Over a decade ago, Alice Zhao wrote, How Christmas Songs Have Evolved Over Time. More recently, I saw a chart that said essentially the same thing: most popular Christmas songs were written before 1980, Mariah Carey notwithstanding.
Cole Haddon wrote in his 5AM StoryTalk: “I have zero mathematical evidence to support this, but I’d wager 99% of the Christmas songs we listen to every season were composed between 1800 and 1970. What happened to kill the Christmas song? Was it the death of the big band era and the songwriters who fueled it, and the musicals centered around its superstar performers? Was it the death of relentless optimism in the West that succeeded World War II? “
He wanted his readers to muse on the prompt: What makes a great Christmas song anymore?
These songs are from the last season or two:
Merry Christmas Darling – Rebecca Jade. I’ve seen her sing live a half dozen times!
Christmas In The City – Pentatonix
Merry Christmas – Ed Sheeran & Elton John, which I didn’t know about until Haddon referenced it. It “manages to be nostalgic, joyous, and even romantic as it subtly calls for us to come together and be grateful for surviving a global pandemic. I adore it.”
Winter Wonderland – Ellen, Charlotte, and Melisa. Ellen, the bass player, has a YouTube channel showcasing her skills, dating back to when she was nine.
The rest are earlier.
The Holly and the Ivy – Steeleye Span. I bought a Span box set during COVID.
Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy – Bing Crosby/David Bowie. Unless you’re of a certain age, you might not realize how bizarre this 1977 pairing was. And by the time the program aired, Bing had been deceased for over a month.
O Tannebaum – Nat King Cole. My mother’s favorite singer, singing in German!
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Tony Bennett. Tony was one of the great comeback stories.
Sleigh Ride – Ella Fitzgerald. I have a CD with this song
O Come, O Come Emmanuel – Whitney Houston. Backed by a one-man group (Mervyn Warren from Take 6)
We Need A Little Christmas – Angela Landsbury, from the Broadway musical Mame.
Children, Go Where I Send Thee – Natalie Merchant
What Child Is This – Vanessa Williams
The Coventry Carol – Alison Moyet. The last three songs are from A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 3 (1997), Vol. 2 (1992), and Vol. 1 (1987), respectively.
Check out Kelly’s A Daily Dose of Christmas and Coverville 1561: A Very Coverville Christmas Volume 21
Also, Mark Evanier has seasonal content most every day this month, starting with My Simple Christmas Wish by Christine Pedi.
Holiday tradition
Playing Santa Does Strange Things to a Man. What It Did to Bob Rutan Was Even Stranger.
Damn it, Chevrolet, you’re not supposed to make me cry … again …
Sixty Years Ago, When Instruments Were Played in Space for the First Time, It Was ‘Jingle Bells’ All the Way. Astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra delighted mission control with their rendition of the Christmas classic.
The CPKC Holiday Train 2025 crossing at the Cohoes-Waterford Bridge