Merry Christmas | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 28, 1994 | |||
Recorded | December 1993 – August 1994 | |||
Studio | The Hit Factory (New York City) | |||
Genre | Christmas | |||
Length | 39:31 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer |
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Mariah Carey chronology | ||||
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Singles from Merry Christmas | ||||
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Merry Christmas is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, and her first Christmas album. Released by Columbia Records on October 28, 1994, at the peak of the initial stretch of Carey's career, between Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995), the album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs in addition to original material. Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she wrote all of the original tracks, as well as producing Carey's interpretations of the covered material. Three singles were released from the album, of which "All I Want for Christmas Is You" went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time and the best-selling Christmas ringtone in the United States.
Critical response to the album's contemporary Christmas theme was mixed. Some music critics complimented the "gospel and soul-inflected" vocals and even called it "Carey's best record" to date. Re-released on multiple occasions in various formats since its debut, the album has sold 5.7 million copies in the United States as of December 2019 and has been certified nine-times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [1] Internationally, it reached number one in Japan, Latvia, and Lithuania. It achieved the top-ten in 18 additional countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
In 2005, the album was re-released as a special edition DualDisc. This edition included two bonus tracks, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" - with a new vocal mix - and a special anniversary mix of "Santa Claus is Comin' To Town" on the CD side. The DVD side features the entire album in enhanced PCM stereo and music videos. In 2010, Carey released a follow-up, Merry Christmas II You . In 2019, a two-disc 25th anniversary deluxe edition was released, which included the original album and its bonus tracks on disc one, while disc two included a new track called "Sugar Plum Fairy Introlude", live performances from St. John The Divine, select songs from Merry Christmas II You, non-album Christmas singles, and numerous remixes. As of 2021, Merry Christmas has sold 15 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling holiday albums of all time.
Carey has expressed her belief in God and the connection between music and spirituality, and felt the album was finally a way to portray her spirituality through music. [2] After the success of Carey's previous effort, Music Box, there was speculation of a new project in the works; however it was not until October 1994, only one month before the album's release, that Billboard announced Carey would be releasing an album for the Christmas season. [3] Initially, critics were shocked; they did not know how Carey would fare as an entertainer across genres, as she had previously only been viewed as a pop star. [2] Nevertheless, Carey, unaffected by the speculation, continued working on and promoting the album in high spirits, confident in her work. [2] The idea proved to be wise, earning Carey recognition in various markets including Christian radio and contemporary R&B stations, as well as extended her fame in Japan, where the album experienced much of its success. [2]
Throughout the album's development, Carey worked extensively with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she collaborated extensively on Emotions (1991) and Music Box (1993). [2] Together, they wrote all three of the album's original songs, as well as producing most of the traditional tracks at The Hit Factory, in New York. [2]
Merry Christmas boasted a variety of musical arrangements, sounds, and genres. Carey's goal was to provide an album that would have a "Christmas feel", providing a mixture of soulful tracks, as well as fun and joyous holiday treats. [2] The song "Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child", produced by Carey, Afanasieff, and Holland, was described as an arrangement of a traditional gospel standard that "really took flight". The song was recorded in a church, with many live backup singers and children playing tambourines and other melodious instruments. [3] The goal was to produce a "real church flavored song", in which Loris Holland played the keyboards and allowed Carey's voice to "cut loose". [3] According to Chris Nickson, Carey's love of gospel music came through on the track, writing, "[she] led the band without pushing herself forward, letting the song develop and work out, trading lines with the chorus until, after the crescendo, the musicians moved into a fast double-time to the end." [3]
"You have to have a nice balance between standard Christian hymns and fun songs. It was definitely a priority for me to write at least a few new songs, but for the most part, people really want to hear the standards at Christmas, no matter how good a new song is."
—Carey, describing Merry Christmas during an interview with CD Review [3]
"All I Want for Christmas Is You", the album's lead single was described as an "up-tempo love song, one that could have easily been written for Tommy Mottola". [3] "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)", another one of the album's original tracks, was very different from its predecessor. The song was described as a "sad ballad", in line with many of Carey's previous hit singles. [3] The song featured a synthesized orchestra, including keyboard notes courtesy of Afanasieff, during which Carey would sing to her "long-gone lover, crystallizing the way that Christmas brought memories of the past into focus." [3] According to Nickson "Jesus Born on This Day" was the most impressive original track on the album. It was described as a "full-blown production number", which again featured synthesized orchestra, as well as a live children's choir. [3] The song's tune was described as "solemn and hymn-like, but the arrangement, oddly, made it less religious and rather more glitzy, behind the lyrics that overtly praised Jesus." [3]
In addition, Carey recorded a cover of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love, as well as classics such as "Silent Night", "O Holy Night" and "Joy to the World". [3] The latter song, which was used as a promotional single, was remixed several times and sent to various clubs; adding to the album's range of listeners. [3] Record producer and composer, Loris Holland, co-produced some of the albums gospel flavored tracks, including "Silent Night", where he arranged the backing vocals and synthesizers. [3] Carey's rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", was deemed as "one of the more playful tracks on the album", alongside "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". [3]
In the United States, Carey started promotion for Merry Christmas with a live concert at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on December 8, 1994, performing for the first time several tracks from the album, including "All I Want for Christmas Is You", [4] which was later performed on several of her concert tours, including the Japanese shows of Carey's Daydream World Tour (1996), Butterfly World Tour (1998), Rainbow World Tour (2000), Charmbracelet World Tour (2003) and The Adventures of Mimi Tour (2006), due to the massive success of the song in Japan, which became her best-selling single in the country. On December 25, 2001, she appeared on the Christmas special BET Christmas Remembrances Special, where she performed "Joy to the World" and her hit "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men. Three years later, she appeared in 2004 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, where she performed "Joy to the World" and "All I Want for Christmas is You". [5]
On December 3, 2008, she performed "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" at the 2008 Grammy Nomination Concert. [6] A year later, Carey sang the So So Def remix version of "All I Want for Christmas is You" at the opening night of her Angels Advocate Tour on New Year's Eve. [7] Other live performances of "All I Want for Christmas is You" includes the 2010 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, [8] Christmas In Rockefeller Center (in 2012, 2013 and 2014) and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in 2012, where she performed the song alongside Jimmy Fallon and The Roots. Carey also performed "All I Want for Christmas is You" with Michael Bublé for his third Annual Christmas Special in December 2013. She also performed the song at the 91st Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on December 16, 2013.
During The Late Late Show with James Corden on December 15, 2016, Carey sang "All I Want for Christmas is You" on the popular feature Carpool Karaoke. Fellow singers Adele, Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Elton John, Selena Gomez, Gwen Stefani, Coldplay's Chris Martin and the band Red Hot Chili Peppers were featured in the video. [9] Carey also performed the song at The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration , VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night and Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration in 2016. In December 2019, Carey returned to The Late Late Show to perform the song for its 25th anniversary. [10]
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Merry Christmas, Carey embarked on her first Christmas concert residency, All I Want For Christmas Is You, A Night of Joy & Festivity, which began on December 15, 2014, at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, and ended on December 15, 2019, after completing eight legs and fifty-six shows in North America and Europe. On December 1, 2020, Carey performed a medley of "Heroes", "Hero", and "Joy to the World" at Good Morning America , two days prior to her Christmas special Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special , where she re-recorded and performed several songs from the album. [11] [12] The following year, she performed "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and a new song, "Fall in Love at Christmas", during her 2021 Christmas Special Mariah's Christmas: The Magic Continues . [13] She also performed "All I Want for Christmas is You" at the 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. [14]
Merry Christmas was supported by three commercial singles and two promotional singles, with different releases depending on the country. The album's lead single, "All I Want for Christmas Is You", was released on October 29, 1994, in Japan, [15] and in other countries the next month. [16] [17] While it was not initially commercially released in the United States, [18] Billboard described Columbia's level of promotion as unprecedented for a Christmas album. [19] On November 14, 1994, the label released three songs to US radio stations as promotional singles: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (top 40 and adult contemporary radio stations), "Jesus Born on This Day" (Christian and gospel stations), and "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)" (R&B stations). [2] [19] [20] The latter was also commercially released that year, [20] including in the Philippines where it served as the lead single in that country. [21] Originally released in 1994 as a 12-inch promotional single of dance remixes, [2] [20] "Joy to the World" was released in Australia as the album's third single on November 27, 1995, [22] becoming a top-forty hit there. "O Holy Night" was released as a promotional single in 1996 [20] [23] and 1998, [24] and later peaked at number 70 on the US Holiday 100 chart, and entered the charts in France, Italy and Iceland; later being certified Platinum in the United States; and Gold in Canada and Italy.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" is Carey's biggest international hit of her career, breaking several records worldwide and topping the charts in over 25 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK Singles chart and the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the best-selling Christmas song by a female artist and one of the best-selling singles of all time, selling over 16 million copies worldwide. The song was certified 14× Platinum in the US, becoming the first holiday song to achieve this. It is also Carey's best-selling single in the UK, where it was certified seven-times Platinum, becoming the highest-certified song of all time by a female artist in the country. It is also her best-selling single in Canada, Australia and Germany, where it was certified Diamond, 9× Platinum and 2× Platinum, respectively. [25]
Other songs from the album also achieved success worldwide:
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [26] |
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | [27] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [28] |
Entertainment Weekly | C [29] |
Los Angeles Times | [30] |
Philadelphia Daily News | [31] |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10 [32] |
The Province | [33] |
Q | [34] |
The Tampa Tribune | [35] |
In the Los Angeles Times , Chris Willman wrote that Carey "attempts her share of girl-group pop amid the quasi-gospel melisma, though still not evidencing as much personality as talent in either style". [30] The New York Times journalist Jon Pareles was more critical in his review. "Regardless of backup, Ms. Carey oversings, glutting songs with her vocal tics—like sliding down from the note above the melody note—and turning expressions of devotion into narcissistic displays." [36] Chris Dickinson from the Chicago Tribune called the singer a "trilling songbird" and "over-the-top irritant" throughout the album, particularly on "All I Want for Christmas Is You", where she "sounds like a bush-league Petula Clark". [37] The newspaper later named it the seventh worst Christmas album ever. [38]
J. D. Considine was more enthusiastic in The Baltimore Sun . In his opinion, Merry Christmas "may look like just another attempt to cash in on Christmas cheer, but is actually the work of someone who genuinely loves this music". Considine said while Carey's gospel and soul-inflected vocal exercises worked well with the traditional songs, "the album's real strength is the conviction she brings to otherwise corny fare like "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", while the way she augments "Joy to the World" with a bit of the Three Dog Night hit is pure genius." [39] Steve Morse from The Boston Globe argued that it was perhaps Carey's best record, on which she abandoned the overly polished sound of her previous albums and "cut loose with unbridled soul". [40]
In a retrospective review, Barry Schwartz of Stylus Magazine believed Merry Christmas may have been "the definitive Mariah Carey album", finding the singer at "her absolute creative and commercial peak, her voice still a marvel, her songs and performances still undeniably brilliant". [41] AllMusic editor Roch Parisien deemed "All I Want for Christmas Is You" the record's highlight while lamenting Carey's "high opera" pretensions on "O Holy Night" and her dance/club rendition of "Joy to the World". [26]
Merry Christmas was released in the United States on November 1, 1994, and debuted at number thirty on the US Billboard 200 with 45,000 copies sold in its first week. [2] [42] In its fifth week, the album peaked at number three, with sales of 208,000 copies, but experienced its highest sales in its sixth week (when it was at number six), with another 500,000 copies sold. The album was the second best-selling holiday album that year with a total of 1,859,000 copies sold. [43] It remained in the top twenty for eight weeks and on the Billboard 200 for thirteen weeks, reentering the chart three times; peaking at number 149 the first time, 115 the second and at 61 the third (it has spent a total of 113 weeks on the chart). [44] On December 8, 2023, Merry Christmas was certified nine-times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of nine million copies in the US. [1] As of December 2019, the album has sold 5.7 million copies in the US [45] and is one of the best-selling holiday albums in the United States. In 2021, the album was named by Billboard as the third Greatest Holiday Album of All Time. [46]
Merry Christmas became Carey's first number-one album in Japan, where the album experienced its highest sales, where it sold 2.8 million copies and became the fourth best-selling album by a non-Asian solo artist. [47] [48] [49]
In Europe, Merry Christmas experienced success, peaking at number one in Latvia and Lithuania; at number two in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands; at number three in Italy; at number four in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland; and at number five in Hungary and Estonia. It also reached the top-ten in Finland, Greece, Portugal, and the European Top 100 Albums. To date, Merry Christmas was certified 4× Platinum in Denmark; 3× Platinum in Norway; 2× Platinum in Italy; Platinum in the Netherlands; and Gold in Austria, Germany, Iceland and Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, Merry Christmas peaked at number 32 on the UK Albums chart, and it was certified Platinum. Additionally, Merry Christmas became the first Christmas album to reach number one on the UK R&B Albums chart, as the album topped the chart during the week of November 8, 2019, becoming Carey's eleventh number-one album on the chart, replacing Kanye West's Jesus Is King , and being replaced by Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding . [50]
In Australia, the album peaked at number two, and was certified seven-times Platinum, denoting shipments of 490,000 copies and finishing 11th on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) 1994 End of Year Chart. [51] [52] Merry Christmas has sold 15 million copies worldwide, and stands as one of the best selling holiday albums in world history. [53] [54]
All tracks are produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Silent Night" | Franz Xaver Gruber | 3:39 | |
2. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" |
| 4:01 | |
3. | "O Holy Night" | Adolphe Adam | 4:27 | |
4. | "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" | 2:33 | ||
5. | "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)" |
| 4:32 | |
6. | "Joy to the World" |
| 4:18 | |
7. | "Jesus Born on This Day" |
| 3:41 | |
8. | "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" | 3:24 | ||
9. | "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" / "Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)" | First title: Cummings after Mendelssohn / Second title: Traditional |
| 2:59 |
10. | "Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child" | Traditional |
| 4:26 |
Total length: | 38:00 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" | Traditional | 1:19 |
Total length: | 39:19 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (Anniversary Mix) |
| 2:45 |
Total length: | 42:04 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (Anniversary Mix) |
| |
2. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" |
| |
3. | "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)" |
| |
4. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (J.D. Remix Animated) |
| |
5. | "Joy to the World" (Celebration Mix Video) |
| |
6. | "O Holy Night" | Adolphe Adam | |
7. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Black & White Video Version) |
| |
8. | "Joy to the World" (Live at St. John the Divine) |
|
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Silent Night" | Gruber | 3:39 |
2. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" |
| 4:01 |
3. | "O Holy Night" | Adam | 4:27 |
4. | "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" |
| 2:33 |
5. | "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)" |
| 4:32 |
6. | "Joy to the World" |
| 4:18 |
7. | "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (Anniversary Mix)" |
| 2:46 |
Total length: | 26:16 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sugar Plum Fairy Introlude" |
| 0:44 |
2. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (live at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine) |
| 5:06 |
3. | "Silent Night" (live at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine) | 3:44 | |
4. | "Joy to the World" (live at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine) |
| 5:40 |
5. | "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" / "Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)" (live at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine) |
| 3:03 |
6. | "Jesus Born on This Day" (live at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine) |
| 3:46 |
7. | "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (live at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine) |
| 3:27 |
8. | "Oh Santa!" (from Merry Christmas II You , 2010) |
| 3:31 |
9. | "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again" (from Merry Christmas II You, 2010) |
| 3:02 |
10. | "When Christmas Comes" (with John Legend) (from Merry Christmas II You) |
| 4:46 |
11. | "The Star" |
| 4:01 |
12. | "Lil Snowman" |
| 3:19 |
13. | "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (Anniversary Mix) | 2:46 | |
14. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (So So Def Remix) (featuring Jermaine Dupri and Bow Wow) |
| 3:44 |
15. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Mariah's New Dance Mix Extended 2009) |
| 6:42 |
16. | "Joy to the World" (Celebration Mix) |
| 8:00 |
17. | "Joy to the World" (Flava Mix) |
| 7:06 |
18. | "Sugar Plum Fairy Introlude" (Acapella) |
| 0:41 |
Total length: | 73:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
19. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Live at the Tokyo Dome) |
| 4:55 |
Total length: | 78:02 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah's New Dance Mix Edit 2009)" (Low Sunday remix) |
| 3:35 |
Notes
Sample credits
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [60]
Musicians
Production
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
All-time charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [143] | 7× Platinum | 490,000‡ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [144] | Gold | 25,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [145] | 3× Platinum | 300,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [146] | 4× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [147] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Iceland (FHF) [148] | Gold | 2,500‡ [149] |
Italy 1994-1995 sales | — | 200,000 [150] |
Italy (FIMI) [151] sales since 2009 | 2× Platinum | 100,000‡ |
Japan (RIAJ) [152] | 2× Million | 2,800,000 [49] [48] |
Netherlands (NVPI) [153] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [154] | Platinum | 15,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [155] | 3× Platinum | 60,000* |
Singapore (RIAS) [156] | Platinum | 10,000* |
South Korea | — | 523,503 [157] |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [158] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [159] | Platinum | 320,000 [160] |
United States (RIAA) [1] | 9× Platinum | 9,000,000‡ / 8,487,000 [161] |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI) [162] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
Worldwide | — | 15,000,000 [163] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Distributor(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Europe | October 28, 1994 | CD | International | Columbia | [164] |
Japan | October 29, 1994 | Sony Music Japan | [165] | ||
United States | November 1, 1994 | Standard | Columbia | [166] | |
Australia | November 7, 1994 | International | [167] | ||
United States | October 17, 1995 | CD Plus | Standard | [168] | |
United Kingdom | November 20, 1995 |
| International | [169] | |
United States | October 25, 2005 | International + bonus track | Sony BMG | [170] | |
Canada | December 5, 2005 | CD | 7-Eleven limited edition | [171] [172] [173] | |
United States | |||||
Europe | November 3, 2008 | International | [164] [174] | ||
Various | October 23, 2015 | Vinyl (red) | Legacy | [164] [175] | |
November 1, 2019 | Deluxe Anniversary Edition | [176] | |||
United States | October 30, 2020 | Vinyl (Target exclusive clear with white, red, and green splatter) | International | Legacy | [177] |
December 18, 2020 | Vinyl (Urban Outfitters exclusive transparent red/green) | [178] |
Mariah Carey's 1994 album Merry Christmas ... originally sold 15 million copies worldwide.
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: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)Mariah Carey is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. An influential figure in popular music, she is known for her five-octave vocal range and upper-belting technique, as well as for her melismatic singing style and signature use of the whistle register. She is also credited with influencing vocal styles, merging hip-hop with pop through her collaborations and popularizing remixes. She has been referred to by Guinness World Records as the "Songbird Supreme", and was named by the Rolling Stone in 2023 as the fifth-greatest singer in popular music of all time.
"Without You" is a song written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of British rock group Badfinger, and first released on their 1970 album No Dice. The power ballad has been recorded by over 180 artists, and versions released as singles by Harry Nilsson (1971), T. G. Sheppard (1983) and Mariah Carey (1994) became international best-sellers. The Nilsson version was included in 2021's Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Paul McCartney once described it as "the killer song of all time".
"O Holy Night" is a sacred song about the night of the birth of Jesus Christ, described as 'the dear Saviour' in the original, and frequently performed as a Christmas carol. Originally based on a French-language poem written in 1843 by poet Placide Cappeau, it was set to music by composer Adolphe Adam in 1847. The English version, with small changes to the initial melody, is by John Sullivan Dwight.
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" is a Christmas song featuring Santa Claus, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and first recorded by Harry Reser and His Band. When it was covered by Eddie Cantor on his radio show in November 1934 it became a hit; within 24 hours, 500,000 copies of sheet music and more than 30,000 records were sold. The version for Bluebird Records by George Hall and His Orchestra was very popular in 1934 and reached the various charts of the day. The song has been recorded by over 200 artists including Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, the Crystals, Neil Diamond, Fred Astaire, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Mitch Miller, Boxcar Willie, Bill Evans, Chris Isaak, the Temptations, The Pointer Sisters, the Carpenters, Michael Bublé, Luis Miguel, Michael Bolton, and the Jackson 5.
Daydream is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released on September 26, 1995, by Columbia Records. The follow-up to her internationally successful studio album Music Box (1993), and the holiday album Merry Christmas (1994), Daydream differed from her previous releases by leaning increasingly towards urban music. Throughout the project, Carey collaborated with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she wrote and produced most of her previous albums. With Daydream, Carey took more control over the musical direction as well as the album's composition. Carey considered the album to be the beginning of her musical and vocal transition, a change that would become more evident in her sixth studio album Butterfly (1997). During the album's production, Carey endured many creative differences with her label and then-husband Tommy Mottola. On Daydream, Carey collaborated with Jermaine Dupri, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and R&B group Boyz II Men. With Afanasieff's assistance and the addition of a few contemporary producers, she was able to make a subtle transition into the contemporary R&B market, after previously only pursuing pop, adult contemporary and traditional R&B music.
American singer Mariah Carey has released 88 official singles, 22 promotional singles, and has made 30 guest appearances. Her self-titled debut album in 1990 yielded four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, the first being "Vision of Love", a song credited with revolutionizing the usage of distinguished vocal stylings, predominantly the practice of melisma, and effectively influencing virtually every female R&B performer since the 1990s. Subsequent singles "Emotions" (1991) and Carey's cover of the Jackson 5 track, "I'll Be There" (1992) continued the singer's streak of US number-one singles, with the latter becoming her fourth chart-topper in Canada and first in the Netherlands. With the release of Carey's third studio album, Music Box (1993), the singer's international popularity surged upon release of "Hero" and the album's third single, her cover of Harry Nilsson's "Without You", which became the singer's first number-one single in several countries across Europe.
"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). 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. The track is an uptempo love song that includes bell chimes, backing vocals, and synthesizers. It has 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, with a significant rise in popularity every December.
Greatest Hits is the second greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released in the United States on December 4, 2001, by Columbia Records. It is a greatest hits double album: CD 1 is primarily a collection of Carey's hits from 1990 to 1995, while CD 2 is primarily a collection of hits from 1995 to 2000. In 2011, the album was re-issued outside the US with the same track listing, titled The Essential Mariah Carey.
#1's is the first greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released by Columbia Records on November 17, 1998. The album contained Carey's then thirteen number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as four new songs. In Japan, the album also included her popular single, "All I Want for Christmas Is You", which was Carey's biggest selling single there.
Music Box is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released by Columbia Records on August 31, 1993. The album comprises ballads primarily written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, with whom she had previously worked on Emotions (1991), and a few urban dance tracks. During the course of the album's development, Carey wanted to broaden her audience, choosing a more pop/R&B oriented sound. During this time frame, she experimented with different musical instruments, leading the album's sound away from her more contemporary previous two efforts.
Rainbow is the seventh studio album by American R&B singer Mariah Carey, released on November 2, 1999, by Columbia Records. The album followed the same pattern as Carey's previous two albums, Daydream (1995) and Butterfly (1997), in which she began her transition into the urban adult contemporary market. Rainbow contains a mix of hip hop-influenced R&B tracks, as well as a variety of ballads. Carey produced the album with David Foster and Diane Warren, who, as well as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, replaced Walter Afanasieff, the main balladeer Carey worked with throughout the 1990s. As a result of her separation from her husband, Tommy Mottola, Carey had more control over the musical style of this album, so she collaborated with several hip-hop artists such as Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Master P and Mystikal as well as female rappers Da Brat and Missy Elliott. Other collaborations include the pop and R&B acts Joe, Usher and boyband 98 Degrees.
American singer Mariah Carey has released fifteen studio albums, two soundtrack albums, eight compilation albums, four extended plays, and one remix album. Carey is one of the best-selling music artists of all-time, having sold over 220 million records globally. She was presented with the Millennium Award at the 2000 World Music Awards for becoming the best-selling female artist of the millennium. According to the RIAA, she is the highest-certified female artist and tenth overall recording artist with shipments of 75 million albums in the US. She is also ranked as the best-selling female artist of the US Nielsen SoundScan era (1991–present) with album sales of 55.5 million.
"Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and singer/actress Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by Luther Vandross with R&B-pop singer Mariah Carey, and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Richie's friend Kenny Rogers also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all time.
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is a pop song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 seasonal compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. The song was written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, and Phil Spector.
Merry Christmas II You is the thirteenth studio album and second Christmas album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released by Island Records on November 2, 2010. Recording began in April 2010 and continued while Carey became pregnant. She was the executive producer of Merry Christmas II You and worked with various record producers, including Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, Randy Jackson, James Poyser, Marc Shaiman, James "Big Jim" Wright and Johnny "Sev" Severin of RedOne. The album features Carey's mother Patricia Carey as a guest vocalist on "O Come All Ye Faithful" / "Hallelujah Chorus". The album serves as a sequel to her fourth studio album Merry Christmas (1994). It is composed of original songs and covers, ballads and uptempo tracks, incorporating R&B, soul, and house music in its composition.
"Oh Santa!" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her second Christmas album and thirteenth studio album, Merry Christmas II You (2010). Carey wrote and produced the song in collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. It was released as the lead single from the album on October 1, 2010 by Island Def Jam Records. It is an up-tempo R&B song about Carey making a plea for Santa Claus to bring back her partner in time for the Christmas holidays. It received a positive response from music critics, with many praising its composition and style.
"When Christmas Comes" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her second Christmas album/thirteenth studio album, Merry Christmas II You (2010). Carey wrote and produced the song in collaboration with James Poyser. A soul song with influences of R&B, the lyrics are about giving the gift of love. In November 2011, Carey re-recorded the song as duet with John Legend, which was later released as a single. Both versions of the track were a hit in South Korea, with the duet debuting at number one with sales in excess of 80,000 copies. The song's accompanying music video features Carey and Legend hosting a Christmas house party. It has been performed by Carey at her ABC 2010 Christmas special and during her 2014 Beacon Theatre residency All I Want for Christmas Is You, A Night of Joy and Festivity in December 2014.
"Underneath the Tree" is a song by American pop singer Kelly Clarkson from her sixth studio album and first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red (2013). She co-wrote the track with its producer Greg Kurstin. It is a Christmas-themed song that sings of gratitude for companionship during the holidays, in which the loved one is referred to as the only present needed "underneath the tree". Accompanied by various instrumental sounds, the song is given a Wall of Sound treatment, along with sleigh bells and bell chimes to create a holiday atmosphere. "Underneath the Tree" was first released to Adult Contemporary radio stations on November 5, 2013, by RCA Records as the album's lead single.
Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special is a Christmas special starring Mariah Carey that premiered on December 4, 2020, on Apple TV+. It was directed by Hamish Hamilton and Roman Coppola and executive-produced by Hamilton, Coppola, Carey, Ian Stewart, Raj Kapoor and Ashley Edens. The special centers around a holiday crisis in which the North Pole has to call Santa Claus's friend, Mariah Carey, to help.
Billboard magazine only charted Christmas singles and albums along with the other popular non-holiday records until the 1958 holiday season when they published their first section that surveys only Christmas music.