We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode What makes a holiday song a lasting hit?

What makes a holiday song a lasting hit?

2024/12/24
logo of podcast Consider This from NPR

Consider This from NPR
AI Deep Dive AI Insights AI Chapters Transcript
People
C
Catherine Fink
E
Elena Burnett
J
Jeanette Woods
J
Juana Summers
M
Mark Rivers
M
Mia Venkat
S
Stephen Thompson
Topics
Elena Burnett: 我最喜欢的圣诞歌曲是Vince Giraldi版本的《O Tannenbaum》，因为它能带给我圣诞节的氛围，让我感觉像是在电影里漫步在树林中。 Jeanette Woods: 我最喜欢的圣诞歌曲是老歌《This Christmas》，因为它让我联想到家人团聚的快乐时光。 Mark Rivers: 我喜欢《Peace at Least》这首歌，因为它虽然内容滑稽，但制作精良，乐器丰富，是一首充满欢乐的歌曲。 Catherine Fink: 我最喜欢的节日歌曲是亚当·桑德勒的《Hanukkah Song》，因为它让我在童年感受到了一种归属感，弥补了没有圣诞节的遗憾。 Mia Venkat: 我最喜欢的节日歌曲是Fleet Foxes的《White Winter Hymnal》，因为它能带给我怀旧和舒适的感觉。 Juana Summers: 玛丽亚·凯莉的《All I Want for Christmas Is You》已经成为圣诞歌曲经典曲目中永久的组成部分，经久不衰。 Stephen Thompson: 玛丽亚·凯莉的歌之所以成功，是因为它结合了最佳圣诞歌曲的许多元素，例如永恒感、怀旧感和精湛的制作。好的圣诞歌曲需要真诚和真实的情感，即使带有一些忧郁感，也不要强迫听众感到快乐。许多优秀的圣诞歌曲应该获得更多关注，例如The Weepies的《All That I Want》和Low乐队的《Just Like Christmas》。凯莉·克拉克森和萨布丽娜·卡彭特等流行歌手也有潜力创作出能被载入经典的圣诞歌曲。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why has Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' become a lasting holiday hit?

The song combines timelessness, nostalgia, and impeccable production, drawing from influences like girl groups and Phil Spector's Christmas music. Its familiarity and catchy melody make it hard to resist, despite its overplay.

What are the key ingredients for a lasting Christmas song?

Sincerity and a sense of real feeling are crucial. A touch of melancholy can add depth, and the song should avoid forcing cheer. It should evoke genuine nostalgia without feeling forced.

Are there any modern Christmas songs that deserve a place in the holiday canon?

Yes, songs like 'All That I Want' by The Weepies and 'Just Like Christmas' by Low are examples of modern holiday music that should be more widely recognized. They offer warmth, nostalgia, and genuine emotion.

Which contemporary artists are creating holiday music with potential for lasting popularity?

Artists like Kelly Clarkson and Sabrina Carpenter are leaning into the holiday genre, drawing on classic pop and girl group influences while maintaining a contemporary feel. Their music has the potential to break into the holiday canon.

What advice does Stephen Thompson have for discovering new holiday music?

He encourages listeners to explore Spotify and YouTube for hidden gems of holiday music that evoke more than just canned cheer. Finding personal favorites can lead to a richer holiday music experience.

Chapters
The episode starts by asking NPR staff members about their favorite holiday songs, showcasing a variety of musical tastes and highlighting the diversity within the holiday music landscape. The segment includes personal anecdotes about the significance of these songs.
  • Various NPR staff members share their favorite holiday songs, ranging from classic Christmas tunes to Hanukkah songs and more modern selections.
  • The segment highlights different personal connections to holiday music.

Shownotes Transcript

Whether you play it on loop or whether it drives you crazy, there's no question Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You," song has become a permanent fixture of the Christmas song canon. But the holiday song canon is big, and a number of other pop artists have made their own Yuletide jingles since 1994 including John Legend, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.But not even the woman who shattered records with her Eras tour has given us a holiday song that has had staying power worthy of The Canon.For 30 years Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" has dominated the holiday music charts. NPR's Stephen Thompson explains what makes it a lasting hit?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org).Email us at [email protected]).Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)