All I Want for Christmas Is You

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" is the lead single from Mariah Carey's first holiday album and fourth studio album, Merry Christmas in 1994. Written and produced by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff.

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" is an uptempo love song that declares that the narrator does not care about Christmas presents or lights; all she wants for Christmas is to be with her lover.

The song has become established as a Christmas standard. It has sold more than 14 million copies globally since its debut, making it one of the best-selling singles ever. In the US, the song has sold 3.6 million downloads as of 2019.

Over time, countless artists have covered the song, including Miley Cyrus, John Mayer, Shania Twain, Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, Demi Lovato, Cee Lo Green, Lady Antebellum and Mumford & Sons.

Mariah herself has re-recorded the song too. In 2011, Carey re-recorded the song as a duet with Justin Bieber. A year later in 2012, Carey recorded a fun version with classroom instruments and children for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The song’s influence has extended beyond music, too. In 2015, Carey released a book with the same title as her holiday staple, acknowledging the song’s longevity:

When I wrote ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ it was my dream for it to become a classic Christmas song. I am so proud of the song’s impact as it continues to create memories for fans each year. I am thrilled to be able to bring the story of the song to new.

She also released a movie called Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You in 2017.

The song’s legacy remains unparalleled. It charts every holiday season since its original release, and is estimated to have earned Carey $60 million in royalties. The song is also referred to as “the biggest Christmas song of all time”. The song’s immense popularity has earned Mariah the title ‘Queen of Christmas’.

After 25 years, the track finally reached No. 1 in Billboard Hot 100, becoming Mariah’s 19th song to do so and making the singer the solo artist with most Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers. It also sets a new record of the longest run to No. 1 on the chart, surpassing Elton John’s re-recording of Candle in the Wind.