WHAT IS THE APPEAL?

[breakinglight11]

I am never more deeply reminded of how little I understand other people as during the holiday season when people listen to albums of basic Christmas standards recorded by popular artists.

What's the appeal? Do you really get some pleasure out of insipid "Jingle Bell Rock" or whatever? Does Mariah Carey singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You" actually stir something in someone? HOW? WHAT EVEN IS THAT PERSON? AM I A SPACE ALIEN, because to me that's like, "Why don't I chew on a plastic soda bottle?" It's not going to hurt you much, but what are you getting out of it? WHAT IS THE APPEAL?

Comments

[lisefrac.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really don't get it, either. But then, I am not very musically inclined, and there is much I just don't get about how people relate to it. (Like, how do you like a song without liking the lyrics?)

[offside7.livejournal.com]

Christmas jingles are the worst part of this holiday as far as I'm concerned. For two solid months I can't avoid Jingle Bell Rock, All I Want for Christmas is You, etc. in every commercial establishment, on the radio... ugh.

[khyros.livejournal.com]

So, aside from the fact that the specific recording of a song may have enduring significance to someone, if only as a reminder of a period of time in their life, I might theorize that there is an appeal of being able to sing along and/or some kind of common ground with the artist, even if they don't choose to sing at any given moment.

[jducoeur]

Interesting question. I wonder if this is essentially a cultural touchstone -- a way for people to identify tribally on a subconscious level. In an increasingly diverse society, people pick up all sorts of things to be their myths and hymns...