The Worst Christmas Song Ever

I love Christmas. I especially love playing Christmas radio stations while decorating a tree or baking cookies, and I love to sing along at the top of my lungs (as long as I am the only person home).


Christmas music is the best kind. It can make you feel peaceful and happy or excited and energized, or even both at the same time. From the beautiful "Messiah" by Handel, to the dance-inducing "Jingle-Bell Rock," all Christmas music has a special place in my heart. I can even stand to listen to "Last Christmas (I Gave You My Heart)" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" a few times without going crazy.


But there is one song that I simply cannot stand: "Christmas Shoes."

Sure, I get that it is supposed to sad that the boy's mom is dying and sweet that he wants to do something nice for her before she passes, but that is where the good things end.


Here are the reasons why I hate this song:


1. This song tries too hard. The combination of cheesy lyrics, sappy instrumentals, and children singing softly at the end are all evidences that this song is supposed to make you cry and feel the Christmas Spirit. But a good song achieves this subtly instead of smashing you over the head with sappy-ness.


2. The story makes no sense. This kid wants to get his mom some shoes because he believes it will make her happy. But do you know what would really make her happy? If she could spend some time with her son before she dies! Isn't it obvious that some shoes are not going to mean much to her right now? Besides, the song made it clear that this family is very poor. What mother would want her son to go blow a bunch of money on some shoes for her when it could be spent  putting food on the table so that the rest of her family can live? This mother must be extremely obsessed with shoes for her son to think that getting a nice pair of shoes before she dies is that important to her. Perhaps she maxed out all her credit cards buying hundreds of shoes and that is why the family is so poor. If that is the case, then that truly is sad. But why make a Christmas song about a dying, mentally ill woman?


3. Christmas music should not be depressing. Christmas music should be either cheerful, reverent, or beautiful. It should never be depressing, and certainly not cheesy and depressing at the same time.