Jordyn Balam, Editor For a few weeks every year, radio stations around the world seem to go back in time. Older Christmas songs such as " Last Christmas", "Wonderful Christmastime", "White Christmas", and "The Christmas Song" (our editor’s favorite) have topped Billboard’s Holiday 100 ever since they came out decades ago. Plus, we mustn’t forget the ultimate Christmas song released in 1994, Mariah Carey’s "All I Want for Christmas is You." Obviously, these old holiday songs are the opposite of today’s popular music, which centers around gaining new experiences and taking advantage of all life has to offer. In contrast, the most popular Christmas songs are about looking back on a pure, more innocent time of one’s life. Nostalgia is the main reason why these old holiday songs are so appealing to the most bitter Grinches. Out of the top 23 Christmas songs, only one was released during the 2000s, and, ironically, it is Michael Buble’s cover of "It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas", which was originally written in 1951. Because of nostalgia, listening to certain Christmas songs can transport listeners back to their childhood because they associate good memories with the music. In fact, millennials are most likely to love Christmas music because most of the songs are from their childhood. Nostalgia is a complex emotion because it intertwines joy and sadness. Sad songs like Wham!’s "Last Christmas" evoke a sense of comfort because thinking of past Christmases gives people hope for a better future, especially in the midst of the current pandemic. Photo by Nia Beverly; The holiday season is filled with beauty, experienced through all of the senses, including music. People also love Christmas music because of a concept called the “exposure effect.” Listening to a song for the first time causes the melody to get stuck in someone’s brain. According to Dr. Brain Rabinovtz, a neuroscientist at William and Mary, the brain will continually search for the same or a similar melody (i.e. cover songs), so that hearing the song again is very satisfying. Since most Christmas songs have very predictable melodies, mixed with audible sleigh bells of course, it’s very easy for our brains to predict what the song will sound like. Unfortunately, the exposure effect can cause our brains to reach a point of oversaturation, which is why some people become sick of hearing the same songs over and over again. Obviously, it’s very difficult for modern artists to break into the seemingly impenetrable sphere of nostalgic Christmas music. Here are a few tips for songwriters that want to produce the next Christmas hit: The most popular songs contain repetitive lyrics and classic holiday themes like snow, Santa Claus, wishes, and family. Also, the simplicity of a major key and 4/4 time is appealing to listeners because it makes the song bright and easy to dance to. Joe Bennett, a professor of musicology at Berklee College of Music, says that "Santa Tell Me" by Ariana Grande perfectly fulfills these requirements. Photo by Lily Rhodes; Christmas songs have similar themes such as the famous Santa Claus Ultimately, Christmas is a holiday steeped in tradition, whether that be hanging up the same ornaments or playing the same songs every year. Classic Christmas songs always triumph over modern ones because they trigger a strong sense of nostalgia in listeners around the world. However, there will always be some Scrooges who say that they hate Christmas music. If you’re one of the people, try to find your personal style; do you like high-energy or more mellow songs? Whatever you choose, there are literally thousands of options that can fill you with Christmas spirit. Works Cited Berkowitz, Bonnie, et al. “All We Want for Christmas Is ... These Songs. Here's Why.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 21 Dec. 2019,
www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/entertainment/holiday-music-popularity/. Stieg, Cory. “This Is Why Christmas Music Gives You All the Feels.” Christmas Songs - Why Holiday Music Makes You Happy, Refinery29, 20 Dec. 2017, www.refinery29.com/en-us/christmas-music-that-makes-you-happy. “Why Do We Love Christmas Music?” Santa Radio, santaradio.co.uk/blog/why-do-we-love-christmas-music.
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