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Why hasn't any artist been able to match Mariah's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"?

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T

Touchdown

Banned
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"All I Want For Christmas Is You" was written, produced, and performed by Mariah Carey. It was released 21 years ago. It's seen as one of the most iconic critically acclaimed Christmas songs of all time and continues to top the holiday song charts year after year. "With global sales of over 14 million copies, the song remains Carey's biggest international hit and one of the best-selling singles of all time."

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My question is: Why hasn't any recording artist been able to successfully create an original successful holiday song since it's iconic debut 20+ years ago?

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Madonna, Britney, Christina, J Lo, Ariana Grande, Leona Lewis, Michael Buble, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Clarkson (and the list goes on...and on) have released Christmas albums since but none have been able to come close in joining the Christmas pop canon with an original song.

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I think it's because they lyrics are so richly written and the theme of the song is so relatable to just about everyone. Layer on top of that Mariah's amazing voice and it's literally perfection.

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In case you've never heard it before:

music video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

most recent live performance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-ieFO_Rht8

cute Jimmy Fallon version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWEfszb9h8Q

So what say you GAF? Why has no artist come close?

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G

Gnome

Member
Plenty of better Christmas songs out there, just because Macy's doesn't play them on loop doesn't mean they don't exist.
 
T

Touchdown

Banned
My question in the OP was: How come no artist has come close yet since it's release in terms of critical acclaim and commercial success?

Nobody has answered yet it seems.
 
R

RiggyRob

Member
Because it's really fucking hard to create a good, memorable Christmas pop song.

Why do you think they still play songs from the 40s?
 
A

Auctopus

Member
In terms of critical analysis: music taste changes between each person.

In terms of commercial success: Each Christmas, certain songs become more and more embedded in our Christmas psyche and therefore remind us of those times. If the song is successful this year, there's no reason it won't become more and more of a staple in years to come.

Happy?

John Dunbar said:
Fairytale of New York will always be the best Christmas song.
Click to expand...

.
 
J

jesu

Member
Touchdown said:
My question in the OP was: How come no artist has come close yet since it's release in terms of critical acclaim and commercial success?

Nobody has answered yet it seems.
Click to expand...

Because no cares to write a good christmas song anymore.
It's kind of obsolete
ANd going back in time she's not even in the top 20 xmas songs :(.
 
M

mAcOdIn

Member
Well, I think Mariah hasn't matched "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," of which I think the U2 version's the best, so I think we should move the goalpost over to that song which is even older. But I like Mariah's song a lot, it's one of the few Mariah Carey songs I own.

If I had to pick a new song I really like the Raveonettes' "the Christmas Song". I don't think I like it better than All I want for Christmas is You but I rank it right up there.
 
T

TheJoRu

Member
Touchdown said:
Hmm then why do artists still release them every year?
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Because it's easy and fast profit; Christmas-albums tend to have mostly (or only) covers, so that shortens the process. They don't sell like they used to, but they probably sell enough to be profitable for the ones who make them.
 
T

Touchdown

Banned
TheJoRu said:
Because it's easy and fast profit; Christmas-albums tend to have mostly (or only) covers, so that shortens the process. They don't sell like they used to, but they probably sell enough to be profitable for the ones who make them.
Click to expand...

So does that mean we'll never have another popular original Christmas song ever again? And does that mean Mariah's song is the last great Christmas anthem of our time?
 
A

Agent Gibbs

Member
Bold words op, i can name several that would need to fight to the death to win top spot, The Pogues Fairy tale of New York, Wham Last Christmas, Wizzard I wish it could be christmas everyday and this one

THe common them with all of them is a memorable catchy tune, christmas themed elements, the right artist singing in the right tones and being generic and not having anything too year specific (looking at you band aid and your silly reedits) getting the right mix of those without moving too close to being cheesy is a difficult mix to pull of.
Some have come close, some try to keep popularity though being a bit more novelty, but there also the issue that it can reach saturation point - theres only so much you can sing about Christmas
 
H

Hoo-doo

Banned
Just had to check out some of Mariah Carey's vocal range videos on the related videos tab.

My god. No-one even comes close, do they.
 
M

Maengun1

Member
This song is perfect. Lightning in a bottle. Now I'm spinning it on repeat and wishing it was December.

Why hasn't there been a new addition to the Christmas classics rotation since 1994? I dunno. I don't think anyone really tries that much. A lot easier to do covers, and I feel like the whole idea of doing Christmas albums kind of went out of style along with....people buying albums. Anyone doing this now is aiming it squarely at old people, which is not how you create a new hit.
 
M

mclem

Member
FyreWulff said:
tradition.png
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The UK version would, I suspect, be centred around 20 years later. There's a spate of very popular Christmas songs from the 70's and 80's.

(By which note, I should mention, Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" captures the real spirit of Christmas far more than Mariah does.)

Dan27 said:
Slade >>>>>>>> Everything else.
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Zomba13 said:
True. Though Wizzard are up there.
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Yep. And there's loads of lesser ones, too. I do like the ones that are knowingly cheesy. Mel & Kim's Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, orThe Darkness's Christmastime (Don't Let The Bells End). Christmas is endearingly absurd. Celebrate that.

If you want something with a more serious sentimental streak, how 'bout Mud's Lonely This Christmas[/ur] or [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q]Tim Minchin's White Wine in the Sun
 
L

Leona Lewis

Banned
Because no writing duo since Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff has since had the collective talent and vision to produce anything even close, Christmas or otherwise, in pop music.
 
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