It could be a long month ahead...
We're still a day shy of December and I've already had my fill of what's playing and passing for music on the radio, on television and in stores and restaurants.
I don't want to hear seasonal music every time I turn on the radio.
When I walk through Macy's doors, I don't want to hear hymns I'll sing walking in the entrance procession at Midnight Mass.
I don't want to hear monks or chipmunks while I'm having dinner in a good restaurant.
I have a real problem with legitimate Christmas music backing up advertising.
These inescapable sounds don't help me "get into the season" because the season I'm trying to get into is Advent, not Christmas.
What are your thoughts on the timing of all these tinseled tunes?
Call me a geek or a Grinch - doesn't both me! Didn't expect to change a thing by posting this. Just wanted to get it off my chest.
(If you agree, there's a widget on the sidebar with some tunes that have a better fix on the season at hand.)
Subscribe to A Concord Pastor Comments
Yearofgrace2011
I could not agree more.....
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind if I snickered a little bit before agreeing with you. It was the monks and chipmunks comment that tickled my funny bone! My 7-year-old loves the Chipmunks. Me...not so much. I have my own set of CD's that I listen to during Advent much to my daughter's and husband's dismay. They don't like them much but my music is FAR more reverent than theirs. Easier on the ears, too.
ReplyDeleteGlad you said what plenty of others are feeling.
ReplyDeleteThis year is really bad -total saturation way too soon.
It is money crazed commercialism at its rampant worst.
They will use anything to lure people into fake feel good moods so more money can be spent.
Get John the Baptist back here RIGHT NOW!
BLESSINGS and thank you for your music !
Try working in a retail store during December. Consider yourself fortunate.
ReplyDeletePreach it, Austin! I'm with you in grinchiness.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm enjoying Advent and preaching and praying in Advent. This is a time when it is particularly challenging for our churches to be counter-cultural.
I agree 100%! I like that wiget, too.
ReplyDeleteTo stay focused on Advent I have disconnected from Facebook and slowed down on posting to my blogs.
I heartily agree with your grinchery.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and to make matters worse. The day after Christmas every thing returns to normal. No more Christmas Carols and that truly is the Christmas Season.
ReplyDeleteAndie
you said:
ReplyDelete"I have a real problem with legitimate Christmas music backing up advertising."
I do too.
It's actually pretty sad. And it makes me feel sad. I have seen lots of examples...
one example that may be not exactly what you are talking about, but I noticed on a Shaw's supermarket bag it says 'holiday joy made easy' in big red letters- I think this is maybe not as direct, but it bothers me a lot (and I'm not even sure exactly why)-
well, I guess for one thing, finding and feeling joy- ANY joy, not just holiday- is NOT easy- (and a supermarket certainly can't fix that)- for me, I believe that God really is the only one who can possibly help me find true joy- and this is very hard work (for Him and for me)-
I feel very much like the Grinch this year- I was in Toys R Us today (I have nieces and nephews)- I walked around the store like in a daze- overwhelmed- but not happy at all- I did not buy anything-
I just turned on the tv- 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' is on...
ReplyDelete:)
I like christmas music. :)
ReplyDeleteI like Christmas music, too:
ReplyDeleteAT CHRISTMAS!
OK. I'll stand alone. I love it all: secular and religious. Everyone is in a good mood...er...present company not withstanding. Everyone wishing each other Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah, or at least, Happy Holidays. Everyone thinking of others--what shall I give them. The smell of pine, kissing under the mistletoe, jingle of bells, Salvation Army kettles, etc. It's only at this time of year. C'mon get with the spirit.
ReplyDeleteWe all can use some Advent at this time.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's easy. I listend to public radio, there's no music at work, and I'm rarely in retail stores or eating out where they're playing music. The only time there's music is Sunday from 4 to 7 pm and when I play piano or guitar at home. (In the rare event that I do play a Christmas song on piano before Christmas, I always play it in a minor key!)
Don't you see how you have fed into the negativity of Christmas instead of all the positive it can bring? Except for a few, most agreed with you. What is wrong with MUSIC??? Most of it is beautiful at Christmas time. True, joy is found in Jesus, not stores. Why not focus on that? Sometimes, the music encourages us to be more giving, thoughtful and kind to others. There is no other time of the year that people are more generous to the poor and do nice things for one another. Why not it start in November with the music if it can do that. Why not challenge your readers to do a "pay it forward" at Christmas time, instead of gift giving. Seek out someone who really needs something ... it doesn't have to cost anything. It can be a kind deed or even a compliment to someone who receives few. I just think negativity breeds negativity. Be joyful you have faith and can look beyond all the materialism of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly!
ReplyDeleteThank you Grace....you just expressed everything so well. I also enjoy all the Christmas season music, the shopping, the crowds etc. It doesn't take away from my Advent "alertness" at all. In my parish we have a "Star" program. Large stars are taped to all the inside doors of the church with a boy or girls size, age and a suggestion to buy. For example: a toy for a 3 yr old boy, or a sweatshirt for a 12 yr old girl, a bath set for a teenage girl etc. I always take a number of stars and then my grandchildren and I have a great time picking out things for someone else! A good lesson for them. I must admit, that Christmas is about the only time I enjoy shopping! The thing that really bothers me the most is when a salesclerk says Happy Holidays! I always then say and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more! I LOVE the season of Advent - it's quiet waiting - expectant - is beyond beautiful! It is my favorite liturgical season (save the Triduum) and I love the music that we only get to sing for 4 weeks.
ReplyDeleteThe secular Christmas songs get dumber every year. My little grandson was actually afraid when he heard "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" and cautioned me to "stay inside, Grandma and be safe"
I don't consider Grandma got run over by a reindeer a Christmas song!
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like the christmas music on the radio, you can always choose another station. If you don't like the music in the restaurant, try another good restaurant. If you look for the negative, you'll find it! If you look for the positive, you'll find that too.
ReplyDeleteWe have so many blessings in our lives. Why do we seem to let the little things bother us?
Check out the link below. This brought me great joy and sadness, as this was a favorite of mine when I sang in the boy's choir.
http://www.youtube.com/user/AlphabetPhotography
I don't think anyone is feeding into the "negativity of Christmas" here-
ReplyDeleteand it's just not that simple-
I think at least one of the points is that the true and real meaning of Christmas often gets lost and confused with so many other things that are so far away from what Christmas is all about. The stores being open earlier and earlier, people fighting (sometimes literally) to make sure they get what they want...
To be sure, I like Christmas music too, and Santa Claus and stockings and Christmas trees...
I also disagree with that this is the only time of the year when people are generous to the poor and do nice things for one another...
that's just not true. Yes, it may be "easier" because opportunities seem more available, or right there, but the fact is all those opportunities are available all year long. This is keeping Christmas all year- all the time.
Christmas is my favorite holiday- I feel somehow that even when things are at their worst, there is just something "extra" there at Christmas time- just a little more hope.
Thanks! Fine comment above!
ReplyDeleteNo one said that this is the only time of the year people are generous to the poor and do nice things for one another. It was written, there is no other time in the year that people are more generous and do nice things for one another.
ReplyDeleteYou have a choice. Make Christmas what you want it to be. Don't go into the stores if it bothers you. But we all have a choice.
my apology for misquoting the actual statement, "...there is no other time..."
ReplyDeletetruthfully, I feel this was kind of nit-picky, but I still disagree with the statement- I realize I'm speaking from my own experiences and from what I have seen firsthand, but there are other times of the year when people are just as or more generous and do nice things for one another-
I meant no disrespect by my comment- in fact I tried to word it as carefully and thoughtfully and honestly as I could.
thank you and a Merry Christmas to everyone...