All I Want For Christmas Is You turns 30: How Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic has defied the decades
For 30 years Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You has been the soundtrack to Christmas.
Released as part of the singer’s fourth studio album, Merry Christmas – her first festive-themed collection of songs – the track had modest beginnings, peaking at number two in the UK singles chart and number 12 in the US.
But over time, the song seems to have taken on a life of its own.
This year alone, it has topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for the sixth year in a row, surpassed two billion streams on Spotify, and has reached 16x Platinum – selling more than 16 million units, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
From the opening chimes of the xylophone to the propulsive beat kicking in at the 50-second mark, what is it about All I Want For Christmas Is You that has kept it a beloved holiday staple for the last three decades?
‘Do something timeless’
Claiming it was the first Christmas song she ever wrote, Carey revealed in a 2019 Amazon documentary that she started writing the hit on a keyboard in her home while the 1946 film It’s A Wonderful Life played in the background.
In a 2023 interview with Good Morning America, Carey said her “goal” was to “do something timeless that didn’t feel like the ’90s,” drawing inspiration from Phil Spector’s 1965 album A Christmas Gift For You.
Walter Afanasieff, the song’s co-writer and co-producer, recalls the creative process slightly differently.
He told Deadline in 2022 that he and Carey wrote the song together in the summer of 1994 at a home the singer was renting.
Carey in December 1994. Pic: Pace/Mediapunch/Shutterstock
“I started playing a boogie-woogie, kind of a rock. Mariah chimed in and started singing ‘I don’t want a lot for Christmas,'” he explained.
Afanasieff credited Carey for the lyrics and melodies while he was responsible for “all of the music and the chords”.
Remarkably, the entire song was completed in just 15 minutes.
Carey performing during her 2024 Christmas Time tour. Pic: Paul R Giunta/Invision/AP
Nate Sloan, music journalist and co-host of the Switched On Pop podcast, believes the track’s success “resides in its sense of timelessness”.
“Though recorded in the 1990s, it has a sound that would be at home in multiple eras of American popular music,” he told Sky News.
“Few songs since the 1960s have been able to penetrate the annual ‘Christmas canon.’ Carey’s opus, with its throwback sound, is a perfect candidate for lasting appeal.”
But it would take more than 20 years for the song to hit number one in the US (2019) and UK (2020), breaking multiple chart records in the process.
What do the numbers say?
All I Want For Christmas Is You has achieved remarkable success. It is ranked as Billboard’s number one holiday song of all time, has spent 16 weeks at the top of the Hot 100 chart – the most for any holiday song – and 62 of its 70 weeks on the Holiday 100 chart were at number one.
In the UK, Carey’s hit reached number one twice – in 2020 and 2022 – but has never officially been the coveted Christmas number one, which goes to the song with the highest sales or streams in the week of 25th December.
In 1994, East 17’s Stay Another Day claimed the title, and in 2020, LadBaby’s charity single Don’t Stop Me Eatin’ beat it despite Carey’s song climbing the charts faster than ever that year.
Azzedine Fall, director of music at streaming app Deezer, suggested that stiff competition in the 1990s delayed Carey’s chart success.
“In the 90s, Carey’s hits like Hero and Emotions were more dominant, making All I Want For Christmas Is You less central. Over time, however, it became her signature song,” he told Sky News.
“It is much easier to find the song now than it was back then. The development of technology has meant the song has become more exposed.”
Data given to Sky News by enterprise software company, Sprinklr, reveals that mentions of the song peak in the last month of the year with more than 1.3 million global mentions in December for the past four years – topping at 675,824 mentions in 2021.
While it loses out to Wham’s Last Christmas in terms of mentions in the media from 2020-2024, Sprinklr data excludes how songs perform on streaming platforms.
On Spotify, Carey reigns supreme with two billion streams compared to Wham’s 1.7 billion.
It also performs better on Apple Music and Amazon Music, according to Songstats, and has been used in 17.6 million videos on TikTok, as opposed to 443,000 for Last Christmas.
What makes it so popular?
“The song just sounds like the holidays,” Gary Trust, managing director of charts and data operations at Billboard, told Sky News.
“It mixes classic Motown with newer production that still feels fresh. It’s a blend of familiar yet updated – that’s always a good recipe for a hit.”
Mr Trust said the concept of the song, being one about longing and love, also makes it relatable.
“Add in its propulsive beat – every line just seems to roll into the next – and it’s easy to see how the song has become so prominent in pop culture every holiday season,” he said.
Carey launching her Merry Christmas album in 1994. Pic: Startraks/Shutterstock
Comparing the song’s appeal to classics from the 1960s like Bing Crosby’s Winter Wonderland and Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Jane Butler, senior lecturer of popular music at Oxford Brookes University, noted that Carey’s song follows a similar recipe.
“Strong female vocals against slightly orchestral piano backgrounds seems to be quite a good formula,” she said.
She added that the song itself is a “really interesting mixture of making you wait”.
“In the introduction, you know something exciting is going to happen, which is what waiting for Christmas feels like. Then, when the song gets going, it’s like ‘this is very exciting’.”
Carey in 2010 performing at Disney Christmas parade. Pic: Startraks/Shutterstock
And again in 2020 for her Magical Christmas Special for Apple TV+. Pic: Apple TV/Everett/Shutterstock
Music journalist Mr Sloan emphasised that the track’s “retro nostalgia” is a driving force behind its enduring success.
“An angelic choir supporting Mariah, jingling sleigh bells, and an old-school song form – combined with Carey’s stunning, effortless vocal technique – make it an instant classic,” he said.
Could it still be popular in the 2050s?
Fast-forward another 30 years – could All I Want For Christmas Is You be crowned Christmas number one in 2054?
Our experts think it is entirely possible.
Mr Fall said that Carey is so deeply associated with Christmas that the song will outlast her.
“Even way after her death, she will be remembered as the singer of a Christmas anthem,” he said.
“In another 20 to 30 years, maybe even 50, again and again it will all be about Mariah Carey and Christmas.”
Carey’s savvy marketing strategies have also helped keep the song relevant.
By performing and re-releasing updated versions of the song – including this year’s 30th-anniversary edition – licensing its use in films like the 2003 romcom Love Actually, and even launching her own line of Christmas decorations, Carey has ensured the track’s lasting legacy.
A 2016 Carpool Karaoke performance of the song for James Corden’s Late Late Show, with a host of celebrity faces including Carey, Adele, Lady Gaga and Elton John, meant it was the perfect clip for people to share on social media.
The video has been watched 55 million times at the time of writing.
“This is what Christmas music is,” Ms Butler added. “Lots of audiences have been exposed to it in exciting settings.
“I think Carey is an extremely astute businesswoman, and she has managed to use that to her advantage.”
It’s the biggest night in music, and the biggest prize is album of the year – and this time around all eyes will be on Beyonce to see if she’ll finally take home the top gong.
Despite being the most Grammy-nominated person in history, it’s an award that has alluded her up to now.
Last year Taylor Swift took home the prize for her album Midnights and is up for it again this year for The Tortured Poets Department.
Ironically, even if Beyonce doesn’t win, she’ll still make Grammy history, as the person with the most nominations in that category without a win.
If Swift bags it, she’ll make history too – beating her own record as the person to have won the category the most times.
Others up for best album are Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Andre 3000 and Jacob Collier.
Here’s a whistle-stop tour of what to expect from the night.
Sabrina Carpenter. Pic: PA
Where, when and what?
The 67th annual Grammy Awards take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
With a whopping 94 prizes to give out, the night kicks off early with a premiere ceremony at 12.30pm in LA – 8.30pm here in the UK – which gives out the majority of the awards.
But the ones everyone will be talking about are album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist, which are presented later.
The red carpet kicks off at 11pm UK time, and we will be covering all the fashion of the night here on Sky News online.
The main ceremony begins at 1am UK time and lasts three and a half hours.
This year’s awards recognise music released between 16 September 2023 and 30 August 2024.
Billie Eilish. Pic: AP
How will the LA fires affect the night?
It’s natural that the wildfires which have decimated parts of the city, claiming 29 lives, will take the focus of the event.
The Recording Academy has cancelled a swathe of industry events around the show, instead allocating resources to Los Angeles-area wildfire relief and rebuilding efforts.
The Recording Academy and MusiCares also launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort with a $1m donation. Currently, they’ve raised and pledged more than $4m in emergency aid to those in the music industry affected by the wildfires.
Charli xcx. Pic: Harley Weir
Who are the presenters?
Comedian Trevor Noah will host the show for the fifth consecutive time.
Stars presenting awards include Taylor Swift, Red Hot Chilli Peppers bandmembers Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith, Cardi B, Gloria Estefan, Olivia Rodrigo, Queen Latifah, SZA, Victoria Monet and Will Smith – who coincidentally has a new album out.
Who will perform?
Chappell Roan . Pic: AP
Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Doechii, RAYE, Sabrina Carpenter, Shakira and Teddy Swims will all perform.
While Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monae will headline a tribute to the late, legendary producer Quincy Jones.
Brad Paisley, Brittany Howard, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Cynthia Erivo, Herbie Hancock, Jacob Collier, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Sheryl Crow and St. Vincent will also appear.
The Beatles (L-R) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon. Pic: PA
Who’s up for an award?
Beyonce leads the Grammy nods with 11, bringing her career total to 99 nominations. That makes her the most nominated artist in Grammy history.
As of 2023, she’s also the most decorated artist, having earned 32 trophies across her career.
Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Charli XCX follow with seven nominations.
Taylor Swift and first-time nominees Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan boast six nominations each.
There are a couple of surprise nods in there too – looking back over five decades. The Beatles are up for two awards – record of the year and best rock performance.
Now and Then, first recorded in the 1970s, was completed by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr last year with the help of AI.
It remains to be seen if Grammy voters will be put off by the tech tweaks, or if nostalgia will prevail.
Where can I watch it?
You can watch the premiere ceremony, red carpet and main ceremony on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel or the Grammy official website.
Main category nominees
Album Of The Year
New Blue Sun – Andre 3000
Cowboy Carter- Beyonce
Short N’ Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter
Brat – Charli XCX
Djesse Vol. 4 – Jacob Collier
Hit Me Hard And Soft – Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan
The Tortured Poets Department – Taylor Swift
Record Of The Year
Now And Then – The Beatles
Texas Hold ‘Em – Beyonce
Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
360 – Charli XCX
Birds Of A Feather – Billie Eilish
Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar
Good Luck, Babe! – Chappell Roan
Fortnight – Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone
Song Of The Year
A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Sean Cook, Jerrel Jones, Joe Kent, Chibueze Collins Obinna, Nevin Sastry & Mark Williams, songwriters (Shaboozey)
Birds Of A Feather – Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
Die With A Smile – Dernst ‘D’Mile’ Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars & Andrew Watt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars)
Fortnight – Jack Antonoff, Austin Post & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone)
Good Luck, Babe! – Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Daniel Nigro & Justin Tranter, songwriters (Chappell Roan)
Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar, songwriter (Kendrick Lamar)
Please Please Please – Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter, songwriters (Sabrina Carpenter)
Texas Hold ‘Em – Brian Bates, Beyonce, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Bülow, Nate Ferraro & Raphael Saadiq, songwriters (Beyonce)
Best New Artist
Benson Boone
Sabrina Carpenter
Doechii
Khruangbin
Raye
Chappell Roan
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
EastEnders actor Shane Ritchie and comedian Paul Chuckle were among the stars at singer Linda Nolan’s funeral in Blackpool on Saturday.
Nolan died at the age of 65 last month having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.
Nolan’s sons Shane Jr (left) and Jake help carry her coffin. Pic: PA
Her pink, sparkly coffin was carried into St Paul’s Church in her home city by her sons and others – while her sisters wore pink breast cancer broaches and earrings – opting for pink handbags to contrast with their black outfits.
Linda Nolan, Anne Nolan, Bernie Nolan, Coleen Nolan, and Maureen Nolan. Pic: PA
Sisters Linda, Coleen, Bernie, Maureen, Anne, and Denise formed The Nolans in the 1970s and had hits including I’m In The Mood For Dancing and Gotta Pull Myself Together.
Linda Nolan also had a career in musical theatre, starring in Blood Brothers, Prisoner Cell Block H, and Pump Boys And Dinettes.
In her later years, she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and wrote a column for the Daily Mirror newspaper.
A framed photo of her was placed outside the church and There You’ll Be by Faith Hill was played as mourners arrived.
Coleen Nolan at her sister’s funeral. Pic: PA
Denise Nolan at her sister’s funeral. Pic: PA
In her eulogy, Denise Nolan-Anderson said: “She really loved going to premieres and opening nights, having her beautiful hair and make-up done, and always was the life and soul of any big occasion. She would have loved all the fuss today.”
She also said Linda showed “courage in the face of adversity”, adding: “It’s time to rest now Linda. The battle is over, you are free.”
Speaking before the service, Paul Elliott, better known as Paul Chuckle of the Chuckle Brothers, said he last saw her in 2024, adding: “She was just a fun, bubbly person. The world’s a darker place without her.”
Paul Chuckle. Pic: PA
EastEnders star Shane Ritchie at the funeral on Saturday. Pic: PA
Shane Richie was previously married to Coleen Nolan. Other stars who paid their respects at the funeral included Charlotte Dawson, singer Lisa Maffia, and comedian Tommy Cannon.
Charlotte Dawson arrives. Pic: PA
Lisa Maffia arrives at the service. Pic: PA
The family statement announcing her death read: “At around 10.20am on Wednesday 15th January, she passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside, ensuring she was embraced with love and comfort during her final moments, aged 65.”
After her initial diagnosis, Nolan helped to raise £20m for charities Breast Cancer Now and the Irish Cancer Society.
She had a mastectomy and was given the all-clear in 2011 – but was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer that spread to her liver in 2020 and her brain in 2023.
The singer was born in Dublin but made Blackpool her home – marrying her husband of more than two decades, the late Brian Hudson, there.
The family are raising money for Trinity Hospice in her memory – another organisation Nolan supported.
Sterling K Brown says being part of Black Panther was a “cultural moment” that allowed him to be “part of history” – and he’d jump at the chance to become part of the Marvel world again.
The 48-year-old actor, who’s currently starring in the mind-bending drama Paradise, told Sky News: “I remember reading that script – they don’t give it to you – you have to read it and then turn it back or your hands burn off or something like that…
“I remember thinking, this is a cultural moment. This is so big, not only for black America but for black people across the globe to see themselves front and centre in the largest, most zeitgeisty pop cultural machine in the world right now, the MCU [Marvel Cinematic Universe].
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Pic: Marvel Studios
The superhero movie won three Oscars – Marvel’s first ever Academy Awards – including a win for costume design and best production design, the first in both categories for women of colour.
Brown goes on: “I just want to be a part of history. It was history. It was awesome.”
The Missouri-born star’s career trajectory has been impressive, from “living beneath the poverty line” to being nominated for an Oscar, he’s always been single-minded in his pursuit of acting.
He explains: “I didn’t have a hard knock life. We grew up in a house. My mom was a schoolteacher. My dad was a grocery clerk. All our needs were met.
“But I would tape my basketball shoes up if the sole came apart because that fixed them. And my mom got mad at me one time, she’s like, ‘You know, we can buy you shoes?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, but I fixed them. What’s the big deal?'”
He says making his living through his craft was always his focus, adding, “I know that’s a luxury that’s not afforded to a lot of people. The fact that it’s gone my way, I’m incredibly thankful for.”
This Is Us. Pic: Disney+
A three-time Emmy winner, The People V O J Simpson: American Crime Story saw him gain public attention, followed by a season in The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, an episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the multi-award-winning This Is Us.
‘I’ve got good taste’
When his role in American Fiction earned him an Oscar nomination, he insists he didn’t see it coming, saying: “I just knew it was a great story, a great script, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
He goes on: “They’re all sort of game-changers. People will give me credit. I’ll take credit for having good taste, but you never know when lightning is going to strike, right?”
A fatalist, he says: “I leave it in the hands of the universe and just say, ‘If you want me to step here, I’ll step there and whatever happens, happens’.”
Now he’s leading the cast of Disney+ drama Paradise, playing Agent Xavier Collins, a man charged with protecting a second-term president – played by James Marsden – in a serene community of high-net-worth individuals.
Brown admits the role came with obligations: “There is a different level of responsibility when you’re one on the call sheet. I think people do look to you to help set the tone of what the environment is going to be like, and I don’t mind that.”
Pic: Disney+
The brainchild of Dan Fogelman, best known for his work on This Is Us and Only Murders In The Building, Paradise is a murder mystery with something much bigger underneath.
‘Billionaires on camera’
Impossible to elaborate on further without giving away spoilers, it’s enough to say the first episode throws up a twist few will see coming.
Despite various parallels with the current political climate, Fogelman says he came up with the idea over a decade ago, but concedes the timing is “certainly unusual”.
Fogelman tells Sky News: “We’re openly seeing billionaires on camera having a big hand in government. And while money and wealth have always been a factor in things behind the scenes, it’s very out front and centre right now in a way that the show openly discusses [and] things about the environment and climate change.”
Brown too says the themes are prescient: “The world is unpredictable and a little bit nutty and a lot of people are on edge as to what is next. I don’t know if it’s across the world. I definitely know that it’s in the United States for certain.
“I think the show in a very strange way, is sort of asking the same questions like, ‘All right, we’re in new territory right now. I have no idea what happens next. I’m a little scared about that.'”
He goes on: “People are going to draw all sorts of conclusions and inferences and comparisons. I will leave them to draw whatever they wish because if I was an audience member, I would too.”
The first three episodes of Paradise are available on Disney+ now, with new episodes dropping each Tuesday.
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