The hits of Christmas 2019

I just realized something that I initially failed to notice but had already been staring me in the face these past few years.  Christmas records are no longer being taken out of the display shelves in the stores when January comes around.  Those of us looking for Christmas music during summer no longer have to wait anymore for September. That was the time in the old days when Christmas records were brought out of storage in anticipation of the shopping spree during the holiday season. 

That is not the case anymore. Since record sales have gone mostly digital, we can now stream or download any music we want at any time. And that means we can buy Christmas sounds even if it is only April or May. Not that we would, Christmas is usually far from our thoughts during those times. I just got to thinking about this because this technological development has greatly changed the buying habits of music lovers. They buy what they want and not what the record labels or radio DJs say they should. And when it comes to Christmas music where nostalgia is a very strong factor, buyers are prone to listening and purchasing the oldies.

Just take a look at the biggest hits of last year’s Christmas celebration hereabouts. The song most heard everywhere is Jose Mari Chan’s Christmas in our Hearts. It is 30 years old but shows no sign of fading. In fact, from the way our ears had been inundated by the tune these past Christmases, it is now a sure thing that the Pinoy Yuletide celebration will never be complete without Christmas in our Hearts.

Then there is the nearly 80-year-old Payapang Daigdig. It was composed by National Artist Felipe de Leon with lyrics by Eduardo de Leon and Brigido Batungbakal. It is a sweet carol that is considered the Filipino Silent Night. Last Christmas, it was used in the Jollibee commercial and was played again and again in all Jollibee outlets, on TV and radio and the Net. Payapang Daigdig was also used to great tear-drenching effect in the huge box-office hit of the Christmas Season, Miracle in Cell No. 7 which was produced by Viva Films and which stars Aga Muhlach. Moviegoers left theaters teary-eyed and red-nosed with the song playing in their heads. 

And of course, there was also no escaping All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey last year. The recording is now 25 years old but every Christmas party around town had it playing and everybody was dancing merrily to the perky tune. Kids learned it for their school Christmas programs. Lolos and Lolas swayed to it. And that is not just around here. All I Want for Christmas is a global big seller. It is Mariah’s 19th No. 1 hit and it is still No. 1  in Billboard’s Hot 100 list this month. 

There is really no beating the old songs when Christmas comes around. Take a look at what the freedom to buy what the people want has done to the US charts. It is filled with names like Crosby and Sinatra and Como and Nat King Cole and many more.

Here are the Top 20 songs in the Hot 100: All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey; Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee; Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms; Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives; It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams; The Chipmunks Song by David Seville and the Chipmunks; Last Christmas by Wham!; Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano; Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Dean Martin;  The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) by Nat King Cole.

Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes; Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry; Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season by Andy Williams; It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres and his Orchestra; Christmas Baby, Please Come Home by Darlene Love; Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson; Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry; Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry; There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays by Perry Como; and Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley.