and Rap Christmas music? That is a mockery, in my opinion!

I actually listened to a bit of holiday/Christmas music a few days ago when I was searching Spotify. But I ordinarily start getting into it after Thanksgiving. 

I don't play any in my house because I don't need to. It's everywhere. It seems like it starts up earlier and earlier, too. There's a local radio station that starts playing it 24/7 on November 1st. Sorry but that is just too early. Plus I think it's silly to play things like "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" in Florida. Unless you count beach sand. That's kinda white

If I WAS going to play Christmas music in the house, it would be the Trans Siberian Orchestra

This is a great question!   I love reading what others like!   

I LOVE Big Band Christmas music from the 1930's, 40's.  When I hear it, I picture an old-fashioned Christmas.  

I also like the Trans Siberian Christmas.

I love John Lennon, Happy XMas (War Is Over), but I do not like any re-makes of this song! 

Chorus-sung Christmas music is nice, too.  Does anyone sing in a chorus? 

Looking forward to more posts!  

There is really only one Christmas song I like.

Kat0121 said:

 
If I WAS going to play Christmas music in the house, it would be the Trans Siberian Orchestra

Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly! TSO rocks! We saw their Christmas show a few years ago and it was wonderful. 

Sometimes when I'm baking, I'll throw a couple of their CDs in the changer. 

I do love most Christmas music, although I'm not a Christian, and celebrate Yule.  But the sacred music is gorgeous, and some of it makes me weep with the beauty of it.  All the traditionals are faves, both sacred and secular.  I can do without Jinkglebell Rock and the ilk, which makes me cringe. 

I also love some lesser known carols, such as "Down in Yon Forest," and "The Huron Christmas Carol."

I'm too big a computer idiot to post either of them here, but they can be googled easily enough.

I absolutely love Christmas Carols. 

All of them, except for all the latest modern ones.

I know the ones you hear on the radio are constantly repeated to the point where you get so tired of them. I do not listen to any Christmas Carols until after Thanksgiving.

I am of Polish Heritage. When my dad was alive, I surprised him and bought some Polish Christmas Carols. He grew up on that music. I found the traditional carols to be so beautiful! so melodious, just so relaxing and rekindling of spirit to me. No, I do not understand the words, but they are beautiful.....

Last year I started playing them for myself..My dad was dying around Christmas time of 2011, so it has been an emotional time for me.  But listening to these carols rekindled the Christmas Spirit in me...and what is important in life..and good memories

Kat0121 said:

I don't play any in my house because I don't need to. It's everywhere. It seems like it starts up earlier and earlier, too. There's a local radio station that starts playing it 24/7 on November 1st. Sorry but that is just too early. Plus I think it's silly to play things like "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" in Florida. Unless you count beach sand. That's kinda white :lol3:

If I WAS going to play Christmas music in the house, it would be the Trans Siberian Orchestra

Click to expand...

I've never heard it before but I liked it very much.

Norachan said:

There is really only one Christmas song I like.

Click to expand...

Very nice. I like the words!

For obvious reasons we don't hear Christmas carols here but I sing them to myself. I love and miss Christmas, although we didn't celebrate it we did have parties, any excuse, and I loved seeing Christmas trees in people's houses and the atmosphere. This was all in England so we heard carols on the radio. I like George Michael singing his Christmas songs but apart from that I like the old ones.

Cassiopea said:

 
I love all the Religious Christmas music: We Three Kings, Mary, did you Know?, Holy Night, The Little Drummer Boy, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Etc . Just beautiful, but of course they are rarely ever played anywhere for obvious reasons, so I have to listen to them on my own, or sing them during a service.

And I of course enjoy The Nutcracker! And Carol of the Bells.

I can't STAND all the other ones - Jingle Bell Rock, Winter Wonderland, Frosty the Snowman. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Baby t's Cold Outside, Let it Snow etc



I know it might sound awful of me, but I just find them generic, annoying and painfully overplayed.



On average, start listening or hear Christmas music around Mid-November, give or take. 


 

Click to expand...

the Religious Christmas music is so beautiful! one of my favorites is O Holy Night, and when the 'right' singer/voice is singing this song it can bring tears to my eyes.

Fyllis said:

 
I love all the 'old traditional' Christmas music that I grew up on as a child - Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, Andy Williams, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mathis, Judy Garland, Tony Bennet, Ella Fitzgerald, Eddie Arnold, Dean Martin and the list goes on. It brings back warm memories and an occasional  tear to my eye.

But I also LOVE some really good smooth saxophone Christmas music - Kenny G, Grag Vail, Boney James, Jason Kendall, and Gran Turismo 5. 

Most of the 'new' stuff they have out now just makes me cringe! I mean, come on! Hip-Hop and Rap Christmas music? That is a mockery, in my opinion!

I actually listened to a bit of holiday/Christmas music a few days ago when I was searching Spotify. But I ordinarily start getting into it after Thanksgiving. 

Click to expand...

ahhh, now i'll have to listen to some smooth saxophone Christmas music. i've never, to my knowledge, listened to it and i love exploring new music -- both artists, and genres. thank you for mentioning this! 

Kat0121 said:

 
I don't play any in my house because I don't need to. It's everywhere. It seems like it starts up earlier and earlier, too. There's a local radio station that starts playing it 24/7 on November 1st. Sorry but that is just too early. Plus I think it's silly to play things like "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" in Florida. Unless you count beach sand. That's kinda white

If I WAS going to play Christmas music in the house, it would be the Trans Siberian Orchestra

Click to expand...

i like TSO too!

it'll probably be on Thanksgiving afternoon that i start listening to Christmas music. i'm really looking forward to it!

raysmyheart said:

 
This is a great question!

  I love reading what others like! 

 

I LOVE Big Band Christmas music from the 1930's, 40's.  When I hear it, I picture an old-fashioned Christmas.  

I also like the Trans Siberian Christmas.

I love John Lennon, Happy XMas (War Is Over), but I do not like any re-makes of this song! 

Chorus-sung Christmas music is nice, too.  Does anyone sing in a chorus? 

Looking forward to more posts!  

Click to expand...

oh! big band is one of my favorite genres of music! such happy and 'upbeat' music. for the last some-odd months i've been really 'into' Samba, and i'll be very interested to see what comes up on that Pandora station during the Christmas season.

Norachan said:

 
There is really only one Christmas song I like.

Click to expand...

i hadn't heard this song before. very nice! 

Winchester said:

 
My thoughts exactly! TSO rocks! We saw their Christmas show a few years ago and it was wonderful. 

Sometimes when I'm baking, I'll throw a couple of their CDs in the changer. 

Click to expand...

Mamanyt1953 said:

 
I do love most Christmas music, although I'm not a Christian, and celebrate Yule.  But the sacred music is gorgeous, and some of it makes me weep with the beauty of it.  All the traditionals are faves, both sacred and secular.  I can do without Jinkglebell Rock and the ilk, which makes me cringe. 

I also love some lesser known carols, such as "Down in Yon Forest," and "The Huron Christmas Carol."

I'm too big a computer idiot to post either of them here, but they can be googled easily enough.

Click to expand...

here's a version of Down in Yon Forest. very pretty song!

Artiemom said:

 
I absolutely love Christmas Carols. 

All of them, except for all the latest modern ones.

I know the ones you hear on the radio are constantly repeated to the point where you get so tired of them. I do not listen to any Christmas Carols until after Thanksgiving.

I am of Polish Heritage. When my dad was alive, I surprised him and bought some Polish Christmas Carols. He grew up on that music. I found the traditional carols to be so beautiful! so melodious, just so relaxing and rekindling of spirit to me. No, I do not understand the words, but they are beautiful.....

Last year I started playing them for myself..My dad was dying around Christmas time of 2011, so it has been an emotional time for me.  But listening to these carols rekindled the Christmas Spirit in me...and what is important in life..and good memories

Click to expand...

i listen to my Christmas music on Pandora, so it's not quite like the radio. it looks like it's just me, but i don't mind the songs being repeated through the holiday season. maybe for me that's because after december 25th i stop listening to Christmas music, until the next year's holiday season.

Stewball said:

For obvious reasons we don't hear Christmas carols here but I sing them to myself. I love and miss Christmas, although we didn't celebrate it we did have parties, any excuse, and I loved seeing Christmas trees in people's houses and the atmosphere. This was all in England so we heard carols on the radio. I like George Michael singing his Christmas songs but apart from that I like the old ones.

Click to expand...

hmmm...i haven't heard george michael singing Christmas songs. i'll see if i can find one.........

here you go --

I love the Vienna Boys Choir singing the classics. I love Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Michael Buble, John Lennon, anything but the stupid stuff! Anything earlier than two weeks before Christmas is OVERKILL!

bonepicker said:

I love the Vienna Boys Choir singing the classics. I love Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Michael Buble, John Lennon, anything but the stupid stuff! Anything earlier than two weeks before Christmas is OVERKILL!

Click to expand...

i like Michael Buble too! he has a very nice voice, and sings so many of the older songs that i prefer to listen to.