This isn’t just a casual reappearance; the undisputed Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, has seen her perennial holiday anthem make a massive leap, signaling that festive cheer is already in full swing.
Today the track has surged to #5 (+9) on the highly competitive Global Spotify chart, racking up an astonishing 4.01 million streams in just one day. Not to be outdone, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” also made a significant climb on the US Spotify chart, rising 9 spots to #6 with a formidable 942,000 streams.
IMDb
This annual chart resurgence is a phenomenon almost entirely unique to Mariah Carey. Every year, without fail, as soon as Halloween passes, listeners worldwide begin streaming the 1994 classic, driving it back up the charts. It’s a testament not only to the song’s timeless appeal and infectious joy but also to Carey’s masterful cultivation of her “Queen of Christmas” persona. For many, the holiday season truly doesn’t begin until they hear those unmistakable opening bells and Mariah’s soaring vocals.
Mariah Carey performs at the 82nd annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center on December 3, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)
Back to the Start
The song was co-written and produced by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff, and was released on October 29, 1994, as the lead single from her fourth studio album and first holiday collection, Merry Christmas. The music world was initially skeptical of a young superstar releasing a holiday album, but Carey was undaunted, creating an uptempo, catchy song meant to emulate the timeless, upbeat sound of 1960s Christmas rock.
Grammy Award-winning singer Mariah Carey performs while taping the “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” TV special at the Magic Kingdom on December 3, 2010 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Carey sings two songs — “Oh Santa” and “All I Want For Christmas is You” — in the annual holiday telecast that airs Dec. 25, 2010 on ABC-TV. (Photo by Mark Ashman/Disney via Getty Images)
The track instantly became one of the few worthy modern additions to the Christmas canon. The lyrics, focused not on gifts or tinsel but on the simple desire to be with a loved one during the holidays, struck a powerful, universal chord.
It is now widely referred to as the biggest Christmas song of all time.
Record-Breaking Milestones
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” has shattered numerous records over three decades. It is the best-selling digital Christmas song in the U.S. and has sold over 16 million copies worldwide. In 2019, 25 years after its initial release, the song finally hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting the record for the longest gap between a song’s release and topping the chart. It also consistently breaks the record for the most streams in a single day on Spotify.
