Review by ClareEckert

In the November Network survey, students were asked to tell the Network staff what Christmas songs are their least favorite and why. Some of you may be shocked to learn that the Marian community’s overall least favorite Christmas song is “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. And coming in at a close second for Marian’s least favorite Christmas song is “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Hippo the Hero)” by Gayla Peevey. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” was ranked as their third least favorite Christmas song. It is important to note that there are hundreds of versions of the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” but the most popular version, and the one I will be reviewing, is by The Jackson 5. Now it is time to see why Crusaders dislike these songs in particular. 

Carey’s song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has become a staple of Christmas in the United States because of the annual video announcement that it is paired with. Every year since 2019, Carey releases a different video announcement on Nov. 1 that rings in the Christmas season. Carey posts a festive video on her Instagram account that showcases her singing “it’s timeeee” and launching into a rendition of “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” The annual video announcement has caused her song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” to become synonymous with the Christmas season. However, Marian does not seem too pleased with the song’s popularity. 

Junior Grace Tynan said “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is her least favorite Christmas song because she thinks it is too overplayed. Tynan said this is her only reason for not liking the song though. “If the song was not on every playlist and played constantly on Star 104.5, I would appreciate it more,” Tynan said.

Freshman Emma Sherrick said, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Hippo the Hero)” is by far her least favorite Christmas, song because she doesn’t like the voice that sings the song. Yikes, sorry Gayla Peevey! Sherrick finds Peevey’s voice to be both irritating and high-pitched.

Senior Ava Moore said “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by the Jackson 5 is her least favorite Christmas song, because she finds the concept of the song to be very weird and recalls that it always confused her as a kid. 

And now that the Marian public has spoken, it is time for the Network to listen. And by the Network, I mean me, Clare Eckert, to listen to these songs and tell you if I think they deserve the hate. I will start off strong by reviewing the number one most disliked song, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” 

The song starts off lightly with the delicate tinkling of bells. Then the song transitions into Carey’s voice softly singly accompanied by the sounds of multiple instruments such as the piano and chimes. And finally, the song launches into its familiar chorus of Carey singing “all I want for Christmas is you” I have to agree with the opinion of the Marian community. 

I like the song itself, but it is simply too overplayed. The song is very loud and has a lot going on in it, so I can see how the repetition of it being played on the radio annoys people. If I had to describe the song in one word I would have to say “overstimulating.”

In regards to “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” I will just say that this song is really something. The song starts with the playing of multiple instruments such as the clarinet, the trumpet and the double bass. Then the song transitions to 10-year-old Gayla Peevey singing that she wants a hippopotamus for Christmas. Again, I am going to have to agree with Marian and say this song is not my favorite. The singer’s voice, since she is only 10, is extremely high-pitched and not pleasant to listen to. 

Lastly, I will review “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” The song starts with the gentle tinkling of bells and Michael Jackson saying “Wow, mommy’s kissing Santa Claus!” Then the song transitions into Michael Jackson softly singing “I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus” accompanied by his brothers’ voices in the background. For this song, I am going to have to disagree with Marian. 

I find this song to be extremely pleasant and fun to listen to. Though the song may have a sort of odd message, I find it to be endearing and funny. Jackson’s exclamation that his mom is kissing Santa Claus can be confusing for young kids to understand, but adults understand that Santa is not real— hopefully, this does not come as a shock to any of you— and that the mom featured in the song is most likely kissing her husband.

Hopefully, none of your favorite Christmas songs were listed above. And if they were, I apologize and urge you to keep listening to your favorite Christmas songs whenever you want, just maybe not when you are around me.