Why Christmas music appeals to us, according to science
Now that Christmas is officially here once again, it’s time to swap Motörhead for Mariah Carey, Blondie for Michael Bublé, and The Beatles for… well, more Lennon and McCartney in the form of ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ and ‘Wonderful Christmastime’.
A very specific set of songs has become a staple of Christmas tradition, heard everywhere from shops to radios and even our own playlists—they truly help make the season. Whether you prefer a modern vibe with Ariana Grande’s ‘Santa Tell Me’ or the old-school crooning of Nat King Cole, even the most mainstream music-averse among us can’t help but warm to the festive classics.
But when you begin to boil it down, it really is a strange phenomenon. Being able to create a Christmas hit genuinely is like getting a coveted pass to a private members’ club, such are our repetitive listening habits and the prize of the elusive number one on December 25th. When was the last time you heard a new Christmas tune that was actually good? Apologies to Elton John and Ed Sheeran – they’ve surely got more than enough royalties – but 2021’s ‘Merry Christmas’ is enough to make anyone produce some tinsel-infused vomit. It’s hardly going to be what our grandkids are belting out at the nativity in 2070, is it?
Maybe it has become impossible to make a decent festive tune in this day and age – and there are even statistics to back that up. Of the 20 most popular Christmas songs currently, only three were written after 1970, and all those are covers of much older or traditional songs. The 1970s are a vital decade to consider here because it seems to be the last time that new Christmas songs actually stuck: we’re back thinking about Lennon and McCartney, Elton John’s ‘Step Into Christmas’, and the Jackson 5’s various holiday efforts, all of which still get consistently blasted out throughout the month.
So what is it about these hits and not others, that allow them to stand the test of time?
The answer is that we’re all basically big kids. As much as we’re all prone now to get wrapped up in the stresses and tribulations that invariably come along as welcome as a lump of coal during the festive period, there’s no denying that there was little more magical a time as a child than Christmas. It’s that tiny piece of innocence that never dies – we hear “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” and instantly get transported back into our grandparents’ house or laying the mince pies out on Christmas Eve. “Sleigh bells ring”, and we’re suddenly back doing school plays or running down the stairs to see if Santa’s been. Ever heard ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and felt the intrinsic need to burst into tears? Now you know why.
Scientifically, good Christmas music – complete with its magical lyrics, bells, and all the trimmings – triggers the joy centres in our brain, making us listen again year after year on repeat. The reason that a lot of songs made more recently have struggled to replicate this is because we have no idyllic memory to attach them to, and during the happiest time of the year, all we want to remember are the perfect Christmases of days gone by.
Of course, there are some exceptions – let’s be honest, any artist will give it a go for a bit of extra cash in the bag – but it seems that when it comes to the ultimate Christmas playlist, it’s the golden oldies that reign supreme.
