Indelible Christmas Songs

In November of 1991, about a month before I got married, I started working a seasonal job at Toys R Us in Hull, England. I had graduated with my Theology degree back in July, but had been unable to secure employment. (Yes, back then the job market was tough for graduates with little or no work experience.) I had worked a month the previous year in the warehouse, and I daresay that helped them decide to hire me. This was the only job offer on the table, so I took it. I donned the distinctive orange-and-white striped jacket and took my place in what was then the “300s” section. I’m sure they’ve re-orged a million times over the last 20 years, but back then, this was the section that sold toys for older children: action figures, dinosaurs, and the like.

I have two indelible memories of my time at Toys R Us. One is of when I met Colin Baker (as in the Sixth Doctor), who was in town looking for a farm set for a nephew, I believe. I’m not sure if this happened in 1990 or 1991–nevertheless, Doctor Who fans don’t easily forget when the Doctor comes striding over asking where the farm sets are. I will blog more about this experience another time.

The other memory, most definitely from 1991, is of the Christmas music they played throughout the store for six of the eight weeks I was there. Because I heard this music five days a week for six weeks, looped over and over again, some of the songs are now forever associated with my time at Toys R Us. Indeed, when they come on the radio, I can’t help but be transported back in time to the 300s section, straightening displays, and telling customers for the ten thousandth time that the WWF Wrestling Rings have sold out and we’ll be getting more in as soon as possible.

I thought it might be fun to share with you the songs I remember best from that loop. Now, because a song made it to this list, all that means is that I remember it distinctly from the Toys R Us music loop. It is not a reflection of my opinion of the song. Why these stood out more than the others, I have no idea. But here they are for your festive enjoyment. (For the sake of space, I’m just linking to the YouTube pages as opposed to embedding the YouTube clip.)

• Elton John-Step into Christmas
• David Gates-Come Home for Christmas
• Bruce Springsteen-Santa Claus is Coming to Town
• Stevie Wonder-Someday at Christmas
• The Beach Boys-The Little Saint Nick
• Queen-Thank God It’s Christmas
• Stevie Nicks-Silent Night
• Whitney Houston-Do You Hear What I Hear?
• This Christmas (This is the Donny Hathaway version, but I’m fairly certain this isn’t the version on the loop. The version on the loop was close to this in tempo and arrangement, but a more modern production. If anyone wants to try hunting that version down, it would have to have been made prior to November 1991.)

There were many other songs on the loop (including White Christmas and The Christmas Song), but these are ones I associate with the Toys R Us loop whenever I hear them. Are there any Christmas songs that, for one reason or another, have become indelibly connected in your mind with a particular event or period in your life?