Perhaps the best way to know the holiday season has officially arrived would be hearing the usual pop, rap, and hip-hop music switch to the festive music and vocals of Mariah Carey playing repeatedly. Although the holiday season can look different from household to household, the warm feeling that holiday music provides and creates a shared experience. According to a survey of AFHS students about which songs puts them in the festive spirit, AFHS’s student body has extraordinary taste in holiday hits.
Many students referenced unique ballads. Max Fernandez (10) notes that his favorite holiday song is “El Burrito Sabanero,” a Spanish-language song depicting the story about Jesus’ journey to Bethlehem. Morgan Straight (10) listed “Dominick the Donkey,” a Christmas song wrapped with humor, while Aiden Renzi chose a “Hevenu Shalom Aleichem,” a Jewish song about peace. Unsurprisingly, the wide range of students represented an equally wide selection of holiday songs.
Other students mentioned songs from the classic Christmas movie, The Polar Express, as their number one. The second most popular song among AFHS students appears to be none other than “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey. Denoted as one of the most iconic songs of the holiday season, Carey has dominated the charts year after year. According to TIME, the festive song has remained popular because of its catchy harmony, decked with an upbeat tempo and tune.
Last, but certainly not least, “Jingle Bells” joins the scoreboard. On top of being a beloved carol, the song has an interesting history. The Washington Post notes “Jingle Bells” had originally been deemed as a Thanksgiving song, titled “One Horse Open Sleigh.” Not only that, “Jingle Bells” became the first song to be sung in space, as astronauts Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford performed the tune using actual jingle bells.
From outlandish songs to the biggest hits, the collection of songs AFHS students chose would make a fantastic holiday playlist. The gift of music during this holiday season will surely turn family grinches into people with holiday cheer.
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