Christmas Delilah

I’m not sure how many of you out there are familiar with Delilah, the syndicated radio hostess who runs a romantically themed call-in show, but I personally think that her show is ridiculous, and I do not listen to it.  At least, I don’t listen to it during 11 months of the year.

During those eleven months, Delilah will take calls from people who have just had a break-up, or just got engaged, or are missing their special somebody-or-other, and she gets their stories and then picks out a song for them to listen to.  These songs are always sappy, overly romantic, and generally not my cup of tea.  If you enjoy listening to Delilah, then look, I have no problem with that.  I just don’t like it myself.  At least, I don’t like it until Christmas time.

For the Christmas season, Delilah updates the music on her show to all Christmas songs, all the time.  I like Christmas songs, so this is already an improvement to me, but the best part of all of this, is that the format of the show remains the same.  So what happens is, somebody calls in because their boyfriend is overseas in the military and they miss him, and they want to tell Delilah about it.  Delilah listens very thoughtfully, says some nice things, and then says “I’m going to play a special song for you and your man tonight, and I know that wherever he is, he can feel the love you’re sending his way right now.”  And then she will play “Frosty the Snowman.”

I’m not saying that all of her song choices are inappropriate, but there are only so many lovey-dovey holiday songs out there, so sure, when the first couple of the night calls in and says that they are all snuggled up together and loving each other up, Delilah can put on “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” but by the time the show has been on for a few hours, and she has used up “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” and when some lovesick person calls in crying because this is their first Christmas alone after a horrible break-up, Delilah has no choice but to put on “Sleigh Ride.”

I love listening to Delilah at Christmastime.  I love the way she lets her listeners ramble on about stuff.  Just last night I was listening on the way home from work, and some girl called in and said (I swear) “I just want to say Merry Christmas to all your listeners out there, and to let them know, that rich or poor, even if they have no roof over their heads, that I hope they had a great year, and they know what this season is all about.  Even if they have no presents, the true presents are in their hearts and they can still get together with loved ones this holiday season.”  I think she rambled a bit more than that, but all I could picture was some poor guy in a cardboard box, somehow listening to the radio, with no loved ones to visit, and thinking what a great year he did not have, as he is now living in a cardboard box.  Although I guess he might be grateful that his deluxe box has a radio in it.

So I will continue to listen to Delilah make awkward dedications.  I will continue to listen to her callers say ridiculous things on the air.  And I will continue to listen to the wonderful music that she plays.  At least until December 26th.