Just mentioning to a friend yesterday, that of all the horrible Christmas songs that you can’t avoid this season, Jingle Bell Rock is IMO the absolute worst. It terms of lyrics, performance, and arrangement and lyrics it hits the trifecta of appalling schmaltz.
Even the authors recognized this. From a couple of interviews with the songwriters: “I really didn’t want to cut it because it was such a bad song. So me and one of the musicians [Hank Garland], worked on it for about an hour putting a melody to it and we put a bridge to it,’ said [Bobby] Helms [in a 1992 interview].”
“’I let it hop back to where it came from,’ Garland recalled. ‘It wasn’t any good. [Bobby and I] came up with the “Jingle Bell Rock” America hears every holiday season,’ he [Garland] said [in a different interview].
Every popular song is going to get boring after awhile, whether it’s Christmas music or hard rock or whatever. There are a lot of weak Christmas songs that survive only because they’re played this time of year, (e.g. “Holly-Jolly Christmas”), but stations play every one because they have to fill the day with Christmas music. Try “I heard the bells on Christmas Day”. This one has a real message.
Stick the word “Christmas” in the Title and somewhere in the Lyrics and not only will someone Record it, the Radio Stations will play it 20 times an hour for a few days.
“My Wife Left Me for My girlfriend and they stole my pickup, too.” “On Christmas Day.”
Just strum a few extra G-chords and everything will scan just fine. Especially after a few Egg Nogs.
That’s 3 of us against Holly Jolly Christmas. Also can’t stand the greed songs, Santa Baby and 5 Pound Box of Money.But there are so many good Christmas songs and music out there let’s not wallow in our disgust for too long or we will miss the season.
I enjoy listening to many of the Christmas songs this time of year (though I can live without the religious ones), but my vote for absolute worst is Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time.” And Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” gets the nod for most overplayed song.
kaffekup almost 5 years ago
“…and if I hear it one more time, I’ll blow up the planet and take its inhabitants home for dinner!”
Aussie Down Under almost 5 years ago
Nothing to worry about, just an earworm…..Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell. Help I’ve been infected.
mddshubby2005 almost 5 years ago
Next up: “Hark! The Herald Aliens Scream”.
Tigressy almost 5 years ago
They’ll jump down from a window sill. – Problem solved.
Gent almost 5 years ago
I guess the colourist doesn’t know that earth looks like a big blue marble and not a big green one.
Say What Now‽ Premium Member almost 5 years ago
They think it’s bad up there…
ekw555 almost 5 years ago
yeah, I hate me some Christmas music.
crobinson019 almost 5 years ago
I swear I heard Frosty the Snowman and the Little Drummer Boy four rimes each in the three hours I listened to the Christmas Music station
tripwire45 almost 5 years ago
Change the channel.
ajr58 almost 5 years ago
Could be worse. Could be Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
Masterskrain almost 5 years ago
Hey, it could be worse… it COULD have been “Santa Baby”, or “Grandma got run over by a reindeer….”
ksu71 almost 5 years ago
How could anyone get tired of listening to Brenda Lee?
Mighty Phavahg almost 5 years ago
That ain’t ‘nuttin’. Here’s one for your ears: “Baby Shark, shark, shark, shark, shark, shark, shark!”
freewaydog almost 5 years ago
I’m w/ the alien on my left on this one
therese_callahan2002 almost 5 years ago
I wonder what their reaction would be to “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.”
JudyAz almost 5 years ago
… or the dogs barking “Jingle Bells”
mauser7 almost 5 years ago
Leave now or we will go to the Nuclear option….“Granma got run over by a Reindeer last night” With the volume turned to 11!
tims145 almost 5 years ago
Just mentioning to a friend yesterday, that of all the horrible Christmas songs that you can’t avoid this season, Jingle Bell Rock is IMO the absolute worst. It terms of lyrics, performance, and arrangement and lyrics it hits the trifecta of appalling schmaltz.
Even the authors recognized this. From a couple of interviews with the songwriters: “I really didn’t want to cut it because it was such a bad song. So me and one of the musicians [Hank Garland], worked on it for about an hour putting a melody to it and we put a bridge to it,’ said [Bobby] Helms [in a 1992 interview].”
“’I let it hop back to where it came from,’ Garland recalled. ‘It wasn’t any good. [Bobby and I] came up with the “Jingle Bell Rock” America hears every holiday season,’ he [Garland] said [in a different interview].
Ray*C almost 5 years ago
Every popular song is going to get boring after awhile, whether it’s Christmas music or hard rock or whatever. There are a lot of weak Christmas songs that survive only because they’re played this time of year, (e.g. “Holly-Jolly Christmas”), but stations play every one because they have to fill the day with Christmas music. Try “I heard the bells on Christmas Day”. This one has a real message.
Packratjohn Premium Member almost 5 years ago
80 years or so. That’s 80 light years. I wonder who’s listening right now?
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 5 years ago
Perfectly good reasons to invade and destroy Earth #78,661.
1MadHat Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Three times in a day? Just wait for them to catch up with 1960’s AM pop rock! ! !
anomalous4 almost 5 years ago
Beats heck out of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”!
Mayor Snorkum almost 5 years ago
The worst is yet to come. Thirty seconds of “Holly Jolly Christmas” and Planet Earth gets atomized.
Michael G. almost 5 years ago
It’s this, or “I Love Lucy”.
Andylit Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Worlds depopulated for far less.
smartman almost 5 years ago
Just wait until you have to suffer listening to Baby Shark.
WCraft Premium Member almost 5 years ago
It is either Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee or Sleigh Ride by the Ronettes.
bakana almost 5 years ago
This season is Golden for frustrated Songwriters.
Stick the word “Christmas” in the Title and somewhere in the Lyrics and not only will someone Record it, the Radio Stations will play it 20 times an hour for a few days.
“My Wife Left Me for My girlfriend and they stole my pickup, too.” “On Christmas Day.”
Just strum a few extra G-chords and everything will scan just fine. Especially after a few Egg Nogs.
Zuria Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I absolutely LOATHE this song. Second only on my hatred chart to"Holly Jolly Christmas".
Yet I love John Lennon’s “War is Over”. Maybe because it reminds me how he died so close to Christmas.
Thehag almost 5 years ago
That’s 3 of us against Holly Jolly Christmas. Also can’t stand the greed songs, Santa Baby and 5 Pound Box of Money.But there are so many good Christmas songs and music out there let’s not wallow in our disgust for too long or we will miss the season.
paullp Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I enjoy listening to many of the Christmas songs this time of year (though I can live without the religious ones), but my vote for absolute worst is Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time.” And Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” gets the nod for most overplayed song.