Mariah Carey: The Undisputed Queen of Christmas
Mariah Carey has a new Christmas single, a new AppleTV Christmas special, a high-profile Christmas collaboration with McDonald’s, and a classic Christmas song that is continuing to break records. Here, I take a look at the many contributions that the undisputed Queen of Christmas has made to the Holiday Season with a ranking and review of all of her Christmas songs and television specials.
In December 2019, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” finally reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — a full 25 years after its release. I wrote an article about how that accomplishment came to be and all the records she smashed along the way. (Click here for to view that article.) Now, two years later, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is continuing to hit new milestones and smash new records.
- It was just certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America, representing sales of 10 million units. It is only the third song from the 20th century to receive this distinction, following Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” She is the first woman to have a diamond single from the 20th Century and it is the first holiday song ever to be certified diamond.
- It just surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. It is the first holiday song to ever achieve this.
- It just entered Billboard’s ever-evolving list of The Top 600 Greatest Songs of All Time (which is determined by a single’s chart position and chart longevity). It becomes her 12th entry on the list, extending her lead as the artist with the most appearances. And her lead is significant (no other solo artist or group appears more than 9 times).
- It jumped back into the Top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100 last week. Should it go to #1 again, as it did the last two Christmas seasons, it will extend both Mariah’s record for the most weeks ever at #1 (her 84 weeks vastly exceeds runner-up Rihanna’s 60 weeks) and become the first song to reach #1 in three separate chart runs.
But, Mariah Carey’s Christmas empire encompasses far more than this one smash single. She has two full-length Christmas albums (1994’s Merry Christmas and 2010’s Merry Christmas II You), over two dozen Christmas songs in addition to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” seven television and Christmas streaming specials, a children’s book, a long-running Christmas concert residency (on hold due to COVID), extensive Christmas merchandise, and a Christmas-themed takeover of McDonald’s menu that begins on December 13.
All of this has resulted in Mariah earning the moniker of “The Queen of Christmas.” No artist or public figure embodies the Christmas spirit the way she does or has provided anywhere near the quantity and quality of Christmas-themed output that she has during her career. And over the last couple of years we have heard her open up more about her connection to the holiday. She vividly and heartbreakingly recounted her longing for a “normal” Christmas during both her dysfunctional childhood and her oppressive first marriage in her New York Times best-selling memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey. (Click here for my review of her memoir). It is clearly more than a money-grab; it is a lifelong, authentic embrace of the holiday that she increasingly leans in to as she becomes more synonymous with it.
In honor of her ever-expanding Christmas empire, I decided to rank Mariah Carey’s Christmas contributions. I first review her television and streaming specials before taking a look at her Christmas songs. It is important to note that Mariah has never given us a single Christmas gift that was a true disappointment. Rather than try to separate the good from the bad, these rankings are really just separating the good from the best. And, really, it’s not about the ranking at all. It’s an opportunity to reflect on all the amazing Christmas gifts she has given us over the last 27 years.
Mariah Carey’s Christmas Specials and Movies
6. Mariah Carey’s Holiday Sketchtacular (2015). It pains me to rank this one last, because it has moments of sheer comic brilliance and showcases Mariah Carey’s superb sense of humor better than just about anything she has ever done. It is a collaboration with Funny or Die that originally debuted on the now-defunct Verizon app Go90 and is now available on YouTube. It is a collection of 8 Christmas-themed skits totaling about 35 minutes that includes a humorous interview with Katie Couric, a comic reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas, an animated skit set in a barnyard, and an utterly hilarious cooking segment. Even though it has hilarious high points, it is decidedly uneven with some segments notably better than others and it lacks sincere Christmas spirit.
5. A Christmas Melody (2015). One of the most surprising and ambitious decisions the Hallmark Channel ever made was when they hired Mariah Carey to direct and costar in an original Christmas-themed film. Although, she had never directed a feature film, Mariah had already directed several of her own music videos (including some of her very best.) Carey’s involvement elevates this film above its network brethren a bit, as she brings star power and an attention to the music that benefits the film. The superstar takes a supporting role rather than the lead, which is a shame considering that after her disastrous film debut in Glitter, she proved herself to be a strong actress with superb work in indie films like Wisegirls, Tennessee, and Precious. She plays an insufferable PTA president who makes life difficult for Lacey Chabert’s Kristin, who has returned to her small hometown with her daughter Emily after losing her job. Naturally she finds love with a handsome music teacher who she didn’t give the time of day when she was in high school and converts her skeptical daughter to loving small-town life and embracing the Christmas spirit. There is nothing particularly surprising here and the screenplay isn’t notably funny or particularly poignant, but the performances are heartfelt and the whole thing goes down like a smooth glass of egg nog.
4. Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You (2017). As a way to expand her Christmas empire and bring joy to children who may be too young to appreciate her other work, Mariah released an animated children’s book related to “All I Want for Christmas Is You” along with this animated children’s movie in 2017. Currently available on both Netflix and Peacock, it is delightfully charming. It may be a bit longer than it needs to be given its slight plot, but the animation is lovely and the story about a young girl trying to convince her parents she is mature enough to get a dog for Christmas actually works quite well. The film incorporates three Mariah Carey songs — the titular classic, the underrated “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time),” and a new trifle called “Lil Snowman.” It also features great voice work from Mariah (as the narrator), Breanna Yde (as Young Mariah), “The Fonz” himself Henry Winkler (as Mariah’s Grandpa), and Lacey Chabert (as Mariah’s mother). It will mostly appeal to young kids as opposed to adults, but there’s a lot of charm here and is better than it needs to be.
3. Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas (2015). As part of the deal that brought A Christmas Melody to air, The Hallmark Channel commissioned an original Christmas special from Mariah that debuted around the same time. Over the course of a jam-packed 38 minutes, Mariah performs 8 Christmas songs in an intimate venue, the cast of A Christmas Melody is interviewed, we see Mariah with friends and family at her winter home in Aspen, and there are a pair of skits with Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) and Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly). Even though the comedy doesn’t always work and there is a bit too much time spent promoting the film, this is an elegantly staged, briskly paced special that finds Mariah in fine vocal form.
2. Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas To You (2010). Perhaps I am biased by the fact that I had the amazing experience of seeing the special recorded live at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, but until the release of the Apple Christmas specials I always found this to be her finest hour when it came to Christmas specials. Despite being far along in her very difficult pregnancy, Mariah is bursting with energy and in utterly superb vocal form throughout. It is lushly staged with gorgeous Christmas decorations, a soulful choir, child dancers, and an exquisite band. In two particularly emotional moments, she highlights a child brought to the show by the Make-a-Wish Foundation and has her own mother join her on stage for a duet on “O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus.” It is a captivating and festive special.
1. Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas (2020) and Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues (2021). Mariah Carey’s collaboration with AppleTV has resulted in what is far-and-away her best Christmas specials. The first, released in December 2020, was co-directed by Roman Coppola (the son of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and an Oscar nominee in his own right) and Hamish Hamilton (whose credits include directing the Super Bowl Halftime Show for the past decade). This glitzy extravaganza has it all — humor, mega-stars, heart, gorgeous set pieces, and memorable music. The intentionally loose set-up involves Santa’s helper (played amusingly by Billy Eichner) contacting Mariah and asking her to come to the North Pole to help raise Christmas spirit, which is at an all-time low due to the pandemic. She hops on her sleigh (while performing a spirited, brand-new rendition of the classic Christmas tune “Sleigh Ride,” of course) and comes to the rescue. Mariah looks stunning and her re-recordings of 9 of her Christmas songs feature fresh arrangements and leave little doubt that even though her voice has changed over time, her extraordinary instrument remains intact. The special is narrated by red-hot comedian Tiffany Hadish; includes performances from extraordinary singers Arian Grande and Jennifer Hudson, rappers Snoop Dogg and Jermaine Dupri, and dancer Misty Copeland; and even features cameos from Bette Midler, Heidi Klum, and Millie Bobby Brown. Last week, a much-hyped follow-up debuted. Many were disappointed that it was so brief (18 minutes versus the original’s 43 minutes), but upon watching it I think it was intended to be an elaboration of the original special as opposed to a full-fledged sequel ( I still suspect she will give us a real sequel at some point). It features two performances, fantastically staged by music video director extraordinaire Joseph Kahn. She is joined by Khalid, Kirk Franklin, elegant dancers, and a soulful choir for the first performance of her new Christmas song “Fall in Love at Christmas.” Then, after a festive interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, does a fantastic rearrangement of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” her cover of the Phil Spector-Darlene Love classic that has quietly become one of her most popular Christmas songs. Taken together, these two Apple specials are 60 minutes of spectacularly produced, top-notch, and unbelievably festive musical entertainment.
Mariah Carey’s Christmas Songs
26. Lil Snowman (Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You Soundtrack, 2017). Sorry “Lil Snowman,” but every list has to have something in the bottom position and there was really no question that you would occupy it. Although it is catchy enough, this original track made for Mariah’s 2017 animated film sounds too much like “Run, Run Rudolph” to be fresh and features lyrics, vocals, and production that feel like they are on autopilot.
25. Sugar Plum Fairy Introlude (Merry Christmas Deluxe Anniversary Edition, 2019). The sole new recording included on the Deluxe Anniversary edition of her classic album was this Introlude, which finds Mariah vocalizing along to the legendary Nutcracker composition in her whistle register. It is a remarkable vocal achievement, but with a 45 second run-time and no actual lyrics, it is a slight entry in her Christmas oeuvre.
24. Jesus Born on This Day (Merry Christmas, 1994). One of several tracks that Mariah wrote and produced that many would mistake for a standard, this ode to the birth of Jesus is elegantly written and features great use of a children’s choir. But it is so earnest and solemn that it never truly comes alive.
23. One Child (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). A spiritual sequel to “Jesus Born on This Day,” this track finds Mariah Carey teaming up with composer March Shaiman for another children’s choir-incorporating, timeless ballad about the birth of Jesus. It suffers from the same limitations as its predecessor, but it has a more thrilling climax and works better as a result.
22. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Gloria (In Excelsis Deo) (Merry Christmas, 1994). Mariah clearly loves this mashup of the two traditional Christmas songs given that she performs it in nearly all of her Christmas concerts. For me it is a lovely, choir-fueled track with great vocals that nevertheless could have used some fresher or more unexpected elements in its production.
21. The First Noel/Born is the King (Interlude) (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). The “Born is the King (Interlude)” that closes out this song is a wildly creative and borderline seductive outro that finds Mariah at her best. The rest of the song leading up to it, however, is a straightforward, downtempo rendition of “The First Noel” that fails to catch fire.
20. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)/Housetop Celebration (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). Perhaps the most she has ever integrated hip-hop into a Christmas track (at least outside of her remixes), this mashup incorporates a funky club bounce, a voiceover from Randy Jackson, and the murmuring of festive partygoers. The result may be a bit chaotic and kitschy, but it is joyful and infectious.
19. Charlie Brown Christmas (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). This cover of the theme from the iconic 1965 Peanuts Christmas special begins with the instantly recognizable, bouncy instrumental arrangement from the special before slowing down into a heartfelt but restrained rendition of the touching “Christmas Time is Here.”
18. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Merry Christmas, 1994). If anyone ever gave me 80 seconds to prove that Mariah Carey is a genius vocalist and producer, I would play them this a capella bonus track, which finds the traditional carol being reimagined as a brief, dramatically urgent choral track with layers upon layers of pitch-perfect Mariah vocals. If only it was longer, this would rank much higher on my list.
17. Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (Merry Christmas, 1994). Mariah recorded not one but two memorable versions of this 1934 J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie classic. The first, which appeared on her original 1994 album, is a frenzied, festive, and somewhat straightforward take with a music box-like intro and a chaotic outro full of giddy children. The second, which appeared on a subsequent deluxe edition of the album, is a guitar-driven remix that is closer to Bruce Springsteen’s classic cover. It features superb production from Jermaine Dupri and Brian Michael Cox (who worked with her on songs like “We Belong Together”) and an atypically raspy vocal performance. Best Version: Both are great, but I prefer the Anniversary Mix.
16. Silent Night (Merry Christmas, 1994). This solemn opener to her classic 1994 album is perfectly lovely, but doesn’t reach the dizzying heights of the songs that follow. Nevertheless, it is an expertly calibrated vocal performance and features appropriately elegant and restrained production.
15. Sleigh Ride (Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special, 2020). So much of the buzz for Mariah Carey’s 2020 AppleTV Christmas special focused on its A-list guest stars, including the new collaboration with Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson, that few were expecting it when she dropped a brand new Christmas track as the special’s opening number. Mariah teamed with frequent collaborators Daniel Moore III and Marc Shaiman (among others) to update Leroy Anderson’s 1948 classic. It has an utterly joyous production, soulful vocals, and is bursting with fun Christmas sound effects.
14. Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child (Merry Christmas, 1994). A traditional Gospel number gets a bold and euphoric makeover from Mariah and co-producers Walter Afanasieff and Loris Holland. Recorded in a church with a full choir and giggling children, this is one of the best forays Mariah has done into full-blown Gospel music over the course of her whole career.
13. The Star (The Star Soundtrack, 2017). Mariah Carey collaborated with composer Marc Shaiman on this Golden Globe-nominated song from the 2017 animated film about the Nativity of Jesus. It is a rousing ballad with a soaring, inspirational chorus that charmingly incorporates a child’s choir.
12. O Come, All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). “O Come All Ye Faithful” rivals “Joy to the World” as my all-time favorite religious Christmas carol. Although I usually prefer a more soaring arrangement (e.g., Celine Dion’s gloriously bombastic rendition), there is something utterly gorgeous about Mariah’s restrained take on it. It is sublime throughout but becomes something truly special when her mother, a professionally trained opera singer, makes the first and only appearance on one of her daughter’s song as she sings the “Hallelujah Chorus” in her exquisite Soprano.
11. O Little Town of Bethlehem/Little Drummer Boy Medley (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). I clearly love this mashup of the two traditional Christmas carols more than most, but I still don’t understand why. It is gorgeously arranged by Mariah, Big Jim Wright, and Randy Jackson and the vocal climax where Mariah bursts back in after a “pa-rum-pa-pum-pum” interlude belting “For Christ is born of Mary/And gathered all above” is one of my favorite vocal moments she has ever recorded. (And watching her deliver it live while I was in the audience of her 2010 special was unforgettable.)
10. Miss You Most (At Christmas Time) (Merry Christmas, 1994). It took me many years to come around on this track, which I initially found to play like a bonus track from her prior album Music Box. Like several songs on that mega-selling album, I thought it was trying too hard to be an adult contemporary/easy listening crowd-pleaser. But over the years, I have come to see what fellow lambs saw instantly — this heartbreaking ode to missing the love of your life at the holiday season is an extraordinarily touching ballad.
9. Where Are You Christmas? (Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas Soundtrack, 2000). Perhaps my most controversial decision when crafting this list is the inclusion of this theme song to Ron Howard and Jim Carrey’s blockbuster reimagining of The Grinch even though it was recorded and popularized by country pop star Faith Hill. Too few people are aware that it was actually written by Mariah Carey (alongside James Horner and Will Jennings). She recorded the song but it could not be released due to legal issues involving her ex-husband, Sony legal head Tommy Mottola. It was given to Faith Hill to re-record and, although she did a truly spectacular job with it, I am one of millions of lambs desperately awaiting the day we get to hear Mariah’s original version. It is a heartwarming classic about losing and regaining the holiday spirt as you grow older. It is gorgeously written and its cinematic orchestration is superb.
8. Fall In Love at Christmas (Non-Album Single, 2021). I have a strong feeling that as the years go on Mariah’s latest Christmas single will rise even higher on my ranking. The song is a heavily atmospheric, swooningly romantic R&B slow burn about two lovers reuniting at Christmas time. It is elegantly written and gorgeously performed by Mariah Carey and R&B great Khalid. The song is silky smooth perfection up until gospel legend Kirk Franklin arrives and breaks it down with a festive, choir-backed outro that kicks the song into an unexpected level of festive frenzy. Best Version: Mariah has released several versions of the song but the original with the complete outro is the best.
7. Christmas Time is in the Air Again (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). If you played this song for anyone without intimate knowledge of the music industry, they would undoubtedly assume that it is simply a cover of a 1940s Christmas classic written by someone like Irving Berlin and popularized by someone like Nat King Cole or Bing Crosby. However, it is actually an original track written and composed by Mariah Carey and Marc Shaiman. It has timeless elegance, a remarkably challenging vocal performance, and a song-altering key change that soars.
6. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Merry Christmas, 1994). Mariah’s cover of singer Darlene Love and songwriter/producer Phil Spector’s 1963 Christmas classic has become one of Mariah’s signature Christmas songs since its release. It is a thrilling and emotional update of an already great song that features aching vocals from Mariah and an appropriately festive arrangement. Best Version: Although the 2021 Apple special delivered a brilliant new rendition, I’m still partial to the arrangement of the original.
5. When Christmas Comes (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). Mariah collaborated with James Poysner of The Roots on this masterful soul song that has heavy R&B elements. The lush arrangement is horn-heavy and the melody is lovely and hypnotic. Lyrically and sonically, it is the embodiment of Christmas joy. Best Version: The version incorporating vocals from R&B superstar John Legend works very well, but I think the original solo version works better.
4. Oh Santa! (Merry Christmas II You, 2010). This uptempo original is a blessed union of modern R&B and a ’60s girl group vibe. The lyrical territory is familiar (Mariah wants Santa to reunite her with her ex on Christmas), but it has playful and clever lyrics (“I saw them shopping last week/And his new girl was so bleak”). The production is filled with chimes, bells, handclaps, and chants making it an utterly joyous and festive track. Best Version: The original is superb, as is the fantastic remix that mashes it up with “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” but for me it’s the rendition with fellow divas Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson for her 2020 Apple special that reigns supreme. The subtle rearrangements work and the three women blend beautifully.
3. Joy to the World (Merry Christmas, 1994). 375 years after it was written, Mariah put an unforgettable spin on the perennial Christmas carol. Her voice has rarely sounded better than on the slow build introduction and she has rarely produced anything as joyful as what occurs when it kicks into full gear. The song gets extra credit for its clever mashup of the traditional carol with Three Dog Night’s decidedly less religious song of the same name. Best Version: Mariah’s rendition of the song at her 1994 concert at St. John the Divine is not only the best version of this song but one of her finest hours as a live performer. The remarkably high-energy and soulful outro (“Feel That Joy!”) is arguably my favorite thing she has ever done vocally. Thanks to the 2019 release of the 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Merry Christmas, we also now have access to it on CD and streaming.
2. O Holy Night (Merry Christmas, 1994). Her flawless cover of the traditional holiday hymn is perhaps the best showcase for her lower register in her entire catalogue. When she belts “Fall on your knees” at the song’s climax, it’s almost enough to compel you to do so. Best Version: Although she has a few different versions, the thrilling climax on the original is unparalleled.
1. All I Want for Christmas Is You (Merry Christmas, 1994). Precious few songs are remembered two and a half decades after their release. Virtually no songs steadily grow in popularity every year for a quarter century. But that’s what this song has done and continues to do. But as we all know wild success doesn’t always equal artistic perfection. Here it does. There is no need to elaborate any further as droves of articles have been written about its profoundly challenging vocal arrangement, how it pays homage to the standards of the 40s and the Motown hits of the 60s with its production, and its unparalleled ability to induce Christmas joy in the masses. Best Version: There are several versions of this song — a hip-hop So-So Def remix, numerous club mixes, a version with an alternative intro, and a duet with Justin Bieber — but the original remains the best.
Follow the author of this article on Medium and Twitter.
Check out other articles about Mariah Carey and Christmas by this author: