As the nights draw in, the days get shorter and the rain gets colder, it’s easy to see that winter has arrived. Well, not for me, because I’m at university in Manchester so it’s always dark and raining. However, for others located not quite as close to the Arctic Circle, I’m told that winter has arrived. November is a hideous month for us students; as well as the darkness making it more difficult to motivate oneself for those hateful 9ams, the month is riddled with deadlines, dwindling loans and a heightened dependence on alcohol. Or is that just me?
There is, however, one thing which has aided the pain of November for me, and by proxy, my flatmate. Christmas music. That’s right. Come at me.
“NO.”
“No, Christmas starts on December 1st. END OF.”
“IT’S TOO EARLY.”
“Oh God, you’re one of those.”
I have been met with the above by practically everyone I know. Let me justify myself: I don’t care. No matter what anyone says or how many people complain and roll their eyes, you cannot deny that Christmas music is brilliant. It just is. It’s so happy, so energetic and full of excitement (i.e, everything my life is currently not). I’m not even necessarily talking about your average Slades and Muds here, because even, even I roll my eyes at the introduction of Merry Christmas Everybody. However, this leaves the vast majority of good Christmas music out there – take Wizzard’s I Wish It Could be Christmas Every Day. It’s so over the top and there’s so much going on that you can listen to it 9 times and still find a new detail you missed previously. Kelly Clarkson’s Underneath the Tree (a recently discovered work of magic which has become a fast favourite), and the glorious, glorious Step Into Christmas by Elton John. The latter is a family favourite, a brilliantly colourful work of instrumental genius with a bassline that fills me with festive joy the minute I hear it. It’s even one that the rest of my family can tolerate hearing a bit early. Other mainstream favourites include Last Christmas, which will never cease to be a beautiful song for me lyrically and musically, no matter what my brother says. Fairytale of New York has been tried and tested, and I’ve come to the conclusion that everybody I’ve ever been around when it’s playing can’t help but sing along. And of course, nobody, I don’t care who you are, nobody, can resist Mariah. Don’t even try.
Good Christmas songs are lethal to a self-confessed melody whore like myself. I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember, inhaling melodies, repeatedly listening to them and driving my family to distraction. Case in point, Band Aid: Do They Know It’s Christmas (the original, obviously – don’t you dare try and come at me with whichever one has that Godawful rap in it). This was the gateway to my love of festive music, and it got played so often that now my brother can’t hear it without breaking out in hives.
I have to point out a special one – imagery is an important factor in Christmas music and many successfully capture this, but few do so as authentically as White Christmas. Taken from my favourite Christmas film, Holiday Inn, it’s a song that everyone’s fond of, no matter how overplayed every other one is. It’s in many ways the ultimate Christmas song; warm, sophisticated, simple, beautifully crafted and reminiscent of a Christmas before Slade and Mariah Carey – a glorious image for most, I’m sure.
But it isn’t all about the mainstream Christmas music. I wouldn’t be the annoying music snob that I am if I didn’t point out a few lesser known favourites which don’t often see as much air time around the festive period. One of these is Greg Lake’s I Believe in Father Christmas. I’ve expressed before that one of my favourite things is hearing my dad play guitar, and this is one of the songs in my household which is worshipped by everyone – a rare occurrence, let me tell you. I’ve heard my dad playing this song for years, and it still remains a firm favourite. The inimitable introduction is often greeted with choruses of what can only be described as “YAASSSSSSS” whenever it comes on at home. Another household fave is In Dulce Jubilo by Mike Oldfield. Originally a folk song but one which has also found itself part of the small group of songs that my whole family likes. Whenever I listen to it, I picture my brother coming down the stairs playing it on Christmas morning as a surprise for my mum. Other tunes played frequently are Christmas Wrapping, Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys and A Spaceman Came Travelling, the last of these also contributing to my brother’s aforementioned hives.
There are so many things to love about Christmas music; the excitement and happiness they conjure if not from the lyrics, then from the richness and warmth it wraps you in. Images of blazing log fires, blankets, mulled wine, cosy evenings and the smell of the Christmas tree as the light glints off the decorations all come to mind as Christmas music begins to infiltrate daily life. As well as this, they’re just good, happy, well written songs. Christmas music is, in a way, very inspirational as a songwriting tool. Layered with interesting and often complex instrumentation, along with an onslaught of melodic genius, a good, well written Christmas song can be timeless. Christmas is such an extravagant occasion, so why not make the music to match? It’s the one time of year where we’re allowed to embrace bells and brass bands left right and centre. So to all those who have pooh-poohed my choice of listening to Christmas music before it’s socially acceptable to do so, I say the following: bah humbug, you miserable git.
