What makes a holiday song a lasting hit?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "What Makes a Holiday Song a Lasting Hit?"

Consider This from NPR delves into the enduring popularity of holiday music, spotlighting what transforms a seasonal tune into a timeless classic. Released on December 24, 2024, this episode explores the elements that contribute to a holiday song’s longevity, anchored by an insightful conversation with NPR Music's Stephen Thompson.

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Team Favorites: A Prelude to Holiday Classics

The episode opens with the hosts sharing their personal favorite holiday songs, setting a relatable tone for listeners:

• Stephen Thompson expresses his love for Vince Guaraldi’s rendition of “O Tannenbaum” (01:28), highlighting how the song unmistakably signals the arrival of the holiday season.

• Jeanette Woods favors “This Christmas”, appreciating its old-school soul vibe that evokes memories of family gatherings (03:13).

• Mark Rivers enjoys the whimsical “Peace, at Least” by Rotary Connection (03:26), admiring its rich production and playful lyrics.

• Katherine Fink shares her admiration for Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song” (03:13), noting its significance in representing Jewish traditions in mainstream holiday music.

• Mia Venkat brings a modern twist with Fleet Fox’s “White Winter Hymnal” (03:43), appreciating its nostalgic and cozy feel despite its unconventional status as a holiday song.

These selections underscore the diversity and personal connections that listeners have with holiday music, laying the groundwork for understanding what makes certain songs endure over time.

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Mariah Carey’s Timeless Classic: A 30-Year Legacy

The heart of the episode centers on Mariah Carey’s iconic track, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, commemorating its 30th anniversary (04:59). Juana Summers introduces the discussion by highlighting the song's pervasive presence during the holiday season:

Juana Summers (06:07): "The Holidays are here. Which means this one song might feel virtually inescapable. ... Mariah Carey's ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You.’"

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Insights from NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson offers a deep dive into the factors that have cemented Carey's song as a perennial favorite:

1. Timelessness and Nostalgia:

   • Stephen Thompson (07:59): "It manages to combine a lot of what works in the best Christmas music, which is a sense of timelessness, a nostalgic through line..."

   The song's ability to evoke a sense of timelessness connects it to classic holiday sounds while maintaining contemporary appeal.

2. Impeccable Production:

   • Stephen Thompson (07:59): "It's also just an impeccably produced song. The way the Ah's come in is hard to resist."

   The meticulous production quality ensures the song remains sonically pleasing across decades.

3. Emotional Sincerity:

   • Stephen Thompson (08:51): "For me, one of the first things that I look for is sincerity. I will often be drawn to holiday music that has real feeling to it."

   The genuine emotion conveyed in the song resonates with listeners, fostering a deep, lasting connection.

4. Balanced Sentiment:

   • Stephen Thompson (08:51): "A lot of the Christmas music that I'm drawn to has this sense that the holidays are not 100% cheerful."

   The nuanced sentiment, blending joy with underlying melancholy, provides a relatable and authentic listening experience.

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Expanding the Holiday Canon: Beyond the Classics

Thompson advocates for a broader appreciation of holiday music beyond the established canon:

1. The Weepies’ “All That I Want” (10:16):

   • Stephen Thompson: Describes it as "one of the most irresistibly beautiful Christmas songs," praising its classic signifiers and heartfelt lyrics that emphasize love and comfort.

2. Low Low’s “Just Like Christmas” (11:21):

   • Stephen Thompson: Highlights its "completely unforced nostalgia," noting the song's unique production that feels intimate and genuine.

3. Emerging Artists:

   • Stephen Thompson (12:28): Mentions Kelly Clarkson and Sabrina Carpenter as potential future staples, commending their ability to blend classic elements with modern sensibilities.

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Cultivating Personal Holiday Playlists

Encouraging listeners to explore beyond mainstream hits, Thompson suggests curating personal holiday playlists to discover hidden gems that evoke more than superficial cheer. This exploration can lead to a richer, more individualized holiday music experience.

Stephen Thompson (13:53): "I really encourage people listening at home to track down your own favorite holiday music. Go on Spotify, go on YouTube, get down a rabbit hole of some beautiful Christmas music that evokes more than just this canned cheer."

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Conclusion: Celebrating Diversity in Holiday Music

Consider This wraps up by acknowledging the vast array of holiday music that exists beyond the well-trodden paths, emphasizing the importance of diversity and personal connection in defining what makes a holiday song truly lasting.

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Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Thompson (07:59): "It's also just an impeccably produced song. The way the Ah's come in is hard to resist..."

• Stephen Thompson (08:51): "For me, one of the first things that I look for is sincerity..."

• Stephen Thompson (10:16): "...it's a song about finding comfort in the love in your life, in your family..."

• Stephen Thompson (13:53): "I really encourage people listening at home to track down your own favorite holiday music..."

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This episode of Consider This offers a thoughtful exploration of what transforms a holiday song into a lasting hit, blending expert analysis with personal anecdotes to celebrate the rich tapestry of holiday music.

Transcript

[Juana Summers]

It's Juana Summers. The end of the year is here. And our team at Consider this is reflecting on the stories we've brought you in 2024. We've unpacked the biggest national and international headlines like the presidential election and the Israel Hamas war. And we've brought you with us to places all across the world to capture the news in a way you just can't understand unless you're there. All of that is here for you, completely free. The fact that you can hear this even if you don't donate is exactly why it matters that you choose you if you can. If you're already A plus supporter, thank you so much. If not, sign up and unlock perks from more than 25 NPR podcasts today, including sponsor free listening to Consider this. Join now at plus.npr.org that's plus.npr.org all right, now on to the show. Holiday season means holiday music playing from your car radio, in shopping malls in your headphones. And unless you're doing your best to avoid Christmas music around this time, you've probably heard one of these classics at least once already. And here were some of our own team members. Favorite holiday songs hi, I'm Alaina Burnett.

[Stephen Thompson]

I'm a producer on All Things Considered.

[Juana Summers]

And my favorite Christmas song is O.

[Stephen Thompson]

Tannenbaum, specifically the version by Vince Guaraldi.

[Juana Summers]

Off of A Charl Around Christmas. It's the first song I play when.

[Stephen Thompson]

I decide it's the holiday season.

[Juana Summers]

It never fails to perk me up.

[Stephen Thompson]

It just feels like Christmas.

[Juana Summers]

It just feels like I'm walking through.

[Stephen Thompson]

That tree lot in the movie. My name is Jeanette Woods. I'm an editor at All Things Considered. And my favorite Christmas song is an oldie but a goodie this Christmas. It is quintessential old school soul and I love it. It just makes me think of family and getting together. And it's one of my favorite songs and I can't help but sing. Hey, my name is Mark Rivers. I'm a producer with All Things Considered. And consider this one of the Christmas songs that I love to listen to. It's a little silly. It's called Peace, at least by the 70s group rotary connection. And this song is about how Santa, just to get through the craziness of the holidays, has to smoke mistletoe. And what I love about this song is that while the content is silly, the production of it is silly. So rich these like glorious strings and horns. Everyone should have a piece at least once a year, wrote a song for all those nice little Jewish kids who don't get to hear any Hanukkah songs. Here we go.

[Juana Summers]

Hi, my name is Katherine Fink, and I'm a producer for All Things Considered. My favorite holiday song is the Hanukkah Song by Adam Sandler. Growing up Jewish in an area where there were not a lot of Jews, I remember hearing that for the first time and feeling like he was voicing something I had felt for a long time. I was so jealous of my friends who celebrated Christmas instead of one day of presents.

[Stephen Thompson]

We have eight crazy nights.

[Juana Summers]

Yeah, that song is canon.

[Stephen Thompson]

Tell your friend Veronica it's time to celebrate Hanukkah.

[Juana Summers]

Hi, my name is Mia Venkat. I'm a producer on All Things Considered, and my favorite holiday song is White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Fox. And I feel like some people will say it's not a holiday song, but they talk about snow in it, so I feel like that counts. And I'm not quite sure what the song is about, but it just feels so nostalgic and cozy and it just scratches my brain in the right way. One or two of those songs belong to what might be called the holiday song canon. The list of songs that almost everyone can agree is a classic. Consider this this year marks 30 years since one song came to dominate the holiday music charts. It's time. Coming up, we talk about what's made it such a lasting hit. From npr, I'm Juana Summer.

[Stephen Thompson]

This message comes from NPR sponsor the Capital One Venture X card. Earn unlimited 2x miles on everything you buy, plus get access to a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel. What's in your wallet? Terms apply [e-mail] this message comes from NPR sponsor Merrell. Whatever your financial goals are, you want a straightforward path there.

[Juana Summers]

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[Stephen Thompson]

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[Juana Summers]

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[Stephen Thompson]

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[Juana Summers]

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[Stephen Thompson]

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[Juana Summers]

It's Consider this from npr the Holidays are here. Which means this one song might feel virtually inescapable. Don't want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing I need. That, of course, is Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas is you. It first came out, can you believe this, 30 years ago. Even though it's ubiquity this time of year kind of makes it seem like it's been around forever.

[Stephen Thompson]

I don't want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing I need and I don't care about the present.

[Juana Summers]

Whether you play it on a loop or whether it drives you crazy. There's no question Mariah Carey's song has become a permanent fixture of the Christmas song canon. That holiday song canon is big, but it is not easy to break into. You can take your pick of pop artists who have made their own yuletide jingles since 1994, like John Legend, Justin Bieber.

[Stephen Thompson]

I should be playing in the winter.

[Juana Summers]

Snow but imma be under the mistletoe Taylor Swift.

[Stephen Thompson]

Christmas must be something more.

[Juana Summers]

But not even the woman who shattered records with her ERAS tour has given us a holiday song that has had the staying power worthy of the canon. Was Mariah Carey's song the last? Who else has made a song worthy of consideration? To discuss, we've got NPR Music, Stephen Thompson here in the studio. He's been dancing along to the music. Hey, Stephen.

[Stephen Thompson]

Hello, Juana.

[Juana Summers]

So, Steven, I know a lot of ink has been spilled about All I want for Christmas is you. But for the select few people out there who are not Carrie converts, or even for people who love to listen to the song every season without thinking about it, what is it about the song? Why do you think it works so well?

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, I think it manages to combine a lot of what works in the best Christmas music, which is a sense of timelessness, a nostalgic through line, back to things like girl groups. Like, if you think about a Christmas gift for you from Phil Spector with like, those great Ronette songs on it, it's tapp, some of that stuff. It's also just an impeccably produced song. The way the Ah comes in is. Is hard to resist, though I know there are many people listening to this for whom familiarity has managed to build up an enormous wellspring of contempt. Uh, it is a song that is wildly, wildly overplayed.

[Juana Summers]

I mean, first of all, I will just note that the song is going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the day, so thanks for that. But question here. I'm curious what do you think it is? What are the ingredients that one needs to create a genuinely good and lasting Christmas song?

[Stephen Thompson]

For me, one of the first things that I look for is sincerity. I will often be drawn to holiday music that has real feeling to it. I'm often drawn to some note of melancholy, even though there's not a great deal of melancholy. And all I want for Christmas is you. A lot of the Christmas music that I'm drawn to has this sense that the holidays are not 100% cheerful. And when I think about the Christmas music or the holiday music that I hate, it's music that is essentially asking, why aren't you happy? And that is just the cruelest thing you could do to me, you know? And I would much rather you make me sad than tell me I should be happy.

[Juana Summers]

Are there any Christmas songs that are written after the release of Mariah Carey's hit that you think do deserve a place in the canon? I want to hear about your holiday playlist.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I mean, I'm constantly railing about this because there has been a ton of magnificent holiday music made in the last 30 years. We've somehow decided as a society that we're only going to listen to about eight Christmas songs. And one of them is Jingle Bell Rock, and one of them is by Andy Williams. It's the most wonderful time of the year. There is a Christmas canon that sprawls out for thousands and thousands of songs. And some of them are magnificent and should be just as popular as All I Want For Christmas Is yous, which is a song I do like.

[Juana Summers]

Okay, like what, though? Give me some examples.

[Stephen Thompson]

Okay, I'm gonna give you an example. It's a song from 2003 by a duo called the Weepies. And I know, the Weepies, you're gonna be like, o sad Christmas. Here's sad boy talking about his sad Christmas music. I understand. I know what you're thinking. People, they have a song called all that I Want, which to me is one of the most irresistibly beautiful Christmas songs I have ever heard. All that I want all that I Want. It's a song that has a lot of kind of classic holiday song signifiers, but it's a song about finding comfort in the love in your life, in your family, in kind of some of the majesty and beauty of winter without it ringing false in any way. And I gotta say, Deb Talon's voice is just like a balm on my soul.

[Juana Summers]

Absolutely. The ship's come in.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's Christmas time.

[Juana Summers]

Give us another example of a song that is on your holiday playlist?

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, another one in a little bit, the same vein of just deep, deep warmth. There's a band called Low Low, you know, was around for like 30 years, put out a ton of really stunning records. And in 1999, they put out an album called Christmas. And for me, when I think about songs that should be in the holiday canon, I think about the song Just Like Christmas by Low. It was just like Christmas. There's something about the production of this song where it feels like it's being beamed in from like a far away satellite or you're listening to it on an AM radio. And so much Christmas music music has these feelings of nostalgia that can feel really forced. And for me, this song has completely unforced nostalgia.

[Juana Summers]

Steven beyond those two examples, are there any other songs that you could see getting more popular with age?

[Stephen Thompson]

When I think of somebody like a Kelly Clarkson, you know, a pop singer with a really, really big and vibrant voice. And she's leaned into the holidays in ways that I think are kind of scratching the itch that Mariah Carey is scratching a little bit. She's drawing on girl groups and classic pop and standards in ways that still feel contemporary. I think Sabrina Carpenter, you know, who's had this massive 2024, you look at the Christmas cannon she's started to put together. She has a Christmas special on Netflix. She's got a real sense of humor. I think she's somebody who really could kind of continue to grow into being one of the queens of Christmas. And you just never know when one of those songs is gonna break through. And suddenly it's on all of those Christmas playlists. But I really encourage people listening at home to track down your own favorite holiday music. Go on Spotify, go on YouTube, get down a rabbit hole of some of some beautiful Christmas music that evokes more than just this canned cheer.

[Juana Summers]

NPR Music. Stephen Thompson. Stephen, thanks as always.

[Stephen Thompson]

Thank you, Anna. I'm talking decking all the halls. I'm talking spiking naked.

[Juana Summers]

This episode was produced by Mark Rivers and Michael Levitt. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Ashley Brown. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun. It's consider this from npr. I'm Juana Summers and Merry Christmas. All this year, NPR traveled the country hearing from voters not just about the issues, but about their hopes for the country's future. We should be able to disagree with.

[Stephen Thompson]

Each other without bullying each other into.

[Juana Summers]

Submission and what it means to be a part of a democracy. Invest in coverage that moves us forward together by giving [e-mail] hi, I'm Ramtin Arablouei from Throughline.

[Stephen Thompson]

Electricity, Internet, cell service, all the things we rely on every day can be unreliable or inaccessible in an emergency, but through any storm or crisis, radio is a lifeline. Support the resource that's here for you no matter what. Give [e-mail] hi, I'm Catherine Marr, CEO.

[Juana Summers]

Of NPR, where we're guided by a bold to create a more informed public. Join us today by [e-mail].