Classic Christmas music is nostalgic for many people and gives all generations cheer and holiday spirit every year. However, in recent decades, many artists have released their own original Christmas music. In general, modern music is seen as better than ancient music because songwriting has improved over the years; I find it hard to believe that anyone can argue that pop or rap music hasn’t gotten better as artists have taken inspiration from the past to create something beautiful. The same thing has happened with Christmas music. Modern artists have taken classic songs that resonate with audiences and brought them to a new level with their creativity and contemporary spin. Because of the improvement of music and increasing relatability, modern Christmas music is superior to classic Christmas music.
If you were to ask someone what their favorite Christmas song is, at least seven times out of ten they would say “Last Christmas” by Wham. This modern classic is a masterpiece of holiday tunes that cannot be beaten. Although it is not Christmas-specific, I think its catchiness and constant ability to be replayed make it a perfect Christmas song and my personal favorite. It is a beautiful story song that transcends generations and beats any classical Christmas song.
Other modern Christmas songs that beat out the classics include “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by NSYNC, “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses, “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey, “Mistletoe” by Justin Beiber, and many more. These songs play in my head constantly during this season and are Christmas songs I could listen to all year round. In these songs, there are music and beats that take inspiration from older music but have new lyrics and spins that make them unique and special.
Modern remakes of Christmas classics are also superior to their ancient predecessors. Frankly, old songs give me the heebie-jeebies. I love being able to experience nostalgic songs without being uncomfortable, even if they are vastly inferior to more recent hits. For example, Michael Bublé’s discography plays in my house one thousand times more often than Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters for songs like “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” There’s just something menacing and creepy about a song recorded a million years ago, and I avoid them if I can. Modern remakes make that possible.
My love for modern Christmas music does come with one critique. Old Christmas music tends to center around the holiday and the spirit that comes with it, while modern Christmas music tends to be love songs disguised as Christmas songs. “Mistletoe,” “Santa Tell Me,” “Last Christmas,” “Christmas Wrapping,” and “All I Want for Christmas is You,” are all songs I love, but they are all about love. While I see this as something that could be critiqued, these songs are still great. You can thoroughly enjoy a song while admitting that it is not perfect.
Although classic Christmas songs have a special place in my heart, modern songs trump them every time. These modern hits have taken inspiration from older songs and created something truly special that connects with all generations. Modern songs might not be without faults, but they are the strongest earworms of the season that have brought the holiday season to a whole new level.