Who doesn’t love Christmas? The fact is that most of us do, and so does Mariah Carey. So much so that she’s even released two dedicated Christmas albums. That makes selecting the best Mariah Carey Christmas songs of all time quite an easy task.
Mariah has also written seven of her own Christmas songs. They are so good that I’ve chosen to include six of them on my playlist. I’ve also selected a more traditional carol for a bit of balance.
I hope you enjoy them. So, let’s get to it and take a look at the first of Mariah Carey’s famous Christmas songs.
Top 50 Best Mariah Carey Christmas Songs of All Time
1 All I Want for Christmas Is You
This is the best-known Mariah Carey Christmas song, so it seems like a good idea to start here. Like the majority of singles on this best Mariah Carey Christmas Songs of all time playlist, this was released from her 1994 album, Merry Christmas.
The album came about due to the persistence of Tommy Mottola, a Columbia Records executive, and her future husband. In 1994, Christmas albums were not a big thing. Many artists who embarked on recording them were often at the end of their careers.
Thus, it took some effort to persuade Mariah Carey that it was a good idea to record her own Christmas song compilation.
Eventually, she agreed and threw herself wholeheartedly into the project…
She even decorated the recording space with festive decorations to get in the spirit of it, despite it being August. Drawing upon her caroling experiences and deep spirituality, she set about co-writing the songs with Walter Afanasieff.
The songs were quickly written, recorded, and subsequently released on the 29th of October, 1994. The reception was very positive, and the album got to #3 on the US Billboard charts in its first year. Additionally, it sold over two million copies by the end of 1994.
What is even more impressive?
The sales continue to roll in and still show no signs of abating. Every festive season the album sells well. So much so that it has currently sold over 15 million copies, making it one of the best-selling festive albums of all time.
It’s sold almost six million copies in the US. It sold close to three million copies in Japan and became her only #1 charting album. Also, it charted highly around the world, particularly in Europe. All in all, it’s been a huge success, and as every year goes by, it gets better and better.
Now, back to the single…
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” was released in 1994, alongside the album, as the lead single. Like the album, the single is huge and continues to sell well. If anything, it seems that it is getting more popular.
In 2019, 25 years after its release, it finally made it to #1 in the US. In the process, it made another piece of record-breaking history. This time, as the longest time period between a record being released and it making it to the top spot.
It incidentally sold 10 million copies in the US alone and made over $60 million when all the royalties are included. Not a bad payday for a song that just took 15 minutes to write.
The stats are all very impressive and deservedly so…
It’s a wonderful up-tempo song with a catchy melody. Combined with heartfelt lyrics and a mix of Gospel, Pop, and a Carol, it is no wonder it is so popular.
The song has undoubtedly become part of Christmas. Now, we expect and want to hear it, in the same way that we expect and want to hear “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” feels like it is destined to be around for eternity. And that is a good thing.
2 Oh, Santa!
“Oh, Santa!” was released in 2010 from Mariah Carey’s second Christmas album, “Merry Christmas II You.” Because if the first festive album was a huge hit, then why not release another? Seriously, why not, though, eh?
The second Christmas album, although containing a couple of songs from Merry Christmas, including “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” is essentially an album of different songs. This includes some newly written songs, like “Oh Santa!” as well as Christmas carol classics like “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.”
It is a great combination of old and new…
Unfortunately, the sales of Merry Christmas II You were not so strong. Currently, it has sold just over half a million copies. Not terrible, but just nowhere near the numbers in comparison to her first Christmas album.
Back to the single again…
“Oh, Santa!” managed to limp into the Billboard Top 100 at #100. However, it did reach #1 on the US Holiday Digital Singles Charts. It also made it to #1 on the US Chart for Pregnant Artists with the Initials M.C. Digital sales totaling 500,000.
The song is an up-tempo number that has elements of the 60s and Swing to it. It’s got a happy feel with plenty of Christmas bells thrown in for good measure. The video is also a lot of fun. It features Jennifer Hudson and Arian Grande, who together give a flawless vocal performance.
3 Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)
Mariah Carey wrote “Miss You Most (This Christmas Time)” together with Walter Afanasieff. The song was released in 1994 as the fifth track from her first Christmas album.
It was never released as a single, which I think is a bit of a shame. It has plenty of quality to it and, although not especially Christmas-y, could easily stand alone as a single.
If you strip out and exchange the lyrics for something from one of her non-Christmas songs, you’d have no idea that this was a Christmas song. The lyrics are honestly the only thing that gives you a clue about what it’s all about.
Is that a bad thing?
Frankly, I don’t think it is. It’s nice to have something different on the album. It’s nice to hear such a beautiful ballad, and makes the album all the better for it.
Although the song isn’t particularly festive, the video undoubtedly makes up for it. There is plenty of snow, plus festive decorations, and touching flashbacks to Mariah Carey’s Christmas past.
4 When Christmas Comes
This is a Soul and R&B song that was written by Mariah Carey and James Poyser. It appears as the sixth track on her second Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You. It was also released as the third and final single from the same album. Unlike the previous two singles, they waited for a year to release it. So, it eventually came out in late November of 2011.
At this point, the world was into digital downloads, so physical sales were less than spectacular. However, 800,000 digital sales show just how good the song is. It’s also worth pointing out that Koreans also seemed to think so as it got to #1 on their charts and sold 80,000 copies.
Who would have thought?
“When Christmas Comes” is sung as a duet with the R&B singer-songwriting sensation John Legend. A bit like the last song, it doesn’t immediately have that typical Christmas feel. However, if you pay close attention to the lyrics and watch the music video, you will get the festive vibe.
It’s a beautiful Mariah Carey Christmas song and feels so, so smooth. On its own, I don’t think it works especially well as a festive song. However, when included in the context of the rest of the album, it helps it to strike a nice balance between traditional and more contemporary music.
5 Christmas Time Is in the Air Again
This song was written by Marc Shaiman in collaboration with Mariah Carey. It featured on her second Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You, and was released as a single two years later in 2012.
It was released to a lot of positive critical acclaim, with some even describing it as the second-best Christmas song she’s released since “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Mighty praise indeed, and all of which I happen to agree with.
Sadly, despite critics loving it…
It didn’t do very well with either physical or digital sales. However, the Koreans loved it once again, and continue to love Mariah Carey, whatever she records and releases. On the Korean chart, it went to #13 and sold well.
“Christmas Time Is in the Air Again” is a slow ballad that is filled with nostalgia. There are lots of strings and bells, and it has a kind of 1950s Big Band feel. This is about as close to a Bing Crosby modern-day female equivalent song as you are ever likely to get.
Why do I say that?
It has everything that you’d think people would like for a Christmas song, which makes it all the more baffling that it wasn’t more popular. Maybe loads of potential buyers had already bought her two Christmas albums, but that still doesn’t make any sense. Let’s face it Christmas is way bigger than that!
All in all, it’s a lovely Christmas song by Mariah Carey. And, it is one that she should feel justifiably proud of.
6 One Child
This is another song Mariah Carey co-wrote with Marc Shaiman. Unlike the previous song, “One Child” was panned by critics. This time I don’t agree with them and feel that they entirely missed the point. It’s a Christmas song. It is a song that joyfully celebrates the birth of Christ.
What is so wrong with that?
The answer is absolutely nothing. There is nothing, nothing, wrong with someone wanting to celebrate the important aspects of their religion and then wanting to share the experience.
Mariah Carey is a committed Christian, and I commend her for wanting to sing about Jesus. I’m not a believer, but to direct hate toward her for wanting to show her love for her religion is despicable. When the song was released, critics called the song, stifling, over-sentimental, and overbearing.
Ridiculous…
In reality, the song is a beautiful Mariah Carey Christmas carol backed by a choir and orchestra. It’s a traditional and festive song with a strong Gospel focus that feels at home during the festive season. It’s a great addition to Merry Christmas II You and further helps to provide a nice balance.
The Koreans loved it, too, by the way!
7 Joy To The World
This is the only song on the list that wasn’t written by Mariah Carey. That would be a bit of a stretch since it was written back in 1719 by Simon Watts, as a traditional carol. Maybe Cher had a hand in it somewhere, though.
“Joy To The World” was the final song on her first Christmas album, Merry Christmas. In its original form, it is a lovely carol, but this version is far from traditional. Mariah Carey added her spin, making it almost unrecognizable in places, although I promise you, in a good way.
It’s surprisingly up-tempo…
And it has a kind of Pop/Dance beat with a Gospel feel. It is an interesting combination of modern and old. A few lyrical changes also add to its more contemporary twist.
I was torn between including this or the other carol classic, “Silent Night.” They are both great, but I think that Mariah did a lot more with “Joy To The World” to warrant its inclusion on my best Mariah Carey Christmas songs of all time playlist.
The song was one of the few to appear on both of Mariah Carey’s Christmas albums.
8Jesus Born on This Day
9Silent Night
10Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
11O Holy Night
12Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)
13Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
14Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child
15Christmas Time Is Here
16O Come All Ye Faithful
17Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
18Miss You Most (At Christmas Time) (Unplugged)
19When Christmas Comes (Remix) (feat. John Legend)
20The First Noel
21Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Live)
22O Little Town of Bethlehem/Little Drummer Boy (Medley)
23All I Want for Christmas Is You (So So Def Remix) (feat. Jermaine Dupri & Bow Wow)
24Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Anniversary Mix)
25God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
26All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah’s New Dance Mix)
27O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
28Christmas Time Is in the Air Again (Remix)
29Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)/Housetop Celebration
30Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem)
31Love Came Down
32Christmas Love
33O Holy Night (Live from WPC in South Central Los Angeles)
34All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah’s New Dance Mix Extended 2009)
35Silent Night (Live at St. John The Divine)
36Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Live at The Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
37I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
38O Holy Night (Live at The Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
39O Holy Night (Live at The Tokyo Dome)
40Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Live at The Tokyo Dome)
41All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah’s New Dance Mix Extended 2009 Radio Edit)
42Joy to the World (Celebration Mix)
43Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (Original Version)
44O Holy Night (Original Version)
45Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Original Version)
46Miss You Most (At Christmas Time) (Original Version)
47All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah’s New Dance Mix Radio Edit 2009)
48Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) (Anniversary Mix)
49O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus (Extended Mix)
50All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah’s New Dance Mix Extended 2009 Instrumental)
Want Some Music to Get You in the Christmas Mood?
Well, check out our thoughts on the Top Songs About Snow, the Best Songs About Winter, the Best Songs About Magic, the Top Easy Worship & Christian Songs to Sing, the Songs About Coming Home, and Easy Christmas Songs For The Piano for more great song selections.
Best Mariah Carey Christmas Songs of All Time – Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed my picks, and I hope my playlist of Mariah Carey Christmas songs contained some of your favorites.
I think Mariah Carey has done a great job of putting a more contemporary spin on festive music. Also, I think that in time she will become increasingly synonymous with Christmas. Good for her, and what a legacy to leave behind.
Until next time, Merry Christmas, and happy listening.
