Cameron Kast | Reporter
This year, I started hearing Christmas music on the first day of November. I hadn’t even removed my Halloween candy bowl from beside the doorstep when I heard a song that was written 65 years ago. Now, before I get started, I don’t despise Christmas music. In fact, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I willingly listen to my favorite Christmas album, A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio. However, in my opinion, hearing Christmas music the day after Halloween is completely ridiculous. What’s even more ridiculous is the large amount of repetition. Every year, it’s the same songs sung by mostly the same people and if it’s not the same people, it’s still the same song. There’s loads of musical talent in the world today, why are there no new songs? I would be okay with hearing Christmas music more than just one or two days a year if some newer songs were played. Tradition is not a good excuse for incessant repetition of the same songs over and over again. Sure, throw some of the classic oldies into the mix if you want. Some of you may enjoy the music and some may not, but I think it’s time to mix it up or turn it down. So, Bailley, just because the music is on in the office, doesn’t mean I’m listening.
Bailley Simms | Editor-in-Chief
I get it. Christmas music isn’t for everyone. To some (like Cameron) it’s old, overplayed and only deserves to be listened to one (maybe two) days a year. Now don’t get me wrong, I am by no means a person who starts the tunes before Thanksgiving. I do, however, enjoy listening to Christmas music after Thanksgiving and pretty much the entire month of December. Cameron, I hear you; there seems to be no new Christmas songs, they can become repetitive and yes, sometimes I rather turn something else on rather than singing along to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” for the seven-hundredth time. But, as my good friend Randal would argue, it’s tradition. I personally love listening to music throughout the day, so during the holidays I listen to beats that match the theme of the season. In fact, a 2015 study published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience shows correlations between one’s mental health and emotions with regards to listening to music. For me and most of my close family and friends, listening to music is a mood booster. So during the holidays, the first chime of “Walking In A Winter Wonderland” reminds me of friends, family and the warm feeling of the holidays. Yes, I would appreciate some more variety in the songs that are played this time of year, but that doesn’t mean I refrain from listening all month long. So go ahead, Cameron. Change the radio station and avoid the holiday tunes until Christmas Eve, but I will be singing along to “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” in the office, so you are just going to have to deal with it.