Maria Carey Faces Another Lawsuit Over Christmas Song "All I Want for Christmas Is You"
On Wednesday (November 1st), in a Los Angeles federal court, Vance (real name Andy Stone) made the same basic accusation against Carey that she had violated the copyright of his 1989 holiday hit during the 1994 release of her blockbuster holiday album. What's significant is that Carey's "All I Want" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in each of the four holiday seasons since it was released. But in the new case, Vance has brought more detailed and more personal allegations against Carey, including how she crafted the song and how her co-writer, Walter Afanasieff, has disputed his story.
"Carey lied by omission, attempting to end these allegations with her incredible tale that these works were all her own, even her co-writer does not believe her on the story of how she came up with the work," Vance's new lawyers wrote in the complaint. "There is no limit to her appropriation, even the co-writer of her songs doesn't believe she created the works in question. This is merely a protracted trespass."
Notably, Vance is represented by Gerard P. Fox, the same attorney who accused two songwriters of ripping off Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off." That case was settled in a confidential agreement in December 2022, more than five years after it was originally filed.
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Like the first case, Vance's new complaint also accused Carey of taking Vance Vance and The Valients' 1989 song, which Vance had recorded in 1988 and 1993 for the holiday season, reaching No. 31 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and later No. 23 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart (in a re-named radio songs chart, beginning in 2014.) Carey had added herself as a co-defendant in the case, claiming that she had co-written the original song.
The new version of the lawsuit includes more detailed descriptions of the success of her prior song, which it calls "a national music hit" that reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart 31 times and again on Hot 100 Airplay chart 23 times. Carey has now joined in the lawsuit by three powerhouses, which claim she co-wrote the earlier song.
The new lawsuit includes additional claims about the similarity between the two songs, "an unusual musical structure," and Carey finding the instruments in Vance's song in a "surprisingly, significant number of songs."
"The 'All I Want for Christmas' phrase today may seem like an ordinary phrase, in 1988 it was unique," Vance's new lawyers wrote. "Additionally, the combination of the 'Jai' progression with Vance's and Carey's preference in music, both were more than 50% cloned."
Interestingly, the new complaint also mentions the subject of love and how Carey's song was featured more prominently in the 2003 movie that raised her song in holiday canon. The lawsuit alleges that Carey's song was presented "uniquely in a special performance scene in the last performance scene of the mega hit movie."
On Wednesday evening, a representative for Carey has yet to provide a comment.
1. Who is Mariah Carey?
Mariah Carey is a renowned American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her incredible vocal range and has achieved immense success in the music industry.
2. What are some of Mariah Carey's most famous songs?
Some of Mariah Carey's most famous songs include "All I Want for Christmas Is You," "Hero," "We Belong Together," "Fantasy," "Vision of Love," and "Emotions."
3. When did Mariah Carey start her music career?
Mariah Carey began her music career in the late 1980s. Her self-titled debut album was released in 1990, and it included multiple chart-topping hits.
4. How many albums has Mariah Carey released?
Mariah Carey has released numerous albums over her career. As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, she had released over 15 studio albums, with more music and projects expected.
5. What is Mariah Carey's vocal range?
Mariah Carey is known for her impressive five-octave vocal range, which allows her to hit both high and low notes with precision and power.
6. Has Mariah Carey won any awards?
Yes, Mariah Carey has won numerous awards throughout her career, including multiple Grammy Awards. She is celebrated for her contributions to the music industry.
7. Is Mariah Carey an actress as well?
Yes, Mariah Carey has also ventured into acting. She has appeared in films like "Precious" and "Glitter" and has made guest appearances on television shows.
8. What is Mariah Carey's net worth?
As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Mariah Carey's estimated net worth was in the hundreds of millions of dollars, primarily due to her successful music career, endorsements, and other ventures.
9. Is Mariah Carey known for her holiday music?
Yes, Mariah Carey is particularly known for her iconic Christmas song, "All I Want for Christmas Is You." It has become a holiday classic and is played extensively during the holiday season.
10. Has Mariah Carey faced any legal issues related to her music?
Like the first case, Vance's new complaint also accused Carey of taking Vance Vance and The Valients' 1989 song, which Vance had recorded in 1988 and 1993 for the holiday season, reaching No. 31 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and later No. 23 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart (in a re-named radio songs chart, beginning in 2014.) Carey had added herself as a co-defendant in the case, claiming that she had co-written the original song.
The new version of the lawsuit includes more detailed descriptions of the success of her prior song, which it calls "a national music hit" that reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart 31 times and again on Hot 100 Airplay chart 23 times. Carey has now joined in the lawsuit by three powerhouses, which claim she co-wrote the earlier song.
The new lawsuit includes additional claims about the similarity between the two songs, "an unusual musical structure," and Carey finding the instruments in Vance's song in a "surprisingly, significant number of songs."
"The 'All I Want for Christmas' phrase today may seem like an ordinary phrase, in 1988 it was unique," Vance's new lawyers wrote. "Additionally, the combination of the 'Jai' progression with Vance's and Carey's preference in music, both were more than 50% cloned."
Interestingly, the new complaint also mentions the subject of love and how Carey's song was featured more prominently in the 2003 movie that raised her song in holiday canon. The lawsuit alleges that Carey's song was presented "uniquely in a special performance scene in the last performance scene of the mega hit movie."
On Wednesday evening, a representative for Carey has yet to provide a comment.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Mariah Carey:
1. Who is Mariah Carey?
Mariah Carey is a renowned American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her incredible vocal range and has achieved immense success in the music industry.
2. What are some of Mariah Carey's most famous songs?
Some of Mariah Carey's most famous songs include "All I Want for Christmas Is You," "Hero," "We Belong Together," "Fantasy," "Vision of Love," and "Emotions."
3. When did Mariah Carey start her music career?
Mariah Carey began her music career in the late 1980s. Her self-titled debut album was released in 1990, and it included multiple chart-topping hits.
4. How many albums has Mariah Carey released?
Mariah Carey has released numerous albums over her career. As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, she had released over 15 studio albums, with more music and projects expected.
5. What is Mariah Carey's vocal range?
Mariah Carey is known for her impressive five-octave vocal range, which allows her to hit both high and low notes with precision and power.
6. Has Mariah Carey won any awards?
Yes, Mariah Carey has won numerous awards throughout her career, including multiple Grammy Awards. She is celebrated for her contributions to the music industry.
7. Is Mariah Carey an actress as well?
Yes, Mariah Carey has also ventured into acting. She has appeared in films like "Precious" and "Glitter" and has made guest appearances on television shows.
8. What is Mariah Carey's net worth?
As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Mariah Carey's estimated net worth was in the hundreds of millions of dollars, primarily due to her successful music career, endorsements, and other ventures.
9. Is Mariah Carey known for her holiday music?
Yes, Mariah Carey is particularly known for her iconic Christmas song, "All I Want for Christmas Is You." It has become a holiday classic and is played extensively during the holiday season.
10. Has Mariah Carey faced any legal issues related to her music?
Yes, Mariah Carey has been involved in legal disputes related to her music, including copyright infringement claims, as mentioned in the previous blog post.
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