Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas album was released on November 1, 1994, and entered the Billboard 200 chart at number thirty, reaching its peak of number three on December 17. In the United States, The album was certified 9x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 8, 2023. Merry Christmas became Mariah's first number-one album in Japan, where it spent three non-consecutive weeks atop the Oricon Albums Chart and ended 1994 as the best-selling foreign album of the year. Merry Christmas isn't only one of Mariah's most successful albums, it is the best-selling Christmas album of all time, with sales of over 15 million copies worldwide.
When Sony Music pitched the idea of releasing a Christmas album, Mariah was hesitant at first, as she had only released three studio albums. “It was so early in my career. I didn't feel — from a strategic point of view — that it was time to do something like that,” Mariah explained in 2019. “As much as I love Christmas, I thought that the record company was off. Obviously, I couldn't have been more wrong.”
Mariah wrote three new original songs for the album: “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)” and “Jesus Born On This Day.” “It comes from a totally different state of mind than when you are recording your own studio album,” Mariah said. “The writing and the actual recording of the new Christmas songs was really an interesting experience, because you are coming from a totally different perspective. It was definitely a priority for me to write at least a few new songs. But for the most part, people really want to hear the standards at Christmas, no matter how good a new song is.”
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” was released as an airplay-only single in the United States on November 14, 1994. At the time, Billboard required songs to be released as commercial singles in order to chart on the Hot 100, hindering the song's charting ability until the rules were eventually changed. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” climbed to the top spot on the chart dated December 21, 2019, bringing Mariah's total of number-one singles to nineteen. As of 2024, the song has has spent a total of twelve non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100 chart. “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which achieved Diamond status by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2021, was certified 12x Platinum in 2022.
The song became Mariah's best-selling single in Japan, where it was certified Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan in 1995, denoting sales of over 1 million copies, and has topped the charts in over twenty-five countries including Australia and the United Kingdom. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has also spent thirteen weeks atop Billboard's Global 200 chart — which ranks the top songs globally based on digital sales and online streaming — making it the longest running number-one song by a female artist.
Merry Christmas also contains covers of seven Christmas classics: “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” “Joy To The World,” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” and “Jesus, Oh What A Wonderful Child.” “It was kind of hard to choose which classic songs to record. So many songs have been done to death. You have to have a nice balance between classic standard Christmas hymns and fun songs.”
On the album, apart from collaborating with songwriting partner Walter Afanasieff, Mariah teamed up with Loris Holland. “He co-arranged and co-produced some of the songs, and that added a really great authentic gospel flavor to a lot of the stuff,” she explained. “We cut [Jesus, Oh What A Wonderful Child] live and had the guys that play it in church and the girls singing it. It wasn't like a traditional recording session. I had all my backup singers and their husbands and their babies playing tambourines, so we got to experience some real authentic church flavor.”
The DualDisc edition of Merry Christmas, released in 2005, includes the new Anniversary Mix of “Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town,” produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
Track #
Song
Run time
Bonus
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (Anniversary Mix)
Written by J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie.
Produced by Jermaine Dupri and Mariah Carey. Co-produced by Bryan-Michael Cox.
2019 saw the release of the Deluxe Anniversary Edition of Merry Christmas, which includes a bonus disc with a new “Sugar Plum Fairy” introlude, bonus tracks, and the previously-unavailable audio from Mariah's 1994 benefit concert at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine.
Track #
Song
Run time
1
Sugar Plum Fairy Introlude
— Traditional —
Produced by Mariah Carey.
0:44
2
All I Want For Christmas Is You (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
5:06
3
Silent Night (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
— Traditional —
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:44
4
Joy To The World (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by Traditional, Hoyt Axton.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
5:40
5
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Gloria (In Excelsis Deo) (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
— Traditional —
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:03
6
Jesus Born On This Day (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:46
7
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:27
8
Oh Santa!
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
3:31
9
Christmas Time Is In The Air Again
Written by Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Marc Shaiman.
3:02
10
When Christmas Comes (Duet with John Legend)
Written by Mariah Carey, James Poyser.
Produced by Mariah Carey and James Poyser.
4:45
11
The Star
Written by Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Marc Shaiman.
4:01
12
Lil Snowman
Written by Mariah Carey, Harvey Mason, Jr., Marvin Brodie, Johnny Marks.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Harvey Mason, Jr.
3:19
13
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (Anniversary Mix)
Written by J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie.
Produced by Jermaine Dupri and Mariah Carey. Co-produced by Bryan-Michael Cox.
2:46
14
All I Want For Christmas Is You (So So Def Remix feat. Jermaine Dupri and Lil' Bow Wow)
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff, Arthur Baker, John Robie, Afrika Bambaataa, John Miller, Robert Allen, Ellis Williams, Ralf Hütter, Emil Schultz.
Produced by Jermaine Dupri.
3:43
15
All I Want For Christmas Is You (Mariah's New Dance Mix 2009 - Extended)
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Low Sunday.
6:42
16
Joy To The World (Celebration Mix)
Written by Traditional, Hoyt Axton.
Produced by David Morales.
8:00
17
Joy To The World (Flava Mix)
Written by Traditional, Hoyt Axton.
Produced by David Morales.
7:03
18
Sugar Plum Fairy Introlude (A Cappella)
— Traditional —
Produced by Mariah Carey.
0:40
Bonus
All I Want For Christmas Is You (Live at the Tokyo Dome)
To commemorate the album's 30th anniversary, the digital edition of Merry Christmas was updated in 2024 to include newly remastered audio from the St. John The Divine concert and the Video Version of “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time).”
Track #
Song
Run time
1
All I Want For Christmas Is You (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
5:06
2
Silent Night (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
— Traditional —
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:44
3
Joy To The World (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by Traditional, Hoyt Axton.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
5:40
4
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Gloria (In Excelsis Deo) (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
— Traditional —
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:03
5
Jesus Born On This Day (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:46
6
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:27
7
Hero (Live at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine)
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
4:41
8
Miss You Most (At Christmas Time) (Video Version)
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
4:31
Releases
Original Release
Merry Christmas was originally available on CD, Cassette and MiniDisc. International editions of the album include the bonus track “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.” In Europe, Merry Christmas was available on CD, Cassette, MiniDisc and 12" Vinyl.
In 1995, Merry Christmas was re-released for the first time. The CD Plus version of the albums contains extra multimedia content including video interviews, exclusive photos and two music videos. The DualDisc (CD+DVD) version of Merry Christmas was released in 2005, including a new Anniversary Mix of “Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town” as a bonus track. The DVD side contains all 12 songs in enhanced PCM stereo plus eight music videos: a new animated video for the Anniversary Mix of “Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town,” the original version of “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time),” the So So Def Remix of “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” the Celebration Mix Video of “Joy To The World,” the live version of “O Holy Night,” the black and white version of the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” video and the live performance of “Joy To The World” at Saint John The Divine. The 2005 Japan re-release was issued as a CD+DVD combo with the same tracklist. A 7-track EP was also released in 2005 and sold exclusively by 7-Eleven.
On November 1, 2019, to commemorate the album's 25th anniversary, the Deluxe Anniversary Edition of Merry Christmas was released including a bonus CD with previously unreleased live performances of six of the album's tracks, recorded live at the St. John The Divine Cathedral in New York in 1994, as well as three songs from the 2010 Merry Christmas II You album, remixes, “The Star” (from The Star original motion picture soundtrack), “Lil Snowman” (from the All I Want For Christmas Is You original motion picture soundtrack) and a new introlude of “Sugar Plum Fairy.”
The Japanese release of the Deluxe Anniversary Edition of Merry Christmas, housed in a jewel case, includes the live version of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” from Mariah's Daydream Tour in Tokyo in 1996 as a bonus track.
The original Merry Christmas black vinyl, released in 1994, was only available in Europe. The album was re-released on vinyl for the first time in 2015, on a limited edition red pressing. In 2018, another limited edition — a clear snowflake pressing — was released through the Mariah Carey official store, limited to 1,000 copies. Retailer Urban Outfitters released an exclusive pressing in 2019 — a Translucent Red and Green Vinyl vinyl, limited to 4,000 copies — while Target released a new limited edition in 2020 — pressed on clear vinyl with white, red and green splatter.
In 2024, to commemorate the album's 30th anniversary, a new Spotify Fans First vinyl became available; pressed on gold metallic vinyl and limited to 1,150 numbered copies.
Mariah partnered with Mobile Fidelity in 2024 to offer two new vinyl pressings of the album, sourced from the original master tapes, making Merry Christmas available in audiophile quality for the first time since its original release. Mobile Fidelity offers the UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM LP set, limited to 3,000 numbered copies; as well as a 180g 45RPM 2LP set, limited to 4,000 numbered copies.
Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night
Holy night
Son of God
Oh love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Oh Jesus Lord at Thy birth…
Sleep
Sleep (Sleep)
Sleep in heavenly peace (Heavenly, heavenly peace)
Sleep (Sleep)
Sleep
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly, heavenly peace (Sleep in heavenly, heavenly, heavenly peace)
Peace
Peace
Sleep
Oh sleep in heavenly peace
Traditional.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Loris Holland.
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true…
All I want for Christmas
Is you…
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you…
You baby
I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click
'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
You…
All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need — won't you please bring my baby to me…
Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want him for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is
You…
All I want for Christmas is you baby
(Repeat)
Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night
O night divine
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night divine
O night divine (Ooh yes it was)
O night divine (It is the night of our dear Savior's birth)
O night divine (Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah)
O night divine (It was a holy, holy, holy, oh)
O night divine (Oh… yes it was)
Traditional.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
Christmas (The snow's coming down)
Christmas (I'm watching it fall)
Christmas (Lots of people around)
Christmas (Baby please come home)
Christmas (The church bells in town)
Christmas (All ringing in song)
Christmas (Full of happy sounds)
Christmas (Baby please come home)
They're singing “Deck The Halls”
But it's not like Christmas at all
Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
Christmas (Pretty lights on the tree)
Christmas (I'm watching them shine)
Christmas (You should be here with me)
Christmas (Baby please come home)
They're singing “Deck The Halls”
But it's not like Christmas at all
Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
Christmas (If there was a way)
Christmas (I'd hold back this tear)
Christmas (But it's Christmas day)
Please (Please)
Please (Please)
Please (Please)
Please (Please)
Please (Baby please come home)
Please
Christmas (Baby please come home)
Christmas (Baby please come home)
Christmas (Baby please come home)
Christmas
Christmas…
Written by P. Spector, J. Barry, E. Greenwich.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
The fire is burning, the room's all aglow
Outside the December wind blows
Away in the distance the carolers sing in the snow
Everybody's laughing
The world is celebrating
And everyone's so happy
Except for me tonight
Because I miss you
Most at Christmas time
And I can't get you
Get you off my mind
Every other season comes along and I'm all right
But then I miss you
Most at Christmas time
I gaze out the window, this cold winter's night
At all of the twinkling lights
Alone in the darkness remembering when you were mine
Everybody's smiling
The whole world is rejoicing
And everyone's embracing
Except for you and I
Baby I miss you
Most at Christmas time
And I can't get you, no no no no
Get you off my mind
Every other season comes along and I'm all right
But then I miss you
Most at Christmas time
In the springtime those memories start to fade
With the April rain
Through the summer days
Till Autumn's leaves are gone
I get by without you
Till the snow begins to fall
And then I miss you
Most at Christmas time
And I can't get you, no no no no
Get you off my mind
Every other season comes along and I'm all right
But then I miss you
Most at Christmas time
Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
Joy to the world
The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world
The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the earth
The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the people everywhere you see
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the people everywhere you see
Joy to you and me
He rules the world
With truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders and wonders of His
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the people everywhere you see
Joy to you and me
Joy to the people everywhere you see
Joy to you and me
Written by H. Axton/Traditional.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
Today a child is born on earth (Today a child is born on earth)
Today the glory of God shines everywhere
For all the world
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our light and salvation
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is the King of all nations
Behold the lamb of God has come (Behold the lamb of God has come)
Behold the Savior is born
Sing of His love to everyone
Oh Jesus born on this day
Heavenly child in a manger
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our Lord and our Savior
Today our hearts rejoice in Him (Today our hearts rejoice in Him)
Today the light of His birth
Fills us with hope and brings peace on earth
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our light and salvation
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is the King of all nations
Today a child is born on earth (Today a child is born on earth)
He is light, He is love, He is grace
Born on Christmas day
He is light, He is love, He is grace
Born on Christmas day
He is light, He is love, He is grace
Born on Christmas day
He is light, He is love, He is grace
Born on Christmas day
He is light, He is love, He is grace
Born on Christmas day
Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
He's making a list
He's checking it twice
He's gonna find out
Who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
Oh you better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
The kids in girl and boyland
Will have a jubilee
They're gonna build a toyland
All around the Christmas tree
So you better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' (Santa Claus)
Santa Claus is comin' (Santa Claus)
Santa Claus is comin' (Santa Claus)
To town (Is comin' to town)
Written by J.F. Coots and H. Gillespie.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new born King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new born King
To the new born King
In Excelsis Deo
Gloria…
In Excelsis Deo
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new born King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconcile
Oh joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new born King
To the new bork King
In Excelsis Deo
Traditional.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey. Co-produced by Loris Holland.
Jesus, Jesus
Oh what a wonderful child
Jesus, Jesus
So lowly meek and mild
New life, new hope, new joy He brings
Won't you listen to the angels sing
Glory, glory, glory
To the new born King
Jesus, Jesus
Oh what a wonderful child
Jesus, Jesus
So lowly meek and mild
New life, new hope, new joy He brings
Won't you listen to the angels sing
Glory, glory, glory
To the new born King
He was herald by the angels
Born in a lowly manger
The virgin Mary was His mother
And Joseph was his earthly father
Three wise men came from afar
They were guided by a shining star
To see King Jesus where He lay
In a manger filled with hay
Jesus, Jesus
Oh what a wonderful child
Jesus, Jesus
So lowly meek and mild
Oh new joy He brings
Won't you listen to the angels sing
Glory
To the new born King
Oh Jesus
Jesus
Mary's baby
Lamb of God
Heavenly Child
Jesus
Jesus
I Love Him
Oh Jesus
All Mighty God
King of kings
Oh Jesus
Oh Jesus
Oh, oh, oh, Jesus
Wonderful, wonderful one
Oh, oh
Oh Jesus
Oh Jesus
Son of God
Oh Jesus Glory…
To the new born King, yeah…
Traditional.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey. Co-produced by Loris Holland.
