Before Mariah Carey’s iconic holiday melody captured the hearts of listeners, it had been quite some time since a Christmas song achieved significant commercial success. The landscape of Christmas music had been largely quiet, with few new hits breaking through to mainstream popularity.

If you consider Wham!‘s poignant classic “Last Christmas” a holiday essential, you would trace its roots back to 1984. On the other hand, for those who prefer a more joyful and upbeat vibe, Jose Feliciano spread festive cheer with his enduring hit “Feliz Navidad,” which debuted in 1970, bringing a lively spirit that resonates even today.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono made a profound cultural impact with their 1971 release “Happy Xmas (The War Is Over),” although it didn’t initially achieve major commercial success in the U.S. This song carries a more somber tone, with Carey herself describing it as “pretty sad,” contrasting sharply with the more festive vibe typically associated with holiday music.

It truly wasn’t until the release of Brenda Lee‘s upbeat 1958 hit “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” penned by Johnny Marks, that a cheerful and commercially successful addition to the Christmas music canon emerged. Carey’s unique ability to capture the holiday spirit has not yet been matched, making her contribution to Christmas music particularly special and memorable.

In a discussion with Billboard, Atanasieff likened the phenomenon of Carey’s song to “a cosmic occurrence that happens once every 5 billion years.” He noted that “thousands of original Christmas songs have been written in the last 20 years…But for whatever reason, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ just became that song,” illustrating the rarity and impact of her work.

Atanasieff further remarked that Carey’s tune was “the last major song to enter that Christmas canon, and then the door slammed shut. It just closed,” highlighting the challenges faced by new holiday songs trying to replicate such monumental success.

When asked why she believed her song had remained beloved for over three decades, Carey shared with Nightline in 2023, “I think it’s because I really, truly love the holidays. It’s not fake,” revealing the authenticity and passion behind her timeless holiday anthem.