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After 25 years, Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' tops U.S. charts

37 Comments
By DON EMMERT

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37 Comments
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They play it every five minutes. It's horrible! It's driving me nuts!

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Mariah has to ‘acknowledge’ that she is laughing all the way to the....bank!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Christmas is a time for nonsense.

Lighten up.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I tend to be a sucker when it comes to Christmas / holiday songs, even if I don't particularly care for the artist singing / performing the song.

And, the truth is that while Mariah Carey is not my favorite artist and that they always seem to play the every-loving-fool out of this song around the holidays, especially in Japan, its actually not a bad Christmas song.

And its an "original" song, as opposed to a Christmas standard that yet another artist covers and slaps on a Christmas album.

"Love Actually" probably will keep this song popular for a while, just as the move "White Christmas" helped the Bing Crosby song by the same name all of these decades.

For the record, one Christmas song that has grown on me over the decades is "Christmas Eve" by Yamashita Tatsuro. Go figure.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

HATE HATE HATE

3 ( +5 / -2 )

And if you don't like it, remember every time it plays that it is replacing that horrible self-pitying dirge called "Last Christmas."

yeah, in the same way that a left hook to the jaw mercifully replaces a right :-)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If something created 25 years ago is "recent" I am afraid to ask you what's and "oldie"!

Good King Wenceslas (1853)

Once in Royal David's City (1848)

Silent Night (1818)

Adeste Fideles (sometime between the 17th and 18th centuries, English lyrics 1841)

Gaudete (1581)

Oldies is good. They all seem to be religious, though. For some reason.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Good King Wenceslas (1853)

Once in Royal David's City (1848)

Silent Night (1818)

Adeste Fideles (sometime between the 17th and 18th centuries, English lyrics 1841)

Gaudete (1581)

Modern stuff for youngsters

In Dulci Jubilo ( 1328). Mike Oldfield had a Christmas hit with that in the 70s.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It may be overplayed, but it's one of the few decent Christmas songs created anytime recently. It will be her most remembered song. And if you don't like it, remember every time it plays that it is replacing that horrible self-pitying dirge called "Last Christmas."

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The singer -- who will not confirm whether her age is 49 or 50 because she says "time is not something I acknowledge"

I grudgingly give props to her for this philosophy and this justification!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Good song as far as modern Christmas songs come, but overplayed so much it drives me nuts.

I like her version of O Holy Night better.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

She hit pure gold with this one, and can live off it for the rest of her life.

Alex80: "Horrible and hysterical song, I prefer Last Christmas, way more relaxed, and classical Christmas songs."

The song by WHAM about the break-up with a gay lover? Yeah... definitely a merry theme, my friend.

"It's not properly a Christmas song, but I consider it like that."

You can if you like, same as you consider "Last Christmas" a warm and merry tale, but it still isn't. Not at all. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Last Christmas, and no one can deny its staying power, but I suspect one reason it plays every 30 minutes or so in Japan is because people have no idea what the lyrics are saying.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Jingle Bell Rock and Holly Jolly Christmas are heaps better.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@smith: it's just about personal taste, take it easy. To me melody is way more important than the lyrics, if I want a good text I read some book, but it's just my way of enjoying music, it's not necessary insulting people calling them "ignorant". Anyway I didn't mean to say "Last Christmas" is a classic Christmas song, by Classic Christmas songs I meant actually Christmas songs like Jingle bells and others.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Always great to see her lip sync that song.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

And if you don't like it, remember every time it plays that it is replacing that horrible self-pitying dirge called "Last Christmas."

Goodness, I so miss George Michael. Any opportunity to hear his beautiful voice is always appreciated.

I did go off it for a while when it was part of a looped Xmas hits album that played in a place of work, though.

And I think the song is a universal one, not just confined to any particular sexual orientation.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I like also "Così Celeste" by the Italian singer Zucchero.

https://youtu.be/kS1Se1Ewx3g

It's not properly a Christmas song, but I consider it like that.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

All I want for Christmas is ewe... or lamb chops.

I prefer "Baby, It's Cold Outside" - original version, thank you very much.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

About "Così celeste" despite the text isn't about Christmas, the melody sounds like a Christmas song and it was always considered like a typical Christmas tune in Italy, especially because it was massively used in a Christmas related advertising.

https://youtu.be/vCvam0MSEPU

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Starbucks reflection again: The distance Christmas songs have gone from being religious is really mind-boggling.

Anyway, the fact they don’t ignore Christmas is still impressive to me. Nobody let’s go of this event which is unrivaled by any other holiday. Just to think: There is MUSIC about Christmas - 1000s of songs, while other holidays have no music at all.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I almost spit out my KFC chicken bite when I heard a disgusting cover of “So this is Christmas.” Some songs should never be covered.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It may be overplayed, but it's one of the few decent Christmas songs created anytime recently.

If something created 25 years ago is "recent" I am afraid to ask you what's and "oldie"!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Oldies is good. They all seem to be religious, though. For some reason.

Back then "us" heathens didnt celebrate Christmas, and had no idea it existed!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's not a bad song but the one I kept hearing all the time in the 2000s in Japan was the one by SMAP (I can't remember the name). Anyway, I prefer the traditional carols. They are timeless. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, O Holy Night, The Little Drummer Boy, etc. Recently, I listened to a CD with carols sung by Jackie Wilson. He had a magnificent voice.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

God I hate her.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

My wife and kids love this song and play it non-stop. Since I was young though, I play songs with soul like Donny Hathaway "This Christmas", Stevie Wonder "That's What Christmas Means To Me", Clarence Carter "Backdoor Santa" and Run DMC "Christmas in Hollis". Then I sprinkle it in with a little Death Row Family "Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto."

0 ( +1 / -1 )

starpunk: "It now means a stuck-up self-centered haughty little prissy-miss, thanks to Mariah Carey."

I don't like Mariah Carey, but to be fair to her "diva" has been used in a derogatory fashion for longer than she's been as famous as she is, and applied to others just as long.

Besides, I'm not sure what you guys get so angry about -- a song is not the artist, and the artist not the song. You can like (or dislike) the song without liking or disliking the artist(s). If people like the tune, let them like it. You can't deny its success.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@smith: I don't care if the lyrics are about a gay or straight love, I care about the melody, to me lyrics are not so much important in a song. This is just my personal priority. One of my favourite singers ever is the Italian artist Amedeo Minghi, sometimes his lyrics are completely nonsense, but his melodies are something unforgettable that can touch my heart. Last Christmas melody is pure nostalgia, it fits my childhood memories of Christmas, while Mariah Carey Christmas song is too much energetic and noisy, not my cup of tea.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It’s a groovy tune. Anyone will get tired of any song if it’s playing all the time. I remember getting scolded in high school for changing the station when “starting over” came on for the umpteenth time after he was murdered.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Starbucks in Japan has allowed this song and Last Christmas to dominate their Christmas music. Both by covers of them AND by the originals. Used to be Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin etc.. But they’ve been nixed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Here's two other songs from that 2017 performance in 2017

AMAZING MARIAH CAREY NEW YEARS EVE PERFORMANCE 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6TSuBB09JU

And with 606 MILLION! views -

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You (Official Music Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

0 ( +0 / -0 )

pointofviewDec. 17 10:58 pm JSTJingle Bell Rock and Holly Jolly Christmas are heaps better.

Lately I've been listening to Bryan Adams covering Chuck Berry's 'Run Run Rudolph' and U2 covering 'Christmas, Please Come Home'. They give me memories of when I came home for my discharge from the military, and they're so upbeat and they ROCK. And there are some other 'modern' classics too for any taste.

FizzBitToday 11:08 am JSTI almost spit out my KFC chicken bite when I heard a disgusting cover of “So this is Christmas.” Some songs should never be covered.

That song is as important now as it was then. War is over - if you want it. 30 years ago with the fall of East European Communism and the peaceful end of the Cold War there was HOPE. Remember? I'm just mentioning...

Recently, I listened to a CD with carols sung by Jackie Wilson. He had a magnificent voice.

And the Beach Boys, John Denver, Nick Lowe, Sting, and other artists have put out excellent Christmas CDs as well. While shopping last week the racks were stocked with Celine Dion Christmas CDs. Man, listening to one of those would make a Scrooge out of a Christian priest. Yeeeccchhh!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I like this one much better , video clips from Last Christmas, music by Chris Rea

https://youtu.be/GO-oBi671mY

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No BusinessToday 08:30 am JSTGod I hate her.

The word 'diva' used to mean a woman who sings with gusto and emotion like Aretha Franklin (but a 'diva' didn't have to be Black either - the late great Marie Fredricksson of Roxette, and the great Adele fit that definition) but since MC's ego has been so notorious the word 'diva' is now a dirty word. It now means a stuck-up self-centered haughty little prissy-miss, thanks to Mariah Carey.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Horrible and hysterical song, I prefer Last Christmas, way more relaxed, and classical Christmas songs.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Alex80: "@smith: I don't care if the lyrics are about a gay or straight love,"

The point is not that they are about gay or straight love, the point is that is not at all in the Christmas spirit, but about heartbreak and self-indulgence, and is far from an actual "classic".

"Last Christmas melody is pure nostalgia, it fits my childhood memories of Christmas,"

Ouch!

"One of my favourite singers ever is the Italian artist Amedeo Minghi, sometimes his lyrics are completely nonsense, but his melodies are something unforgettable that can touch my heart."

Ignorance is bliss, I guess. Children's artists will be glad to know they have an adult audience so long as they can create a catchy melody for you.

"while Mariah Carey Christmas song is too much energetic and noisy, not my cup of tea."

Well, Alex, to each their own. But what I was getting at is that you clearly state personal preference and try to justify your comments on Last Christmas as being opinion, while stating things about All I Want For Christmas Is You as though they are fact. Her song is probably the most identifiable modern Christmas song on the planet, and is only pretty much every playlist with Christmas songs. It is not my favorite song by any means, but when it comes on, you know the season is nigh.

Anyway, I think the current mix of oldies and modern Christmas songs is quite a nice balance. It's great to hear modern tunes like, like them or not, the subject of this article, along with Burl Ives, Jackson 5, Queen, Wham, Bing Crosby, Brenda Lee (Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree), John Lennon, The Pogues, Band Aid (Do they Know it's Christmas Time), Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Perry Como, Garbiella Cilmi (Warm this Winter), and heaps more, not to mention all the remakes of old standards and classical tunes by modern artists. While a lot of the more modern songs are not easily accepted into the cannon of classics, it is nice when some do. So, I'll give All I Want... credit for that alone.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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