"O Holy Night" is the third track from Mariah's fourth studio album "Merry Christmas." The song was released on November 1, 1994 through Columbia Records. Mariah's version of the song is a cover that was originally written by Adolphe Adam in 1847.[1]
Background[]
Mariah first recorded "O Holy Night" for her debut holiday album, Merry Christmas. On December 8, 2023, the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over one million units in the United States.[2]
Live performances[]
Mariah performed this song at her ABC Christmas Special in 2011. The song is also a part of the set-list for the All I Want for Christmas Is You: A Night of Joy and Festivity residency (2014-2017). It has since been performed at subsequent Christmas tours including Merry Christmas to All! (2022) and Mariah Carey's Christmas Time (2024).
Music video[]
In 2001, a music video for the song was released.[3] The video which was directed by Sanaa Hamri, features Mariah in a red dress singing in front of a church congregation. She is joined by a choir and band. Additionally, the church was decorated with a Christmas tree, candles and Christmas lights[4]
Credits and personnel[]
- Arrangement – Walter Afanasieff
- Assistant engineer – Andy Smith, Gus Garces, Mike Scott
- Background vocals – Kelly Price, Melonie Daniels, Shanrae Price
- Bass – Walter Afanasieff
- Digital programming – Gary Cirimelli
- Drum programming – Walter Afanasieff
- Guitars – Dan Huff
- Hammond B-3 organ – Walter Afanasieff
- Keyboards – Walter Afanasieff
- Macintosh programming – Gary Cirimelli
- Mastering engineer – Bob Ludwig
- Mixing engineer – Mick Guzauski
- Organ – Walter Afanasieff
- Production – Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
- Recording engineers – Dana Jon Chappelle, Jay Healy
- Rhythm programming – Walter Afanasieff
- Synthesizer – Gary Cirimelli, Walter Afanasieff
Trivia[]
- Mariah recorded a Music video for this song in 2001[3]
- This song was released on November 1, 1994
- This song is third track of the Merry Christmas album
- Mariah's Genuis page for her version of this song has 42,000 views[5]
- Mariah's music video for the song has 64 Million views[4]
- Michael Bolton's rendition of "O Holy Night," released on his 1996 album This Is the Time: The Christmas Album, uses the same instrumental as Carey's version, albeit with slight changes, such as the omission of the organ, extra electric guitars and new, fuller background vocals. Carey and Afanasieff were credited on his version as arrangers.
Live Version[]
A live version of "O Holy Night" (retitled "O Holy Night 2000"), recorded live at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in South Central Los Angeles, was released on the All I Want for Christmas Is You 2000 CD single in Japan on December 23, 2000. It was later included on Merry Christmas II You as the album's 10th track.[6]
Credits and personnel[]
- Background vocals – Maryann Tatum, Melonie Daniels
- Choir – Voices of Judah, Greater Bethany, City of Refuge
- Mixing engineer – Dana Jon Chappelle
- Production – Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
- Recording engineers – Dana Jon Chappelle
Trivia[]
- Despite being labeled as live, it's actually a studio recording comprising re-recorded portions mixed with the original 1994 album vocals, all over a fake crowd ambient noise.
Magical Christmas Mix[]
"O Holy Night" was re-recorded and re-imagined for Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special in 2020. This version, dubbed the "Magical Christmas Mix" was included in the special's accompanying soundtrack album, released through Sony Music and Legacy Recordings on December 4, 2020.
Composition[]
Similarly to the other songs from the special, the "Magical Christmas Mix" of "O Holy Night" features new live instrumentation played by Carey's tour band.
The new version of the song features extra background vocals from the 2000 live version, a shorter instrumental break and omits the second stanza until the whistle note. The outro was also shortened and a new ending was made for the song, similar to the live arrangement from the 2014-19 Christmas shows.
Credits and personnel[]
- Arrangement – Walter Afanasieff
- Assistant engineer – Matt Tuggle
- Background vocals – Kelly Price, Melonie Daniels, Shanrae Price
- Bass – Lance Tolbert
- Drums – Josh Baker
- Guitar – Tim Stewart
- Mixing engineer – Brian Garten
- Organ – Derrieux Edgecombe
- Percussion – Tremaine "Six7" Williams
- Production – Mariah Carey, Daniel Moore II
- Piano – Daniel Moore II
- Recording engineers – Brian Garten, Jamie Sikoya
Lyrics[]
O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night
O night divine
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night divine
O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night
O night divine
O night divine
O night divine
References[]
- ↑ O Holy Night - Wikipedia article - retrieved 6/20/20
- ↑ The Mariah Network - O Holy Night
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Imbd Mariah Carey O Holy Night Music video - retrieved June 20, 2020
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 O Holy Night Music video via Youtube - retrieved 6/20/2020
- ↑ Genuis Article: Mariah Carey O Holy Night - retrieved 6/20/20
- ↑ Discogs - Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You 2000