

The group discussed recording a Christmas album, but hesitated, as such albums were typically released towards when artists' careers are waning. Walter Afanasieff co-wrote and co-produced the song with Careyįollowing the success of her 1993 album Music Box, Carey and her management at Columbia Records - including Carey's then-husband, Tommy Mottola, head of Columbia's parent label Sony Music Entertainment - began planning further projects. Carey also re-recorded the song as a duet with Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his 2011 album Under the Mistletoe, known as the "SuperFestive!" version.

In 2010, Carey re-recorded the song for her second holiday album, Merry Christmas II You (2010), known as the "Extra Festive" version. A third music video directed by Joseph Kahn was released in 2019 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the song.Ĭarey has performed "All I Want for Christmas Is You" during numerous live television appearances and tours throughout her career.

The second video was filmed in black and white, and features Carey dressed in 1960s style in homage to the Ronettes, alongside backup singers and female dancers. Carey's then-husband Tommy Mottola makes a cameo as Santa Claus, bringing Carey a gift and leaving on a red sleigh. The primary video features grainy home-movie-style footage of Carey, her dogs and family during the holiday season, as well as Carey dressed in a Santa suit frolicking on a snowy mountainside. Two music videos were originally commissioned for the song. In 2023, the song was selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Recording Registry. By 2022, it had reportedly earned $80 million in royalties. The song is certified 12 times platinum by RIAA, denoting sales of 12 million copies in the United States, becoming the first and only holiday song to accomplish this feat. With sales of 16 million copies worldwide, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is the best-selling holiday song by a female artist, and one of the best-selling digital singles of all time. The following year, it also topped the charts in the United Kingdom for the first time, spending a record 69 weeks in its top 40 prior to reaching number one. In 2019, it topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, 25 years after its original release, thereby breaking several records, including the longest trip to number one. The song became a global success, topping the charts in over 25 countries including Australia, Canada, France and Germany. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" received critical acclaim, with The New Yorker describing it as "one of the few worthy modern additions to the holiday canon".

The song has become a Christmas standard and continues to surge in popularity each holiday season. The track is an uptempo love song that includes bell chimes, backing vocals, and synthesizers. Written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, the song was released as the lead single from the album on October 29, 1994, by Columbia Records. " All I Want for Christmas Is You" is a song by American singer Mariah Carey from her fourth studio album and first holiday album, Merry Christmas (1994). "All I Want for Christmas Is You" on YouTube For other uses, see All I Want for Christmas Is You (disambiguation). This article is about the Mariah Carey song.
