DASHING through the snow, in a two-horse open sleigh, with real-life reindeer, pulling all the way . . .
That could be the Mariah Carey version of Jingle Bells. Not for her the one-horse sleigh of the timeless Christmas tune – or even horses, for that matter. Mimi has Rudolph and his pals hauling her and her kids through a wintry wonderland come to Christmas Eve – oh, and Santa himself is there too.
Because when it comes to Christmas, Mariah is the undisputed queen of the over-the-top castle. And who can blame her for a dash of extravagance when the holiday practically belongs to her – on the charts, anyway?
Her evergreen 25-year-old hit, All I Want for Christmas is You, holds the Guinness World Record for being the best-charting holiday single by a solo artist. It is also the most-streamed track on Spotify in a day (10,8 million times on Christmas Eve last year) and the Christmas song with the most weeks – 20 – on the British singles chart.
It has raked in over $60 million (about R880m) in royalties – and that figure is set to swell even more. This festive season the song is back on the charts in more than 25 countries, thanks to the re-release of a deluxe edition of Mimi’s holiday album, Merry Christmas.
The 49-year-old Grammy winner doesn’t like to acknowledge the passing of time because she finds it unnerving that her holiday classic has already hit the quarter-century mark.
“The more I hear [it’s turning 25], the more I freak out. I’d rather just say it feels like it’s going to be a great anniversary for the album,” she told Cosmopolitan recently.
IT’S strange to think Mariah’s runaway hit almost didn’t happen. For starters, her childhood memories of the festive season weren’t pleasant, and she thought it was too early in her career to record a Christmas album.
Denne historien er fra 26 December 2019-utgaven av Drum English.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra 26 December 2019-utgaven av Drum English.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Homegrown Heroes
Drum speaks to two volunteers in the Covid-19 vaccine trial and the professor heading the team in Africa
The Big Clean Up
Whenever a Covid-19 case is confirmed at a shop, they call in the deep-cleaners. We find out exactly how they disinfect stores and supermarkets
I'm Back & Better!
Babes Wodumo shares what she’s been up to in lockdown – and there’s some new music on the horizon
Not An Easy Ride
Taxi commuters and industry players tell DRUM what’s driving them to defy lockdown rules
Mam' Mary Bows Out
Iconic actress Mary Twala is fondly remembered by friends and family for her humour and talent
‘They Lived For Each Other'
This Cape Town teen’s parents died from Covid-19 on the same day. Now she’s alone and battling the virus too
Stranger Than Fiction
For actor Mangaliso Ngema and his daughter Khosi Ngema, her role in Blood & Water was like watching their family’s real-life story unfold
I Was Raped By A Pastor
His accusations against a well-known man of the cloth turned an Eastern Cape man’s life into turmoil but now more victims have spoken out
My Fight With Life And Death
More Covid-19 patients, too few beds and staff, constant sanitising and personal fears – a Western Cape doctor shares her experience
I AM ENOUGH
Ten years after being set alight, Thembi Maphanga is living life to the fullest
