The unofficial "Queen of Christmas" has spoken. Mariah Carey wants fans to know that, yes, that really is her in the video that's part of the company's Wrapped feature. Every year, users of the music app are invited to delve into an analysis of their listening habits, with their favorite artists sometimes thanking them for their support via a clip that pops up.
Carey's appearance in the 2024 version elicited opinions that the "All I Want for Christmas Is You" singer felt the need to address. "Bad lighting and a red lip have you all thinking this is AI?" she wrote in the social media post below. "There's a reason I'm not a fan of either of those things! About to celebrate Christmastime with my Boston lambily!"
The video shows Carey rocking her familiar Santa-style dress - but no hat, darling - as she says, "Hey, it's Mariah! Thank you so much for listening to my music on Spotify! Your support through the years is the greatest gift i could ask for. This year, we're celebrating the 30th anniversary of my album, Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy listening to it, and I can't wait to share new music with you soon." She adds, "happy holidays," before blowing a kiss at the camera. Classic Mariah.
Indeed it is a milestone anniversary of Carey's classic holiday album, which also features her take on staples from the holiday season, such as "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", "Silent Night", and "Joy to the World". The juggernaut album has sold 18 million copies, becoming one of the biggest holiday sellers of all time, and spawned an entire cottage industry for Carey: a regular winter tour, books, and videos.
Initially, Carey wasn't even into the idea of recording a holiday album initially, because the project came up so early in her career, she told Entertainment Weekly in 2019. "I didn't feel, from a strategic point of view, that it was time to do something like that," Carey said. "As much as I love Christmas, I thought that the record company was off. Obviously, I couldn't have been more wrong."
Back in 2022, she surprisingly lost a trademark dispute over the "Queen of Christmas" title to full-time Christmas singer Elizabeth Chan, which also benefited equally festive crooners such as Darlene Love. Carey had wanted to be the sole individual who could use the signifier, but the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board did not agree. However, the ruling does not appear to have affected her yuletide success.
(Entertainment Weekly)
|
|
