Christmas Music

Ya know, Thanksgiving was just last week. Today is Monday, Cyber Monday, if you will. Everywhere I go, I'm hearing Christmas music. Mind you, I'm in Dallas and local temperatures are still hovering in the 60's, so it doesn't feel like Christmas yet. But you certainly know Christmas is just around the corner because of all the advertising. I got a newspaper last Thursday (on Thanksgiving Day) that had more ads than actual newspaper (meaning content!) There were ads for stores I've never even heard of.

But I digress. Back to the music. Now don't get me wrong. I love Christmas music. During December. When it's cold. Snow is optional. Remember, we're in Dallas. But there's something odd about hearing it on every radio station and in every store I'm in. Especially wearing a T-shirt.

For instance, I heard the Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick" in Quizno's sandwich shop. Sorry, burn out. Heard it too many times. On the radio, the Eagles "Please Come Home For Christmas." OK fine, I like it. Timeless, no burn out. Then there's that awful Mariah Carey sound alike stuff that wails all over the place and never gets to the melody. I have no idea what song I was even listening to. Too bad I couldn't turn it off, but the store manager probably wouldn't appreciate me pulling his PA speakers out of the walls.

Sorry, lost my head there for a moment. Ahh, there are just some things that shouldn't be messed with. Remakes of classic songs, even Christmas music, are like that. They're either really good and or clever, or simply awful.

Speaking of simply awful, now I remember what Christmas song I heard on the radio the other day that just turned me off. "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." Don't remember the artist, doesn't matter. Point is, I used to enjoy the song, but don't anymore.

Why? Burn out. Simply put, burn out is what you get when you hear a song so much, you just can't stand to hear it anymore, anywhere at any time. Unplug it, yank the wire, rip out the speakers type of thing. But that maybe too radical a thought, so let's get back to the gentle subject of Christmas music.

The point is...I'm tired of hearing Christmas music already. The first week after Thanksgiving. So, I've decided to make my own CD. Collecting my favorite Christmas songs. Why not? Leave out the burn out, just the good stuff. I'll post my list soon. Meanwhile, I suggest taking your Ipod with you next time you go shopping.