All we want for Christmas: The deets on Mariah Carey’s new special
The holidays wouldn’t be the same without some tunes from Mariah Carey. Before Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special came out, we didn’t know it would be all we wanted for Christmas. It aired on Apple TV+ on Dec. 4, giving viewers forty-three minutes of musical goodness directed by Hamish Hamilton & Roman Coppola.
Besides the Queen of Christmas herself, other stars include Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson. Appearances are also made by Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner, Snoop Dogg, Misty Copeland, Jermaine Dupri, Mykal-Michelle Harris, and Carey’s twin daughters.
On the same day as the special’s premiere, fans got a taste of what they’d be seeing with the music video for the lead single from the official soundtrack. In the song “Oh Santa!”, we see Carey, Grande, and Hudson looking as festive as ever.
What to expect from the special
Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special is filled with songs that make our hearts melt like a candy cane in hot chocolate. But there’s more than just the music. It also tells a story with a plot that the whole family can enjoy watching.
The special shares the tale of how the North Pole overcomes its holiday cheer problem. It’s up to Santa’s friend, Mariah Carey, to save the day. The first scene takes place in Carey’s holiday decorated apartment. Carey’s daughter is too sad about 2020 to hang an ornament on the Christmas tree, so then Carey starts singing the song “Sleigh Ride.”
2020 has been a downer. The pandemic has changed many things about life, but one thing it can’t take away is Carey spreading Christmas cheer. Her special is a heartwarming, exciting musical ensemble that’s sure to lift anyone’s spirits and get everyone in a holiday mood.
The Queen of Christmas
Carey has been called the “Queen of Christmas” for quite some time now. It’s been twenty-six years since she released Merry Christmas, the iconic Christmas album that’s still popular today. The “All I Want for Christmas Is You” single even made it to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 last year.
“They call me the Queen of Christmas,” Carey said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “Notice I said they call me, ‘cause I never claimed that name. It is a pretty fun name, though.”
In her interview, she said she doesn’t usually like to refer to Christmas as “magic”.
“But for this, it is,” she said. “It’s more like, here’s the spirit, what we want to feel right now. We really need to just feel Christmas, no matter if we can’t be with our loved ones.”
What Twitter is saying
People on Twitter are talking about what they thought of Carey’s Christmas special. Some people weren’t pleased with it. One Twitter user said “What in the name of all that is holy is ‘Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special’ on Apple TV? The most cynical, dreadful 40 minutes of television ever made?”
What in the name of all that is holy is ‘Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special’ on Apple TV?
The most cynical, dreadful 40 minutes of television ever made?
#charmless #MariahsMagicalChristmas— Leon Spence (@TheLeonSpence) December 4, 2020
Most of the comments about the special were positive though.
“The way Jennifer gave the song power, Ariana incredible smoothness and Mariah a mix of the two…I can’t believe how well they work together omg,” someone said in a tweet.
The way Jennifer gave the song power, Ariana incredible smoothness and Mariah a mix of the two…I can't believe how well they work together omg 😭#MariahsMagicalChristmas #MariahCareysMagicalChristmasSpecial #OhSanta
— Chris | #OhSanta (@HowBooYouBoo) December 4, 2020
“That Mariah Carey Christmas Special was cute and put me in the Christmas spirit!” another user said.
That Mariah Carey Christmas Special was cute and put me in the Christmas spirit!
— Charcoochie Bored 🧀 (@daquanthe1st) December 4, 2020
Other people are subscribing to Apple TV+ so they can see it. One user said “oh no not me starting my free trial for apple tv JUST to watch mariah carey’s christmas special.”
oh no not me starting my free trial for apple tv JUST to watch mariah carey’s christmas special
— nali🤍 (@nalllii) December 4, 2020
How to watch the special
Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special is available on Apple TV+. If you’re not already subscribed to the service and also don’t want to spend money on it, there’s a seven-day free trial. After that, it’s $4.99 a month.
For those who go without Apple TV+, the soundtrack is available on Apple Music. On Dec. 11, the soundtrack will be released everywhere else.
