Before I begin, I must first make a confession: In my household — and in my Discman, for that matter — I started playing Christmas music on Nov. 1. I know to most sane people, this seems like crazy behavior, but as soon as Halloween has passed, I trade in the “Monster Mash” and “The Time Warp” for “Deck the Halls” and “Carol of the Bells.”
- Angela Cesere
I love listening to Christmas carols because they all bring along a sense of joy and happiness that can sometimes go missing around this time of year. Most carols, it seems, are content to say merely that it is great to be alive and, depending on the carol, that getting presents is awesome. Now I know I could get the same message from ’80s pop music, but I have to say that I prefer “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” to Prince.
Now, I know that many of you are thinking that this is unfair treatment of Thanksgiving. But let me ask you, what is the point of Thanksgiving, besides watching football and eating yourself into a coma? The point is to be thankful, per the name, and I say that Christmas music embodies that. And really, can you honestly think of a song that you would deem a Thanksgiving song?
Whether or not my argument has convinced you to blare “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” next year while the remains of smashed pumpkins still litter the street, I think you will at least now believe me when I say I have a huge repertoire of Christmas music that I know and love. From Manheim Steamroller to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to the different compilations of Windham Hill, there are many carols, and many different versions of carols, that grace my speakers every year.
With such a passion for Christmas carols, one would think that the radio station 100.3 WNIC’s 100 percent Christmas music all the time starting Dec. 1 would be the perfect place for me to set my boom box. This is the second or third year of this tradition for the station and yet, after having listened to it in years previous, I cannot be excited for it. I try to enjoy the free broadcast of the music I love, but after hearing “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” 12 times each in the same day, my patience wears a little thin. Why is it that this radio station feels they must play the 12 worst Christmas carols of all time on a loop for an entire month? It is enough to turn even the happiest and most charitable girl into a Scrooge.
With that said, I hope you will all join me in beseeching WNIC to play a larger variety of carols this year. Just about every artist who puts out an album also puts out a Christmas album, so there is a huge variety to chose from. Even Jim Henson and the Muppets have a Christmas album out, and believe me when I say it is priceless. I know my request for quality Christmas music this year as opposed to merely quantity will probably fall on deaf ears yet again, but a girl can hope. Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night!
—Sarah insists it wasn’t her mommy kissing Santa Clause. Let her know the real story by e-mailing her at petesara@umich.edu