Last month, we briefly explored how music and memories intertwine to shape the soundtracks of our lives – especially around holidays like Halloween. Now, as the twinkling lights begin their annual reappearance, it’s not only the weather that changes. Our playlists do, too.
As we settle into the festive season, popular music slips into a delightful time warp. Mariah Carey’s world-defroster, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Michael Bublé’s snow-globe staple, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” and Brenda Lee’s evergreen “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” are just a few of the favourites that continue to dominate radio stations, retail playlists, Billboard’s Holiday 100 List, and more.
We know why these classics return like clockwork at this time of year, every year: they speak (or sing) directly to the essence of the holiday season. Each one captures love, longing, gratitude, even loneliness – all wrapped in the unmistakable shimmer of Christmas.
But what about those songs that seem to return with each season, quietly slipping into our rotations year after year? The ones that aren’t tied to any particular holiday, yet somehow feel just as perennial?
Let’s unpack the science behind our habits, and how each season scores the calendar in its own unique way.
According to a study conducted by psychologist Terry F. Pettijohn and his research team, seasonal shifts affect more than our wardrobes. They contend that as the changing seasons give rise to different tasks, emotions, and challenges, our listening habits ebb and flow accordingly.
“In the United States in summertime, people change their patterns; children don’t have to go to school, people go on vacations, the weather is nicer, there’s more time for social interaction, people can relax and party,” Pettijohn explained, in an interview with Daisy Jones of Vice Magazine.
“And so, the music that gives them the opportunity to incorporate that into their lives is going to be energetic, rhythmic and upbeat music compared to the more reflective, complex things you’d prefer in winter, when you might not be as sociable.”
Ultimately, Pettijohn posits that when the environment feels “threatening” (less daylight, colder weather, more isolation, etc.), we gravitate toward music that is meaningful, slower, and reflective. When conditions feel more relaxed or “safe” (warm weather, more daylight, social freedom) we lean toward music that is lively, rhythmic, and less introspective.
We dove into some of the songs that seem to cycle, and analyzed their lyrics to determine how Pettijohn’s findings might explain their seasonal popularity:
🌹 Spring: Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On” channels the breezy optimism of rebirth, opening with a nod to Bob Marley and the Wailers. The lyrics’ carefree messages of relaxation, awakening, and release speak to spring’s themes, and pay homage to the patron saint of letting it go.
🌞 Summer: “Here Comes The Sun” arrived at the height of a tense run within The Beatles’ business meetings. The song was written by George Harrison, who was intentionally playing hooky in Eric Clapton’s garden on a sunny day. The real life context behind the song’s lyrics makes its association with warm, sunny weather and feelings of youth undeniable.
🍂 Autumn: Carole King’s “Where You Lead” initially spoke to themes of a romantic rendezvous, but its evolved interpretation became a powerful anthem stemming from the television show, Gilmore Girls. Tweaked by the song’s original co-writer, Toni Stern, and re-recorded in a duet with her daughter, Louise Goffin, the lyrics now embody an empowering bond that transcends distance and time. “Where You Lead I Will Follow” has since become a cultural staple during the autumnal season, with ties to community, friendship, and transitional periods.
☃️ Winter: Billie Holiday’s “Solitude” distills loneliness into lyrical poetry. It’s not just personal grief she’s singing about, but the universal ache of memory and isolation. The lyrics strike a delicate balance between connection and companionship; between vulnerability and strength -- feelings as familiar as a quiet winter night.
Beyond the Christmas classics and Halloween favourites, science proves that our playlists transform with the seasons, reflecting our emotional shifts as daylight hours, weather patterns, and general moods change throughout the year.
Recurring songs are more than just familiar sounds. Each replay pulls us back to who and where we were the last time they were played; the friends we sang with, the roads we drove, and the moments we didn’t know would matter. Those same songs fill new rooms and new years, weaving themselves into fresh memories and marking our milestones.
Now, you’re officially all caught up with LyricFind Out Loud! Don’t miss out on next month’s final post of the year!
Catch us in December,
The LyricFind Team