Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas Album Review (1994)

 

Welcome back everyone, today I’m going to start reviewing Mariah Carey albums. But instead of starting with her debut album and since this is the holidays, I going to start off with Merry Christmas. I’ve spoke so many times on my frustrations with Mariah Carey during this time of the year but since it’s the holidays, I’m going to try and be nice but when we get to that particular song, let’s just say all bets may be off. Many people claim that this is the greatest holiday album of all-time. Do I agree, stay tuned and find out…

Mariah Carey “Merry Christmas”

1.       Silent Night: Let’s start off with the Silent Night. This was a song that was carried the Mariah Carey choir like I was waiting for a Mariah solo, but it never came. Remove the choir this could’ve been great. For me, I’ll just stick too The Temptations or the Boyz II Men cover. (DECENT)

2.       All I Want for Christmas Is You: It’s time. It’s time to unleash on a song that I have disapproved since the start of the channel, turns out I’ve had a lot to say about this so if you don’t feel like hearing my rant on this song, timestamp in the description. I don’t use the word hate when it comes to song but I hate All I Want for Christmas is You, I can dislike a song but I hate this song. The reasons for my hatred of this song are overplay. Everyone, especially Billboard, treats this like it’s the only Christmas song that matters going #1 every year. This is where reason #2 comes in, Billboard and its recurrent nonsense. I’ve read an article that said by the time 2058 hits, this song alongside other holiday staples will be the greatest song of all time. Think about it, a holiday song that most people would only listen to two months out of a year, will be deemed the GOAT song of all time. Billboard has been a recurring problem since 2019 when they allowed holiday staples to chart. As early as next year, it going for the most weeks at #1 record. Reason number #3, THE LAMBS. They treat this song like it’s the greatest song on Earth, let alone her catalog. When people think Mariah Carey, this might be the first song that comes to mind not Vision of Love, Fantasy, One Sweet Day, We Belong Together, and etc. I created a whole bio on Mariah, showcasing that there is some much more to her other than this overplayed and overrated. To summarize, my hatred mostly involves outside circumstances than the song itself. If I can go the rest of my life, never hearing this song again I would not complain. If I can rate this a 0/10 (which I can’t) I would. It overplayed, overrated and I’m sick of it.  (BAD)

3.       O Holy Night: This one faces a similar issue with Silent Night. I would love to hear Mariah solo apart from the Mariah Carey Choir. But she is more showcased here, I love her lower register used and later her signature whistle. This one isn’t bad, I prefer Michelle Williams cover of Oh Holy Night from Destiny’s Child Christmas album. I’ll leave it at that. (DECENT)

4.       Christmas (Baby Please Come Home): I think I found a song on here that I like. This song was originally sung by Darlene Love in 1964. We all know any Christmas song that comes from the 60s is just going to sound better than any modern cover. But Mariah does this song justice. Is it better than Darlene Love, no. But this is worth a listen. Please go back and check it out (AMAZING)

5.       Miss You Most (At Christmas Time): We have an original, which means I can talk about the content. Except the content is self-explanatory, she missing her baby during the Holidays. It’s a piano ballad. If Mariah would’ve removed the Holiday context surrounding this song, it’ll could’ve been placed on any other album by her. But as is, it’s a simple ballad I don’t have a major issue with this one. (GOOD)

6.       Joy To The World: Mariah decides to go early 90s dance craze with an accompanying of the Mariah Carey Choir. I have a question, was Mariah trying to interpolate another song that I can’t identify. Leaves me confused if anything. Feel like this song was an experiment more than anything. This is a take it or leave it but lean towards the latter (DECENT)

7.       Jesus Born on This Day: Now I didn’t know the Mariah Carey Choir had a junior choir. There is a sense of innocence here. I wonder how many youth choirs had to sing this song during the holidays. The song is climaxed when the adult choir joins in. This is one of the simpler songs in the album. Not going to lie, I was singing along to this. It’s fine for me (GOOD)

8.       Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town: I heard the opening seconds of this song and dread. I said “Oh no, All I Want for Christmas” is coming. But then it’s covering the Jackson 5 version from 1970. Let me say this, I was never attached to their version I was more of a “I Saw My Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” kid. So, this version isn’t getting there either. It’s the opening production makes me not want to seek this version out to begin with. So, I don’t really care for this (DECENT)

9.       Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Gloria (In Excelsis Deo): Not much to say about this one. But if you don’t know Gloria in Excelsis Deo translates to Glory to God in the Highest. It’s one of the simpler choir cuts, take it or leave it. (DECENT)

10.   Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child: To close this song, Mariah takes us to church. Now I do have a nostalgia with this song with this being played at my church during the holidays (maybe outside but beside the point). It goes double time, in the end that’ll make you go on a church run. But it has me wondering, why Whitney Houston covered this, she and perhaps Cissy would run on. It’s the perfect way to close a holiday album, and Mariah let’s just say she let the good Lord use her on this album. (AMAZING)

Final Thoughts: Holiday albums are the albums that I tend not to have much to say for. Most holiday albums are cover songs. But with this one, there was a ton of gospel elements that I didn’t expect here and Mariah did bring her A game when it came to those collard green gospel songs. Thanks to a certain song, it’s ranking was affected and for a holiday album I can give this a comfortable 6/10, this project had songs I liked and for a holiday staple it’s fine enough. Not sure when I’m OFFICIALLY going to start her catalog got other projects planned ahead so stay tuned for when I do start.

Best Songs: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), Jesus Born on this Day, Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child.

ABSOLUTE WORST: All I Want For Christmas Is You

Bah Humbug/10