Why Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" Keeps Returning So Early – And Why We Can’t Get Enough of It

With Santa Claus on his way, music fans are already getting into the holiday spirit

It’s November, and you know what that means: Mariah Carey's festive classic, All I Want for Christmas Is You, is already back on the airwaves, filling us with that warm, unmistakable holiday spirit. Making an early comeback to Spotify’s Top 40 last Sunday—weeks ahead of previous years—Carey’s song is more than a holiday anthem; it’s the official start of the season. As we head toward the end of 2024, let’s dive into why this song is back so soon and how it remains a staple in Christmas music.

The Iconic Song That Signals Christmas

All I Want for Christmas Is You has become a bellwether for the festive season. Released in 1994, this Motown-inspired holiday hit captured the magic of Christmas in a way that feels both timeless and nostalgic. With a simple yet unforgettable melody, Mariah Carey and her longtime collaborator Walter Afanasieff crafted a song that instantly took hold of listeners’ hearts.

Its upbeat, joyful nature was exactly what Carey aimed to deliver—a melody that would "capture joy for everyone and crystallize it forever," as she wrote in her memoir. Now, even though it has reappeared in Spotify's Top 40 earlier than ever, the excitement for it only grows.

Chart Performance & Streaming Data: A Record-Breaking Legacy

As of November 2, All I Want for Christmas Is You is climbing up the charts across multiple platforms. It recently re-entered the UK’s iTunes Top 50 and is expected to reappear on the official UK chart this Friday. Remarkably, this year would mark the song’s 100th week in the UK’s top 100—a feat only a few tracks achieve. Its lasting popularity is mirrored in other seasonal hits also climbing up the Spotify chart, such as Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Michael Bublé, which collectively rack up over 500,000 daily plays.

But here’s a fun fact: while listeners in the UK usually wait until November, holiday music fanatics in places like Estonia, Iceland, and the Philippines start much earlier. For example, the Philippines sees 2% of streams dedicated to Christmas music as early as September! In Liechtenstein, the percentage of Christmas music streams can triple the global average in the days leading up to Christmas.

What’s Behind the Song’s Timeless Appeal?

Part of the magic behind All I Want for Christmas Is You is its simplicity. Afanasieff once said that the song’s "oversimplified melody" makes it universally catchy—perfect for people worldwide to hum along. This simplicity was no accident; it’s the very quality that keeps us playing it year after year. That instantly recognizable intro—those light, joyful chimes—sets the stage, reminding us of toy pianos and holiday cheer.

What also makes the song so personal is that it was born out of a challenging time for Carey. She sought to write a song that could lift her spirits and conjure a youthful, carefree feeling of holiday joy. It’s a sentiment we can all relate to, which is part of why it resonates so deeply with audiences of all ages.

The Competition: Other Festive Hits and the Race for Number One

Of course, Mariah Carey isn’t the only artist vying for the title of Christmas royalty. Every year, we see new releases and classic covers jockeying for position on holiday playlists. Amazon Music has even released exclusive holiday tracks featuring Justin Bieber’s Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and Mary J. Blige’s cover of Last Christmas. And it’s not just the big stars who join the fun—Children in Need recently released a charity cover of Oasis’s Stop Crying Your Heart Out, featuring an all-star lineup including Cher, Kylie Minogue, and Robbie Williams. The video is set to premiere during this year’s Children in Need telethon, adding a charitable spin to the festive chart competition.

The Underdog Christmas King: LadBaby’s Charity Chart Success For the past two years, YouTube personality LadBaby has topped the Christmas charts with his sausage roll-themed covers for charity. If he lands another Christmas No. 1, he’ll tie a record previously set by the Beatles! However, he’s hinted that he’ll only release another song if it feels just right, saying, “It needs to still be funny and…right.”

Mariah’s Everlasting Legacy

As All I Want for Christmas Is You makes its way back into our playlists, it’s clear that Mariah Carey has managed to do something remarkable. Not only has she created a song that’s both deeply personal and universally loved, but she’s also given us a tradition. Her song has become a comforting, cheerful reminder that it’s time to celebrate, gather, and make memories. And as holiday hits continue to make their mark, Mariah’s classic reminds us why music plays such a big part in the joy of the season.