Songwriter Vince Vance reopens lawsuit against Mariah Carey, claiming she copied ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’
In a lawsuit submitted on November 1 in a Los Angeles federal court, songwriter Vince Vance, also known as Andy Stone, once again accuses Mariah Carey of copying his song titled ‘All I Want for Christmas is You,’ released in 1989. This legal dispute follows Vance’s prior lawsuit filed a year ago. It’s crucial to note that Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ has consistently claimed the top position on the Billboard Hot 100 during the past four holiday seasons.
In the updated complaint, songwriter Vince Vance (Andy Stone) has intensified his accusations against Mariah Carey, alleging not only infringement but also that she fabricated the story of how she created ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You.’ Additionally, Vance’s new legal team highlights that even her co-writer, Walter Afanasieff, has questioned this narrative.
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The complaint asserts that Carey, without proper authorization, presented these works as if they were her creations, using a story that seems implausible. Vance’s new lawyers wrote in the re-filed complaint. “Her hubris knowing no bounds, even her co-credited songwriter doesn’t believe the story she has spun. This is simply a case of actionable infringement.”
Notably, Vance has enlisted Gerard P. Fox, the same attorney who represented songwriters accusing Taylor Swift of taking lyrics without permission in the ‘Shake It Off‘ case, which concluded in December 2022 with a confidential settlement.
Similar to the initial lawsuit, Vance’s latest complaint underscores that his song, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ was recorded by his band, Vince Vance and the Valiants, in 1989. It garnered significant airplay during the 1993 holiday season, a year prior to Mariah Carey releasing her more renowned song with the same title.
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The latest version of the lawsuit includes new details about the success of Vince Vance’s earlier song, describing it as ‘a country music hit‘ that reached No. 31 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Later rising to No. 23 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart (renamed the Radio Songs chart in 2014).
This revised legal action offers more comprehensive claims regarding the resemblances between the two songs, diving into the ‘unique linguistic structure’ and musical components that Vince Vance alleges Mariah Carey appropriated in ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You.’ The case intends to explore these aspects further in the ongoing legal dispute.
Vance’s new legal team underscores that although the phrase ‘All I want for Christmas is You‘ may appear ordinary today, in 1988, it was distinctive, especially within the context. They argue that the specific chord progression in the melody, combined with the identical hook, substantially mimicked Vance’s original work in both lyrics and chord expressions.
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Moreover, the lawsuit mentions the song’s inclusion in the 2003 Christmas film ‘Love Actually,‘ where Mariah Carey’s version of ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ was showcased in a notable performance scene toward the end of the movie.