As the Christmas season approaches — sure, I know we just finished with Halloween and are still a few weeks away from Thanksgiving — one element that’s always inescapable is the music of the season, the good and bad.

Once we turn the corner past Turkey Day, we hear Christmas music all around us, which delights some and may make others wince — depending on the song and our mood at the moment.

With that in mind, we’d like to hear from readers about their preferences in holiday tunes.

So, a few questions for you to consider and respond to, and we’ll compile the results of our informal poll to include in our upcoming holiday special section.

1) What songs do you love to hear or sing the most, the ones that really make you feel the joy of the season?

Maybe it’s a traditional classic such as “O Holy Night” or something new and hip like Lady Gaga’s “Christmas Tree.” Perhaps you’re a country fan who goes for Kenny Chesney’s “All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan” or something more sentimental like Faith Hill’s “A Baby Changes Everything.”

2) How about your least favorite Christmas songs, the ones that are so sappy or so overplayed or just plain bad that you can’t push another button on your car radio fast enough? You know, like anything by Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Of course, there are some songs that could be in both categories, that are favorites for some folks but unbearable for others; maybe something like “Please, Daddy, Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas,” or “Jingle Bell Rock,” or those barking dogs (nah, nobody wants to hear them anymore, do they?)

3) And finally, what are some unique, transformative versions of traditional carols by favorite performers that you’d like to recommend?

For instance, if you’ve never heard country rocker Travis Tritt’s audacious rendition of “Silver Bells,” … well, all I can say is crank it up and shake Santa’s sleigh.

So, let us know your likes and dislikes in holiday tunes in comments on our website or on Facebook, or email them to editor@portorchardindependent.com.

Happy musical holidays,

Tim Kelly, Editor