Oh Santa!
{{Short description|2010 single by Mariah Carey}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Oh Santa!
| cover = Oh Santa Mariah Carey.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Mariah Carey
| album = Merry Christmas II You
| released = October 1, 2010
| recorded = 2010
| studio = {{hlist|Guardian Angel Studios|Westlake Recording Studios|Hensons Studios|Capitol Recording Studios}}
| genre = *Christmas
| length = 3:31
| label = {{hlist|Island Def Jam|Epic}}
| writer = {{hlist|Mariah Carey|Jermaine Dupri|Bryan-Michael Cox}}
| producer = {{hlist|Carey|Cox|Dupri}}
| prev_title = Angels Cry
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Auld Lang Syne (The New Year's Anthem)
| next_year = 2010
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Y5zaQ_vIAHE|"Oh Santa!"}}
| type = single
}}
}}
"Oh Santa!" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her second Christmas album and thirteenth studio album, Merry Christmas II You (2010). Carey wrote and produced the song in collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. It was released as the lead single from the album on October 1, 2010 by Island Def Jam Records. It is an up-tempo R&B song about Carey making a plea for Santa Claus to bring back her partner in time for the Christmas holidays. It received a positive response from music critics, with many praising its composition and style.
The track set a record on the United States Billboard Adult Contemporary songs chart, debuting at number twelve and peaking at number one the following week for four weeks. It became the first song to reach the summit in two weeks. It further became Carey's seventh number-one song on the chart. Carey filmed a 1960s-style music video to accompany the song's release as a single, and performed it on various programs in the lead up to Christmas, including her own TV special called Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You.
It was later adapted to be the finale of A Christmas Melody, a 2015 Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, with its lyrics tweaked to be relevant for Broadway child performer Fina Strazza's character singing about her single mother finding love. On December 4, 2020, a new version was released featuring singers Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson, as a single from the soundtrack to Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special for Apple TV+.
Background and composition
{{Listen|pos=left|filename= Mariah Carey - Oh Santa!.ogg|title="Oh Santa!"|description=A 21 second sample of the song's chorus, featuring jingles and handclaps.|formet=Ogg}}
"Oh Santa!" was written and produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox for Carey's second Christmas/thirteenth studio album, Merry Christmas II You (2010); Rye Songs administered by Songs of Universal (BMI)/Shaniah Cymone Music|EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)/WBM Music Corp Inc./Pamela & Lorrence's Publishing LLC (SESAC). Her vocals were recorded by Brian Garten, Marcus Johnson and Thomas Kanarek, Martin Cooke, Nicholas Essif and Peter Mack, and the music by John Horesco at Guardian Angel Studios, Westlake Recording Studios, Henson Studios and Capitol Recording Studios. It was mixed by Phil Tan and Damien Lewis at The Ninja Beat Club. Dupri played the drums and Randy Jackson performed bass. Cox plated the keyboard and percussion. The background vocals were sung by Angie Fisher, Melonie Daniels, Maryann Tatum, Sharlotte Gibson and Toni Scruggs.{{cite AV media notes |title=Merry Christmas II You (Liner Notes) |others=Mariah Carey |year=2010|first=Mariah |last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Def Jam |location=New York City, New York }}
"Oh Santa!" was one of four original compositions by Carey to be included on the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/10/01/new-music-mariah-carey-oh-santa/|title=New Music: Mariah Carey – 'Oh Santa!'|work=Rap-Up|date=October 1, 2010|access-date=August 7, 2011|archive-date=June 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625051829/http://www.rap-up.com/2010/10/01/new-music-mariah-carey-oh-santa/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.popeater.com/2010/10/01/mariah-carey-oh-santa-song-premiere/|title=Mariah Carey, 'Oh Santa!' – Song Premiere|work=PopEater|date=October 1, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306105655/http://www.popeater.com/2010/10/01/mariah-carey-oh-santa-song-premiere/|url-status=live}} It premiered on October 1, 2010, in the United States. An EP consisting of six remixes by Jump Smokers and Low Sunday were released on December 7, while a mix of "Oh Santa! and one of Carey's previous Christmas songs "All I Want for Christmas Is You", titled "Oh Santa! All I Want for Christmas Is You (Holiday Mashup)", was released on December 17. "Oh Santa!" is an up-tempo and festive R&B song,{{cite web|last=Diver|first=Mike|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/zvwx|title=Mariah Carey Merry Christmas II You Review|work=BBC|access-date=August 15, 2015|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925115802/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/zvwx|url-status=live}} which lasts for a duration of three minutes, thirty-one seconds. It has a 1960s girl-group swing feel.{{cite web|last=Guerra|first=Joey|url=http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Mariah-Carey-makes-spirits-bright-with-new-CD-1716818.php|title=Mariah Carey makes spirits bright with new CD|work=Houston Chronicle|date=November 2, 2010|access-date=August 12, 2015|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925144353/http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Mariah-Carey-makes-spirits-bright-with-new-CD-1716818.php|url-status=live}} The song, in the key of C♯ major, has a tempo of 80 beats per minute.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0088978|title=dig Sheet Music, Mariah Carey 'Oh Santa!'|year=2010|work=Musicnotes. Peer International Music Publishing|id=MN0088978|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208121734/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0088978|url-status=live}} Carey's voice spans more than three octaves, from B{{music|flat}}2 to the high note of F{{music|sharp}}6. Instrumentation consists of sleigh bells, jingle bells, hand claps and a piano melody, backed by a "school-yard chant beat".{{cite magazine|last=Ganz|first=Caryn|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/merry-christmas-ii-you-20101101|title=Merry Christmas II You|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=August 12, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162736/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/merry-christmas-ii-you-20101101|url-status=dead}} Lyrically, Carey makes a plea to Santa Claus asking him to bring back her "baby" in time for Christmas, singing "Santa's gon' come and make him mine this Christmas."
Critical reception
Mike Diver of the BBC wrote that "Oh Santa!" is a "boisterous" song which "makes perfect sense" as a lead single. He continued to write that although it fell substandard to "All I Want for Christmas Is You", it would still "warrant revisiting 12 months down the line". Rolling Stone writer Caryn Ganz commented on the composition, writing "Mariah bops to a schoolyard-chant beat". Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle described the song as "irresistible" and predicted that it would "dominate ringtones" in the run up to Christmas. A reviewer for Idolator described the track as a "boppy" Christmas version of Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend".{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/5651691/mariah-carey-merry-christmas-ii-you-tracklisting|title=Mariah Carey Unwraps 'Merry Christmas II You' Tracklisting|work=Idolator|date=October 9, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115114438/https://www.idolator.com/5651691/mariah-carey-merry-christmas-ii-you-tracklisting|url-status=live}} Rich Juzwiak of The Village Voice was critical of the song, writing "Of the four Mariah-penned new tracks, the Jermaine Dupri/Bryan-Michael Cox collaboration 'Oh Santa!' tries the hardest, an antique kitchen-sink replica that manages to invoke a cheerleading squad, the Pointer Sisters, Mariah's own 'Loverboy', and Hey Ya!'. Full of mumbling and cattiness, it's difficult to sing along to, so its prospects of becoming a perennial favorite are dim."{{cite web|last=Juzwiak|first=Rich|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/music/on-mariah-careys-agreeably-bizarre-yuletide-sequel-merry-christmas-ii-you-6429571|title=On Mariah Carey's agreeably bizarre yuletide sequel Merry Christmas II You|work=The Village Voice|date=November 10, 2010|access-date=August 12, 2015|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925113821/http://www.villagevoice.com/music/on-mariah-careys-agreeably-bizarre-yuletide-sequel-merry-christmas-ii-you-6429571|url-status=live}}
Chart performance
In the United States, "Oh Santa!" became a record-breaking entry on the Billboard Adult Contemporary songs chart. It debuted at number twelve for the issue dated December 11, 2010.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2010-12-11|title=Adult Contemporary. The week of December 11, 2010|magazine=Billboard|date=December 11, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=November 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109080935/http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2010-12-11|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Trust|first=Gary|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/949690/mariah-careys-oh-santa-tops-adult-contemporary|title=Mariah Carey's 'Oh Santa!' Tops Adult Contemporary|magazine=Billboard|date=December 6, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152141/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/949690/mariah-careys-oh-santa-tops-adult-contemporary|url-status=live}} The track soared to number one the following week,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2010-12-18|title=Adult Contemporary. The week of December 18, 2010|magazine=Billboard|date=December 18, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=September 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927004637/http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2010-12-18|url-status=live}} marking the quickest ascent to the peak position since Nielsen BDS began tracking airplay in 1993, in just two weeks. Previously, eight songs had reached number one within three weeks, four of which were Christmas entries due to adult contemporary radio stations playing an increased amount in the holiday season. "Oh Santa!" became Carey's seventh number-one hit on the chart, and her first in fifteen years since "One Sweet Day" (1995–96), a duet with Boyz II Men. The singer also topped the chart with her debut single "Vision of Love" (her first) and "Love Takes Time" in 1990, "I Don't Wanna Cry" in 1991, and "Can't Let Go" and "I'll Be There" in 1992. "Oh Santa!" remained atop the chart for four consecutive weeks altogether.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2010-12-25|title=Adult Contemporary. The week of December 25, 2010|magazine=Billboard|date=December 25, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=November 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109080957/http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2010-12-25|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2011-01-01|title=Adult Contemporary. The week of January 1, 2011|magazine=Billboard|date=January 1, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=October 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017181124/http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2011-01-01|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2011-01-08|title=Adult Contemporary. The week of January 8, 2011|magazine=Billboard|date=January 8, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=April 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406050158/http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2011-01-08|url-status=live}} It finished at number 42 on the 2011 Adult Contemporary year-end chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/hot-adult-contemporary-songs|title=Adult Contemporary Songs. Year End 2011|magazine=Billboard|year=2011|access-date=August 17, 2015|archive-date=May 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523012726/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/hot-adult-contemporary-songs|url-status=live}} For the week ending October 30, 2010, Carey occupied the top two positions on the Holiday Digital Songs chart: "Oh Santa!" debuted at number one while "All I Want For Christmas Is You" charted at number two.{{cite magazine|last=Trust|first=Gary|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/953047/weekly-chart-notes-fareast-movement-lil-wayne-suzanne-vega|title=Weekly Chart Notes: Far*East Movement, Lil Wayne, Suzanne Vega|magazine=Billboard|date=October 21, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=November 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125072425/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/953047/weekly-chart-notes-fareast-movement-lil-wayne-suzanne-vega|url-status=live}} On January 1, 2011, the track debuted at number one-hundred on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/309388/mariah-carey/chart?f=379|title=Mariah Carey Hot 100 Chart History|magazine=Billboard|date=January 1, 2011|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=January 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101001619/http://www.billboard.com/artist/309388/mariah-carey/chart?f=379|url-status=live}} and number forty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/309388/mariah-carey/chart?f=1086|title=Mariah Carey Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs Chart History|magazine=Billboard|date=January 1, 2011|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=August 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812081601/http://www.billboard.com/artist/309388/mariah-carey/chart?f=1086|url-status=live}}
Elsewhere, the track debuted at number thirty-six on the South Korean Gaon International Digital Singles Chart for the week ending November 20, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=48&hitYear=2010&termGbn=week|title=South Korea Gaon International Digital Chart (Week: 2010.11.14 to 2010.11.20)|work=Gaon Chart|date=November 20, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=September 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926212220/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=48&hitYear=2010&termGbn=week|url-status=live}} It later peaked at number thirty-two for the week ending December 25, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?serviceGbn=ALL&termGbn=week&hitYear=2011&targetTime=01&nationGbn=E|title=South Korea Gaon International Digital Chart (Week: 2010.12.19 to 2010.12.25)|work=Gaon Chart|date=December 25, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514022214/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?serviceGbn=ALL&termGbn=week&hitYear=2011&targetTime=01&nationGbn=E|url-status=live}} On the International Download Singles Chart, the track peaked at number thirty.{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2010&targetTime=48&nationGbn=E|title=South Korea Gaon International Download Chart (Week: 2010.11.114 to 2010.11.20)|work=Gaon Chart|date=December 25, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925124348/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2010&targetTime=48&nationGbn=E|url-status=live}} "On Santa!" peaked at number sixty-eight on the Japan Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/309388/mariah-carey/chart?f=848|title=Mariah Carey Japan Hot 100 Chart History|magazine=Billboard|date=December 4, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=August 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812080528/http://www.billboard.com/artist/309388/mariah-carey/chart?f=848|url-status=live}} The song peaked at number seventy-three on January 1, 2011, for two consecutive weeks on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/309388/mariah-carey/chart?f=793|title=Mariah Carey Canadian Hot 100 Chart History|magazine=Billboard|date=January 1, 2011|access-date=September 14, 2015|archive-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030200339/http://www.billboard.com/artist/309388/mariah-carey/chart?f=793|url-status=live}}
Music video
The music video for "Oh Santa!" was directed by Ethan Lader{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/11/02/video-mariah-carey-oh-santa/|title=Video – Mariah Carey: 'Oh Santa!'|work=Rap-Up|date=November 2, 2010|access-date=September 15, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924132532/http://www.rap-up.com/2010/11/02/video-mariah-carey-oh-santa/|url-status=live}} and was shot in Los Angeles on October 6, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/10/05/mariah-carey-readies-retro-oh-santa-video/|title=Mariah Carey readies retro 'Oh Santa!' video|work=Rap-Up|date=October 5, 2010|access-date=September 15, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924131633/http://www.rap-up.com/2010/10/05/mariah-carey-readies-retro-oh-santa-video/|url-status=live}} Reports surfaced online that Carey's then-husband Nick Cannon would be directing the video, however Cannon dispelled the rumors on Twitter, saying "I am NOT directing." The video for "Oh Santa!" premiered on entertainment news program Access Hollywood on November 2, 2010.{{cite web|last=Bain|first=Becky|url=http://idolator.com/5674412/mariah-carey-oh-santa-video-2|title=Mariah Carey Exclaims 'Oh Santa!' In Her Jolly New Video|work=Idolator|date=November 2, 2010|access-date=September 15, 2015|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115114438/https://www.idolator.com/5674412/mariah-carey-oh-santa-video-2|url-status=live}} Prior to its release, various media outlets speculated that the video was going incorporate the same on-set style as seen in Outkast's music video for their 2003 single "Hey Ya!", with the singer as the main feature in front of a large audience. Carey's fan site MariahDaily posted a message on their website asking people within the Los Angeles area to appear for a casting call for a chance to be featured in the video.
= Synopsis =
The video draws influence from the 1950s and 1960s variety shows and features Carey wearing a short, red "sexy Santa" ensemble, whilst on stage with a band, which featured gospel backup singers as well as a group of dancers, consisting of cheerleaders. The plotline is centered on Carey hosting a "Mariah Carey Christmas" television show. The announcer introduces Carey saying "here she is, the greatest singer of all time, Ms. Mariah Carey!". The video then shows Carey's backup singers belting out the chorus while the singer is seen performing in front of a cheering audience. Her collection of fragrances is also advertised in the opening. In the second half of the video, Santa Claus makes an appearance, waving to friends and sharing a hug with Carey. The video ends with the singer laughing while the audience cheers and claps for her performance.
= Reception =
Becky Bain of Idolator commented on the simple structure and themes of the video, writing "There’s not much to this simple vid, but it does feature Carey doing her usual hand-waving theatrics while hitting some absolutely killer high notes." Bain also observed that the vast majority of the shots of Carey are either long shots, showing the singer from a distance, or close-up shots, showing Carey from the shoulders and above so that the viewer was not able to easily recognize that she was pregnant. Nicole James of MTV Buzzworthy also praised the content of the video, writing "Of course, it wouldn't be a Mariah Carey video without some glitz and glam so the stage and backdrop are covered in (what else?) glitter. Mariah puts on a great show and sings her heart out with that famous eight-octave range ... scrooges need not apply, 'Oh Santa!' is fun and festive and has you longing for a sip of eggnog."{{cite web|last=James|first=Nicole|url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2010/11/03/video-mariah-carey-oh-santa/|title=New Video: Mariah Carey, 'Oh Santa!'|work=MTV|date=November 3, 2011|access-date=September 15, 2015|archive-date=May 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525063609/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2010/11/03/video-mariah-carey-oh-santa|url-status=dead}}
Remixes
When the song was first released as a single in 2010, six dance remixes were commissioned and were later released as a digital EP on December 7, 2010. A mashup of the song with 1994's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" produced by Jump Smokers titled "Oh Santa! All I Want for Christmas Is You (Holiday Mashup)" was also released on December 13, 2010.{{Citation|title=Mariah Carey – Oh Santa! All I Want for Christmas Is You (Holiday Mashup)|url=https://genius.com/Mariah-carey-oh-santa-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-holiday-mashup-lyrics|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2020|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019071256/https://genius.com/Mariah-carey-oh-santa-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-holiday-mashup-lyrics|url-status=live}}
Track listings and formats
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- " Oh Santa!" – 3:31
- "Oh Santa! All I Want for Christmas Is You (Holiday Mashup)"
{{col-2}}
- Oh Santa! (The Remixes) EP{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/oh-santa-the-remixes-ep/406033182|title=Oh Santa! (The Remixes)|work=iTunes Store|date=December 7, 2010|access-date=September 15, 2015|archive-date=December 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210130427/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/oh-santa-the-remixes-ep/id406033182|url-status=live}}
- "Oh Santa!" (Jump Smokers Edit) – 3:53
- "Oh Santa!" (Low Sunday Edit) – 4:09
- "Oh Santa!" (Jump Smokers Extended) – 4:08
- "Oh Santa!" (Low Sunday Club) – 6:16
- "Oh Santa!" (Jump Smokers Instrumental) – 3:52
- "Oh Santa!" (Low Sunday Instrumental) – 6:18
{{col-end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson version
{{Infobox song
| name = Oh Santa!
| cover = Oh Santa!.png
| type = single
| artist = Mariah Carey featuring Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson
| album = Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special (Apple TV+ Original Soundtrack)
| released = {{Start date|2020|12|4}}
| recorded = 2020
| genre = Christmas
| length = 3:20
| label = *Sony
| writer = * Mariah Carey
| producer = * Mariah Carey
- Daniel Moore II
- Marc Shaiman
- Scott M. Riesett
- Tremaine "Six7" Williams
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Mariah Carey
| type = single
| prev_title = Out Here on My Own
| prev_year = 2020
| title = Oh Santa!
| year = 2020
| next_title = Here We Go Around Again
| next_year = 2020
}}{{Extra chronology
| artist = Ariana Grande
| type = single
| prev_title = 34+35
| prev_year = 2020
| title = Oh Santa!
| year = 2020
| next_title = 34+35
| next_version = remix
| next_year = 2021
}}{{Extra chronology
| artist = Jennifer Hudson
| type = single
| prev_title = I'll Fight
| prev_year = 2018
| title = Oh Santa!
| year = 2020
| next_title = Ain't No Mountain High Enough
| next_year = 2021
}}{{External music video|{{YouTube|G2bx3FzgJ6o|"Oh Santa!"}}}}
}}
For the tenth anniversary of the song, Carey re-recorded and re-released the song commercially as a new remix. Carey recorded the new version of the song with Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson. The new version served as the lead single from Carey's second soundtrack album, Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special. The song was released across all streaming platforms on December 4, 2020, accompanied by its official music video, premiered the same day on Carey's YouTube account.{{cite press release|date=November 18, 2020|title='Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special' debuts Friday, December 4 on Apple TV+, together with the full companion soundtrack exclusively on Apple Music|url=https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/11/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-debuts-friday-december-4-on-apple-tv-together-with-the-full-companion-soundtrack-exclusively-on-apple-music/|publisher=Apple TV+|access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118140644/https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/11/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-debuts-friday-december-4-on-apple-tv-together-with-the-full-companion-soundtrack-exclusively-on-apple-music/|url-status=live}}
= Background =
Talking to Billboard, Carey stated in regards to the song that "originally, I was blending with myself [...] but it was cool to be able to work with the different vocal textures and play around with it and reimagine it." She went on to describe the song as a "girl group moment".
= Reception =
The remix received positive reviews on release.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/holiday/9493952/mariah-carey-ariana-grande-jennifer-hudson-oh-santa/|title=Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson Have Blessed Us With 'Oh Santa!'|access-date=December 13, 2020|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210164014/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/holiday/9493952/mariah-carey-ariana-grande-jennifer-hudson-oh-santa/|url-status=live}} Billboard writer Rania Aniftos wrote that the three singers "trading verses and harmonies" amounts for a "truly angelic result". Chris Murphy, writer for Vulture went on to say that "the trio, the remix, and the accompanying music video absolutely makes the nice list in every possible way."{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/mariah-carey-jennifer-hudson-ariana-grande-drop-oh-santa.html|title=The Holy Trinity, a.k.a. Mariah, J.Hud, and Ariana, Blesses Us With 'Oh Santa' Remix|access-date=December 13, 2020|website=Vulture|date=December 4, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209010816/https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/mariah-carey-jennifer-hudson-ariana-grande-drop-oh-santa.html|url-status=live}}
In its first week of release, the song sold 10,000 downloads in the United States and 9,250 equivalent units in the United Kingdom.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-2020/|url-access=subscription|title=Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" Jingles Back to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100|last=Trust|first=Gary|magazine=Billboard|date=December 14, 2020|access-date=January 2, 2022|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102105923/https://www.billboard.com/pro/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-2020/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|title=Carey on up the charts: Mariah's festive banger finally hits singles peak|last=Masterton|first=James|magazine=Music Week|page=47|date=December 14, 2020|id={{EBSCOhost|147613351}}}}
= Charts =
= Release history =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Oh Santa!" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| December 4, 2020 | {{flatlist| }} | {{flatlist| }} |
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See also
References
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{{Good article}}
{{Mariah Carey songs}}
{{Ariana Grande songs}}
{{Jennifer Hudson}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs about Santa Claus
Category:American Christmas songs
Category:Jennifer Hudson songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Jermaine Dupri
Category:Songs written by Bryan-Michael Cox
Category:Songs written by Mariah Carey
Category:Songs written by Jermaine Dupri