christmas music.

I used to like it. I loved entering the mall during the holiday season--with the decorations and music and pace, everything had a whole new energy (plus, living in northern NH, going to the mall was an adventure already, so during Christmas season it had a certain glow).

And now...The Store has ruined Christmas music for me. Maybe forever. I cringe when certain tunes come on, and songs that I previously enjoyed (because...moderation? such a lovely thing) are tarnished.

The flip-side is that songs I have always disliked now make my ears bleed. I have always always always hated "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." There are so many things wrong with this song.
--yes, I get that "santa" is actually the dad. And that makes me think that, since all the kids are asleep, the parents get off on some kinky role-playing game where the father keeps on his santa costume. I know, weird.
--When I was little, I didn't get the part where Santa is the father. So I just thought the mom and Santa were making out. Which? Wrong.
--Santa shouldn't be kissing anyone under the mistletoe. As far as I'm concerned, he and the misses sleep in seperate beds. They never touch, let alone lock lips. Just like parents.
--The version of the song we play is ridiculous. Some grown woman sings in a baby-voice, and then a CHOIR starts in, and there is some "harmony," and seriously? My ears? HAVE FALLEN OFF.

We each have our own cross to bear with the holiday songs. My boss hates "Hey Santa," which, while annoying, at least has real harmonization.
Conversation today:
ring ring
"[company], this is J speaking"
"Um, do you realize the best part of 'hey santa' is that it's sung by wilson phillips?"

Cut to serious laughter and the fact that I'm on speaker phone.

(If you'd like to hear a clip, you can listen on amazon. But god help you.)

[At least my very favorite song--O Holy Night--isn't featured on our playlist. I would cry if they ruined that for me. Consequently, "Studio 60" had a particularly beautiful rendition of that song tonight, so I did realize my heart hasn't turned to stone. Yet.]