5 things you never knew about Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You
Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You is impossible to avoid once the holiday season comes around. First released in 1994, the song has grown into one of the most iconic festive anthems ever, returning to dominate playlists and charts every year.
5 things you never knew about Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You
Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You is impossible to avoid once the holiday season comes around.
First released in 1994, the song has grown into one of the most iconic festive anthems ever, returning to dominate playlists and charts every year.
Here are some fascinating facts behind the Christmas juggernaut...
A holiday pop juggernaut
As a true holiday staple, it’s no surprise the song has snowballed into one of the most successful tracks of all time. With more than 16 million copies sold worldwide, it ranks among the best-selling digital singles ever and is estimated to have generated a jaw-dropping $100 million in revenue.
Christmas begins for Mariah on November 1
The debate over when it’s acceptable to play Christmas music ends here. Every year, the self-appointed Queen of Christmas marks November 1 by “defrosting” on social media — signalling the official start of festive season, whether we’re ready or not.
A Christmas hit recorded in the summer
Believe it or not, All I Want For Christmas Is You was recorded in August 1994. To summon the festive spirit, Mariah transformed the studio into a winter wonderland.
Producer Randy Jackson recalled: “The studio looked like Christmas. The temperature was cold. There were ornaments, Christmas trees and Christmas candles.”
Powerhouse vocals
Despite sounding like a full festive symphony, there was no live orchestra on the track.
Co-writer Walter Afanasieff revealed the music was built entirely on his computer, with the only real elements being Mariah’s vocals and backing singers.
He told Variety: “There was never a version with a band… It needed to be brighter, more fun — more like a Christmas song should sound on the radio.”
A hit written in minutes
The festive anthem came together at lightning speed — and that spontaneity may be the secret to its success.
Walter Afanasieff told Billboard the song’s core emerged almost instantly after he began playing a boogie-woogie piano line, inspiring Mariah’s now-iconic opening lyric. Christmas lightning struck fast.
