Almost the second it turns from October to November, we hear it.
In stores, on TV, on the radio — there’s no escaping Mariah Carey’s hit song “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”
Being a Billboard hit in four separate decades is an impressive feat … but what is it that has made this song be synonymous with the holiday season? Is it the lyrics? The instrumentals? The iconic music video of Carey playing in the snow?
“Honestly, it’s so funny how the song has been treated. The second it hits Nov. 1 it’s ‘Mariah Carey season’ because the song from 1994 manages to hit the top 10 charts every holiday season,” said Matthew Maduli, a culinary arts student. “Working retail the past three years — it’s all you hear! At first, it’s a great song to belt and attempt to sing, then it cycles around and you get bored of it, then it just grows on you.”
Student Jade Eiler attributes the song’s popularity to another reason
“It’s overplayed, but also lowkey a meme,” she said.
Eiler elaborated.
“I find it lowkey to be a meme for similar reasons: its upbeat rhythm and familiarity make it a good background music for a running meme similar to how the saxophone part in ‘Careless Whisper’ is a meme,” she said.
What is it about Carey’s song that keeps it relevant? Is it relevant? Or are we as a society forcing it to be relevant by playing it on repeat so many times?
“I personally don’t think it’s ‘forced’ to be relevant – it’s just holiday music that’s appropriate for the season. And it IS actually catchy. We still listen to Holiday Classics like ‘Rockin Around The Christmas Tree’ and ‘It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas’ and those came from before the 70s! It’s the one time of year this music gets its shine!” said Maduli.
The song also has PG appeal, making it something that anyone can sing and find a connection to.
“I’d say it’s one of *the* Christmas songs, meaning it’s one of the top few songs distinctly associated with ‘the spirit of Christmas.’ Especially because of its familiar tune and PG appropriate lyrics, it airs constantly to signify the months of Christmas (aka November and December),” said Eiler.
After an original release in 1994, Carey’s song has seemed to so far withstand the test of time. The same can’t be said for other once holiday classics like “Santa Baby” and “Baby, it’s Cold Outside,” which in past years have been canceled or have had to have their lyrics changed due to their offensive or outdated nature.
Despite its “PG lyrics,” the connotations and double entendres are there.
“Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do?
Oh, baby, all I want for Christmas is you
You, baby”
Is the very essence of this song a woman listing all the meaningless first world nothings relating to the holiday season she would be willing to sacrifice to have this man for herself? Is the song sexual in nature? Or is it just a happy holiday bop? Is it possible for this song to be canceled in the future? Or is this song a timeless classic that will not fall victim to persecution?
“I feel like a lot of songs get double standards – of course ‘Santa Baby’ and ‘It’s Cold Outside’ have sexual natures – but it’s all into the interpretation. I mean the holiday season is about being indoors, intimate and warm with your family and significant other,” said Maduli. “When it’s cold outside, what more is there to do? Mariah’s song should be immune though. If it gets canceled for whatever reason, I just think it’s just being a try hard ‘woke’ concept rather than being progressive.”
There’s also the who involved in the song. Carey is an indomitable artist.
“Mariah Carey is a memorable artist and because of her identity that makes her top known songs also memorable … however, I don’t think the song is sexual and I highly doubt her song could fall victim to being canceled but I don’t think any song or piece is ‘immune’” to scrutiny and persecution,” said Eiler “Especially in the age where new “scandals” pop up easily and frequently and new info can change the narrative of things we thought to be ‘sound truths,’”
One thing is for certain: whether you like it or not, Mariah Carey’s hit song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” isn’t going anywhere any time soon … at least maybe until Jan 1st.
People agree it’s a great song that has come to be the epitome of the holidays.