Polls Tell Us “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” Is The Worst Holiday Song, But Social Media Names This Not-Quite-“Wonderful” Tune
We looked at over 15,597 online messages to understand which holiday songs bring out the “worst” in Americans.
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BIG TAKEAWAY: Americans mention Sir Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” online as the “worst” holiday song more than any other.
13% of Americans who mention the “worst” holiday song name “Wonderful Christmastime.”
“Christmas Shoes” is in 2nd place, mentioned by 7.3% of Americans discussing the worst holiday songs.
Men are particularly irritated by Springsteen’s “Santa Claus Is Coming…” while women like to single out John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas.”
Every few years, a poll will emerge ranking the least-favorite holiday songs in America, causing anxious party planners to update their party playlists quicker than you can say “Jack Skellington.”
Here’s a finding from a 2020 YouGov poll of Americans’ best- and least-loved holiday songs:
About one in six (17%) say the Christmas song they dislike the most is “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” while 15% say they most dislike the 1953 tune “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” In third place is “Santa Baby,” with 8%, followed by “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (6%) and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (5%).
But if you just rely on the polls to set your soundtrack, you might end up killing the party vibe with an entirely different set of Yuletide classic clunkers, which many Americans find as unwelcome as a fat lump of coal in a Christmas stocking.
When Americans mention the “worst” holiday songs online, the clear frontrunner is “Wonderful Christmastime,” with 13% of mentions singling out Sir Paul McCartney’s contribution to the holiday canon.
In second place is “Christmas Shoes,” first released by Christian vocal group NewSong in 2000:
“Little Drummer Boy” and “Santa Baby” are neck-and-neck for 3rd and 4th:
Bottom line: The holidays can be irritating. Holiday music shouldn’t be. Steer clear of the “worst” tunes to keep those ladies dancin’ and lords a-leapin’.
Polls also tell us people celebrate other holidays. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Main Street One!
