Jackson Munger, Staff Writer
As Christmas rounds the corner, so do all the nostalgia-fueled holiday jams on the radio and in the overhead speakers at your local Target store. But, when we take off our rose-coloredglasses, which ones really do stand the test of time, and which ones have aged poorly (or were just never good in the first place)? Let’s find out.
“Jingle Bell Rock”
A nice little jam with a groovy guitar solo, Jingle Bell Rock gets the job done as a nice singalong tune. Classic, fun, and pretty decent overall. Although, it gets points off for featuring the line “giddy up, jingle horse.” The heck is a jingle horse??
“Santa Baby”
Featuring whiny lead vocals from Eartha Kitt, (who sounds strangely congested) and the awkward sensuality that Santa Baby delivers, this song is definitely not one of the best slow jams of the season. While it isn’t the worst on this list, I can guarantee it will receive a skip from me if it just so happens to show up on a playlist.
“All I Want For Christmas is You”
Arguably Mariah Carey’s only source of income nowadays, this is one of the most popular, earwormy, simplistic, and overplayed songs of the whole season (and possibly of all time as well). And for good reason, this song is fantastic. Plain and simple.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Now here’s a GREAT example of a slow Christmas jam. Stripping back the excitement and upbeat tendencies of many holiday jams, this one mainly relies on the piano and vocals for its delivery, as well as some strings hanging in the background. While many artists have covered this classic over the years, it’s the famous Frank Sinatra rendition that remains the best one thus far. A great one to play while sitting by the fire with a nice cup of hot cocoa.
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Yikes. Talk about a song that has not aged well (like, at all). A song about a man trying to convince a woman to stay with him during the cold season, she is trying to find an excuse to leave but yet is not able to. The line about being roofied, “say, what’s in this drink”, remains one of the most cringe-worthy lines to ever be had in a holiday song, ever. Best to stay away from this one.
“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”
One of my personal favorites, this song features the instantly-recognizable voice of Brenda Lee. One of the most catchy, upbeat, and fun songs to blast during the season, this number is guaranteed to get anyone in the car singing along. Also who could forget about that amazing sax solo.
“Blue Christmas”
Of course, since it’s 2020, we had to include a song about being depressed during the holiday season. We see Elvis getting in on the fun with this track. The female backing vocals on this track add an extra layer of despair, while Mr. Presley croons about lost love during the holidays. Queue this one up for those lonely and depressed nights when the season is in full swing.
“Deck the Halls”
Here, we have one of the most famous Christmas tunes of all time. And, quite possibly, one of the most overrated ones as well. While it’s undeniably catchy, and can lighten my spirits if it just so happens to come on the radio, this thing really starts to become grating after several listens. Sorry, somebody had to say it.
“Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time”
Finally, ending on a high note, we have this Paul McCartney classic in our hands. While the verses on this song are incredibly forgetful, it’s the hook that really sells this tune. With McCartney and his choir, simply repeating the title of the song for the whole chorus, I can’t help but love every second of it.