Now Playing: Christmas Music
The Expanded Tweets posts expand on a short post on Twitter (or, a tweet), because 140 characters isn’t always enough to tell the whole story.
Last week on Twitter (the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, actually), I tweeted the following:
https://twitter.com/Burnsland/status/669190998724124672
But I thought that might need a bit more in the way of explanation. “What do you have against Christmas music?” “I’ll listen to what I want to listen to when I want to listen to it!” I didn’t get any of those replies, but I can imagine that some people were thinking that.
For the record, I don’t have anything at all against Christmas music. In fact, I happen to like it. Also, I don’t feel anything negative toward those who listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, or even before Halloween, for that matter. You can listen to Christmas music all year long, and that’s fine.
However, I prefer to not start listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Why is that? Well actually, there are a few reasons.
First, I like to have a distinction between Thanksgiving and Christmas. NEWS FLASH: Thanksgiving and Christmas are in fact two separate, distinct holidays. Yes, I know that is hard to believe. But for me, once Halloween ends then the Thanksgiving season begins, not the Christmas season. Despite what you may see in the stores. And of course, even though we talk about the “Thanksgiving season” or “Thanksgiving Day,” keep this other tweet in mind:
https://twitter.com/Burnsland/status/669889701822640128
Because we have a lot to be thankful for all year long, you know.
Anyway, there aren’t any actual Thanksgiving carols, but that still doesn’t make me want to listen to Christmas music. I will just save that for the Christmas season, thank you. And for me, that doesn’t start until after Thanksgiving. Or sometimes even not until December 1.
Second, I don’t want to get tired of Christmas music before Christmas actually gets here. NEWS FLASH: Most of what is considered Christmas music is just the same 7 or 8 songs sung over and over and over again. Yes, different people sing them differently in their different styles. And yes, there are a few unique Christmas songs out there that get introduced from time to time. However, most of it is the same standard songs repeated endlessly. So to make sure I don’t get bored with it all, I limit the time I spend listening to my Christmas music.
And then to be quite honest, once I do start listening to Christmas music, I sort of ease my way into it. I don’t start out listening to Christmas songs nonstop. I will mix some in with my regular music for a while and not listen to only Christmas music until on into December. Because I still like the other, regular music, too.
On a side note, it is interesting to me that people listen to music at Christmas that they won’t listen to at any other time of year. When else would you hear Bing Crosby, Mel Torme, or even Brian Setzer played on a “mainstream” radio station? Not that I listen to the radio much any more. Most all of the music I hear these days comes straight from my iPod. Too many commercials and not enough of the music I want to hear on the radio these days.
And another complaint about commercial radio is that they stop playing Christmas music on Christmas Day. With music on my iPod, I can listen to Christmas music through New Year’s Day or so. Funny how the Christmas season these days begins so early but ends promptly at Christmas.
Anyway, now I am happily listening to Christmas music. And now you know why.
