The rapidly-approaching end of the year means Christmas preparations are in full swing.  Decorating the house, getting the tree, baking themed cookies and listening to holiday music are just some of the things one does to prepare for the season.

Christmas songs are loved by many because of the joy and happiness they evoke.  Having said that, the holiday season is such a short part of the end of the year, many people choose to listen to Christmas music as soon as the calendar flips to Nov. 1.   

“I hate that Christmas music is played way too early in the year, but I love how catchy it is,” senior Ethan Farmer said.  

One thing everyone will agree on about the holiday is Christmas songs can be very, very, very repetitive (see what I did there?). Holiday songs are either great and you want to sing them all 365 days of the year, or they can make you not want to listen to a single Christmas song ever again.

“I don’t like Christmas music at all,” freshman Avery Kraft said. “It is really annoying and repetitive. It is not good music and I would rather be doing something else then listening to it.”

It is easy to tell when the Christmas season is beginning because Mariah Carey’s most famous song “All I Want for Christmas” comes on the radio. This song plays on an endless cycle throughout December on all the radio stations and in stores.  It comes to the point where everywhere you go you find yourself unable to complete an activity without humming the lyrics of this tacky tune.  

“My least favorite Christmas song has to be the Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ because the lyrics are monotonous and don’t carry any true substance of holiday spirit,” junior India Wood said.  

And as if it weren’t bad enough having to listen to this song on what seems like an endless loop, Carey sounds “desperate and whiny” telling Santa that the only thing she needs this year is a new man. I think it is very odd to beg for a new man instead of toys or clothes.

Of course, not all songs are repetitive.  Some songs even have an underlying meaning that can defeat the purpose of holiday cheer.

“My least favorite Christmas song is ‘Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer’ because it is very graphic and is not very catchy,” said sophomore Annalisa Orgnon. “It has a very morbid message to it.”

Nothing screams Christmas cheer like your beloved grandparent being crushed by wild game, right? Not only is the song slightly depressing, but the substance of it is overall underwhelming.

Listening to the lyric, “Grandma got run over by a reindeer, walking home from our house Christmas Eve,” on repeat for the duration of the song just drives the macabre message home. Simply listening to the tune of your grandma’s demise is not the most fitting background music when opening gifts, decorating the tree or baking cookies.

Another sad Christmas song that aids in taking away the holiday spirit is Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas.”Although it is a short song, it leaves the listener with the lasting impression of feeling down and doesn’t fit the cheerful mood associated to the holiday season. A sad song just doesn’t create the atmosphere fit for Christmas.

“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” is another tune that has underlying meaning that is the opposite of the Christmas spirit.  It is about a child who walks downstairs from his bedroom and finds his mother kissing Santa Claus. Does anyone really want to see their mother kissing the jolly old elf in a red suit?

Christmas is a holiday meant to be celebrated with family.  The holiday’s basis is from the foundation of Christianity, which is a religion based partially in morality.  If you really want to be literal, this song promotes adultery and promiscuity on a religious holiday which seems to be a tad bit disrespectful.  

“I don’t like ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ because it is such a weird song,” junior Jenna Gauss said. “Why did they have to make a song about that? It’s weird.”

I believe this mother deserves coal in her stocking for the example she has set for her child and any listener of this song.  

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” is simply creepy when looking at the lyrics in detail.  It seems to portray the woman being forced into acts she may not want to proceed with.  Her desire to leave is also disregarded by the male singer.  

“I don’t like ‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’ because it has a creepy vibe to it and it also has the connotation of what he is going to do to her,” senior LeeAnn Conner said.

This song was created in 1944 which was a much more innocent time than today’s society.  Today’s society has caused people to be more suspicious of other’s actions which is why this generation understands this song a different way than what it was probably wrote to mean.  

Some of the lyrics that cause a rift with people from this song include “Say, what’s in this drink?” or “Gosh, your lips look delicious.”  Although they probably are innocent and have no other underlying meaning, it is hard to see it without a more grim and different interpretation.  

Although this article is about some of the worst Christmas songs, I want to make it clear I am not a grinch who hates Christmas. I love many holiday-themed songs like “The First Noel” or “Silent Night”  because of their calming appeal. I also appreciate more upbeat songs like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

The right Christmas tunes at the right time can make or break the holiday season.  Keep your music apps tuned in to holiday playlist, and you’re bound to hear something that will make your season brighter.