Time for balances, time for numbers. These are very seasonal, as they cover one of the most popular songs of the Christmas season: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Of Mariah Carey. Yes, exactly what we could hear with our ears in recent weeks on the radio, at the shopping centre, on the ice rinks set up in various locations in Italian-speaking Switzerland or, while grooving to the TV, in some advertisements. Even in combination, several times a day.
Trumpet blasts, festive bells, Spotify announced that the song was the first of the Christmas songs to break the ceiling of two billion streams. “This is beyond incredible – commented the pop star – I am honored, I am so grateful to all the listeners who made the song part of their holidays”. The most played not only in the USA, where it is at home, but also in the rest of the world. Of all the classics in its category, it is the undisputed number one on Christmas Day, and this has been continuously since 2016.
Released in 1994 on the album “Music Box”, the single sold 16 million copies all over the world, placing itself at number twelve among the best-selling ones of all time and – it goes without saying – at number one among the Christmas ones.
The site “Celebrity Net Worth” has calculated that, in royalties, “All I Want…” has so far generated 80 million dollars (approximately 71.5 million francs). The authors of the article estimate that, every year, the song produces from 2 to 4 million in royalty (up to 3.6 million francs). Not bad huh? He will certainly have no problems giving gifts (I thank Elia Bosco for suggesting this comment).
Co-author Walter Afanasieff, known in the 1980s under the pseudonym Baby Love, toasts with her. The lyrics and music took Carey-Afanasieff a total of fifteen minutes to work. When it comes to leverage.
And to think that she didn't even want to record it. He thought it was the stuff of late artists. It was the record producer Tommy Mottola, who was also her husband at the time, who practically forced her. We can imagine that Carey's annoyances have greatly eased over the years.
Finally, a curiosity: during the recording, to be more inspired, the singer decorated the whole house with Christmas garlands and festoons. And it was summer.
