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Fa-la-la la lousy

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Wise and Otherwise

A staple of the holiday season is music from traditional Christmas carols to pop songs about the season to novelty numbers that get stuck in your head which you can't get rid of no matter how hard you try.

I know a few people who start listening to Christmas music right after the last doorbell ring from the trick or treaters on Halloween.

Post-Thanksgiving is when the songs really start getting air play and people giving them a listen. But, let's face it, you can only listen to the Chipmunks sing any Christmas song a given number of times (one, perhaps) before the joyful tunes turn you into a Scrooge.

I enjoy most kinds of music and love to hear the different versions of all the songs. I have plenty of favorites, but then there are the ones that make me cringe.

Other people love this song, but, I don't care who sings it, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" gets on my nerves. Perhaps it is because it is usually sung by an adult singing in a high pitched kid's voice. Nails on a chalkboard; I hope the kid gets coal for Christmas.

Speaking of high pitched, whiny voices, the tune, "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," is usually sung by an off-key children's chorus. I don't find the song jolly at all. It is a bunch of desperate kids whining about what they want for Christmas trying to give Santa a guilt trip. Santa ain't got time for that!

Even worse than a kids choir singing the song is when an adult does it. Look up and listen to Maurice Chevalier's version of this song. "Nightmare Before Christmas" material right there!

As for novelty songs, I always have loved the Chipmunks, and I knew how much my Dad loved me because when I was little I requested the album be played over... and over... and over. He told me years later he absolutely hated the Chipmunks.

I know there are some parents out there showing love just like my dad did who are listening to the Muppets sing Christmas songs for the thousandth time. Miss Piggy is a favorite, but after so many listens you can't help but think it is time for Christmas ham!

Let's face it, you can only listen to Spike Jones singing Yuletide songs in the voice of a lisping baby for so long before you want to toss whatever you are listening to the song on out the window.

Overall, I'll give almost any holiday song a listen because I do like most of them. I especially like when people from completely different genres and/or eras get together to sing a song and it comes out really well.

So my Christmas song wish is for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Muppets, Reba McEntire, Twisted Sister, and Katy Perry to come together to sing Elton John's "Step into Christmas"!

I'm going to whisper that in Jolly Old St. Nicholas's ear in my best Maurice Chevalier French accent.... Ohh hoh hoh, Monsieur Claus!



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