When Christmas Comes

"When Christmas Comes" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey with John Legend, released as a digital download on November 21, 2011.^[1][2] The track was originally included on Carey's thirteenth studio album, Merry Christmas II You (2010), then was re-recorded as a duet with John Legend and released a year after. The song was written by Carey and James Poyser.

Music Video

The music video for the song was filmed in Los Angeles in November 2011 and premiered on December 11, 2011 in the TV Show "A Very BET Christmas special".^[3] Carey describes the video as a "house party", featuring many of Carey and husband Nick Cannon's close friends and family, including the married couple's twins Monroe and Moroccan, born April 2011. The tracks collaborator John Legend also features prominently in the video sat at a piano with Carey playing the song and singing the lyrics with her.^[4]

Critical Reception

Scott Shelter of Pop Crush gave the song a 4 out of 5 star rating, describing the duet as "sultry" and "hard to find fault with the holiday duet from two of pop music’s most powerful vocalists". He also praised Carey's ability to write "festive songs for the season". Additionally, Shelter complimented Carey's vocals, stating that "listeners are treated to notes from the upper reaches of Mariah’s five-octave range, which she rarely shows off any more."^[5]

Tracklist

Digital download

1. When Christmas Comes - (Mariah Carey & John Legend) 4:45 (Mariah Carey, James Poyser)

Charts

References