When you think of Christmas music, what's the ONE song that's bound to put you in the holiday spirit? Something classic like "Jingle Bells" or "Holly Jolly Christmas?" Maybe the Pentatonix Christmas album? Or, if you're like most of us here at The River...it's not the holidays until we can NSYNC "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays".
Well, according to a musicologist at Boston University, Dr. Joe Bennett, he has worked with a team of composers and vocalists to engineer what he calls "the happiest Christmas song of all time".
He studied the key, chord progressions, and lyrics of over 200 holiday songs to determine what the common themes were. Lyrically, he says the key is to use words like Santa, home, peace, and love, but most importantly to repeat the word "Christmas" a TON.
Which he does.
Ad nauseum.
Here's "Love's Not Just For Christmas", which Dr. Bennett says is the perfect Christmas song.
What do you think? Instant classic?
Okay, probably not, but it's not horrible. It sounds like every other Christmas song out there. And to me it's not as painful to listen to as Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" (and if you disagree with me about that song being horrible you and I are going to fight).
In case you're wondering, though, we will NOT be adding "Love's Not Just For Christmas" to our 107.5 the River playlist.