Using different songs between christmas and new years - VENDOR - Light-O-Rama Odds and Ends. Read Only. No more posting. - PlanetChristmas! Forums. Read Only. We've moved to http://talk.planetchristmas.com - The Forums of PlanetChristmas have moved to http://talk.PlanetChristmas.com
I dont know if this is a good idea or not. But do you think you could play more "rocker songs" after christmas. I mean songs that arnt about christmas, songs that have a fast good beat that everybody will know.
There seem to be two schools of thought about this.
1 - design a show for your audience: By anticipating everybody in your community likes and dislikes, you can come up with a great show. It will have WIW by TSO, perhaps a couple of other TSO songs and maybe a few by Mannheim Steamroller. You are not allowed to have "funny" songs that mention body functions or create off humor.
These are good shows and if you like to not make waves, this is a great approach. If you are in this group, then you can not have non-Christmas songs.
2. This is the group I belong to: Play what you like. If you like "Yellow Snow" then do so. If you want to have a rockin non-Christmas song, then do it.
My opinion follows: If you are going to take the time to program a song, layout a display, then do whatever your heart guides. Just make sure you will not get arrested by having small children watch it.
Bottom line: If you want to throw a non-Christmas, but rocking song in there, you may raise eyebrows from those that disagree with you. However, as long as you and your family like a song, then do it!
I think it's fine to use non-Christmasy songs after Christmas. I just do one show, have it run all season, and don't change much (other than scaling it back if necessary during the busy season right before Christmas, and maybe adding more "don't be a jerk"-type promos between songs to keep things under control.
For us, after Christmas, the traffic really drops. There's still plenty-enough cars to warrent keeping the lights on during that week, but not enough for me to justify putting in all the effort to change up the show for a small fraction of my "audience"...
-Tim
Last edited on Sunday April 6th, 2008 09:43 pm by tfischer
I've considered doing a New Years show the week between. Songs like "What are you doing New Years Eve"; a mix of popular party songs: some big band music, and of course "Auld Lang Syne".
IMO If you have several songs it's ok to use non Christams songs even before Christmas. It's your display there are no rules or regulations. It's done for fun for everyone. So mix it up and have fun with it. There are a lot of people who keep their displays purely Christmas and that's great. I personally love mixing things up and having fun with it.
I had a special request for Soulja Boy. I synchronized it but I didn't put it in my show. I only played if someone asked me. (Mostly kids from my school.)
I wish LOR had something that would allow you to select sequences remotely. You could put it near the street and it would allow people to select their own sequences!
I tell people it is a "Holiday Light Show" as long as people enjoy it, play whatever makes you happy.
Much to my surprise one of songs that got the most reaction (even more than WIW) was "Funky Town" I did to shut my buddy up. (He kept razzing me about doing a "Disco" song) Anyway, I put it in the show when he came over and there was about 6 other cars watching. It was a riot! Since I didn't really plan to leave it in I removed it from the playlist. The next night I had a couple of people ask when it was going to play.
IMHO, rock is fine and I agree with others ... that its really up to you.
I think some of my neighbors (esp. those of similar age) will definately dig the rock tunes I selected. Yeah, they are 80's rock tunes that anyone would be familier with.
I cut them all down to around 1min 30sec. I'm definately going for a lot of songs, but only a couple are full length ... i.e. Wizards.
Since I live in 'Castle Rock' -- I contemplated lots of various names and concluded they were all dorky to some degree ... so decided to theme my 2008 show as
Castle Rock'in Christmas
So another excuse to include some rock, right?
75-80% of the songs will be Christmas 'oriented' Songs, but most are what I would call dance versions and I'm going for more unusual song selections (undiscovered gems?). I've been letting my girls tell me what they like and what they don't. And then injecting a few 'must have' rocker tunes into the mix for myself. I e ven picked a traditional christmas song from Germany that isn't even in english. But my daughter can't get enough of it, nor can I.
We saw a simple show last year in Arvada, CO which was just a single song show: 'Welcome to the Jungle - by guns and roses' ... and ever since, my 8 year old daughter loves that song! She's still disappointed I won't be doing it. So based on my kids reaction, they liked the rock tunes as well. I just want the overall impression to be that of Christmas, not rock. So for me, that just means I don't light up the Nativity scene during the rock tunes.
I included a couple slightly more religous songs by 'go fish' that I just believed in and loved: 'Christmas with a capital C' ... and 'Christmas Time'. Christmas Time might be my slowest tune in the entire lineup. My only apprehension with the 'capital C' tune is the slightly controversial nature of it (its making a statement, that I happen to agree with). But it does mention the "H" word (once) that rhymes with bell and might be more controversal than I previously thought ... see this thread: http://nocookiesforme.blogspot.com/2007/12/go-fish-its-called-shut-up-with-capital.html
As a former rocker (not pro) and still in a rock band on occassion, I had to include a couple of rock tunes ... and decided to open the show with a rock song and will have at least one other in the line up. I have to say these were a blast to sequence! I will probably end the show with Wizards in Winter, just based on most members here saying its typically a fan favorite.
I imagine some may say that non-religous songs are inappropriate ... but its really up to you to picks songs you like, IMHO.
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of disco. I have not heard anyone mention this song before but this is a GREAT CROWD PLEASER, easy to sync, lots of big flash time and it will put a little humor in your show. Find it on Amazon music downloads. Disco Santa by Holiday Express.
Find it on Amazon music downloads. Disco Santa by Holiday Express. 
