| “ | When I wrote ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ it was my dream for it to become a classic Christmas song. I am so proud of the song’s impact as it continues to create memories for fans each year. I am thrilled to be able to bring the story of the song to new generations of families with the picture book | ” |
– Mariah Carey talking about the song in her All I Want for Christmas Is You book. | ||
All I Want For Christmas is You is a 1994 song from Mariah's first Christmas album Merry Christmas. The song was released on October 9, 1994 and it was written and produced by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff. The song is a up-tempo love song that declares that the protagonist does not care about Christmas presents or lights; all she wants for Christmas is to be with her lover.[1]
Annually, the songs tops the list of most-streamed holiday songs and is officially the most-downloaded holiday single of all time. According to Tech Times, it’s also the 11th-highest-selling single of all time and has earned more than $50 million for Carey and cowriter Walter Afanasieff.[2] Additionally the song has charted every single holiday season since its release almost four decades ago.[3] Carey has earned three Guinness World Records for the song including highest-charting holiday (Christmas/New Year) song on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 by a solo artist, most streamed song on Spotify in 24 hours, and most weeks in the UK singles Top 10 chart for a Christmas song.
In 2011, Mariah did a remake with Justin Bieber titled "All I Want for Christmas Is You (Superfestive!)." The version's music video was filmed in Macy's department store in New York, and features Bieber shopping with his friends whilst Carey poses on a staging area next to a Christmas tree and gifts. In 2017, an animated direct-to-video movie All I Want for Christmas Is You was release based on the song. It stars Mariah herself as a young girl with a wholesome Christmas wish for a puppy.
Release[]
In 1994, 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' only saw a commercial release in Europe, Japan and Australia, including additional songs from the 'Merry Christmas' album. Due to the song's massive popularity in Japan, the country got two new releases the following years. Sony Music Japan released a limited edition CD single in 2000, which included the new So So Def Remix, a live version of 'O Holy Night' at the Westminister Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles and the Club Mix of 'Joy To The World.' In the United States, 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' first saw a physical release in 2015, when limited edition 10" picture vinyl was released. Japan got another exclusive release in 2018, a limited edition 7" red vinyl. In 2019, to celebrate the song's 25th anniversary, Sony Music re-released the song on CD, vinyl and cassette.[4]
Commercial Performance[]
In the United States, the song didn't make its Hot 100 debut until the week of January 8, 2000, when it entered the chart at 83 (In 1994, Billboard required songs to be commercially released in order to be able to chart on the Hot 100). The song would reach a new peak every Christmas season until it finally climbed to the top spot in 2019, bringing Mariah's total of number ones to 19. As of 2021, 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' has spent a total of five non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100 charts and is the only song to hold the top position in three different chart years (2019, 2020, and 2021). 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' was certified 8x Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 14, 2020 and broke the all-time record for the biggest single day streams in Spotify history on December 24, 2020, with over 17 million streams. On December 17, 2020, it became Mariah's third number one song in the UK. The song also holds the record for most weeks in the UK singles Top 10 chart for a Christmas song.
Music Video[]
The original music video for 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' was directed by Diane Martel and featured home-shot-styled footage of Mariah celebrating the festive season frolicking in the snow as well as enjoying cozy indoor scenes by the tree. Two videos were filmed for the song's original release. The primary video features grainy home footage of Carey, her dogs and family during the holiday season, as well as Carey dressed in a Santa suit frolicking on a snowy mountainside. The second video was filmed in black and white format, and features Carey dressed in 1960s style, while paying homage to The Ronettes, alongside back up singers and male dancers.[5]
In 2019, Mariah revisited the original music video and debuted an unreleased footage version of it. A 1960s-inspired black and white music video was also released in 1994. Inspired by The Ronettes, Mariah sings the song surrounded by dancers and backup singers. The So So Def remix also received video treatment. The animated video is inspired on the Mariah cartoon that first appeared on the 'Heartbreaker' video in 1999, and features appearances by Mariah, Jermaine Dupri, Lil' Bow Wow, Mariah's dog Jack and Santa Claus, among others.
Mariah teamed up with Joseph Kahn in 2019 to celebrate the song's 25th anniversary with a brand new music video. "We wanted to make a modern classic," Mariah said during a Q&A. "It's kind of the opposite of the original video... This is more of a production." The 'Make My Wish Come True Edition' of the video opens with Mariah as part of a store window scene before a door opens to a winter wonderland complete with skating Santas, dancing toy soldiers and giant candy canes — as well as cameo appearances by Monroe and Moroccan.
Live performances[]
Though not an actual live performance, the black and white video version of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was aired on Top of the Pops on December 1, 1994, adverted as being performed via satellite.
The first actual live performance of the song took place at the Fresh Air Fund benefit concert at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on December 8, 1994. The performance, along with the other Christmas songs performed at the show, were later included in the 2019 re-release of Merry Christmas.
Due to its popularity in Japan, the song was performed as the encore on every Japanese date of the Daydream World Tour, Butterfly World Tour, Rainbow World Tour, Charmbracelet World Tour, The Adventures of Mimi and Mariah Carey: Live in Concert, with additional performances of the song on the second American leg of the Charmbracelet tour and on select dates of The Elusive Chanteuse Show.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" was also performed at a special concert for the US troops at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo on December 4, 2001. A year later, after the release of Charmbracelet, Carey performed the song, as well as "Through the Rain", at several Top 50 radio holiday concerts, including the Y-100 Jingle Ball on December 15, 2002, 92-PRO FM's Jingle Mingle on December 17, 2002 and the KIIS-FIM Jingle Ball on December 19, 2002.
The song, as well as "Joy to the World," were performed at Walt Disney World on December 5, 2004. The performances were aired on Christmas Day as part of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. Carey returned to the entertainment resort complex on December 3, 2010 to reprise her performance of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and to perform "Oh Santa!," the lead single from her second Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You.
A snippet of the song was performed at Carey's special concert a the Tivoli Gardens amusement park in Copenhagen on July 11, 2005 and at the Oakland date of the Angels Advocate Tour, on February 26, 2010.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" acted as the encore to Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You, Carey's second Christmas special, taped at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles on November 6, 2010 and aired on December 13, 2010.
The song was paired with "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again" and performed on Christmas in Rockefeller Center on November 27, 2012. Carey went back to the Rockefeller Center on December 3, 2013 to perform the song, as well as "Joy to the World." Carey returned to perform the song on December 3, 2014. Carey also performed the song with The Roots on The Tonight Show on December 5, 2012 using only classroom instruments.
For 2013's Australian Tour, the song's intro was made into a medley with "Auld Lang Syne" and performed as the encore of the Gold Coast show. Carey performed "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (as well as "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again") on Michael Bublé's 3rd Annual Christmas Special on November 25, 2013 and at the 91st Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on December 6, 2013. The performance was aired on December 16, 2013.
The song was also part of the setlist for Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You concerts, from 2014 to 2019.
In 2015, the song was also part of Carey's third Christmas special, Mariah Carey's Merriest Christmas, taped at Beacher's Madhouse in Los Angeles on November 23, 2015 and aired on December 19, 2015. Carey also performed the song at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, 2015 (and seven years later, on November 24, 2022) and at JAY-Z's birthday bash in Philadelphia on December 4, 2015. The song also made the setlist for Carey's private New Year's Eve 2015-16 concert at the Palladium at Crown Melbourne.
On November 3, 2016, Carey performed the song, as well as "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) / Housetop Celebration," at Husdon's Bay/Saks Fifth Avenue annual holiday window display. Carey also sang the song at The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration on November 16, 2016 and at the taping of VH1 Divas Live Holiday: Unsilent Night on December 2, 2016, aired on December 5, 2016. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was also performed at Irene Kogan and Daniel Kenvey's wedding on January 14, 2017 at the Landmark Hotel in London.
Carey sang the song at the World Blockchain Festival in Saitama on October 13, 2018 and a snippet of it was sang at the Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival on August 31, 2019. Carey performed the song, as well as "Oh Santa!" and "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again" on The Late Late Show with James Corden on December 4, 2019, to promote Merry Christmas (Deluxe Anniversary Edition). The performance of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was broadcasted on December 19, 2019.
The song was performed at the Moët & Chandon holiday party on December 5, 2022. The song also made the setlist for Merry Christmas to All! and Merry Christmas One and All!, being performed on every date and appearing on Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!, taped at Madison Square Garden on December 13 and 16, 2022 and aired on December 20, 2022.
Carey performed the song for the first time at an awards show ceremony at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on November 8, 2023, aired on November 19, 2023.
Track listings and formats[]
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Christmas Book[]
In 2015, Carey released a book based on the song, featuring complete lyrics alongside yuletide illustrations by Colleen Madden.
Charts[]
All I Want For Christmas Is You charts every holiday season since its original release, reaching its peak at #1 in 2019.
Trivia[]
In 2019, All I Want For Christmas is You became Mariah's 19th #1.
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
I-I-I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you, yeah
[Verse 1]
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need (and I)
Don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas Day
[Chorus]
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
You, baby
[Verse 2]
Oh, I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow (and I)
I'm just going to keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click
[Chorus]
'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do?
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you
You, baby
[Bridge]
Oh, all the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa, won't you bring me the one I really need?
Won't you please bring my baby to me?
[Verse 3]
Oh, I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
[Chorus]
Oh, I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby, all I want for Christmas is...
[Outro]
Youuuu
You, baby
Youuuu
All, all, all, all
Youuuu
- ↑ All I Want for Christmas Is You - Genius
- ↑ Literally Everything You Could Ever Want to Know About Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' — People
- ↑ 24 Things You Didn’t Know About Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” — Cosmopolitan
- ↑ Mariah Carey Network — All I Want For Christmas Is You
- ↑ All I Want for Christmas Is You WIKIPEDIA