Mariah Carey’s 1994 holiday song and veritable phenomenon, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” has been at the top of Billboard’s “Holiday 100” for 62 out of the chart’s 70 total weeks since it began the tally in 2011, the company announced Monday, Dec. 9. The chart ranks holiday songs by streaming data, radio airplay, audience impressions and sales data.
The song’s staying power is so strong it’s currently No. 1 on the “Hot 100.” Billboard said Monday that the song had 38.2 million streams and 24.4 million radio airplay audience impressions in the past week. It was also No. 1 on Billboard’s “Greatest Holiday Songs of All Time” chart.
A song from 30 years ago might seem like a “classic.” That said, it’s relatively new compared to the rest of the top 10 that make up the “Holiday 100.”
Songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s hold most of the top spots, according to the chart from the week of Dec. 7, including: “Last Christmas” by Wham! released in 1984 at No. 3; “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives featured in the 1964 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” TV special at No. 5; and Dean Martin’s 1959 rendition of “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” at No. 7.
And at No. 2 is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee, released in 1958. This one experienced a Christmas miracle of its own last year. The song overtook Carey as the No. 1 spot on the “Holiday 100” for three weeks. It also, for the first time, landed at the top of the “Hot 100” chart.
But that doesn’t mean the latest holiday jingles are completely failing to make it on Billboard’s list. Make like Santa and check the list twice because there is new music on there that’s proving quite nice.
In fact, to get to the first song released in the past decade, you only have to go to the 10 spot to find Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me,” though that was released 10 years ago. Grande is one of the few artists to overtake Carey, holding No. 1 for a week during the 2014-2015 holiday season.
That song is followed by Kelly Clarkson at No. 11 with 2013’s “Underneath the Mistletoe,” released nine years ago.
No. 34 has our first taste of a song from the past five years. The Jonas Brothers’ “Like It’s Christmas” from 2019 fills that spot. The Ed Sheeran and Elton John 2021 “Merry Christmas” original is not too far behind at No. 41.
But for a song released in 2024, there is only one contender –– Laufey’s “Christmas Magic” shines at No. 50.
The Grammy-winning Icelandic-Chinese artist is celebrating this feat and the recent premiere of her concert film, “A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl,” in theaters nationwide.
Getting a newer holiday song to chart at the top of the list is challenging. Look at Taylor Swift, for instance. Her 2019 “Christmas Tree Farm” single sits at No. 79. It’s not a usual chart position for the pop superstar who just wrapped up her record-breaking Eras Tour.
In related news, there’s now a mix of classic and new to throw on your playlist. Bing Crosby’s 1947 “White Christmas,” which according to the Guinness Book of World Records is the best-selling single of all time, just got an updated version. Thanks to modern technology, Bing is paired with V of the Korean boyband BTS in a rendition released last week.
And if you’re wondering who the other artists with a “Holiday 100” No. 1 are: Justin Bieber and Pentatonix, though both for just a week or so, before they gave the spot back to who many consider its rightful owner, Mariah Carey.
