Are you tired of listening to Mariah Carey songs on repeat the moment winter starts? Maybe it’s time to try some songs your classmates love listening to during the holiday season.
“I usually start listening to holiday music around the beginning of November, like after Halloween,” says Clara Guan (‘28). “It’s like, the spooky season is over and now it’s the season for cheer.”
Many students like winter or holiday songs because they remind them of specific experiences they have had while listening to the song. “So, on Christmas, my extended family will all gather together in my grandparents’ living room and we’ll all just sing Christmas carols,” says Sam Gryniewicz (‘27). “Since we have a really big family, we’re able to all divide into parts, like we’ll have our tenors, altos, sopranos, and basses, and we’ll all sing different parts – kind of choir-y – just as a family.”
Some students are reminded of the season when it is referenced in the song. For example, many artists make allusions to winter, Christmas, or other holidays. “Lover by Taylor Swift reminds me of Christmas,” says Guan. “It talks about Christmas and winter at the beginning.”
Students listen to many different artists during the holiday season. Some people enjoy listening to artists that make them feel sentimental. “Frank Sinatra is probably my favorite holiday music artist,” says Mia Griffin (‘27). “He has a good voice and is just kind of a classic. These songs make me feel nostalgic.”
Even some Skyline teachers like listening to holiday music. “I love Christmas music and I think it’s fun and I listen to it when the season is right,” says math teacher Nicholas Bertsos. “I love Mariah Carey, I grew up with Mariah Carey and she can do no wrong. It is overplayed, 100 percent, but at the same time, do better guys, I don’t think so.”
Some students dislike Christmas music, either because it’s overplayed or just because it annoys them. “It’s interesting to listen to but it gets extremely boring really fast,” says Skyline Post music critic Alison Green (‘26). “It’s like all you ever hear after Halloween, and literally the moment it hits November 1st, all you hear is Christmas music in every store. It won’t even be Halloween and why, [Halloween’s] not over yet, it’s nowhere near December. It’s literally so annoying.”
Other students listen to conventional Christmas carols. “A lot of the traditional Christmas songs, mostly the songs you would sing, not the pop style songs, but more traditional songs,” says Gryniewicz. “One of my favorite Christmas songs is God Rest You Merry Gentleman.”
