Fact Finder - Music

Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' was released in 1994, but its status as a hit song has only grown over time. Written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff in just 15 minutes, the song was designed to sound like a 1960s Phil Spector-style 'Wall of Sound' production. Despite its massive popularity, it did not reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 until 2019, 25 years after its release, due to chart rules at the time of its debut. It now returns to the top of the charts nearly every December, making Carey the artist with the most weeks at number one in history. It is the best-selling modern Christmas song and has earned over $60 million in royalties. Its blend of gospel, R&B, and pop, along with Carey’s iconic whistle notes, has made it a permanent fixture of the global holiday season.