Holiday music has been a staple element of Christmas culture in most of America. Whether it’s Athens Academy playing it during the Holiday celebration or the radio channel Holly Jolly streaming it on Sirius XM, the music amplifies the merriness of Christmas.
To some people, holiday music offers a sense of nostalgia and anticipation for the upcoming holiday. Senior Charlotte Campbell says, “My favorite Christmas song is ‘Last Christmas’ because my cousin used to play it on repeat, so now it reminds me of family and home.”
On the other hand, people believe holiday music is simply repetitive. Instead, some people, like members of Gen Z, have started to shift over to music that isn’t necessarily “Christmassy” but more so offers a wintery vibe. For example, Taylor Swift’s albums Evermore and Folklore give off that cozy, cold mood, which is just as comforting as mainstream Christmas songs. In Caroline Marley’s opinion, “Christmas music isn’t really my choice, so I definitely prefer a wintery vibe.”
But to offhand the repetitive nature of Christmas songs, popular artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande have developed music directly involving the holiday season, like “Drummer Boy” and “Santa Tell Me.” These songs are catchy, Christmassy, but also cater towards younger audiences without people believing their songs are overplayed. Senior Kate Langley believes that listening to “Ariana Grande is a lot better” than the original classics.
Overall, while holiday music continues to evolve, it is hard to believe the classic Christmas tunes would leave the holiday cheer anytime soon.
