Regardless of your musical taste, you’ve probably heard “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. That song is a cultural juggernaut which stands as one of the most popular Christmas songs ever, if not one of the most popular songs ever written. Here’s some of the records the song has broken.

Mariah Carey shatters two major records

In America, the song hit #1 in 2019, reports Forbes. The song took over 25 years to reach the position. Because it hit #1, the track broke the record for the slowest climb to the top position in the chart’s history. This is especially impressive considering that holiday songs rarely chart in the United States.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “All I Want for Christmas is You” broke a British record as well. The track spent more time in the top ten of the U.K. top charts than any other holiday song. This is especially impressive considering Britain has given the world perennial Christmas favorites like “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by John Lennon, and “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney.

The massive success of ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’

It’s strange to think that there was a time when “All I Want for Christmas Is You” didn’t exist. Recorded for Carey’s first Christmas album, Merry Christmas, the song does an excellent job of blending the old and the new. It could have been a hit during any time in the 20th or 21st centuries. “The song is such a crowd-pleaser it’s inspired everything from children’s books to television specials.

While writing and performing the song was a major accomplishment for Carey, “All I Want for Christmas is You” isn’t just a hit song – it’s a song that becomes a hit again every Christmas season. One might expect the song’s popularity to dull with age, but it’s as big as it’s ever been – if not bigger.

The song’s popularity led Carey to record a second Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You. The album featured a duet with John Legend called “When Christmas Comes” and a handful of other original songs. While the album did fine, it didn’t replicate the success of her earlier Yuletide efforts.

The song’s lasting impact

Carey told Billboard she’s grateful for the song. “I’m very thankful that people seem to still have an attachment to it. It makes me feel good when people tell me that it’s part of their lives.”

Judging by the song’s current popularity, Carey’s opus could become a Yuletide song like “Silent Night” or “The First Noel” that is still popular centuries after its first release. Only time will tell. It will be interesting to see if the song can retain its popularity in the face of changing musical trends.

Although Carey has been massively successful, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” remains her legacy. Carey is mostly known for R&B music. That didn’t stop her from creating the perfect Christmas song.