After 23 years, the holiday tune “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey has finally hit the Top 10 of the hottest songs in the US.
The classic holiday song, penned and produced by Mariah, leaped from No. 11 to No. 9, according to Billboard Magazine. A duet version of the song with Justin Bieber peaked at No. 86 on the Hot 100 singles chart.
Released on Nov. 1, 1994, the song has already earned US$60 million in royalties. It was lifted from her first holiday CD called “Merry Christmas” which also came out in 1994.
With 28 hit songs in her career, the yuletide classic now places Mariah at No. 5 for the artists with most Top 10s on the chart. She tied with Stevie Wonder. Over the years, the upbeat holiday song has been covered by many artists.
Madonna is still the artist to beat with most Top 10 hits with 38. She is followed by The Beatles (34), Rihanna (31), Michael Jackson (29), and Janet Jackson and Elton John (27 each).
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” is only one of five Christmas songs to reach the Top 10 in the 59-year history of the music tally.
So far, “The Chipmunks Song (Don’t Be Late)” holds the distinction for the being the only Christmas song to reach No. 1. It stayed on the summit for four weeks beginning Dec. 22, 1958.
Other holiday songs which entered the Top 10 are “Same Old Lang Syne” by Dan Fogelberg (No. 9, 1981), “This One’s for the Children,” New Kids on the Block (No. 7, 1990); and “Auld Lang Syne,” Kenny G (No. 7, 2000).
Mariah’s song is also the first yuletide classic to enter the Top 10 with the word “Christmas” in its title. (Robert R. Requintina)