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The official Christmas FM thread

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Comments

  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 27,661 Mod ✭✭✭✭Posy


    I'm listening on the FM frequency, so I've got Classic Hits 80's on now, which is on a 30 day temporary licence like XMAS.

    I'm loving it! It's a great station. 😁 😁



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    I am indeed. Every day. Right up to the end. Love ChristmasFM



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,606 ✭✭✭✭odyssey06


    Me too. They should really throw in a few 80s christmas tunes into their mix for this week :)

    "To follow knowledge like a sinking star..." (Tennyson's Ulysses)



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    I really wished the ChristmasFM top 40 show was available to playback during the off air season.



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30




  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    I’m at the stage now with ChristmasFM where all the songs take on extra meaning as I know I only have a couple of days of listening left for this season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,571 ✭✭✭Heroditas


    It's only for 30 days? Noooooo! I thought it was a brand new permanent station. Ah well, it'll help get me through the misery of January.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    Have decided I'll be listening to my Christmas playlist on my ipod on the flight home as feel like I've missed out on so much this year. I normally wouldn't play it after NYD but need to close out the season somehow and reckon I need to listen to the playlist in full at least once. It's a long flight so I'm not stuck for time

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    I will keep listening to Christmas music until Jan 6th as normal and seeing on how dark/cold January is it might extend a bit into the Jan.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    January is my podcast catch up time, I've 3 or 4 can't wait for Christmas episodes and 3 merry britsmas ones to catch up on.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc




  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    Last full day of ChristmasFM with DJs until late November. Be sorry to hear the DJs go.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    Feels like I missed out on so much of Christmas FM this year. Will be dropping into classical and carols again in the new year but feel like I missed out on the main show.

    Will make the run up to 28/11/23 even more anticipated 😀

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    Have it on in the background while get party food ready for later. Probably wouldn’t tune in as much once they go.



  • Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭ClaudeVercetti


    Ah the presenters are such a comfort, I'm having a quiet NYE due to catching the flu but I'm happy out listening to the last of it with a couple of hot toddies brewing!

    They really do bring it to life. I dip in during the year if I'm down in the dumps but you can't beat the presenters.



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  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    Yeah completely agree. I often dip in and out of season mostly Jan/Feb/Oct time and without presenters I usually switch off after 10 mins. I feel like if I want to listen to a playlist I can listen to my own playlists.

    I love the ChristmasFM jingles tho. Brings you right back into the season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    The jingles give me tingles... so good at bringing uou right back into the season for moment.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    Final song for online was fairytale of New York.



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    And that’s it for another 11months. :(



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    Had it playing this morning while feeding the little man his breakfast and the playlist was on fire!

    it got me thinking the playlist this year was very good. It started slow in November in particular before the FM launch but once it went live on FM I felt the playlist was much more varied than previous years.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    Heard the songs I dislike a lot less this year, but didn't hear a lot of others I do like, but agree that the playlist had a decent variety this year. No song played too much ( though frosty the Snowman came close) which has been a staple the last few years.

    As I said previously I'll be looking forward to its return in 11 months and will be dipping in and out of classical throughout the year.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    Would be great to get some inside info, how they pick the playlists, add new songs etc.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,571 ✭✭✭Heroditas


    My father in law was saying the other day that he had been looking for a song from when he was younger but couldn't find it on CD anywhere. He was delighted when i found it on Spotify and played it for him. I've listed to it once or twice since then and it's lovely!

    The song is Mary had a Baby by Mary Hopkin.

    Worth a listen!

    Post edited by Heroditas on


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    I always think this. I do think the behind the scenes/run up to launch for ChristmasFM would make a great documentary or podcast that could release weekly on Oct/Nov before launch.

    I did email them this idea a few years ago but Alais nothing came from it.



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    A reggae version of jingle bells was played at breakfast this morning, had never heard it before and must look it up after we get back.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    Yeah was decent. If I find it I'll stick it up here forbyou all to have a listen.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    Cool. I can close my eyes and imagine I'm sitting on a beach with a cocktail in hand 😁



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    So my fears on the multi charity route were unfounded. I think it worked well and ChristmasFM really delivered well on it.



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  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    What will be weird is there’ll be no charity announcement for the next couple of years anyway.

    I do hope we hear from ChristmasFM socials more this year even if it’s to post a meme or two.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    Yeah, they were very quiet this year right up until the charity partner announcement. I appreciate there's not much to post about throughout the year but previously they've had the odd post or email, this year was the quietest I can remember.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    Great that they're so close. Suspect they'll reach it before revealing the final total.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    Yep, I'd say it's a subtle marketing ploy to get them over the line.



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    If they come back for one day I’ll personally will donate an additional €100.



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    So I may have dipped into ChristmasFM 3 times on Sunday just gone, with the tree down I needed a much needed festive boost. I listened in at 8am, 1pm and 7.30pm. While the playlist was good I did noticed maybe it was purely coincidence that the playlist played the same songs at 8am and 1pm. Maybe it's on a 5 hour loop.



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    Would make sense with no presenters or public to pick different songs.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    I know classical & carols is probably the same, it does change throughout the year but you tend to hear the same songs at the same times (give or take) every day, I notice it because I tend to listen in at the same times/days across a period of time around scheduled work meetings.

    Am WFH this morning so may give it a wee listen actually.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    Just got an email from them and seems they have raised nearly €300k.

    How does that compare to previous years?

    Post edited by TRS30 on


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  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    2021 - €331,515

    2020 - €284,000

    2019 - €412,000

    2018 - €400,000

    2017 - €214,000

    2016 - €365,000

    2015 - €278,000

    2014 - €107,000

    2013 - €85,000

    2012 - €100,000

    2011 - €117,000

    2010 - €86,000

    2009 - €70,000

    2008 - €35,000



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    So €300k in retrospect isn’t bad. I do think the magic of Christmas and the lack of one defined charity might put people off and the cost of living crisis might make people less charitable.



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    100%, the cost of living I would say definitely had an impact. Be interesting to see if next year, if things are better on that front if the multi charity thing works or not.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    I'd say the cost of living increase had a huge impact on the total. Myself & the Mrs only commented that many people have said to us outright that they were struggling financially this winter. Our own outgoings have increased by c.400 euro per month, thankfully we can absorb the increases (begrudgingly mind) but I have no doubts that there are many many more who couldn't and given that scenario theres less cash to go around for charities. On that basis 300k is a great return IMO.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    Agree, unfortunately charities are going to suffer when people start to feel the pinch and cut back on discretionary spending. We would be similar to yourself, can afford the increases however it has made us cut back on other things. Food especially has become very expensive. It is easily our biggest outgoing after the mortgage and childcare.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    Absolutely.

    Our weekly grocery shop has easily increased by 50% in the last few months. And its easily our biggest monthly expense, even higher than the mortgage.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




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  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    So ChristmasFM is always a gold mine for finding new songs to add to your Christmas playlist did anyone find any new songs to add to your list you were familiar of before?

    I added these ones.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,555 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    Didn't change my playlist at all this year, truth be told I only tried listening to it once and didn't even get half way through.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens




  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30


    To be honest, don’t have a Christmas playlist. I love the uncertainty of Christmas FM, it’s like rolling a dice and hoping your song comes up!



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,014 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    All fun and games until Christmas shoes gets played 😂



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,865 ✭✭✭TRS30




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