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> How do you define an Xmas song?
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vidcapper
post 6th December 2015, 07:32 AM
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Some are obvious, by either the title or lyrics (or both), but others are not so clear.

One definition I use is : if a song first charted around Xmas, and *only* re-enters during that period, then ISTM it is considered to be an Xmas song by the public. e.g. FGTH - Power Of Love.
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Suedehead2
post 6th December 2015, 09:51 AM
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The "by the public" part is significant. I don't consider The Power Of Love or Stay Another Day to be Christmas songs. There is nothing Christmassy about the lyrics, they just had Christmassy videos.

BTW, A remix of The Power Of Love was a hit in summer 2000, so there are still some people who agree with me. At least, there were 15 years ago.
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Jester
post 6th December 2015, 10:01 AM
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I think both those mentioned as Xmas songs now. Plus 2 Become 1 by the Spice Girls.
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lewistgreen
post 6th December 2015, 10:10 AM
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I'm not so sure I would include 2 Become 1 just because it was Christmas #1... Things like Bob the Builder laugh.gif, the X Factor winners' singles etc shouldn't be considered either.

I'd just agree with the above posts that if the song is in reference to Christmas or repeatedly emerges at this time of year then that's definition enough.
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JosephBoone
post 6th December 2015, 10:43 AM
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Typically songs which refer to Christmas in the lyrics for me. Others like the John Lewis advert songs remind me of Christmas but are not Christmas songs.
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Steve201
post 6th December 2015, 11:02 AM
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Any song I put on my Xmas playlist I consider Xmas songs so it's each to their own really. Currently hav things like 2 become 1, RYX Berlin, The Power of Love and Mad World on there so i consider them festive songs I only listen to in December!
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Mangų
post 6th December 2015, 11:49 AM
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I guess everyone's definition of a Christmas song will be slightly different. I think I'd consider 'Stay Another Day' as a Christmas song but I'd draw the line at '2 Become 1' (even if it does get a few more spins over the festive period).
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paulgilb
post 6th December 2015, 12:04 PM
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Other songs that are considered to be Christmas songs but have no reference to Christmas in the lyrics:

S Club 7 - Never Had A Dream Come True
Freiheit - Keeping The Dream Alive

Songs where the Christmas reference is minimal:

Johnny Mathis - When A Child Is Born (an implicit reference to Jesus)
Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry (the only Christmassy thing about it is the line 'wish I was at home for Christmas')
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Suedehead2
post 6th December 2015, 12:21 PM
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I wouldn't consider Freiheit's song to be a Christmas song. It entered the chart just before Christmas, but peaked in mid-January. I certainly wouldn't let anything stop me listening to such a glorious song at any time of they year.
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Dobbo
post 6th December 2015, 12:55 PM
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QUOTE(paulgilb @ Dec 7 2015, 12:04 AM) *
Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry (the only Christmassy thing about it is the line 'wish I was at home for Christmas')


I know with this track he explicitly stated he didn't want it to be taken a Christmas song. Christmas is just used as a timepoint given the content of the lyrics, could easily have said Easter (although the feeling/emotion wouldn't been as relatable laugh.gif)

Can't be complaining now it's racking up guaranteed annual sales though!
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Chez Wombat
post 6th December 2015, 01:01 PM
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I'd agree with the definition of a song that charted at Christmas and is played/re-enters the chart around that time, I would say The Power of Love and Stay Another Day are songs associated with Christmas rather than 'Christmas songs', but there was a clear intended link at that due to the nativity video/sleigh bells used in the respective songs, the time they charted and in the former's case, a cover being released at Christmas, so they'd fit under the definition of 'Christmas songs'.

I wouldn't call 2 Become 1 or Never Had a Dream Come True Christmas songs, they're just wintery ballads with no obvious link to Christmas at all apart from the time they were released, would it sound completely out of place listening to them at any other time of the year? I'd say it wouldn't.

I do have an issue with the recent Now Christmas' use of Do You Want to Build a Snowman from Frozen. It's not actually about Christmas at all apart from the single link in the title (and the film in itself isn't actually about Christmas at all, it's setting is merely appropriate to that season), that's what I call stretching too far.

This post has been edited by Cheznuts: 6th December 2015, 01:02 PM
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Suedehead2
post 6th December 2015, 01:03 PM
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QUOTE(Doboggan @ Dec 6 2015, 12:55 PM) *
I know with this track he explicitly stated he didn't want it to be taken a Christmas song. Christmas is just used as a timepoint given the content of the lyrics, could easily have said Easter (although the feeling/emotion wouldn't been as relatable laugh.gif)

Can't be complaining now it's racking up guaranteed annual sales though!

That line is a reference to the prediction that the First World War would "all be over by Christmas", a prediction that proved to be wildly optimistic.
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Steve201
post 6th December 2015, 01:52 PM
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^^Yeh I would certainly consider Jona a Christmas song with the home for Christmas central to most 20th century wars and the pipes/trumpet playing very Christmassy as well as his December appearence on TOTPs obviously looking at the Christmas market. The video was also quite Christmassy looking. Albeit it was no1 in July in France!
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crazy chris
post 6th December 2015, 04:09 PM
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These 4 Music and Viva Festive Countdowns make me laugh. Was watching Santa Blessed's Festive 50 earlier and they had songs that have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. Kate Winslet's What If was one and Spice Girls and S Club as someone else has mentioned. Also versions of When I Fall In Love. Think I'll email them and say "What if you had all Xmas songs in your Festive 50's!"

This post has been edited by Common Sense: 6th December 2015, 04:12 PM
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crazy chris
post 6th December 2015, 04:13 PM
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QUOTE(lewistgreen @ Dec 6 2015, 10:10 AM) *
I'm not so sure I would include 2 Become 1 just because it was Christmas #1... Things like Bob the Builder laugh.gif, the X Factor winners' singles etc shouldn't be considered either.

Agreed. Hallelujah is not a Christmas song.
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Maroon1
post 6th December 2015, 07:13 PM
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If the song needs to mention Christmas to count, then you can't count Let It Snow, Baby It's Cold Outside or even Winter Wonderland.
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JosephBoone
post 6th December 2015, 07:22 PM
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QUOTE(Maroon1 @ Dec 6 2015, 07:13 PM) *
If the song needs to mention Christmas to count, then you can't count Let It Snow, Baby It's Cold Outside or even Winter Wonderland.


Those songs you listed are very much Christmas related without explicitly referring to it, so they most definitely count as far as I'm concerned. The Power of Love for example isn't even slightly Christmas related but the Gabrielle Aplin cover reminds me of the Christmas period thanks to the John Lewis advert. I've been quite happy hearing that one at any time of year though.
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Maroon1
post 6th December 2015, 07:28 PM
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QUOTE(JosephCarey @ Dec 6 2015, 08:22 PM) *
Those songs you listed are very much Christmas related without explicitly referring to it, so they most definitely count as far as I'm concerned.

Baby It's Cold Outside and Let It Snow are only linked to Christmas because they describe snow and wintry weather. If those are counted then the songs from Frozen (Let It Go and Do You Want to Build A Snowman) must count as Christmas songs too.
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JosephBoone
post 6th December 2015, 07:31 PM
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QUOTE(Maroon1 @ Dec 6 2015, 07:28 PM) *
Baby It's Cold Outside and Let It Snow are only linked to Christmas because they describe snow and wintry weather. If those are counted then the songs from Frozen (Let It Go and Do You Want to Build A Snowman) must count as Christmas songs too.


This is why you can't specifically define it - cause there are many exceptions to the rule. I don't see the Frozen songs as Christmas themed in the slightest, but Let It Snow most definitely is. It's just a case of using your own judgement I think.
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Ethan
post 6th December 2015, 07:42 PM
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the likes of 'stay another day', 'the power of love', '2000 miles', etc. have become synonymous with Xmas in the public consciousness~

'do you want to build a snowman?' is for the little kids ~ unfortunately a whole generation born after 2005 will consider it a bona fide Chrimbo anthem mellow.gif
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