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What Makes a Christmas Song
Dec. 6th, 2018 09:31 amThe annual is Baby It's Cold Outside rapey debate has begun. I'll likely blog about it in a few days after I've read this year's crop of for/against pieces. For the record, I'm solidly of the belief that it is (the mouse never gives clear consent). However, the debate has spawned an interesting sub-debate: Is it a Christmas song.
Now the only thing it has going for it is that it's clearly set during the winter. In the context of 1948, it's likely set during the holidays. Brad Hick's made the case that that's the only time an unaccompanied woman could visit a man's bachelor apartment in a socially acceptable way.
So let's assume Baby It's Cold Outside sneaks in on that basis, how about Let it Snow, the somewhat more chaste version of Baby It's Cold Outside? It also doesn't mention Christmas at all, but the presence of a fireplace suggests they're in a proper home and not a bachelor pad, so presumably there'd be entertaining and visiting all winter and not just the holidays.
How about Frosty the Snowman? Again, Christmas is not mentioned. But I think on the sliding scale of Christmas song or not, it be firmly on the yes side.
Hypothesis: All winter songs are Christmas songs. That seems like a good first-order approximation, but is it good enough?
Hounds of Winter by Sting is definitely not a Christmas song (It's a great song, but also a real downer - it's the sort of song you play when you just need a good cry).
How about this: A cheerful winter song is also a Christmas song. That cuts out songs that use cold weather as a metaphor for isolation. It's certainly not an exclusive definition - Do They Know It's Christmas and White Wine in the Sun are neither winter nor cheery (the latter is still a joyful song though). It helps that they mention Christmas though ;)
So how about it folks, any other cheerful winter songs that you'd consider to be Christmas song? Any counter examples?
Now the only thing it has going for it is that it's clearly set during the winter. In the context of 1948, it's likely set during the holidays. Brad Hick's made the case that that's the only time an unaccompanied woman could visit a man's bachelor apartment in a socially acceptable way.
So let's assume Baby It's Cold Outside sneaks in on that basis, how about Let it Snow, the somewhat more chaste version of Baby It's Cold Outside? It also doesn't mention Christmas at all, but the presence of a fireplace suggests they're in a proper home and not a bachelor pad, so presumably there'd be entertaining and visiting all winter and not just the holidays.
How about Frosty the Snowman? Again, Christmas is not mentioned. But I think on the sliding scale of Christmas song or not, it be firmly on the yes side.
Hypothesis: All winter songs are Christmas songs. That seems like a good first-order approximation, but is it good enough?
Hounds of Winter by Sting is definitely not a Christmas song (It's a great song, but also a real downer - it's the sort of song you play when you just need a good cry).
How about this: A cheerful winter song is also a Christmas song. That cuts out songs that use cold weather as a metaphor for isolation. It's certainly not an exclusive definition - Do They Know It's Christmas and White Wine in the Sun are neither winter nor cheery (the latter is still a joyful song though). It helps that they mention Christmas though ;)
So how about it folks, any other cheerful winter songs that you'd consider to be Christmas song? Any counter examples?
