Okay, real talk: every December we get flooded with covers of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Most of them are fine. Some are… questionable. And then every once in a while, someone comes along and completely flips the script in the best way possible.
Enter Alyssa Caroline with her brand-new contemporary R&B spin on the ultimate modern Christmas classic, and y’all… I’m obsessed.
Alyssa didn’t just sing the song—she reimagined it. The second those smooth, warm R&B chords hit, you know you’re not in 1994 anymore. She slows the tempo just enough to let every note breathe, drapes the whole thing in velvet-y production, and turns Mariah’s glitter-bomb anthem into something that feels like a late-night confession under Christmas lights. It’s giving cozy fireplace, hot cocoa, and maybe a few happy tears.
What makes this cover stand out in a sea of holiday releases is how personal it feels. Alyssa Caroline has this gift for making even the most familiar songs sound like they were written about her life—and now yours too. You can hear the smile in her voice, but there’s also this undercurrent of longing that hits different when the arrangement leans more adult contemporary soul than pop diva belting. It’s the version you play when you’re decorating the tree alone, thinking about someone special… or when you’re finally with that person and everything feels right.
This drop couldn’t come at a better time either. We’re deep into the era of R&B-flavored holiday music—think Victoria Monét’s “Jingle Bells” vibes, SZA doing “The Weekend” at Christmas parties in our heads, and artists proving that Christmas songs don’t have to sound stuck in the ’90s to feel festive. Alyssa’s take fits perfectly in that lane: sophisticated, heartfelt, and ready for your “R&B Christmas” Spotify playlist alongside Giveon, H.E.R., and Ella Mai’s holiday offerings.
If you’ve been lucky enough to catch Alyssa’s original music before, you already know she doesn’t miss. Her songwriting is the kind that makes you text lyrics to your group chat at 2 a.m. because “this is exactly how I feel and I didn’t even know it.” She’s got this rare ability to blend pop catchiness with the kind of raw honesty that stops you in your tracks. And now she’s bringing that same energy to the holidays? Dangerous. We might have a new annual tradition on our hands.
Honestly, this cover deserves to blow up. It’s the perfect blend of nostalgia and something brand new—exactly what the holiday season needs when we’re all a little burned out on the same 20 songs.
So do yourself (and your holiday vibes) a favor: press play on Alyssa Caroline’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” right now. And while you’re at it, drop a comment and let me know—does this make your Christmas playlist this year, or are you still loyal to the OG Mariah? I need to know I’m not the only one replaying this on loop.
And hey, if you’re an independent artist reading this getting ready to drop your own holiday magic (or any music, really), you already know DistroKid is the move. It’s the easiest way to get your songs on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok—everywhere—and you keep 100% of your earnings. If you sign up using my link, you’ll get 7% off your first year: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/2058328. Trust me, future you will thank present you.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to listen to Alyssa’s cover for the 47th time today. Happy holidays, fam—hope your season sounds this good.
