When the first chill of December sets in and holiday lights start twinkling, one voice consistently rises above the festive noise: Mariah Carey. Her iconic holiday anthem “All I Want for Christmas Is You” transcended its 1994 release to become the ultimate Christmas soundtrack. Carey’s universal appeal, unmatched vocal talent and ability to integrate joy and nostalgia into a season built on tradition grants her the position as the staple of Christmas music compared to Michael Bublé’s Christmas song covers.

Bublé’s Christmas music proves a competitor to Carey’s because it captures the timeless essence of the holiday season with his smooth, velvety voice and classic approach. Bublé’s renditions of Christmas standards like “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and “White Christmas” evoke the warmth and nostalgia of the holidays in a way that feels effortlessly elegant. His style pays tribute to famous singers such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, which grants his music a comforting feeling that appeals to generations. Unlike Carey’s high-energy pop anthem, Bublé’s Christmas music creates a relaxed, cozy atmosphere perfect for family gatherings, quiet evenings by the fire and the overall magic of the season.

“Bublé’s Christmas music inspires me. I’m in the band and I love to play his songs for Christmas concerts and also just to listen to him. His voice is so smooth and it’s so satisfying to listen to when I’m relaxing with my family or just need background music,” junior Olyvia Graham said.

While Bublé’s smooth voice captures a nostalgic charm to Christmas classics, it does not rival the universal appeal and cultural impact of Carey’s music. Bublé relies on traditional songs that lack the originality and energy of Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which represents a defining anthem of the holiday season. Carey’s voice blends timeless holiday sounds with a modern vibrancy that resonates with people of all ages. Similarly, while Bublé’s relaxed style fits perfectly with cozy moments, it does not capture the full spectrum of holiday emotions as Carey’s music does. 

Carey’s voice rings with preeminence throughout the year. With her five-octave range, she reaches a level of sophistication in Christmas music that remains hard to rival. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” represents a masterpiece of vocal layering and production that catches the eyes of viewers each year without fail. The song captures the essence of holiday cheer with its upbeat tempo, sleigh bells and heartwarming lyrics, while Carey’s vocals create an ethereal feeling. Unlike traditional carols or older pop classics, her song feels modern yet timeless, appealing to listeners across generations.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Additionally, Carey brilliantly markets herself as the face of Christmas. She embraces the holiday spirit with unabashed enthusiasm every year, from releasing festive albums to performing at tree-lighting ceremonies. Her annual transformation into the Queen of Christmas serves as a testament to her genuine love for the season. She does not only sing about Christmas, she lives it, and her authenticity resonates with fans worldwide. She also reaches younger generations through social media apps like TikTok. For example, in 2019, Carey started posting her song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at midnight following Halloween on TikTok with a festive video in the back. Each year it catches viewers’ attention and lifts their spirits. Throughout the year, viewers joke that she will defrost early, creating memes on social media of her well-known phrase: It’s time.

Carey’s dominance in Christmas music stems from the cultural ubiquity and nostalgia of her iconic hit. This global phenomenon tops charts every holiday season, inspires countless covers and remains a staple in shopping malls, holiday movies and family gatherings. The song evokes a deep sense of nostalgia, transporting listeners to warm memories of decorating trees, sipping hot chocolate and celebrating with loved ones, which brings out the tradition involved in Christmas celebrations. 

“Carey has this untouchable feeling when it’s Christmas time since she’s the Queen of Christmas. Hearing her music in stores or just playing on the radio lets me know that it’s Christmas and her music gives me such a good feeling. I love Carey and I’m glad that her music is everywhere,” junior Hailey Walters said.

Through Carey’s powerful vocals and upbeat tempo, she brings joy and excitement to holiday parties, decorating sessions and festive celebrations. Bublé’s music feels like a warm hug, but Carey’s music stands as the glittering centerpiece of the season, inspiring the kind of joy and togetherness that defines Christmas.

The tradition of holiday music, a staple during the winter time, dates back to the 12th century when families celebrated the season with Christmas hymns. These hymns, now commonly referred to as Christmas carols, create joy in holiday celebrators and various artists who cover Christmas classics. Fans frequently debate which artist best embodies the holiday spirit out of a variety of musicians including Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey. These two singers have successfully racked up listeners and created the highest-viewed holiday songs. Although individuals yearn for Carey’s iconic song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” all year round, Bublé possesses a versatile voice that creates nostalgia and an audience solely based on his Christmas covers.  

Carey, the voice of the season, markets her Christmas songs well before the holidays begin, starting at midnight following Halloween. Fans created a trend on Tiktok regarding her five-octave range during her well-known phrase, “It’s time”, joking about how Carey slowly defrosts throughout the year. “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” Careys record-breaking original song, reached 110 million streams on Spotify and remains at the top of the charts for Christmas music. Additionally, October 28, 1994, Carey created a Christmas album called “Merry Christmas,” which contains 10 Christmas songs; recently,  she released other Christmas covers such as “Let It Snow” and “Joy To The World.” Carey’s iconic voice designs a bright Christmas atmosphere and brings joy to celebrators around the globe. 

While Carey expresses a unique pop side of Christmas tunes that fans enjoy, Bublé embodies the warm, cozy feelings of Christmas that listeners yearn for during the winter season. “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” Carey’s only major hit, remains the top Christmas song, however, Bublé’s full album follows close in the Top 40s. Both of the artists shine in different aspects, but Bublé ultimately exemplifies the Christmas spirit in his holiday songs. With his smooth, unique voice, Bublé provides fans comfort and nostalgia during the holiday season and his calm tone allows individuals to enjoy his music in any frame of mind. 

“When I think about Christmas songs, my brain does go to Mariah Carey, because of ‘All I Want For Christmas.’ But when I think of the overall season and feel of Christmas, Michael Bublé’s music makes me feel more nostalgic and reflective of the holiday. His voice is really comforting to me because it’s so different from every other Christmas music and he has so many covers,” magnet junior Tiffanie Nthale said.

Bublé began singing in front of audiences as a teenager with assistance from his grandfather. Through influence from his favorite artists growing up such as Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, Bublé adopted a jazz and soul style of music. He gained listeners slowly until former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney invited Bublé to perform at his daughter’s wedding, where he met his producer, David Foster. Three years later, he released his first album, “Michael Bublé,” and received the Best New Talent award from the Juno Awards, due to his ability to blend jazz standards with modern pop. Over the years, Bublé collected over 18 awards including 11 Junos and four Grammys because of his smooth, rich voice that appeals to all ages. During the holidays, fans find Bublé’s voice nostalgic as his Christmas album reaches the top of the charts annually and gains acknowledgment as one of the top recognized voices of Christmas music.  

Gallery • 1 Photos

“Christmas,” Bublé’s prominent album, includes 16 covers of classic Christmas songs. The album gained over four million listens and since its release in 2011, songs from the album remained on Billboard’s Top 40 Chart during the winter holidays. Bublé noticed the fame that his album received and decided to create a deluxe album where he invited various artists such as Shania Twain and The Puppini Sisters to collaborate on songs on the project — whose voices blended well with Bublé’s uncommon tone. Due to the numerous Christmas covers Buble released, he commonly performs Christmas concerts and receives invites to perform in Christmas specials by companies like the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 

“Michael Bublé’s Christmas music is just so iconic and I feel like I could never get tired of it. From ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’ to ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas,’ his voice is so soothing and it’s something I could listen to all day. If you ask me, Michael Bublé any day,” magnet junior Keazandra-Clyne Verdeflor said. 

Bublé’s distinctive tone and mix of styles capture the warm feelings of the holiday season for all ages. Though Carey’s hit song brings most listeners, Bublé’s covers receive equal amounts of love. Overall, Bublé’s classic style, mixed with his modern twist on traditional Christmas songs, leads him to serve as the ultimate Christmas musician, surpassing every other holiday artist.