atta boy Clarence!

Why do we hear the same Christmas songs on the radio every year? An interesting article in the Arizona Republic says it's because stations prefer to play songs that remind listeners of their childhood. Perhaps this explains why "Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives has eclipsed Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" as the Christmas song receiving the most airplay. "Holly Jolly Christmas" is from the 1964 television special "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." Adults in their 40s have grown up with it. "White Christmas" comes from the 1942 film "Holiday Inn," meaning an older generation grew up with the classic Crosby tune. What about the next generation? Is there a song from the 1980s that was enormously popular? Please don't tell me that "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" is destined to replace "Holly Jolly Christmas" as the most played holiday song.

"Last Christmas" and "All I Want for Christmas Is You" are two of the many secular holiday songs I got to play on the radio this afternoon between current top hits. But I still had the Christmas spirit no matter what song I was playing. Take a listen to my intro of the Hinder song "Lips of an Angel."