The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, Melissa

In the spirit of the season, I decided to share this special Beach Boys Christmas album as a writing prompt with my students. I gifted them with this delight at the beginning of our class and had them fill out feedback as we listened. My Beach Boys Review is brought to you by the reactions of my Senior Creative writing class. I laughed VERY hard at their real-time reactions. Here are the gems from their written responses: 

"Sounds like a song that would be played in the elevator that would make everyone cry."

"Catchy, but everything is the same type of beat and pitch."

"It's mid." [which is teen-speak for totally ok] 

"Christmas Day: whys it raspy? It's so boring. 0 Christmas vibes. 'everybody helps to make the spirit rise' haha not you guys there's NO SPIRIT! WHERE'S THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT? WHY IS THERE AN ORGAN SOLO THING? WHAT?"

"It has a beachy, indie feel."

"Merry Christmas Baby: I think this is the only good one. NOPE NEVERMIND WHAT IS THIS TRASH NO THANK YOU."

"Calm, relaxing music, catchy songs, puts me in a Christmas mood. Makes me feel nostalgic about when I was little. The Beach Boys were my grandpa's favorite. I really like these songs."

"This album makes me feel nauseous."

"it sounds longing and nostalgic with a harmonic, California/surfer sound, falsetto, annoying staccato."

"SO MUCH HARMONIZING, why do you want to meet Santa? Because of his beard?"

"My mom likes the Beach Boys."

"The Man With All the Toys: Nice harmonies at the beginning, but the rest of this entire thing sounds so late 1900s and that's not a compliment" [yes, these kids refer to the days 1960s as "the 1900s". They're not wrong, but am I a million years old?]

"Groovy sound. Feels like a warm weather Christmas instead of a White Christmas."

"It feels very British despite being so American, following the typical constraints of '60s pop music—vocal harmonies, 4/4 time signature, I-vi-IV-V chord progressions. It's very cutesy and wholesome. The lyrical themes are all pretty much the same but it feels so specific to the artists and the time period, which is really notable because most Christmas albums sound exactly the same. It follows the Phil Spector Wall of Sound with thick string sections and brass in "Frosty the Snowman." My favorite was "we three kings of orient are." The harmonies blend very beautifully and feel more timeless, I liked the harp gliss. The feel reminds me of the Kinks and the Zombies. They kinda ruined "Santa Claus is comin to town" because it's so slow in the beginning and then it feels pretty lackluster afterward. The vocals were creepy during the verses. I like "auld lang syne" with the vocal harmonies." [Don't be shocked to read that this was written by a band kid. Should I ask her to join RC?]

"Some creepy dude told me Santa watches me when I sleep. I don't like their harmony at times. I don't like this. I want to go home. Please let me leave. This one is ok. This is good, we are improving. Christmas feelings are peaking. They're declining. I don't know what's going on. What is happening? I think this is ok?"

And this, all of this, is also how I feel. Great 1900s vibes, but maybe not for Christmas. Mid, at best. My Mom also likes the Beach Boys. 

Happy Holidays, friends.