Winter is coming, and even though Pasadena may not have snow-dusted streets, music can provide us with the holiday spirit. For me, nothing embodies the season more than winter tunes. And the moment November arrives, my holiday playlist is on repeat 24/7.
This year, the festive fall weather makes me want to listen to jazz. Jazz singer-songwriter Laufey’s cover of “Santa Baby,” released earlier this month, instantly became my favorite. Her rich vocals pair perfectly with cool evenings. But jazz isn’t the only genre that sets the tone for the season: classical music also captures the holiday spirit. “Carol of the Bells” has been my favorite classical Christmas piece since I was a young child. Yet no good winter playlist is finished without that dash of fun. I just know I’ll be constantly listening to Sabrina Carpenter’s 2023 EP “Fruitcake” on repeat this holiday season!
November marks the beginning of the two-month period where no one can escape Mariah Carey’s hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” with her annual defrosting video signaling the exponential rise in streams. Alongside this iconic hit, classics like The Jackson 5’s “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” constantly play on the radio. “Silent Night” by The Temptations is another one of my favorites that sparks holiday joy.
So, what are Poly students listening to this winter? We took a poll to find out!
Most Poly students share the same taste when it comes to Christmas tunes. Unsurprisingly, the top two songs were “All I Want for Christmas is You” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” While Carey was expected, I was pleasantly surprised by how many people took a liking to Bublé’s version of the iconic Christmas carol. Many Poly students mentioned songs featured in the “Peanuts” series, with classic songs like “Linus and Lucy.” On the more contemporary side, songs like “November” by Tyler, The Creator and “Sweater Weather” by The Neighborhood were also mentioned several times.
So, if you need some holiday cheer, scan the QR code to view the Life Section’s Winter Playlist. All the songs mentioned in this article are included, and ones submitted to the form will be added. If you want to add any songs, you can make another response to the form or email me at nrobert28@students.polytechnic.org. Love it or hate it, holiday music is here to stay — so grab a hot cocoa, belt out those tunes and enjoy the season… before the playlist switches to New Year’s resolutions!
