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How Mariah Carey Sent ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ to #1 After 25 Years
After twenty five years, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” has become the number one song in America. This feat has shattered numerous records, most notably for its 25-year-long rise to the top. It also solidified Mariah’s spot as the female artists with the most #1 songs on the Hot 100 and the soloist with the most #1 songs on the Hot 100.
The Hot 100 is generally regarded as the best measure of popularity for songs, but the chart is not without its flaws. Over time the chart has revised its policies to better measure the success of singles. Prior rules have prevented songs from charting despite their popularity. For much of its life “All I Want for Christmas is You” was unable to chart on the Hot 100, and even when it did chart its measure of success was flawed. As the algorithm for calculating the Hot 100 changed, the song continued to see increased success. Now, there’s not denying it: “All I Want for Christmas is You” is the most popular song in America.
While I recognize there are many charts designed to measure the success of songs, but Hot 100 is the most generalized chart and the biggest indicator of overall success. “All I Want for Christmas is You” has enjoyed success for the past 25 years, but I want to focus solely on its success on the Hot 100. Being a #1 song on the Hot 100 is a major accomplishment and an accolade, and no other chart is a stronger testament to a song’s popularity.
