Why do new Christmas songs fail?

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music, Music Interviews, Music History, Music Commentary

4.6 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 29 November 2022

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In case you missed it last year: why are there no new Christmas songs? One one hand, there's more holiday songs than we’ll ever need. Every year pop stars drop countless holiday-themed album. But despite the annual glut of Christmas releases, few of these new songs join the rotation of holiday classics. On Billboard's Holiday Hot 100 chart right now, there's only four songs from the past ten years that have made it to the top fifty. We listen to each of these holiday hits—from Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and the Jonas Brothers—and and ask if these songs can go the distance and become the 21st century members of the Christmas music canon. Songs Discussed - Playlist Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me Justin Bieber - Mistletoe Jonas Brothers - Like It's Christmas The Bird and the Bee - You and I at Christmas Time Loretta Lynn - White Christmas Blue Woody Goss - One for One Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 8 Days of Hannukah Jenny Owen Youngs, Tancred, John Mark Nelson - Fireside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:31.5	and craft experiences people truly love.
0:35.2	Real people, real reactions, real fast. Learn more at usertesting.com
0:40.9	slash audio. Welcome to Switch on Pop.
0:56.7	Welcome to Switched on Pop.
0:58.0	I'm musicologist Nate Sloan.
0:59.9	And I'm songwriter Charlie Harding.
1:01.4	Charlie Harding, can you do me a favor?
1:04.0	Sure.
1:04.6	I'd like you to put on an ugly sweater.
1:06.7	I'd like you to pour yourself a cup of eggnog.
1:10.1	Because it's the holiday season and I want to talk about Christmas music with you.
1:15.2	I'm excited for this because I actually am a true fan of eggnog and holiday songs, even though they're both kind of gross.
1:22.2	Then you are my ideal partner for this conversation, Chuck, because I want to try and answer a question that's
1:27.8	been vexing me.
1:29.3	What's that?
1:29.6	It's why are there no new Christmas songs?
	...

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