I love Christmas carols.  Well, most of them.

We used to go out with a bunch of friends on a hay wagon every year and sing all night long.  I’m sure the people we serenaded liked it, but we were the ones who were having the best time.  By the end of the evening, we could harmonize almost any carol you could throw our way, and it also served to jump-start our moods.  Christmastime always seemed to creep up on us, but after singing our hearts out, we were ready to be holly-jolly and face the holidays head on.

I said I liked “most of them”.  I used to think I liked all of them … until recently.  There is a radio station that is playing nothing except Christmas music all day, every day, for most of December.  I started tuning in … trying to catch some of the Christmas spirit, you know.

Well, I’ve discovered there are as many versions of “White Christmas” as there are leaves on the tree.  I have to say that any version that doesn’t include Perry Como seems like a fraud.

Hearing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” with a country twang is different for sure.  Willie Nelson apparently has recorded every Christmas carol I can think of, and well, Willie’s raspy voice just doesn’t lend itself well to Christmas kind of music.

There was a version of “Angels We Have Heard on High” that was pretty close to rap.  I’m fairly sure that most of the people who would tune into a station for 24/7 Christmas carols in the first place are not the kind of people who appreciate rap in any shape, form, or fashion.

Then there are some that I’ve never heard before.  It’s a pretty hard business to break into, this Christmas carol business.  Think about it.  People want to hear the same songs they have always heard, the songs they know the words to, the songs that remind them of the reason for Christmas.  Songs that remind them of good times, good friends, family, and Santa Claus.

Then some up-and-comer decides to write a new one.  It may be a pretty good song, but it doesn’t evoke any of the emotions listed above.  So it doesn’t stand a chance.

But this radio station was playing them anyway.  I’d look at the radio, stationary in my dashboard, and talk to it like it was the one who decided to play this new stuff.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” I’d ask it.  “This is NOT the reason I’m tuning into this station.  Please go back and play the songs I know and love!”

But of course they can’t do that because there are about twenty of those songs, and they can’t play the same twenty songs over and over all day long. 

But just as I was about to switch the dial, suddenly there was Perry, crooning “White Christmas” with that silky voice that can’t be duplicated.  I melted into my seat and joined in with him, singing one of the all-time classics at the top of my lungs.

It reminded me of old friends and good times, and put me in a mood like sitting in front of a fire on a cold winter’s night with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands.

Okay, I’m ready.  I’m in the mood.  Bring on the holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!