Consider this from NPR: NPR

On December 25, 2024By Littum

In this handout photo provided by Disney, Grammy Award-winning singer Mariah Carey waves to the crowd while taping the “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” television special at the Magic Kingdom on December 3, 2010 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You” is a holiday favorite.

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Whether you play it on loop or drive you crazy, there’s no doubt that Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” has become a staple of the carol canon.

But the holiday song canon is large, and a number of other pop artists have created their own Christmas jingles since 1994, including John Legend, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.

But not even the woman who broke records with her Eras tour has given us a holiday song that has had the staying power worthy of The Canon.

For 30 years, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” has dominated the Christmas charts. NPR’s Stephen Thompson explains what makes it an enduring hit.

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This episode was produced by Marc Rivers. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Ashley Brown. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.