• Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Nov 2, 2010
User Score
3.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 251 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 251
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  1. Nov 6, 2010
    10
    Mariah's covers on Christmas classics are nice and different from the originals. What's more notable, is her original song ''Oh Santa!''. The song has a catchy and upbeat tune which makes people want to keep listening to it. The album's best gift, though, is Mariah's duet with her mother, Patricia Carey, in the song ''Oh Come All Ye' Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus''. Her mother's vocals areMariah's covers on Christmas classics are nice and different from the originals. What's more notable, is her original song ''Oh Santa!''. The song has a catchy and upbeat tune which makes people want to keep listening to it. The album's best gift, though, is Mariah's duet with her mother, Patricia Carey, in the song ''Oh Come All Ye' Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus''. Her mother's vocals are nice and it is nice seeing her in Mariah's songs. Not to forget all of Mariah's falsettos and whistle registers in the song towards the end.
    ''All I want for Christmas is You'' is, needless to say, a timeless classic. Mariah just made it better by adding in some falsettos and whistle registers here and there, and I think that this is a better version than the 1994 version. ''Auld Lang Syne - The New Year's Anthem'' is a catchy song with its dance beat.
    ''One Child'' is, probably, the nicest song on the album, save ''All I want for Christmas is You''. The song talks about God and the lyrics are nice and meaningful. The choir during the chorus is extremely organized and is one of the nicest choir singings I have heard. Overall, this album deserves a 10/10 rating, despite some songs which may have been sang in the incorrect style. But, the good points of this album can cover up for the minor little bits that are mistakes.
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  2. Nov 21, 2010
    10
    This review contains spoilers. This is the second Mariah Carey's Christmas album, and I think it is one of her best album ever. There are four songs written by Mariah and I love these. The first single "Oh Santa!" is very joyful and I think it should do very well on charts. I also like the new edition of "All I Want for Christmas Is You". One of the most touching moment is the duet whit her mother, Patricia Hickey, that sings whit Mariah "O Come All Ye FaithFul/Halleluja Chorus". PS. Excuse me if I wrong something, but I am not English. Collapse
  3. Jan 30, 2012
    10
    The album see Mariah return to form. It makes you feel warm because of the beautiful lush production throughout the album. Mariah's cover of classics are great, but the originals of the album that really stands out. "Christmas in the Air Again" feels like old Christmas classic, while "When Christmas Comes" takes more of a R&B and Soul approach which is wonderfully done. Her Voice isThe album see Mariah return to form. It makes you feel warm because of the beautiful lush production throughout the album. Mariah's cover of classics are great, but the originals of the album that really stands out. "Christmas in the Air Again" feels like old Christmas classic, while "When Christmas Comes" takes more of a R&B and Soul approach which is wonderfully done. Her Voice is powerful and strong on the album. Inclusion, an as lush and cozy as this could only be done by the one and only Mariah Carey. Expand
  4. Mar 31, 2012
    10
    Mariah's covers on Christmas classics are nice and different from the originals. What's more notable, is her original song ''Oh Santa!''. The song has a catchy and upbeat tune which makes people want to keep listening to it. The album's best gift, though, is Mariah's duet with her mother, Patricia Carey, in the song ''Oh Come All Ye' Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus''. Her mother's vocals are â
  5. Jun 25, 2012
    9
    After many years of sticking to the R&B route for her albums, Mariah Carey proves she can still rule adult contemporary with this satisfying sequel to her 1994 classic "Merry Christmas". Cleverly titled "Merry Christmas II You" and released in 2010, the album sees Mariah covering many holiday standards, and, in typical Mariah fashion, delivering a few originals. The album kicks off withAfter many years of sticking to the R&B route for her albums, Mariah Carey proves she can still rule adult contemporary with this satisfying sequel to her 1994 classic "Merry Christmas". Cleverly titled "Merry Christmas II You" and released in 2010, the album sees Mariah covering many holiday standards, and, in typical Mariah fashion, delivering a few originals. The album kicks off with the up-tempo "Oh Santa!", which, thematically, is pretty much the sister to "All I Want for Christmas is You", her holiday perennial. But "Santa" offers an irresistible charm of its own, bouncing playfully from beginning to end with the aid of cheerleaders, chimes, whistle notes, and an attitude that feels more cheery and hopeful than that of its '94 counterpart. But then Mariah takes us to the fireplace with the light and dreamy "O Little Town of Bethlehem / Little Drummer Boy", fluctuating between soft, creamy singing and vocal dynamics that show Mariah sounding better than she has in years. Produced by Broadway composer Marc Shaiman, the next track - "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again" lifts us into a holiday waltz. We haven't heard Mariah sound this classy since the 1990s, yet she sounds as natural and inviting as if she'd been singing like this for the past decade. Keeping in the same relaxed, dreamy state, Mariah serenades us with another medley, this time "The First Noel/Born Is the King". The first part of the medley is arranged in traditional fashion, before seamlessly transitioning into the latter, R&B-driven "King". After soothing us with those three laid-back jingles, MC brings it home with "When Christmas Comes", a song that sounds instantly like a classic. The jazzy verses entice you to sway side to side before elevating into a fully-belted out-pour of choral magic. Of course, it can't be a Mariah Carey album if there's not a song that makes you want to shake your thang, even on a Christmas album. Mariah hits the dance floor with "Here Comes Santa Claus / Housetop Celebration", but instead of imagining a club, you totally get the feeling that it's the night before Christmas and you're partying around the house with your family and friends, and the warm, festive feelings set in.

    Perhaps the only flaw in the album is the next track, Mariah's attempt at "Charlie Brown Christmas". There's nothing glaringly wrong with the song, but it feels incomplete, still in its demo version, and Mariah's singing somehow doesn't quite connect like in the other songs. That, and Mariah's decision to include a live recording of "O Holy Night" from a decade prior, which doesn't really add anything to the original version that is worth listening to.

    Partly inspired by her pregnancy while recording the album, Mariah gets back to top form in the album's final new original, the made-for-children's-Christmas-performances "One Child". Elegantly sung, MC takes us to the true meaning of Christmas, telling the story and the impact of baby Jesus, but perhaps also indicating that her offspring will one day rule the world, so watch out.

    How can you make a classic even better? Instead of tempering with the song itself, add a new beginning and ending and blend them effortlessly with the original. That's exactly the approach Mariah took with her new recording of "All I Want for Christmas", the penultimate track on the album. Shaiman is back, sprinkling his Broadway magic in a new instrumental introduction that kicks off the song from a new and equally exciting launch point. Mariah's singing then takes us onto a familiar but fresh-as-ever ride, sounding almost exactly the same as the original version except for layered vocals here and there. Mariah extends the ending of the song in this version, however it's a shame she didn't include the ending whistle notes she did in the 2011 version with Bieber (although that was the only good part about that duet).

    Suddenly and effortlessly, Mariah's voice roars out of her chest in the final track "Auld Lang Syne", as if she's signaling the closure of a good show. Then it disappears behind a dance beat from the 90's and repeat background singing of the chorus. The song's carefree atmosphere is emphasized by Mariah stopping her singing to tease her listeners, saying "does anybody really know the words?" and laughing. Her first Christmas album, 1994's "Merry Christmas", may have spawned a classic, contained better vocals, and certainly the best songs on that album outweigh the best songs on this one -- still, "II You" is a stronger album overall, with all but two or three songs being constructed beautifully, sung passionately, and most importantly, evoking the emotional highs that are unique to the holiday season. It's also a testament to Mariah's artistry that her originals sound as good as the classics she covered.
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  6. Oct 23, 2015
    10
    Um álbum maravilhoso que tenta manter a nova essência da Mimi em um clima de natal com notas altas músicas difíceis porém com uma produção que poderia ter sido um pouco melhor, ainda assim um excelente álbum natalino
  7. Nov 10, 2015
    10
    Complicated moment in the life of Mariah with a risk pregnancy impossible to do much, the record was a nut as it did a decent job on the preciousness What is this contagious album.
  8. May 24, 2016
    10
    Outra perfeição natalina feita pela Mariah, tão bom quanto o primeiro!!! Os vocais estão perfeitos e se encaixam direitinho as músicas gravadas nesse álbum, a verdadeira rainha do natal, as melodias os corais gospeis, tudo lindo neste CD que amo muito!
  9. Feb 12, 2022
    10
    Não é o album que escuto muito, mas sei que a lenda nunca decepciona, rainha do natal
  10. Jul 29, 2022
    10
    A great album and cohesive one at that.She is a talented singer,songwriter and producer
  11. Jun 20, 2019
    7
    Listening to it as a progression from first song to last gets sort of messy but the 4 original songs are amazingly made, vocals were on point too. Needs more cohesiveness.
  12. Nov 16, 2019
    10
    From the Queen of Christmas,i wouldn't expect more than perfection.BOPS from start to finish
  13. Nov 16, 2019
    10
    One of the best Christmas albums to ever exist. My favorite song is "When Christmas Comes". Mariah is the QUEEN of Christmas so it's no doubt that this album truly reflects that. Merry Christmas and Merry Christmas II You are two amazing holiday works. The other girls just couldn't. Even if they wanted to they couldn't, wouldn't, and shouldn't because they can't!
  14. Jan 6, 2023
    10
    Muito bom o álbum, uma obra muito lírica, muito coeso, no lirismo muito suave, um tom suave das melodias
  15. Nov 28, 2022
    10
    bjs skv ia sobwob. sosn. ns nos oo o n o n n Op o. oo. h o o o h h b hbbnbb
  16. Mar 23, 2023
    10
    A very well produced album and the songs really cheer me up, it brings a perfect Christmas atmosphere, a good feeling
  17. May 29, 2023
    10
    One Child, Oh Santa e Christmas Time Is In The Air Again são sensacionais. Mariah é extremamente talentosa e sabe fazer um trabalho de qualidade.
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. 70
    The rest of this album intersperses originals with classics--a respectful "First Noel," an aptly baby-making take on "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" as routed through a strip club. But nothing beats "All I Want for Christmas Is You," from her 1994 album Merry Christmas," one of the great modern holiday albums.
  2. 40
    It's 16 years since Mariah Carey's first Christmas album, and there's nothing here to suggest she's developed significantly since then.
  3. Dec 14, 2010
    80
    It's not particularly clever, but it is expectedly big: if you're a Carey fan with a stocking that needs filling this year, this'll perk you up better than any alternative speech or sherry trifle could.