This week, Mariah Carey scores two #1 holiday hits on the Billboard charts. “Oh Santa,” from this year’s Merry Christmas II You, sits in pole position on the Adult Contemporary chart, while her effervescent chestnut from 1994’s Merry Christmas, “All I Want For Christmas,” holds the top spot on the Holiday Songs chart.

But the singer isn’t content to corner the market on Christmas originals. Carey cunningly closes out Merry Christmas II You with the quintessential New Year’s Eve song, “Auld Lang Syne,” expecting to extend her stay over the holidays. As a result of Mariah’s smart move, I’m certain her musical momentum will now carry into 2011, for a few precious minutes, anyway.

Prior to tackling her take on “Auld Lang Syne,” I assume Carey surveyed the countless other versions of “Auld Lang Syne” littering the landscape and found them somewhat lacking in the cheer department. Though the first half of her recording of the stroke-of-midnight classic is a traditional reading, soon we hear a countdown, followed by a beat that beckons you to bounce your way into 2011. 

Unfortunately, the music video for “Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem)” doesn’t present the lavish, corks-a-poppin’ party one expects from Carey. Rather, it’s a green-screened affair that finds her singing against a backdrop of celebratory fireworks. The otherwise underwhelming clip does offer one can’t-miss lesson, however: Katy Perry‘s got nothing on Mariah’s sparkling display, whose twins nearly steal the show:

If you do choose to wrap up your New Year’s Eve playlist with Carey’s year-end closer, you’ve got options beyond the album version from Merry Christmas II You. Ralphi Rosario and Johnny Vicious have each remixed “Auld Lang Syne.” Both club vets wisely kept the song’s more traditional part intact while still transforming what Carey’s subtitled “The New Year’s Anthem” into a festive four-on-the-floor workout. It’s your party, so take your pick. 

Purchase Mariah Carey – “Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem)” – The Remixes via iTunes, Amazon MP3. 

If Mariah’s beat-happy revamp of “Auld Lang Syne” isn’t your bag, head over to Amazon MP3 for a free download of Chris Isaak’s much more subdued version.