Carey crashes into Christmas consciousness through annual audio assault

As the skeletons retire and jack-o-lanterns begin to rot, every year without fail Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit “All I Want for Christmas is You” creeps its way back into the charts. Despite the way the song makes its way back into popularity and trends, it still raises controversies every year without fail. Does this festive anthem truly ignite yuletide bliss or does the track simply shamble forward like a festering corpse that refuses to bed down for its forever name.

When winter approaches, many can agree that there’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by listening to music. From “Last Christmas,” to “Little Saint Nick,” and, of course, “Jingle Bells,” people never fail to go crazy with the musical Christmas classics. “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Carey is one of those songs. It reaches a tremendous high in the charts year after year. The timeless tune has and will always continue to be loved by generations. Play the song for anyone and they’ll be able to tell you what it’s called, even those who don’t care for Carey’s holiday music.

That being said, it can be understood why some don’t like the song. Perhaps it doesn’t hold that ‘traditional’ Christmas feel that we all know and love, or maybe it’s because of its upbeat tempo. After all, it’s arguably a bit difficult to relax by the fire with 150 BPMs of Mariah Carey blasting through the speakers. However, if you ask me, a song you can dance to screams ‘Christmas spirit’ much more than an old guy with a deep voice singing what is essentially a lullaby (e.g., “White Christmas,” “Little Drummer Boy,” or anything sung by Michael Bublé… must the list go on?).

Despite these minor disadvantages, the track still encapsulates an essence of Christmas. Complete with a Santa-clad Mariah on the album cover, the distinctive opening church bells and, notably very repetitive, jingle bells throughout make for such a happy and uplifting song. The Christmas record has an extra kick of pop complete with Carey’s vocals that reach across generations.

Personally, Mariah’s big hit “All I Want for Christmas is You” is one of the best songs to listen to, especially during Christmas. The way Mariah methodically emphasizes the last word in each line, as well as the initial tone of the piece, effortlessly hooks a person into enjoying every word and note the song encompasses. The melody causes the chorus to have an overall sense of cheer and joy. Clearly, the way the song feels impacts how outstanding it is. 

The lyrics are simple enough to sing along to and people are able to connect to the number itself. In particular, when Mariah sings, “I just wanna see my baby, Standing right outside my door,” people who live around the world are able to make personal connections, making the song more enjoyable. For instance, such as someone eagerly waiting for their loved one to come home for the holidays. Not only are these lyrics relatable, but the rest of the verses from Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” are too. 

 Controversies aside, “All I Want for Christmas is You” has proven, year after year, to undeniably be one of the greatest Christmas songs. From beginning off as a single released by producers to becoming a classic, Mariah Carey’s hit tops the charts worldwide every December; and when Christmas finally comes to an end, people who dislike Carey’s track earn a break for ten months until November rolls around again and Mariah’s song begins to defrost.

By MaKenna Freund

Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue III

November 29th, 2021