Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Ends Year Atop Australia’s ARIA Chart

Mariah Carey is ending the year with a bang Down Under

The 54-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer reigns over Australia’s final chart of 2023 with “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

Mariah CareyCarey’s holiday classic rises 2-1 to close out the festive season Down Under, leading an all-Christmas top 5 on the ARIA Chart, published on Friday, December 29. 

Last week, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” was pipped for the Christmas No. 1 by Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me.”

By completing its chart climb, the hit from 1994 boasts a sixth successive year reaching No. 1.

The top five on the latest tally is rounded out by Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (up 5-2 via Warner/Universal), Wham’s “Last Christmas” (up 4-3 via Sony), Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” (up 10-4 via Reprise/Warner) and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (up 7-5 via Universal), respectively.

Jacob Elordi Starring in the Prime Video Australia Original Series “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”

Jacob Elordi is hitting the road north

The 26-year-old half-Spanish Australian actor is starring opposite Ciarán Hinds and Odessa Young in the Prime Video Australia Original series The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a television adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name.

Jacob Elordi,Production on the new 5-part drama series is underway in Down Under.

Also rounding out the cast are Olivia DeJonge, Heather Mitchell, Thomas Weatherall, Show Kasamatsu, Charles An and Simon Baker.

Elordi returned home to Australia to play the lead role of the younger Dorrigo Evans in the 1940s. Young will portray Amy Mulvaney, DeJonge will portray younger Ella and Baker will portray Keith. Fast-forward to the 1980s, the series will feature Hinds as the older Dorrigo and Mitchell as older Ella. Weatherall will portray Frank Gardiner, Kasamatsu will portray Major Nakamura and Charles An will portray The Goanna.

Set against the shadows of World War IIThe Narrow Road to the Deep North tells the epic story of Lieutenant Dorrigo Evans, and how his all-too-brief love affair with Amy Mulvaney shaped his life. The story is told over multiple time periods, as we journey from Evans’ childhood to his experience as a prisoner-of-war on the Thailand-Burma Railway as a young man, and later in life, as a respected surgeon and Australian war hero.

According to a release, the series is a love story to sustain audiences through the darkest of times, an intimate character study illustrating the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and an investigation into a marriage and an unforgettable love affair.

The series will launch on Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and Canada and will be distributed internationally by Sony Pictures Television. It is produced by Curio Pictures in Australia. Working with Curio Pictures’ executive producers Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North is adapted by writer Shaun Grant and will be directed by Justin Kurzel, both of whom are also executive producers. Alexandra Taussig is producing.

“With talents like Jacob Elordi, Ciarán Hinds and Odessa Young at the helm, The Narrow Road to the Deep North promises to be a cinematic, visceral, and undeniable contemporary love story, which explores the power of mateship and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity,” said Sarah Christie, senior development executive at Amazon MGM Studios. “We just know that this series is going to resonate with customers in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and are proud to be partnering with Curio Pictures’ Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner, who will bring this incredible story to life alongside the award-winning director and executive producer Justin Kurzel, and writer and executive producer Shaun Grant.”

Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Mates Debut at No. 1 on Australia’s Album Chart with “72 Seasons”

It’s another winning Season(s) for Robert Trujillo.

The 58-year-old half-Mexican American musician and bassist and his Metallica band mates have taken the top stop on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart with their new album 72 Seasons.

MetallicaBy blasting to No. 1 on the latest album chart, published April 21, 72 Seasons gives Metallica its eighth leader Down Under.

The band’s mega-hit 1991 LP Metallica (also known as The Black Album) has been certified 13-times platinum by ARIA.

Clocking in at 77 solid minutes, 72 Seasons is the follow up to Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, which also led the ARIA Chart following its release in 2016.

Yair Rodriguez to Fight Josh Emmett for Interim UFC Featherweight Title

Yair Rodriguez is headed Down Under

The 30-year-old Mexican professional mixed martial artist will fight Josh Emmett for the interim UFC featherweight title in the co-main event of the February 11 card in Perth, Australia, according to the UFC.

Yair RodriguezThe UFC is making an interim title, because undisputed champion Alexander Volkanovski will move up to lightweight and challenge champion Islam Makhachev for that title in the UFC 284 headliner.

ESPN has Rodriguez ranked No. 4 in the world at featherweight, and Emmett is ranked No. 7.

Rodriguez (14-3, 1 NC) is coming off a victory over Brian Ortega at UFC Long Island in July. The Mexican-born striker has just one loss in his past five fights.

Emmett (18-2) has won five straight. The 37-year-old California resident is coming off a split decision win over Calvin Kattar in June.

Aislinn Derbez Joins Voice Cast of Netflix’s Animated Comedy “Back To The Outback”

Aislinn Derbez is headed Down Under

The 33-year-old Mexican actress has joined the voice cast of Netflix’s animated comedy film Back To The Outback.

Aislinn Derbez

She joins a cast that includes Isla FisherTim MinchinEric BanaGuy Pearce, Miranda Tapsell, Angus Imrie, Rachel HouseKeith Urban, Celeste Barber, Wayne Knight, Diesel Cash La Torraca, Lachlan Ross Power, and Oscar-nominee Jacki Weaver.

In the movie, tired of being locked in a reptile house where humans gawk at them like they’re monsters, a ragtag group of Australia’s deadliest creatures plot a daring escape from their zoo to the Outback, a place where they’ll fit in without being judged for their scales and fangs.

Leading the group is Maddie (Fisher), a poisonous snake with a heart of gold, who bands together with a self-assured Thorny Devil lizard Zoe (Tapsell), a lovelorn hairy spider Frank (Pearce), and a sensitive scorpion Nigel (Imrie). But when their nemesis — Pretty Boy (Minchin), a cute but obnoxious koala — unexpectedly joins their escape, Maddie and the gang have no choice but to take him with them.

The film is due to launch in fall 2021. The comedy adventure marks the directorial debuts of filmmakers Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, who penned the script.

Music will come from Rupert Gregson-Williams and songs will be by Minchin (Broadway’s Matilda). Animation and imagery will come from ReelFX.

Said director Knight: “I have always been touched by stories of hidden beauty. Maddie is both uniquely beauty and beast, and to get to present that message in comedy is the icing on the cake.”

Added writer-director Cripps: “Growing up in Australia, I spent a lot of time in the Blue Mountains which has many different types of snakes and spiders, and I always preferred them to the cute cuddly animals, so it’s such a treat to make a film where the heroes are these poisonous but beautiful little creatures. This film is a love letter to Australia’s incredibly diverse and unique wildlife.”

Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Band Mates Notch 7th No. 1 Album on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart with “S&M2”

Robert Trujillo’s celebrating a smash Down Under

The 55-year-old half-Mexican American bassist and his Metallica band mates have come out swinging on Australia’s albums chart as S&M2 debuts at No. 1.

Metallica

More than 20 years after Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony led the ARIA Albums Chart with the first installment, S&M, the unlikely partnership yields another leader.

The live compilation, recorded last September at San Francisco’s Chase Center, gives Metallica their seventh No. 1 album in Australia following Metallica (August 1991), Load (June 1996), S&M (November 1999), St. Anger (June 2003), Death Magnetic (September 2008), Hardwired…To Self-Destruct (2016).

Cardi B Earns First-Ever No. 1 on Australia’s ARIA Singles Chart with “WAP,” Featuring Megan Thee Stallion

It’s a WAP-ping first for Cardi B

The 27-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar has earned her first No. 1 in Australia as “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, rises 2-1 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Cardi B

“WAP” is just the third female-led hip-hop song to rule the singles chart Down Under, and the first in almost three decades, ARIA reports. The only others are Dimples D’s “Sucker DJ” (March 1991) and Salt-N-Pepa’s “Let’s Talk About Sex” (January 1992).

With Cardi B’s Billboard Hot 100 leader now on top in Australia, Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo’s “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” slips to No. 2.

Cardi B’s previous chart high was “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin. The track peaked at No. 14.

Robert Trujillo & Metallica Pledge $750,000 to Australian Bushfire Relief Efforts

Robert Trujillo is doing his part to battle the bushfire emergency in Australia…

The 55-year-old half-Mexican American bassist and songwriter and his fellow Metallica bandmates have pledged $750,000 to the NSW Rural Fire Service and to the Country Fire Authority in Victoria to support relief efforts.

Metallica

“We are totally overwhelmed by the news of the wildfires sweeping through millions of acres across Australia, with major impact in New South Wales and Victoria,” reads a statement issued by the band.

“The resulting destruction and devastating effects on all residents, animals, the environment and the incredible land in Australia is truly heartbreaking.”

It’s a particularly nice touch from a hard-rocking band who’re idolized in the land Down Under, and whose scheduled 2019 tour of Australia was postponed when vocalist James Hetfield sought treatment for addiction.

Metallica went a step further by posting a string of tweets with background to the ongoing bushfire tragedy and information on how others can help.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Returns to No. 1 on Australia’s ARIA Singles Chart

Mariah Carey’s celebrating a return to No. 1 Down Under

The 49-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer tops the charts in Australia with “All I Want For Christmas is You.”

Mariah Carey

Carey’s insta-holiday classic rules the ARIA Singles Chartfor the second year running. Its chart journey in Australia is no less unusual than its 25-year-long ride to the summit in the United States. 

“All I Want For Christmas is You” was released in 1994 and peaked at No. 2 that year Down Under. Powered by streaming, the tune hit the summit for the first time in 2018, a full 24 years after its release.

The Queen of Christmasalso bags eighth position on the national albums survey this week with Merry Christmas which, like “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” is six-times platinum certified.

Camila Cabello Earns Second No. 1 on Australian Singles Chart with Shawn Mendes Collab “Señorita”

Camila Cabellois the top Señorita on the charts in Australia…

The 22-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer’s collaboration with Shawn Mendes, “Señorita,” has unseated  Lil Nas X’s monster hit “Old Town Road” as the No. 1 song in Australia.

Camila Cabello & Shawn Mendes

“Señorita” rises to the top of the ARIA Singles Chart after four consecutive weeks at No. 2, giving Cabello her second singles chart-topper following her smash “Havana,” which ruled the survey for three weeks in late 2017. Mendes, meanwhile, has earned his first leader Down Under

With “Señorita” claiming top spot, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (Columbia/Sony) dips 1-2, ending its chart-topping run at 13 weeks, good enough for equal second best of all time alongside Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” and Coolio’sGangsta’s Paradise”. Only Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” has enjoyed a longer streak at the summit, at 15 weeks.