The appearance of Christmas music is one indication that it’s now “the most wonderful time of the year.” There’s a good chance you’ll hear at least one performance of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” this holiday season, whether you’re out shopping or driving home from work.
For many people, Christmas music may evoke pleasant sentiments and recollections, but the psychological impact of the holiday soundtrack isn’t always overwhelmingly positive.
While not all Christmas music sounds the same, there are a few elements that indicate we’re about to hear something that evokes Santa and the holiday spirit.
For one thing, sleigh bells indicate either Santa’s sleigh approaching or a Christmas song. In most cases, you’re listening to a song composed for the holidays, although there are some exceptions, such as “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys.
The second sign is a certain style of throwback sound, as much of the Christmas canon was created during the 1930s to 1960. If you listen to any new Christmas music, it will incorporate some of the musical language from that era, some of the formal structures and harmonic language, as well as swing rhythms and more orchestral or big band instrumentation from that period in order to evoke a sense of nostalgia.
One sign that it’s officially “the most wonderful time of the year” is the arrival of Christmas music. Whether you’re out shopping or driving home from work, there’s a good chance that, come November, you’re bound to hear at least one rendition of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”
There are also stock Christmas phrases, such as “presents under the tree,” “sleigh rides through the snow,” and other common themes.
Not everyone, however, is a fan of Christmas music. In reality, a 2011 Consumer Reports poll on holiday aggravations found that 23 percent of respondents dreaded seasonal music, which was exactly the same as “seeing certain family members.”
You feel bad if you receive a trigger or a cue, something reminds you of something you need to do, or anything you’ve misplaced, or in other ways creates a strain. Hearing Christmas music makes many people feel uneasy and pressured. It’s possible that it’s, “I have to buy gifts, but I don’t have the money right now,” or “I really don’t want to see my mother-in-law.” It activates “shoulds,” which are always things we’re striving to do in order to satisfy others and maintain our reputation rather than an authentic desire.
Because the coronavirus pandemic is still in effect, this year may be particularly difficult for individuals to hear Christmas music. Even though this year’s holidays will not be as stressful as last year’s were, prior to adult immunizations, things will appear different from Christmas 2019.
We’re not sure what kind of Christmas we’ll have — whether we’ll be able to see the people we want to see, or if there will be shortages of items. At the moment, these are all concerns. Christmas music may take you back to those carefree days when you looked forward to Christmas and forgot about everything else. If you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one owing to the epidemic, the holidays may seem particularly lonely.
There’s a certain kind of melancholy and darkness to contemporary pop music that is unique in the history of pop, and I believe it’s proportionate to the past year and decade. I could imagine someone who sees Christmas music as having a sense of denialism, or a refusal to connect with the rest of the world, which is what you find in this Christmas cocoon — there’s no acknowledgment of the difficulties of the globe. That may be at odds with the current pop musicians like Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar, who are addressing personal issues as well as societal concerns head-on in their music.
Those who are looking forward to the holiday season — and who have no problem with lyrics about candy canes and hot cocoa and kissing under the mistletoe — may still discover a psychological issue with Christmas music. People may become irritated when they hear these songs repeated frequently because it makes it tough to tune out.
I feel for the individuals who work in stores around the holidays, because they can’t walk out and browse like consumers can. It might be tough for those people since it’s loud and there is a restricted music playlist.
I used to be one of them. To me, it felt like a personal assault on my ears and sentiments when I was bombarded by Christmas norms. There’s a limited number of Christmas songs in rotation . So if you’re shopping, going to the pharmacy, or just driving about town, you’ll hear these songs repeatedly.
While I previously dreaded the holiday season, my Christmas-loving boyfriend and his family changed that. After I began associating Christmas music with more cheerful times, it no longer seemed to be a nuisance.
I was, Oh, I get it. This music is popular because it reminds people of this uniquely joyful and comforting and pleasant time spent with family and friends. It’s not a fault of the Christmas season if you’ve heard the same songs over and over; it’s a feature. It’s a chance to be enveloped in nostalgia and family, hearth, and home every time I walk out the door. It has a soothing, calming effect when you hear it many times.
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