Christmas Carol Remakes: What's the Point?
Becky Clevenger
Issue date: 12/9/09 Section: Music
A long standing tradition of the holidays is Christmas Carols. The radio station 95.1 FM, has been playing Christmas carols all day, every day, even before Thanksgiving. They play the classics, the new versions, and everything in between. But what's the point of remaking Christmas carols, especially when Frostburg students and professors say they prefer the classics?
Some of the best known Christmas carols are songs such as "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," "Do You Hear What I Hear?" "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing," and "White Christmas." The song "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing" was composed by Dr. William Cummings after he combined the music from Felix Mendelssohn and the words of Charles Wesley.
It was first sung by church choirs in England beginning in the 17th century. Now you can hear Mariah Carey singing the same song on the radio.
A lot of people enjoy "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing" and similar choral music in its original setting, church. This is likely due to the fact that singing a Christmas carol in church can remind us why we have Christmas carols in the first place.
We understand the history better in the words, and we feel the joy in the music. Not to put down Mariah Carey, but when one person sings choral music and it is then played constantly over the radio, some of those good emotions we experience are lost.
People dislike the remakes of classic Christmas tunes for other various reasons as well. Jessica Sage, student at Frostburg State University, prefers the original songs. "I don't like how the remakes change the classics," she said.
Sidni Giordano, who celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, believes that the remakes don't sound as good as the classics. "I hate the Mariah Carey Christmas song. I want to rip my ears off every time I hear it!" she said.
The classics are loved by many, due to the bonds and traditions we have with them. Professor Joanne Budzien enjoys singing along with her music and does not care for the remakes, because "things are supposed to be the way things are supposed to be."
Some of the best known Christmas carols are songs such as "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," "Do You Hear What I Hear?" "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing," and "White Christmas." The song "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing" was composed by Dr. William Cummings after he combined the music from Felix Mendelssohn and the words of Charles Wesley.
It was first sung by church choirs in England beginning in the 17th century. Now you can hear Mariah Carey singing the same song on the radio.
A lot of people enjoy "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing" and similar choral music in its original setting, church. This is likely due to the fact that singing a Christmas carol in church can remind us why we have Christmas carols in the first place.
We understand the history better in the words, and we feel the joy in the music. Not to put down Mariah Carey, but when one person sings choral music and it is then played constantly over the radio, some of those good emotions we experience are lost.
People dislike the remakes of classic Christmas tunes for other various reasons as well. Jessica Sage, student at Frostburg State University, prefers the original songs. "I don't like how the remakes change the classics," she said.
Sidni Giordano, who celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, believes that the remakes don't sound as good as the classics. "I hate the Mariah Carey Christmas song. I want to rip my ears off every time I hear it!" she said.
The classics are loved by many, due to the bonds and traditions we have with them. Professor Joanne Budzien enjoys singing along with her music and does not care for the remakes, because "things are supposed to be the way things are supposed to be."
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