Intrigue Jose Mari Chan vs. Mariah Carey: Who’s the Fairest Christmas Icon of them all?
Is it a battle of Christmas crowns and fame? Who wore it better? or should I say who sang it better?
If there are iconic names associated with the Christmas season, it’s definitely Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey.
It’s only in the Philippines where you can find the longest countdown for Christmas, with festive carols, lights, and parols, mall sales, and personality memes dominating social media starting SeptemBER.
Known for his timeless classic Christmas song, ‘Christmas In our Hearts’, ‘A Perfect Christmas’, and such, Jose Mari Chan has been tagged as the ‘Father of Philippine Christmas Music’, ‘King of Christmas’, and even the ‘Voice of Christmas’. When Filipinos hear his songs, they already know that it’s Christmas time.
His songs are well-received by Filipinos that they’ve become timeless and relevant even to today’s generation. True enough, some of the memes include Chan’s peeking from a corner, asking “Ready na ba kayo?”, and an iconic lyric ‘Whene…” to manifest his comeback, and edited photos with Mariah Carey as the iconic Christmas duo.
Despite the fact the people recognized him as the staple ‘King of Christmas’ and it’s his season, Chan waved off and said that he’s not the king of Christmas since he considered himself as just one of the many Filipino composers who have contributed to the festivity of Christmas songs. https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-entertainment/2018/11/15/1868804/jose-mari-chan-im-not-king-christmas
Chan would rather also not be called ‘Father of Christmas Music’ since there were other hit Christmas songs produced in the Philippines even before he was born and it’s not his season but of Jesus. It’s already a blessing that his songs were already associated with the holiday season. https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineSTAR/photos/a.134754620011561/2836167216536941/?type=3
Mariah Carey, on the other hand, was called the ‘Queen of Christmas’ after her popular song ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ dominated the international and local charts in 1994.
Carey’s staple songs have gone further during ‘ber months’, played in malls, establishments, shops, and parks, even her comeback memes have resurfaced online once again.
While Carey is also thankful and blessed to write ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ and other Christmas songs, she doesn’t consider herself as the ‘Queen of Christmas’ and believed the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, was more deserving of the precious title.
Is it fair to say that the real King and Queen of Christmas are none other than Jesus and his mother, Mary? Beyond festivities, gift giving, reunions and even popular songs, we must not forget the true essence of this season–it’s the celebration of the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ and the true iconic image of love, forgiveness, and family bestowed by Mary. The fairest of them all!
Chan and Carey’s iconic duo and their popular songs have greatly contributed to the festive vibes of the Christmas season. No doubt, they are both considered ‘seasoned pillars’ of Christmas songs in their own countries, that illustrate the most joyful season of the year—a prime recognition, indeed, more than crowns and fame.
Happy ‘ber months’, peeps!
Intrigue Jose Mari Chan vs. Mariah Carey: Who’s the Fairest Christmas Icon of them all?
