Music

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Is Having a Big Month

by Meaghan Kirby
Dec 23 2019 • 2:47 PM

It’s been 25 years since Mariah Carey delivered the defining holiday anthem “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” And the song is only growing more iconic with time. While Carey’s 1994 album Merry Christmas has become something of a holiday staple, its breakout track immediately transcended beyond its class of original holiday songs, now sitting comfortably among the classics. This year, the song not only celebrated a milestone anniversary, it also brought another remarkable feat, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for the very first time. To celebrate the milestone year, the elusive chanteuse released a special Make My Wish Come True Edition edition of “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

In the music video, which may as well double as a cozy J. Crew ad, a young girl is entranced by a holiday store display featuring Carey and a host of festive friends. Opening a magical door in the case, the girl finds herself in a winter wonderland, full of the holiday energy and spirit only the Queen of Christmas can bring. Carey’s kids Moroccan and Monroe also make a cameo in the music video, bursting out of a giant present and dancing along to their mom’s hit.

Like legendary singer herself, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is the gift that keeps on giving. The celebration of the holiday classic didn’t stop with one brand new music video. Carey’s many, many famous friends joined in on the festivities, releasing a lip sync video of their own.

Kicked off by Tyler Perry, the star-studded video includes appearances from more than five dozen celebrities, including Ryan Reynolds, Snoop Dogg, Chance the Rapper, Ariana Grande, Daniel Levy, Kerry Washington, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Millie Bobby Brown, as well as Carey’s ex-husband Nick Cannon (alongside Da Brat) and their children.

December is usually a big month for Carey’s 19th number one single, but this year it’s bigger than ever. Yet another new rendition of the song is currently making its way around the internet. This version sees the song mashed up with another ’90s classic—one with a decidedly different vibe. Christmas music is often a divisive entity, with so many good, yet so many more terrible renditions out there. But YouTuber William Maranci managed to find the balance, combining the bright energy of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” backing music with the melancholy tone of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

The mashup is the perfect combination of festive and dour—fun for the whole family. In the video’s description, Maranci masterfully noted the mashup’s vibe, writing, “When your parents make you go caroling against your will.” Known for his mashing up pop songs with rock and metal hits, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”/”Creep” is just the latest from Maranci.

Mariah Carey’s signature holiday hit has already stood the test of time, but it seems its hold over our hearts and Spotify playlists only grows stronger. A modern holiday classic, it’s only a matter of time before its presence expands beyond the radios and playlists and becomes a holiday rom-com—a la Last Christmas—or, at the very least, a TV special.


Header Image: Columbia Records