What makes a song Christmasy?
A few years ago, someone wrote an article arguing it was a mi7(b5) that made a song Christmasy. That’s just silly.
Sure, there has to be a lyrical connection to Christmas…but I admit there are some Swedish-language songs that feel very Christmasy to me, even though I have no real idea what they’re about. Something about pigs?
And that, to me, is what makes a song Christmasy. It’s mainlining nostalgia. Great Christmas songs were nostalgic even when new (“White Christmas” – “just like the ones I used to know”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – “Here we are, as in olden days”) and any song, imbued with enough nostalgic seasonality, can feel Christmasy. Do you associate Wham! with Christmas? Then yes, “Last Christmas” is a Christmasy song. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” must be Christmasy to the vast majority of Christmas music listeners.
Nostalgia. That’s the secret ingredient.