As you know I have spent a lifetime searching for the sonic bond shared by all mankind through the music of popular culture. My own private Interstellar of sound. Imagine the years squandered in this endeavor I can never reclaim. (Thank you for your kind thoughts.)
What has made this ‘shared’ bond so difficult to define is that, contrary to assertions I’ve made in the past, there really are so many listening options in the technological universe, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see all demographics on the same wavelength again. All you’ve gotta do to create a “playlist” today is type in an artist’s name. Click. Jack Johnson radio. Click. Bob Marley radio. No wonder my music industry colleague had never heard of Meghan Trainor, despite the fact that she’d recently had the number one single in the U.S. for a month!
In the throes of pop despair, while wandering aimlessly through Macy’s searching for anything for anyone, I had an epiphany. From an unidentifiable source—the omnipresent in-store sound system—came a familiar sound. “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee circa 1958. And it wasn’t even Thanksgiving! Still, suddenly I was singing along in my head “…you will get a sentimental feeling when you hear, voices calling let’s be jolly, deck the halls with boughs of holly!” Sweet Jesus, trapped in a pre-Black Friday time warp.
And then it was over. Oh well. Oops…now I’m listening to Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime”! 1979. Dumbest lyric ever, but an irresistible classic. I’m standing still, singing along. Silent karaoke. Are those kids staring at me? Shit. Well at least I’m smiling. I’m gonna buy a scarf for Mary! Next came “Last Christmas” by Wham. I love that song! Then “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” by Bruce Springsteen. Yay!!
So, about that “epiphany” (cue the sleigh bells): For approximately seven weeks of every year all the people of Earth (with the exception of those who never leave their yurts) are listening to the same soundtrack. The holiday music soundtrack. But here, I’m just going to call it the Christmas music soundtrack, okay? I hope that doesn’t rub your chestnuts the wrong way. And that is the soundtrack of this column, so press play in your head and Hark your Herald. Or your Melvin. And while you’re at it, please add Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” to the list. So hot she can melt Jack Frost.
Let us agree, without regret or shame, that Christmas has become a secular as well as religious holiday. Yes, Virginia, like the Super Bowl.
Putting aside the birth of the Christ for a moment (you must wait till 25 December, little one!), according to my deep Wikipedia research “Father Christmas dates back as far as the16th century in England during the reign of Henry VIII, when he was pictured as a large man in green or scarlet robes lined with fur.” And in the late 1800’s depictions of a long-bearded Germanic god Odin began to appear, as non-Christian peoples were celebrating “a midwinter event called Yule.”
Here in the USA, Santa came into clearer focus following the publication of a poem in the Troy, New York Sentinel, “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823. “Many of his modern attributes are established in this poem, such as riding in a sleigh that lands on the roof, entering through the chimney, and having a bag full of toys.”
In the modern era, corporate America discovered that, in spite of his iconic celebrity, Santa would work for free as a spokesperson for anything! In 1930 Coca Cola famously depicted Santa enjoying a Coke in a painting by artist Fred Mizen. That image has stayed with us, like “Winter Wonderland” for over 80 years. (Bing over Bublé, s’il vous plait )
How far has this sleigh ride taken us? Today, Santa is even churning out Mercedes in his shop! And the friendly boys at Joe Boxer have over 18 million views for their “Jingle Balls” I mean "Jingle All The Way" spot. Hark!
So here we are, merry listeners, entering the one time of every year when we’re all gliding on the same soundwave. And then, suddenly, as if someone pulled the plug, it’s the day after Christmas. Everything’s half-price. The trees hit the sidewalk. And if I hear Mariah Carey singing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” one more time I’ll….
But for now, let the sleigh bells ring, ‘cause here comes Santa Claus!
And because you’ve been such good boys and girls (ha), here comes Justin Bieber with “Mistletoe,” just for you!
Lyle Greenfield is the founder of Bang Music and past president of the Association of Music Producers (AMP)
