I enjoyed working at smooth jazz/soft vocals station KNJZ in the '90s, but one small regret is that I hardly got to play any Christmas music on the air. Seasonal music was mixed into the playlist on all shifts except overnights. One weekend in 1994, I got to work a slightly later shift, but even then, the only Christmas tune I got to play was Sting's version of "Gabriel's Message."
As much as I wanted to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, I couldn't really do that. A carol as solemn and downcast as "Gabriel's Message" demands a subtle introduction and back announcing. A manic announcement of "Season's Greetings!!!!" is out of place before or after it.
