Songbird Supreme Mariah Carey gave her stamp of approval for the Filipino tradition of early Christmas by performing her holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” capping off her “Mariah Carey: The Celebration of Mimi” show in Manila on Tuesday, October 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
In four live concerts in the Philippines, this was the first time Carey ever sang the beloved Christmas jingle for Filipino lambs, the moniker for her fans. She also performed karaoke staples like “Emotions,” “Hero,” “Always Be My Baby,” and “We Belong Together,” among many of her other hits.
Upon its release in 1994, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was an instant hit and has become the song to herald the holiday season. Now, you can’t go shopping for decor and gifts in the -ber months without hearing the song played alongside other Christmas tracks by Michael Bublé and Ariana Grande.
In past years, the American pop diva marked the beginning of Christmas, usually after Halloween, with videos of her defrosting and singing, “It’s tiiiiiiiime!” This year, she didn’t wait for anyone to put down the plastic pumpkins and Ghostface masks. When Mimi says it’s time, then it’s time.
