I’m hosting Fun Monday today. My question for today:
What Christmas (or other holiday) song would you prefer never to hear again, and why? It could be one song in particular, or songs by a certain singer, or a version of a song you usually enjoy that grates on your nerves. We promise not to judge. It’s your chance to vent.
We’ll start with a classic of its kind–barking dogs “singing” Jingle Bells.
Well, you expect that to be obnoxious after a few listenings. I’ll spare you the cat version.
Then, of course we move on to the ever-popular “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.”
But the Christmas song that fills me with dread, that makes me wish I could avoid the holidays until they are over and the new year safely begun is this:
Now, the fact that I loathe “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” is not the fault of Andy Williams, who is probably a wonderful human being and all that. I liked “Moon River.” No, the blame is put squarely on the place I worked during my high school years–a department store which shall remain unnamed.
I worked in the accessories department, which was almost in the middle of the store. On one side was Young Men’s clothing, on the other, the Juniors’ department. The guys in the Young Men’s department would torment us with constant playings of Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung” album most of the year. In November and December, the girls in the Juniors’ department would play one album over and over again… the Andy Williams Christmas album.
I didn’t mind, at first. Then, when it became obvious that it was the only album the Juniors’ department had, and no matter how much we begged, we wouldn’t get a break, it became torture. Especially when “the most wonderful time of the year” was filled with impatient customers, dwindling stocks, and higher prices.
Indeed, when I was in college, I suggested to a friend he should name his punk band “Andy Williams Must Die.”
I have since made peace with Andy Williams, though I can’t listen to him singing Christmas music without the desire to smash things. As for “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”–I still hate it. Even when other singers sing it.
Now, go visit these fine blogs:
C is for Cynicalgirl 
I dread the vamped up versions of classics sung by caterwauling self-imposed divas. Just because one can do vocal gymnastics with a heavy bass thumping doesn’t mean it’s necessary … and no, Jessica Simpson, you are NO Earth Kitt. Leave “Santa Baby” alone.
That goes double for the male divas.
Ah-h-h! Another who objects to dogs barking “Jingle Bells”. I know they don’t want to do this. 🙂
It’s hard to get excited about some holiday songs because they’ve been taken hostage by businesses urging us to buy, buy, buy. Sadly, it’s not “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” for many people.
There are certain songs that just don’t survive being repeated over and over. Once may be cute, but more than that…
I am soooooooooooooooo with you on that “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”. It is not even Christmasey….it reflects on drunks if you ask me. And I just can’t understand why people LOVE the song. I think it should never be played ever again. LOLOL Now, I’ll step down from my podium.
On the other side of the question you had this week, I LOVE O Holy Night.
Like you, I know people who think it’s hilarious. No accounting for taste, though.
LOL…two songs I can’t stand also…jingle bell dogs and run over by a reindeer. Nerve wracking to listen to. The Andy Williams song..is ok…but I can relate to hearing it over n over during a hectic time..you compute it in your brain and when you hear it..all the bad memories come rushing back…I also worked in retail during the holidays and I know first hand…its not fun!
I have a lot of sympathy for people in retail who are forced to hear the same stuff over and over. It’s not just Christmas, either–during the St. Patrick’s Day season the employees at my neighborhood Walgreens were driven insane by the constant Irish music from one tape they were selling.
That must have been horrible to have to sit and listen to! You picked an awesome topic, so thanks! Definitely out of the norm for FUN Monday and that’s really cool. Everyone has a little bah humbug in them, no matter how hard they try to play Tiny Tim! The barking dogs thing is on a commercial only, they don’t play it on the radio, that I know of! Run over by a reindeer is one I wouldn’t want to hear over and over again, either, once a year is plenty.
The earlier the season starts, the earlier you get tired of some of these things. I miss when the Christmas season didn’t start until the day after Thanksgiving. *sigh*
That Alvin and the Chipmunks song is pretty awful too. There are actually LOTS of lousy “Christmas” songs, aren’t there? I just put the one I thought of first because I hate the fake Betty Boop voice the song gets sung with and it cheapens Christmas by turning Santa into a PimpDaddy.
The Grandma/Reindeer song is terrible. I feel sorry for the dogs. And Andy Williams… I can hear that about once every ten years.
Thanks for hosting!!!
Noooo… not Alvin and the Chipmunks! I liked it when I was a little kid, but that was more than 40 years ago! Give Alvin his dang hula hoop and tell them to shut up already lol.
I’ll agree, they’re all nightmares!! Throw them in the bin where they belong!
Thanks for hosting this week 🙂
Judging from the entries I read today, that bin is gonna be full. 😀
You’re not wrong! lol
By the time I’d heard a few seconds of the barking dogs I knew exactly what you mean, and grandma and the reindeer well what can I say!
Sorry I’m a bit late letting you know I’ve done a post http://mscellania.blogspot.com
I remember the barking dogs from when I was a kid. They never, ever go away. And I did catch your post!
Hey Cynical Girl, if no one volunteers I’ll host Fun Monday on December 21. I can’t do it next week, unfortunately.
OK, looks like you’re down for the 21st. 😀
fortunately I never worked where I had to listen to the same song over and over.
I have much higher respect for retail sales people after this!
I have never heard this “Grandma was ran over ….” that’s horrible ! has nothing to do with Christmas ! In French there are no Christmas songs like “Rock around the Christmas tree” or “Dreaming of a white Christmas” or something similar, like “the best time of the year” we only have Christmas carols and they are not played very often in shops or malls. So the shops and malls decided we should hear it in English, so nobody understands and the music is usually very nice !
Traditional carols are nice. You are lucky to be able to avoid the worst of the novelty songs.
You need to ask/beg for a host for next week! Faye’s already volunteered for the week after, but we still need one for the 14th.
Yikes, I’ll start begging now!