The Star (Mariah Carey song) explained

The Star
Type:Promotional single
Artist:Mariah Carey
Album:The Star (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Released:October 19, 2017
Genre:Christmas
Length:4:01
Label:Epic
Prev Title:Unforgettable (Remix)
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:GTFO
Next Year:2018

"The Star" is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on October 19, 2017, as the first release from the soundtrack of the film of the same name. The song was nominated for the Best Original Song at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.

Composition

The song is performed in the key of B major with a tempo of 118 beats per minute. The first half of the final chorus is in the key of D major with the last half and outro of the song set in E major. Carey's vocals span from F3 to D5.[1]

Music video

The music video for the song was released on November 16, 2017. It features scenes of Carey in a white gown interlaced with clips from the film. Carey's twins, Moroccan and Monroe Cannon, are present at the end of the video singing the hook, "follow your heart; it's Christmas".

Critical reception

Hugh McIntyre from Fuse felt that the record "was made for a 90's Disney animated film", mentioning that "Carey doesn't push herself on the ballad, keeping things simple and sweet instead".[2] Mikey Fresh from Vibe writes that Mariah "uses her signature vocals to capture the X-mas spirit on the animated movie's title track."[3] Reviewing the song, Lucas Villa from AXS states that "Piano and twinkling production back Mariah recounting the magical night Jesus was born."[4] Victoria Messina from PopSugar wrote that "this brand-new jam just might give 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' a run for its money."[5]

Commercial performance

The song ranked at No. 6 on the Billboard US Holiday Digital Song Sales in 2017.[6]

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[7] 49
US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[8] 6
US Kid Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[9] 9

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mariah Carey "The Star" Sheet Music in B Major – Download & Print. Musicnotes.com. November 2017 . November 26, 2017.
  2. Web site: Watch Mariah Carey's New Holiday Video 'The Star'. New. Video. Fuse.
  3. Web site: Mariah Carey Releases New Song "The Star". October 23, 2017. Vibe.
  4. Web site: Listen: Mariah Carey soars on new Christmas track 'The Star'.
  5. Web site: Mariah Carey, Queen of Holiday Music, Just Revealed a New Christmas Song!. Victoria. Messina. October 22, 2017. PopSugar.
  6. Mariah Carey The Star Chart History. Billboard. November 26, 2017.
  7. Mariah Carey Chart History (Christian Airplay). Billboard. June 24, 2021.
  8. Mariah Carey The Star Chart History. Billboard. November 26, 2017.
  9. News: Mariah Carey Chart History (Kid Digital Song Sales). Billboard. October 2, 2022. October 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191012050115/https://www.billboard.com/music/mariah-carey/chart-history/KDT. dead.