MARIAH CAREY - ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

Publicació: 29 d'octubre de 1994

Llistes: Regne Unit: #1 (3 setmanes)  EUA: #1 (14 setmanes)

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" és un clàssic festiu coescrit i coproduït per Mariah Carey i Walter Afanasieff. Afanasieff, conegut pel seu treball amb Whitney Houston i altres artistes, va col·laborar amb Carey en nombrosos èxits. El duo va crear la cançó durant l'estiu de 1994, amb Afanasieff aportant idees musicals al piano, mentre Carey desenvolupava la melodia i la lletra. Inspirats en les produccions de grups de noies dels anys 60 de Phil Spector, van buscar un ritme àgil per a la cançó de Nadal, aconseguint crear una peça divertida i memorable, malgrat les preocupacions inicials sobre la seva simplicitat.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" incorpora magistralment llocs comuns nadalencs, des de la mistel·la fins a Santa, els rens i el Pol Nord. Mariah Carey, juntament amb el coautor Walter Afanasieff, va crear una cançó d'amor nadalenca àgil i única, convertint-la en una expressió positiva i universal d'afecte. Afanasieff va destacar la versatilitat de la cançó, subratllant que qualsevol pot cantar-la a qualsevol, ja sigui de pare a fill, de mare a fill, o de dona a home, convertint-la en un clàssic nadalenc atemporal amb un gran atractiu.

L’habilitat amb la programació informàtica de Walter Afanasieff va tenir un paper crucial en la creació del so festiu de "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Des del baix i la bateria fins als teclats i les campanetes que sonen, Afanasieff va gestionar diversos elements, mentre que Dann Huff va contribuir amb la guitarra. Les vocals de suport de Melonie Daniels, Kelly Price i Shanrae Price van afegir un toc gospel, enriquint la composició musical global. L'esforç col·laboratiu va donar com a resultat un èxit nadalenc amb un so vibrant i alegre.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" no només s'ha convertit en un clàssic nadalenc impereceder, sinó que també ha assolit un èxit notable. Malgrat haver-se llançat 26 anys abans, va encapçalar la UK Singles Chart per primera vegada el 17 de desembre de 2020, assenyalant un recorregut rècord cap al cim després de 70 setmanes al Top 40. Mentre "White Christmas" de Bing Crosby ostenta el títol de la cançó de Nadal més venuda de tots els temps, l’èxit nadalenc de Mariah Carey ha assegurat el seu lloc com la cançó de Nadal més venuda d'una artista femenina. Ambdues cançons han obtingut un lloc al Registre Nacional d'Enregistraments dels Estats Units, amb "White Christmas" el 2002 i "All I Want For Christmas Is You" el 2023.

Un agricultor anglès anomenat Angus Wielkopolski va descobrir que les cabres produeixen més llet escoltant aquesta melodia que cap altra cançó. La descoberta es va fer a la granja St. Helen prop de York, on el personal escoltava música mentre ordenyaven les vaques. Van descobrir que les cabres produïen fins a mitja pinta més quan sonava el famós tema nadalenc de Carey. Esperem que no posin "No Milk Today" dels Herman's Hermits per a les cabres.

MARIAH CAREY - ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

Released: October 29, 1994

Charted:  UK: #1  (3 weeks)  US: #1 (14 weeks)

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" is a festive classic co-written and co-produced by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff. Afanasieff, known for his work with Whitney Houston and other artists, collaborated with Carey on numerous hits. The duo crafted the song during the summer of 1994, with Afanasieff contributing musical ideas on the piano, while Carey developed the melody and lyrics. Inspired by Phil Spector's '60s girl group productions, they aimed for an uptempo Christmas track, successfully creating a fun and memorable song, despite initial concerns about its simplicity.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" masterfully incorporates Christmas clichés, from mistletoe to Santa, reindeer, and the North Pole. Mariah Carey, along with co-writer Walter Afanasieff, crafted a unique uptempo Christmas love song, making it a positive and universal expression of affection. Afanasieff highlighted the song's versatility, emphasizing that anyone can sing it to anyone, whether from father to child, mother to child, or wife to husband, making it a timeless holiday classic with broad appeal.

Walter Afanasieff's computer programming skills played a crucial role in creating the festive sound of "All I Want For Christmas Is You." From bass and drums to keyboards and jingling bells, Afanasieff handled various elements, while Dann Huff contributed with guitar. The backing vocals by Melonie Daniels, Kelly Price, and Shanrae Price added a gospel touch, enriching the overall musical composition. The collaborative effort resulted in a holiday hit with a vibrant and joyful sound.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" has not only become a timeless holiday favorite but has also achieved remarkable success. Despite being released 26 years earlier, it topped the UK Singles Chart for the first time on December 17, 2020, marking a record-breaking journey to the summit after 70 weeks in the Top 40. While "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby holds the title for the best-selling Christmas song of all time, Mariah Carey's festive hit has secured its place as the best-selling Christmas song by a female artist. Both songs have earned a spot in the United States National Recording Registry, with "White Christmas" in 2002 and "All I Want For Christmas Is You" in 2023.

An English farmer named Angus Wielkopolski discovered that goats produce more milk listening to this tune than any other song. The discovery was made at St. Helen's farm near York where staff listened to music while they milked the cows. They found that the goats produced up to half a pint more when Carey's famous Christmas track was played. We hope they don't play Herman's Hermit's "No Milk Today" for the goats.

 

WHAM! - LAST CHRISTMAS 

"Last Christmas" de Wham! es va llançar el 3 de desembre de 1984 i va arribar a la primera posició a les llistes del Regne Unit i al número 4 als Estats Units.

"Last Christmas" destaca com un clàssic nadalenc amb una història única als rànquings. Inicialment llançada el 1984, la cançó es va convertir en un favorit festiu, però va quedar-se constantment a les portes de l'esperat número u en la llista de singles del Regne Unit. Malgrat la seva popularitat duradora i impacte cultural, no va ser fins al Dia de l'Any Nou del 2021 que la cançó va aconseguir finalment la tan desitjada primera posició. Aquest èxit va ser el cinquè número u al Regne Unit per al duet, destacant l'aparició atemporal de la cançó, que connecta amb audiències de totes les generacions i consolida el seu lloc en el cànon musical nadalenc. El recorregut de "Last Christmas" reflecteix no només l'esperit durador de la temporada sinó també la notable habilitat de la cançó per captar l'ambient festiu any rere any.

Aquesta cançó té les seves arrels en un moment de creativitat casual. George Michael, mentre passava temps a casa dels seus pares amb Andrew Ridgeley el 1984, va desaparèixer cap a dalt durant una hora aproximadament. En tornar, estava ple d'entusiasme, com si hagués trobat alguna cosa preciosa. El duet va aventurar-se a l'antiga habitació de Michael, on havien passat innumerables hores gravant imitacions de programes de ràdio i jingles durant la seva joventut. Allà, Michael li va tocar a Ridgeley la introducció encantadora i la melodia melangiosa de la tornada de "Last Christmas". Ridgeley ho va descriure com un moment meravellós, on Michael, a través de l'alquímia musical, va capturar l'essència del Nadal en la seva composició. Malgrat que la cançó es centra en un amor ufallit, la incorporació per part de Michael de la frase "Last Christmas" a les lletres la va vincular a la temporada festiva.

L'èxit nadalenc de Wham! ocupa un lloc destacat en l'àmbit dels esforços benèfics. Llançada com a disc benèfic, els ingressos de la cançó es van dedicar a l'ajuda contra la fam a Etiòpia. Malgrat el seu èxit substancial, es va afrontar a la competència de "Do They Know It's Christmas", un altre senzill benèfic, que va impedir que "Last Christmas" arribés al primer lloc de les llistes. S’ha de destacar que George Michael va contribuir a totes dues cançons, posant de manifest el seu compromís amb les iniciatives filantròpiques.

"Last Christmas" va assolir per primera vegada la primera posició a les llistes de singles del Regne Unit el 3 de gener de 2021, després de 36 anys des de la seva primera publicació el 1984. El llarg camí de la cançó cap al primer lloc va establir aleshores un nou rècord pel temps més llarg que ha trigat una cançó a arribar al primer lloc a les llistes de singles del Regne Unit després del seu llançament inicial. Aquest rècord va ser superat posteriorment per "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" de Kate Bush, que va arribar al primer lloc al juny de 2022, 37 anys després del seu llançament. En el moment d’escriure això “Last Christmas” torna a ocupar la primera posició del rànking britànic.

Es coneix com "ser Whammejat" a escoltar aquesta cançó durant les festes. El fenomen de "ser Whammejat" és una tradició divertida en què les persones intenten evitar escoltar "Last Christmas" durant la temporada nadalenca. Sovint, la gent crea jocs o reptes per veure quant de temps poden passar sense trobar-se amb la cançó, i hi ha variacions que impliquen donacions benèfiques o altres girs creatius, afegint un toc divertit i festiu a la temporada nadalenca per a aquells que hi participen.

WHAM! - LAST CHRISTMAS 

Released: December 3, 1984

Charted:  UK: #1  US: #4 

"Last Christmas" by Wham! stands out as a holiday classic with a unique chart history. Initially released in 1984, the song became a festive favorite but consistently fell short of the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart. Despite its enduring popularity and cultural impact, it took until New Year's Day in 2021 for the song to finally reach the coveted number one position. This achievement marked the fifth UK number one single for the duo and highlighted the song's timeless appeal, resonating with audiences across generations and solidifying its place in the holiday music canon. The journey of "Last Christmas" reflects not only the enduring spirit of the season but also the song's remarkable ability to capture the festive mood year after year.

This song has its roots in a serendipitous moment of creativity. George Michael, while spending time at his parents' home with Andrew Ridgeley in 1984, disappeared upstairs for about an hour. When he returned, he was brimming with excitement, as if he had stumbled upon something precious. The duo ventured to Michael's old room, where they had spent countless hours recording playful radio show imitations and jingles during their youth. There, Michael played Ridgeley the enchanting introduction and the wistful chorus melody of "Last Christmas." Ridgeley described it as a moment of wonder, where Michael, through musical alchemy, captured the essence of Christmas in his composition. Despite the song's focus on a failed romance, Michael's incorporation of the phrase "Last Christmas" into the lyrics tied it to the festive season. 

Wham!’s holiday hit holds a significant place in the realm of charitable efforts. Released as a charity record, the proceeds from the song were dedicated to famine relief in Ethiopia. Despite its substantial success, it faced competition from "Do They Know It's Christmas," another charity single, which kept "Last Christmas" from reaching the #1 spot on the charts. Notably, George Michael contributed to both songs, emphasizing his involvement in philanthropic initiatives.

"Last Christmas" achieved its first-ever #1 position on the UK singles chart on January 3, 2021, after 36 years since its original release in 1984. The song's prolonged journey to the top spot set a new record for the longest time taken by a single to reach #1 on the UK Singles Chart after its initial release. This record was later surpassed by Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)", which reached #1 in June 2022, 37 years after its release.

Hearing this song during the holiday season is known as "getting Whammed". The phenomenon of "getting Whammed" is a playful tradition where individuals try to avoid hearing Wham!'s "Last Christmas" during the holiday season. People often create games or challenges to see how long they can go without encountering the song, and there are variations that involve charitable donations or other creative twists. It adds a fun and festive element to the holiday season for those who participate.

 

DONNY HATHAWAY - THIS CHRISTMAS

Released: December 9, 1970

Charted:  US: #37 

Donny Hathaway co-wrote the soulful Christmas song with Nadine McKinnor, capturing the essence of the holiday season and his anticipation of spending it with loved ones. The memorable chorus resonates:

"And this Christmas, will be

A very special Christmas, for me."

Despite an initially slow start, the song, released in 1970, later became a modern holiday standard. Covered by various artists such as Destiny's Child, Jess Glynne, Aretha Franklin, and Lady Antebellum, it found its place in the Christmas music canon. Chris Brown is the only artist to chart with the song, reaching #62 in 2007 with his rendition.

In the midst of a snowstorm blanketing Chicago in 1967, postal worker Nadine McKinnor found herself singing Christmas carols to pass the time. Inspired by Nat King Cole, she crafted the lyrics for the tune without knowing who Donny Hathaway was. Recalling the experience to the Chicago Tribune in 2017, McKinnor shared, "I loved 'The Christmas Song' and was trying to capture the swirl of music, department store windows, lights on the South Side - Chicago at Christmas. It's like I'm talking about a love affair with the atmosphere of the holiday. My kids were little then, I was out shopping for toys, enjoying the mood. It's a romance with the season."

Donny Hathaway aspired for "This Christmas" to become the definitive Black Christmas carol, but his untimely death in 1979 at the age of 33 prevented him from witnessing his wish come true. Even though the song had already become a holiday staple in the Black community, Hathaway's vision was realized long after his passing. In 2017, a Slate story explored the various covers of "This Christmas," with Lawrence Ware, co-director of the Center for Africana Studies at Oklahoma State University, dedicating 48 hours to listening exclusively to different versions. Despite the competition, Hathaway's original emerged as the clear winner.

 

CHRIS REA - DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Released: December 10, 1988

Charted:  UK: #10

"Driving Home for Christmas" by Chris Rea is a heartwarming Christmas song that has become a holiday classic over the years. Originally released as a B-side in 1986, its popularity has grown, and it has made regular appearances on the UK Singles Chart during the Christmas season. The song's nostalgic and relatable theme of heading home for Christmas strikes a chord with many listeners, contributing to its enduring appeal and festive charm.

"Driving Home for Christmas" has a charming origin story. Rea wrote the song in 1978 while stuck in traffic on his way home to Middlesbrough from Abbey Road Studios in London. The idea came to him during a snowy journey in his wife's Austin Mini, and he started singing the lyrics jokingly. The festive and relatable theme of heading home for Christmas was born during this car ride, and the song eventually became a cherished holiday classic. Rea noted that it's a "car version of a carol," capturing the spirit of Christmas travel and the shared experience of holiday journeys.

Chris Rea's decision to perform "Driving Home for Christmas" live for the first time in 2014 at Hammersmith Odeon came with a festive spectacle. To enhance the performance, Rea went all out, hiring 12 snow cannons to create a winter wonderland effect. As the song started, the venue was filled with the noise of the crowd, and the snow machines added an immersive layer to the experience. However, the aftermath came at a cost, with the venue charging £12,000 to clean up the three feet of artificial snow that blanketed the stalls. It was a memorable and extravagant performance that brought the spirit of the song to life in a unique way.