OT - Happy Hallowthankmus!

[bill5]

ugh. I dread having to do any shopping this time of year - the Christmas stuff was out practically by Halloween. Happily I do most of my shopping online now; the only other shopping I do in person is groceries. I just don't get why stores don't get that basically nobody wants to look at this crap so early. 

[KuruPrionz]

1 hour ago, bill5 said:

ugh. I dread having to do any shopping this time of year - the Christmas stuff was out practically by Halloween. Happily I do most of my shopping online now; the only other shopping I do in person is groceries. I just don't get why stores don't get that basically nobody wants to look at this crap so early. 

Sad but true, if early X-mas did not bring in more $$$, stores would not do it.  My family does phone calls and my friends just hang out like usual. 

I rarely go to retail outlets. I dislike the music far more than the decorations, there's always weird ugly stuff at stores anyway. 

[bill5]

14 minutes ago, KuruPrionz said:

Sad but true, if early X-mas did not bring in more $$$, stores would not do it.

I guess. I just find it hard to believe that people want to buy Christmas stuff in Oct or even Nov for that matter.

[David Emm]

 

The perfect honest Christmas song.

 

[Anderton]

2 hours ago, KuruPrionz said:

I dislike the music far more than the decorations

 

And now, an oldie but goodie from my "Craig's List" column that was once on Harmony Central.

 

Craig's List: 5 Toxic Hazards of Holiday Music

By Anderton | December 19, 2016

 

1. You’ll hear “Carol of the Bells.” I mean, doesn’t this music sound like it should accompany some scary nightmarish scene from a Tim Burton film? On the plus side, it has the distinction of being one of the few Christmas carols with the power to depress—helpful if you’re feeling too cheery!

 

2. Stupefyingly bad “contemporary” holiday songs. If I never hear Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime,” or Neil Diamond’s fake Jamaican accent at the beginning of his reggae version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (I’m not making this up), it will be too soon. PARENTAL WARNING: Diamond’s version is on YouTube, and accessible to children under 13.

 

3. “The Little Drummer Boy” lyrics “pa rum pum pum pum.” Okay, it’s a nice little song pa rum pum pum pum, but does it really need to end pa rum pum pum pum every single pa rum pum pum pum effing line with pa rum pum pum pum? But, credit where credit is due: That song was written before computer-based cut-and- paste.

 

4. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town—The Police State Mix.” “You better watch out . . . he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake . . . making a list, checking it twice . . . he knows if you’ve been good or bad . . .” Threats, spying, database of offenders, summary judgments without trial—Santa sounds like a cross between a pedophile, the DHS, and your creepy uncle Sammy.

 

5. Kenny G’s holiday music tours. So there you are at the local casino, doing a little gambling, maybe helping some Native Americans extract their revenge on the original illegal immigrants, and you find that...Kenny G is playing his holiday tour and that particular casino is one of his victims! Run!

 

[surfergirl]

The only Christmas song I listened to is The McKenzie Brothers 12 Days Of Christmas.

[bill5]

  

1 hour ago, Anderton said:

 

And now, an oldie but goodie from my "Craig's List" column that was once on Harmony Central.

 

Craig's List: 5 Toxic Hazards of Holiday Music

By Anderton | December 19, 2016

 

1. You’ll hear “Carol of the Bells.” I mean, doesn’t this music sound like it should accompany some scary nightmarish scene from a Tim Burton film? On the plus side, it has the distinction of being one of the few Christmas carols with the power to depress—helpful if you’re feeling too cheery!

 

2. Stupefyingly bad “contemporary” holiday songs. If I never hear Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime,” or Neil Diamond’s fake Jamaican accent at the beginning of his reggae version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (I’m not making this up), it will be too soon. PARENTAL WARNING: Diamond’s version is on YouTube, and accessible to children under 13.

 

3. “The Little Drummer Boy” lyrics “pa rum pum pum pum.” Okay, it’s a nice little song pa rum pum pum pum, but does it really need to end pa rum pum pum pum every single pa rum pum pum pum effing line with pa rum pum pum pum? But, credit where credit is due: That song was written before computer-based cut-and- paste.

 

4. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town—The Police State Mix.” “You better watch out . . . he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake . . . making a list, checking it twice . . . he knows if you’ve been good or bad . . .” Threats, spying, database of offenders, summary judgments without trial—Santa sounds like a cross between a pedophile, the DHS, and your creepy uncle Sammy.

 

5. Kenny G’s holiday music tours. So there you are at the local casino, doing a little gambling, maybe helping some Native Americans extract their revenge on the original illegal immigrants, and you find that...Kenny G is playing his holiday tour and that particular casino is one of his victims! Run!

 

I know it's tongue in cheek, but I disagree with everything here except #5 (and also point out that Kenny Gwhiz is Jewish). 

 

I mostly hate songs which good or bad or in between, were destroyed by overplay this time of year. McCartney's song comes to mind, as does

- Springsteen's Santa Claus is Comin to Town

- Beach Boys Little Saint Nick 

- Brenda Lee Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

- Eagles Please Come Home For Christmas 

- Elvis Blue Christmas

- George Michael Last Christmas

 

I could go on...but probably the worst is "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," which was mildly funny the first time and quickly became totally annoying thereafter. 

 

[ProfD]

In a capitalistic economy,  it totally makes sense that holiday stuff would be put out in stores as early as consumers will accept it. Not that I agree. I understand it from a producer perspective.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if there is a future where holiday stuff stays in the stores all year round.😁

 

I actually enjoy well done holiday music.  There is good and bad in it.

 

That "simp-ly hav-ing a wonderful Christmastime" song with the wack azz synth accompaniment is horrible.🤣

 

Whether it's products, goods and services or music or anything else, consumers have to demand better if they want something different.😎

[Anderton]

8 hours ago, ProfD said:

I actually enjoy well done holiday music.  There is good and bad in it.

 

After thinking about it a bit, I realized my problem is with "new" Christmas music. I like the original roster of Christmas carols, not so much the cash grab Christmas pop songs - like this Jar Jar Binks version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." That whirring sound you hear in the background is Bob Marley is spinning in his grave.

 

 

[ProfD]

12 hours ago, Anderton said:

After thinking about it a bit, I realized my problem is with "new" Christmas music.

Same here. My holiday season would still be fine if that Mariah Carey song never played again.🤣😎

[Ivan May]

 

 

What, nobody's going to play any Thanksgiving songs here?

[K K]

Here in the Great White North, we are lucky now to have this German Market at Christmas since some years and we find it lovely. The food is great and we can enjoy German and European music and traditions. Not as incredible as the examples below, but just wanted to say one can rediscover the beauty of Christmas at any age.

 

So happy holidays and as usual sorry we get to choose the best turkeys two months before you there. And where the heck is ITGITC ?

 

 

 

[bill5]

I was in Germany briefly during the "Christmas mart" days, so so cool, music, decorations, decorated windows in shops, people walking around window shopping with their heated gluehwein.