Kids, when you grow up and buy radio stations, as I’m sure you will,
whatever you do don’t let a computer program your Christmas music! I mean this, kids. Computers are have no clue how to do this right. They will play the same title back to back, several times a day, and they will think it’s OK because the recordings are by two different artists. They will not, as a good human program director would, warn you when you have limited the play list to too few songs. For example, thirty songs. Or thirty tracks, because really there are only twenty songs but some of them are by two different artists. And because of their diligent adherence to your wrong-headed choice of only thirty tracks, they will cause your on-air talent to become surly on the telephone, knowing that, even though it is the holiday season, they cannot fulfill your innocent holiday music requests, unless you happen to be requesting one of the songs on the stupidly abbreviated playlist, but why would anyone do that, since those songs are already playing incessantly?
I’ve been listening to a radio station in Los Angeles (KOST 103.5 FM, if you must know) that is playing nothing but Christmas music throughout the holidays. At first the orgy of sentiment was satisfying and fun – cheerful, uplifting holiday songs playing in the background while I worked, picked persimmons, did the dishes, drove around in the car. Good times, really. Gradually, the music faded from my consciousness, and my life was simply imbued with the warmth of the holiday season, as if a chipper and loving Victorian angel were riding on my shoulder, whispering words of acceptance and good will in my ear.
But, as with all stories of this type, soon I detected trouble in paradise. A nagging irritation began bubbling to the surface of my mostly empty mind. It was Burl Ives singing Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas, like twenty times a day. Are there not enough Christmas songs? Do they have to play this one more than, say, once a year? Apparently, computer says “Yes!”
Not only that, but once I became aware of the repetition I started to hear a lot of it, and I mean a lot of it, including the maudlin Christmas Shoes by Newsong. I think the computer is fucking this up, for me and everyone who likes music. KOST is owned by Clear Channel, a corporation which owns 1200 radio stations around the country. You think it’s a bit of a challenge to make a mix tape for your girlfriend/boyfriend? Try programming 1200 radio stations with 24/7 music. I’m not saying this is a good idea, I’m just saying that they couldn’t do it without computers. Probably Steve Jobs should get involved and donate some of those super-creative Apple computers with i-Tunes connections and “golden ears,” because those big Unix mainframes, the ones Clear Channel must be using, are just not hip enough.
So I’m back to my CD’s. I have a friend with whom I have been exchanging cheap Christmas CD’s for ten years now. The rules are: one CD per year, bought at a grocery store or a pharmacy, and costing less than five bucks. I give her one, she gives me one, every year. Sometimes we break the one-disk rule when we find some really cheap CD’s, like in January (then we buy a few and hold them until the following Christmas – can’t give Christmas music in Superbowl season).
In this way I have accumulated…
- Elvis’ Christmas Album
- Nat “King Cole, The Christmas Song
- Tony Bennett, Snowfall
- Bing Crosby’s White Christmas
- the ever-popular Drug Emporium Traditional Holiday Favorites Volume 1
and a stack of generic collections of original hits and remakes by Hall and Oates, Brenda Lee, Bobby Helms, Burl Ives, Judy Garland. Pat Boone, Amy Grant, Chicago, Mary Hart(!), Lou Rawls, Don McLean, Donna Summer and more, more, more! I’m on a thirty-day binge of musical holiday cheer!
I’m still looking for The Beach Boys Christmas Album and Phil Spector’s Christmas (mono version). I have them on vinyl, and they’re all scratched from frequent rum- and egg nog-fueled playings and shufflings, plus they don’t work in the mp3 player. Not hearing these two classics is making me contemplate holiday self-mutilation, so please help. If you have one or both of these CD’s, for God’s sake burn me a copy! I’ll swap you my Drug Emporium compilation.
As always at Christmas time, my heart throbs with holiday good will for each of you.
So funny you’d post this today, as I chose to borrow your Christmas song post idea today. 😉
If I *ever* hear the Christmas shoes again, I pray that it’s because I’m currently out of ipecac syrup. I can tolerate just about anything… but not that song.
I’m playing my own home made CD’s now as well.
~S
When I grow up and have enough money to buy a radio station, instead of using a silly computer, I’ll hire you to select the songs every day. Clearly you are sensible and have great taste. We won’t be hearing “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” … NOT EVER!
Shephard – Yeah, what is up with that song? I’m trying to feel cheerful for the holiday, and that thing comes on and ruins it for at least an hour. Unclear on the concept.
Theresa – And no Christmas Shoes, either.
LOL. My blogging friend, Denise, ranted about “Christmas Shoes” (maybe two or three posts back)! Here’s her URL: http://southernborndiva.blogspot.com/
I think I came her by way of Miss New Orleans. Nice blog.
We did mix in some holiday songs into our play rotation at work, and it’s just a sprinkling, which is perfect. My fave christmas song of all time is “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses. If you’ve never heard it, check it out 😉
KOST is now Clear, eh? (Groan . . . ) I have 118 Christmas songs in a 5.9 hour playlist on iTunes, shuffled to keep me surprised. But I still think I need to add more. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week!
sophmom – Lot of agreement about that song. Maybe we can band together and have it banned…
Steph – I tried to switch the Muzak tuner at the office to “Seasonal Favorites,” but after two days somebody changed it back to “Hot FM.” I’ve decided to let well enough alone, since the Muzak Roulette could end up on “80’s Hits.” Eew.
Jayne – May you be fully surprised for the holidays, babe.
Hall & Oates made Christmas music??? TELL ME MORE.
kStyle – Just one song that I know of. If you’re a big fan I can send it to you.
Oh yes yes, please! I’ll bet it’s wonderful/terrible, like all their great, sickening/catchy songs. How shall we arrange this?
kStyle – Would an MP3 be OK? I’ll make one this evening (when I get home from my fully-enclosed, all-the-way-to-the-ceiling office) and post it to my server. To avoid massive illegal downloading, email me (jones at revision99 dot com) so I can send you the link. If you want a CD, you’ll have to tell me your address, and after that you will never know who that guy is outside in the rented Malibu.
By the way, it’s a fairly faithful remake of Jingle Bell Rock, in case you want to change your mind…
My city only has Clear Channel stations. Maybe I should start up some Rebel radio station ala Pump Up the Volume.
Brent – Since you’re a Clear Channel-only city, you should feel uncomfortably at home almost anywhere in the U.S. where there’s a radio…
PS: I thought you were dead.
I love the cheap CD rack.
Have you ever tried podcasts? You should check ’em out. Sometimes it’s like a cross between early 70’s FM and early Internet – totally NOT Clear Channel.