OPINION | All I Want For Christmas Is Royalties
Photo Credit: Victoria’s Secret
November first. You walk into the grocery store, hoping to score some discount Halloween candy. And then you hear it. The flashy 13-note opening that signals the beginning of the holiday season; the song that lets people know, “Yes, you can put up your inflatable Santa now.” Year after year, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” plays from millions of speakers across the globe. We’ve all heard the song, with its stellar vocals and pleasing melody. But how did it come to be?
In November 1994, Mariah Carey, along with Walter Afanasieff, wrote and produced the notorious song. It was an instant hit; within two months, the song skyrocketed in popularity in the USA, and, soon after, across the world.
The song was written as part of Carey’s fourth album, Merry Christmas, which included covers of popular yuletide tunes. The album included other original songs as well, such as “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)” and “Jesus Born On This Day”. However, as we all know, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has reigned supreme. Ever since its release, the song consistently climbs the charts every December. Since 2019, it has hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 every year.
The song has had an impressive history. It is currently the only holiday single to have sold more than 10 million units, making it a Diamond Record. Additionally, the song holds the record of most streams in 24 Hours on Spotify, which is a record that it just keeps breaking; in fact, the song has broken the record four times, each time spiking during the Christmas season.
The song also holds the Guinness World Record for the highest-charting holiday song on the Billboard US Hot 100 by a solo artist. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has affected the listening patterns of people around the globe, topping the music charts from countries all over the world, like Japan and the UK.
With global domination comes a tidy sum. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” brings Carey around an estimated $3 million dollars yearly, amassing around $60 million since its release, an amount that just keeps on increasing. It is also the first holiday ringtone to be certified double-platinum, selling more than 80 000 units. Needless to say, the pop icon’s Christmas stocking will be filled with cold hard cash.
The song has certainly changed pop culture, from media to music. In 2015, Carey published her own book with the same title. Later, in 2017, she produced an animated movie, also titled All I Want For Christmas Is You, featuring the voice of herself and others. The plot follows a young Carey wanting a dog for Christmas, and the chaos that ensues (58 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. Yikes.)
On top of all that, her hit song has inspired a slew of “She’s Defrosting” memes across the Internet. In fact, Carey herself is in on the joke; for the past two years, the Grammy-winning artist has been posting a short video of herself right after Halloween with the caption “It’s Time!”, and indeed it is.
Clearly, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has had a lasting impact on the world, with dozens of covers and numerous world records. The song is a holiday classic, with its exponential spike in plays approaching as December draws near. It transcends generations and connects people everywhere, young or old. With its simple instrumentals and Carey’s impressive vocal range, the song is festive, upbeat, and energizing. Truly, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”is the perfect example of what the holidays are all about: spending time with the people that matter.