Daydream is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released on September 26, 1995, by Columbia Records. The follow-up to her internationally successful studio album Music Box (1993), and the holiday album Merry Christmas (1994), Daydream differed from her previous releases by leaning increasingly towards urban music. Throughout the project, Carey collaborated with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she wrote and produced most of her previous albums. With Daydream, Carey took more control over the musical direction as well as the album's composition. Carey considered the album to be the beginning of her musical and vocal transition, a change that would become more evident in her sixth studio album Butterfly (1997). During the album's production, Carey endured many creative differences with her label and then-husband Tommy Mottola. On Daydream, Carey collaborated with Jermaine Dupri, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and R&B group Boyz II Men. With Afanasieff's assistance and the addition of a few contemporary producers, she was able to make a subtle transition into the contemporary R&B market, after previously only pursuing pop, adult contemporary and traditional R&B music.
Daydream received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising the album's production, its sonic quality, and Carey's musical progression. It became Carey's best reviewed album up to that point and garnered six nominations at the 38th Grammy Awards, including for Album of the Year. It was later included on the List of 200 Definitive Albums in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[2]Daydream became a global success, topping the charts in nine countries, and reaching the top five in almost every major music market. It was Carey's second album to be certified Diamond by the RIAA. As of 2019, Daydream has sold over 20 million copies worldwide[3] and is one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Five singles were released from the album. Its lead single "Fantasy" became the first single by a female artist to debut at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and went on to top the chart for eight weeks, and became the second best-selling single of 1995 in the country. The second single "One Sweet Day" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for sixteen weeks and became the longest-running number-one single in Billboard's history, holding the record for 23 years. The album's next single "Always Be My Baby" reached number one as well. Jointly, the singles from Daydream spent a combined six months at the top of the Hot 100. To promote the album, Carey embarked on the short but successful, Daydream World Tour, visiting Japan and Europe.
Background and release
Daydream is Carey's second best-selling album worldwide and served as her most personal and directly influenced album at the time.[4] During the album's recording, Carey grew as an artist, as well as a writer. For the first time in her career, Carey was able to make music that she truly related to, R&B and hip hop.[4] While Columbia allowed Carey more leniency with the music she recorded, they became hesitant when she featured Ol' Dirty Bastard in the remix for "Fantasy".[5] They feared the sudden change was completely left field for her music, and worried it would jeopardize the album's success.[5] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Carey openly spoke of her issues with Columbia: "Everybody was like 'What, are you crazy?' They're nervous about breaking the formula. It works to have me sing a ballad on stage in a long dress with my hair up."[5]
While Carey's new musical direction caused tension between her and Columbia, it began to severely strain her relationship with her husband at the time, Tommy Mottola.[6] Mottola had always been involved in Carey's career, because he was the head of Sony Music, the parent company of her label. Since the time of Carey's debut, Mottola had controlled nearly every aspect of her career, keeping her sound carefully regulated and insisting that she continue recording middle-of-the-road pop music, despite her interest in hip hop.[6]
What I tried to do is to put it, sort of, a texture on a lot of songs, like as a background part I did certain things, and you know I just meant to get a little more creative with it.
—Carey, in an interview with MTV, on her styling on Daydream[7]
Carey confessed that she never tried to change the situation because "[she] used to be insecure and cautious, and so [she] would listen to what the people said."[4] However, the control Mottola exerted over her career soon "spilled into her personal life" once they were married, increasing the amount of conflict between the two.[6] Soon, it was obvious that their marriage was in shambles; as stated in a Vanity Fair article, "the couple began to argue at the drop of a hat."[5] Carey was very involved in the project, more so than she had ever been on an album.[4] "I went into this phase of recording, recording, recording and doing it really fast," she told Time. "This time, I had more time, and I focused more on what I wanted to do."[8] As Carey's career and work continued to reflect her views on how it should sound, her marriage to Mottola continued to "deteriorate".[6]
During the recording of Daydream, Carey also worked on the alternative rock album Someone's Ugly Daughter by the band Chick, contributing writing, production, vocals and art direction. As Columbia refused to release the album with her lead vocals, Carey's friend Clarissa Dane was brought in to become the face of Chick, and her vocals were layered on top of Carey's, masking her voice.[9] According to Carey, "I was playing with the style of the breezy-grunge, punk-light white female singers who were popular at the time ... I totally looked forward to doing my alter-ego band sessions after Daydream each night."[10] Her contributions were secret until the release of her 2020 memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey.[10]
Daydream was released in Taiwan on September 26, 1995,[11] Europe on September 28,[12][13] Japan on September 30,[14] Hong Kong on October 2,[15] and the United States on October 3.[16]
Conception and composition
I had the melody idea for 'Fantasy' and then I was listening to the radio and I heard 'Genius of love,' and I hadn't heard it in a long time. It reminded me of growing up and listening to the radio and the feeling the song gave me seemed to go along with the melody and the basic idea I had for 'Fantasy'. I initially told Dave Hall about the idea and we did it.
—Carey, on her idea and inspiration for "Fantasy", in an interview with Fred Bronson.[17]
One of the first songs that was recorded for the album was "Fantasy". While Carey began developing new ideas for Daydream, she heard the song "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club on the radio.[17] She had always been a fan of the song, and presented Dave Hall with the idea of sampling the song's hook.[17] Hall incorporated a groove that he felt complimented Carey's voice, while she composed some of the other beats and wrote the lyrics. Carey recorded a remix to the song as well, featuring hip-hop verses from O.D.B of the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as production from Puffy.[17] She spoke highly of the remix, complimenting Puffy and O.D.B, "He's so known in the street, and he's one of the best people out there...we kind of did what we both do and having O.D.B took it to another level. He was my ultimate choice, so I was really happy with the way it turned out."[17] "One Sweet Day" was a song that Carey wrote with the R&B group Boyz II Men. After Carey's friend and past collaborator David Cole died, she began writing and developing a song that would pay homage to him and all the friends and family her fans had lost along life's journey.[18] Carey had the chorus and concept composed, and after meeting with Boyz II Men, they realized they too had a similar idea in development.[18] Together, using Carey's chorus and idea, as well as the melody they had produced, they wrote and composed the song. It was produced by Afanasieff, who built on the song's melody and added various grooves and beats.[18]
While the album's development was underway, Carey expressed interest in working with Jermaine Dupri, whom she had been a fan of since his 1992 song, "Jump".[19] Soon after, Carey, Dupri, and Manuel Seal began composing a song for the album, with Carey and Dupri becoming close friends and frequent collaborators on later albums. As Seal played the piano, Carey began humming and playing with certain notes in the B-section, until she came up with the chorus for "Always Be My Baby".[19] After the rest of the song was written and composed, Carey recorded the song alongside longtime background singers Kelly Price, Shanrae Price, and Melonie Daniels. Together, they built "a wall of background voices" in which she would cover with her final belting notes.[19] The song featured a downbeat rhythm, while its composition was described as "sassy and soft R&B" which displayed a "sexy and slow jam".[20] "Underneath the Stars" was the first song recorded for Daydream.[7] The song featured a "'70s soul vibe" as well as synthetic record scratches, in order to the give the song an authentic '70s sound.[7] Carey felt the additions were simple steps taken to further display a contemporary R&B groove. Additionally, she felt the song paid homage to the style of Minnie Riperton, who was one of Carey's biggest vocal influences growing up.[7] The song had a soft sound, and had "a lot[sic] of texture" and bass, showing a more creative side to Carey.[7]
[Underneath the Stars] has a real '70s vibe, we even put those scratches you hear on old records to give it that kind of flavor. [It] was a good place to start, because it got me into the head of making an album that was more R&B-more in the vibe of the Minnie Ripperton era, which has always been an inspiration to me.
—Carey, talking about the writing and inspiration behind "Underneath the Stars".[7]
For the album, Carey covered the 1981 Journey song "Open Arms". The song was of Carey's personal choice, as well as her own idea.[7] Together with Afanasieff, they toned down the song's arrangement, making it a bit glossy, especially in comparison to the "raw and powerful 'One Sweet Day.'"[7] Additionally, with the help of her background singers, Carey added a touch of gospel to the song.[7] One of the more gospel-influenced songs on the album was "I Am Free".[20] The song was created by Carey, Afanasieff and Loris Holland, with whom she had worked previously on Merry Christmas.[20] Carey began humming the melody with the lyrics she had already written, while Holland played the organ and Afanasieff worked on the song's programming.,[20] giving the song a genuine and unforced gospel feel. The chorus was sophisticated and natural, with each following line "cascading onto one another", something that would have proved difficult for a "less skilled vocalist".[20] Carey started leaning away from the "standard Celine Dion ballad" and more towards R&B jams. However, she was not going to completely abandon the type of songs that made her famous.[20] For this reason, Carey wrote "When I Saw You" with Afanasieff, a song that would truly embody some of her earlier work, as well as show off her powerful vocals.[20] Returning to her R&B territory, Carey recorded "Long Ago", the second song she wrote alongside Dupri and Seal which contains a strong hip hop background. Her vocals in the song were described as "sliding over the insistent bassline like silk."[20]
"Melt Away" was a song Carey produced on her own, and co-wrote with Babyface.[21] The song's writing and production were "superb". with each verse gliding into its chorus.[21] According to Chris Nickson, "Melt Away" was as "strong as any slow jam released in the nineties, and one that would find a lot of flavor late at night with dancers."[21] Another song that brought back reminders of older decades was "Forever". The throwback was featured through the chord changes and in the way the guitararpeggios "stayed at the forefront of the music."[21] The song displayed subtle vocals from Carey, as well as an undeniable richness.[21] "Daydream Interlude (Sweet Fantasy Dub Mix)" was one of the liveliest tracks on the album. The song was a club remix of "Fantasy", which was tuned and remixed by famed house music producer David Morales.[21] The song was directed to be a dance-club song, further broadening Carey's "musical horizon".[21] The song incorporated Carey's vocals, and added them to a thumping house beat, something he would do for many of her future singles.[21] "Looking In" was the final song on the album. Written in 15 minutes,[22] it was Carey's most personal song at the time, one in which she let herself appear "naked" and "stripped down; it was written by her and Afanasieff.[23][24]
Two additional tracks from the album sessions have been released, with "Slipping Away" (another Dave Hall collaboration) serving as the B-side to "Always Be My Baby," and, 25 years later, "One Night", another collaboration with Jermaine Dupri, being released on The Rarities compilation album (along with "Slipping Away") in 2020.
Carey and Boyz II Men performing "One Sweet Day" at Madison Square Garden
In order to promote the album, Carey embarked on her second head-lining tour. Originally she was against touring due to the long travel times and hassle, but obliged due to fan request.[25] The tour reached Japan and select European countries, not visiting the United States. This was possibly due to the mixed reception Carey's 1993 North American Music Box Tour received three years prior. The shows were all spaced apart, giving Carey time to rest her vocals, "It's very strenuous to sing all my songs back to back, but I'm actually really looking forward to it." Before embarking on her world tour in 1996, Carey performed a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden in 1995. The performance was filmed, and released as a DVD titled Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden. It became Carey's fourth video release.[25]
For the show, Carey sang fourteen original songs, including many of her biggest hits up until that point, as well as many songs from Daydream.[26] They included "Fantasy", "One Sweet Day", "Open Arms", "Always Be My Baby", "Forever" and "Underneath the Stars" as well as hits from her previous studio efforts.[26] Carey's following shows in France, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom were all sold-out as well, receiving warm critical response.[26] During the span of the tour's seven short dates, Carey had already begun working on concepts for her new album Butterfly.[26]
In addition to touring the world, Carey performed on a variety of television programs and award shows.[27] After "Fantasy" was released in September throughout Europe, Carey performed the song on the popular British chart show Top of the Pops, which aired live via satellite on Asian television.[27] Carey performed "Fantasy" in France and at the 23rd Annual American Music Awards on January 29, 1996.[27] "One Sweet Day" was performed at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards, Princess Diana's memorial service in September 1997, and at Carey's Black Entertainment Television Christmas special in 2001.[27] During her European promotional tour for the album, Carey performed "Open Arms" on various television programs, including Wetten, dass..? in Germany, Top of the Pops and Des O'Connor in the United Kingdom and on Swedish television.[26]
Five singles were released from Daydream. "Fantasy" was released as the album's lead single on August 23, 1995.[28] The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Carey the first female artist, and the second performer ever to accomplish the feat.[29] The song spent eight consecutive weeks atop the chart, as well as topping the charts in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.[17][30] In Europe, "Fantasy" performed well, peaking within the top five in Belgium, Finland, France, and the United Kingdom.[30] "Fantasy" was the second best-selling single of 1995 in the US, with sales of 1.5 million in 95' alone.[31] "One Sweet Day" was chosen as the follow-up single, achieving similar success. The song once again debuted at the top of the US charts, and became the longest running number one single in US history holding that record for 23 years, spending sixteen consecutive weeks atop the Billboard charts.[29] The song became a success in other regions around the world as well, topping the charts in Canada and New Zealand and peaked within the top five in Australia, France, Ireland, and The Netherlands.[32] Serving as the album's third single in select European countries, "Open Arms" was released on December 5, 1995. The song achieved success in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, where it peaked at number four, seven and eight.[33][34] However, "Open Arms" charted weakly in other European countries, such as Belgium, France, and Germany, where it charted outside the top-thirty.[35][36]
"Always Be My Baby" was released as the fourth single. The song debuted at number two on the Hot 100, failing to become Carey's third number one debut (a feat she would accomplish with "Honey" in 1997).[19] The song eventually reached and stayed atop the charts for two weeks, and then kept steady at number two for nine weeks.[19] "Always Be My Baby" performed moderately in other major markets. The song peaked within the top five in Canada, New Zealand and the UK, but charted outside the top-ten elsewhere.[37][38] Its B-side, "Slipping Away," received some unsolicited airplay from American rhythmic contemporary radio stations.[39] "Forever" was chosen as the fifth and final single from Daydream.[7] The song was ineligible to chart in the Hot 100, but managed to crack the top-ten on the Hot 100 airplay chart.[7] "Forever" charted well in Canada, where it peaked at number thirteen. "Underneath the Stars" was planned as the sixth single from the album, though its radio release was ultimately canceled.[20][40] Described by Carey as one of her favorite songs, it was only distributed to radio stations as a promotional single, and charted weakly on a few Billboard charts.[20]
Daydream received acclaim from music critics. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote that Carey's songwriting had improved dramatically, "becoming more relaxed, sexier, and less reliant on thudding clichés". "One Sweet Day", "Melt Away", "Always Be My Baby", and "Underneath the Stars" were singled out as highlights, while "Fantasy" featured what Holden described as "some of the most gorgeously spun choral music to be found on a contemporary album".[48]Los Angeles Times journalist Cheo H. Coker said Daydream boasted material that would silence Carey's critics—especially "Fantasy" and "Underneath the Stars"—and offered "something for everybody while somehow remaining true to her essence".[44]People magazine deemed it Carey's best album, benefiting from "funkier and mellower" songs and the singer's improved control over her voice, "evincing greater muscularity and agility".[49] According to Encyclopedia of Popular Music writer Colin Larkin, "some critics questioned whether Daydream was a controlled exercise in vacuous formula writing, with little emotion or heart."[43] Reviewing the album for Entertainment Weekly, Ken Tucker preferred the "less dignified tunes"—particularly "Daydream Interlude (Fantasy Sweet Dub Mix)"—over the "monuments to assiduous good taste" in "When I Saw You" and "I Am Free", which he panned as overwrought ballads. Tucker nonetheless called it Carey's best album since her 1990 self-titled debut.[1]
In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Daydream Carey's "best record to date, featuring a consistently strong selection of songs and a remarkably impassioned performance by Carey." In Erlewine's opinion, the album appealed to both urban R&B and adult contemporary audiences while showing that "Carey continues to perfect her craft, and that she has earned her status as an R&B/pop diva."[41] In The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), Arion Berger said the album "adheres to the classic radio-friendly diva format, alternating between frisky dance tunes and overscaled ballads". He highlighted the songs contributed by Afanasieff while lamenting Carey's cover of "Open Arms".[47]
In the United States, Daydream debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 224,000 copies sold.[51] The album moved 760,000 copies during the Christmas week of 1995,[51] the largest sales week by a solo female artist until Britney Spears's Oops!... I Did It Again in 2000.[52]Daydream sold at least 90,000 copies a week in the seven months following its release.[53] It was the second best-selling album of 1996 (just behind Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill), and the eighteenth best-selling album on the 1990s decade in the US.[54][55]Daydream became Carey's best-selling album in the United States, selling 10.7 million units in the country (as of 2021)[56][57] and being certified 11× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), sales and streams of over 11 million copies.[58][59] The album spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one on the chart, including 29 weeks inside the top ten and 81 complete weeks altogether.
In Australia, Daydream was certified five-times Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 350,000 copies.[64] The album finished ninth on the ARIA End of Year Charts in both 1995 and 1996.[65][66] In Japan, the album debuted at number one on the Oricon charts.[67] According to the Oricon, Daydream made the top five of the best-selling albums in Japan by a non-Asian artist, with 2.2 million copies sold.[68][69][70]Daydream remains one of the best-selling albums by women in history, with sales of over 20 million copies worldwide (as of 2019).[3]
Accolades
The music industry took note of Carey's success. She won two awards at the 1996 American Music Awards for her solo efforts: Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.[71] Throughout 1995 and 1996, Carey was awarded various prestigious awards at the World Music Awards, including World's Best Selling Female R&B Artist, World's Best Selling Overall Female Recording Artist, World's Best Selling Pop Artist and World's Best Selling Overall Recording Artist.[71] Additionally, "Fantasy" was named Song of the Year at the BMI Awards and Favorite Song at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, where Carey also won the award for Top Pop Female.[71] In 1996, Carey won many awards at the Billboard Music Awards, including Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year, Hot 100 Airplay ("Always Be My Baby"), Hot Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year and Special Award for 16 weeks at #1 for "One Sweet Day".[71]
Pitchfork writer, Jamieson Cox, called the album, specifically "Underneath the Stars", a "tribute to '70s R&B legends like Minnie Riperton, complete with vinyl crackle".[72] He went on to praise Carey's use of "flows [...] with the ease of someone with a genuine appreciation for hip-hop".[72] Carey began a "seamless blend of pop and hip-hop" within this album, but eventually went on to be the core of Butterfly, and it served as the foundation for her late-career reinvigoration nearly a decade later.[72] Cox added that Daydream "wasn't just transitional in a musical sense [...] it was the beginning of the end for Mariah's innocence".[72] In July 2017, the album ranked at number 97 on the list for the 150 greatest female albums of all time by the National Public Radio.[73]
Grammy Awards controversy
What can you do? Let me put it this way. I will never be disappointed again. After sitting through that whole show and not winning once, I can so far handle anything. But-and I know everyone always says this-I wasn't expecting to win.
—Carey on her disappointment with the 1996 Grammy Awards outcome[74]
Daydream proved to be one of the best-selling and most acclaimed albums of 1995.[74] When the Grammy Award nominees were announced, and Daydream was nominated for six different awards, critics began raving how it would be "cleaning up" that year.[74] The 38th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1996, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Carey, being a multiple award nominee, was one of the headlining performers at the ceremony.[74] Together with Boyz II Men, she performed a live rendition of "One Sweet Day", to a very positive response.[75] However, as the award winners were announced one by one, Carey watched as her name was not called up even once.[76][74]Daydream had lost all of its six nominations, shocking most critics who branded it the "album of the year".[75] With every passing loss, the television cameras continued to zoom on Carey's face, who was finding it more difficult to retain her smile.[75] By the end of the night, Carey had not won a single award. The disappointment on her face was "painfully obvious", according to media outlets.[75] Carey did not perform again until the 2006 ceremony, when she was nominated for eight awards (winning three) for The Emancipation of Mimi.[77]
Legacy and influence
Daydream is regarded as one of Carey's best albums to-date,[8][78] and music critics often rank it highly among her discography.[79][80][81]NPR ranked Daydream one of the 150 greatest albums helmed by women.[73]UDiscoverMusic ranked it the 17th best album of 1995, calling it "pure pop perfection".[82] Andrew Chan, author and editor of Why Mariah Matters (2023), identified Daydream as a cultural moment, recalling that its chart-topping singles “Fantasy”, “One Sweet Day”, and “Always Be My Baby” were virtually inescapable for at least two years following the album's release.[83] Troy L. Smith of Cleveland.com, who ranked the same three songs among the best of the 1990s, said "Fantasy" and Daydream helped evolve Carey out of her adult contemporary image.[84] Music journalists agree that Daydream was a transitional album for Carey due to its genre-bending songs and collaborations, particularly the singer's foray into R&B and hip-hop music.[81][85][86][87] Prior to Daydream, the singer had been known for releasing pop music that highlighted her vocal prowess.[88] The album features several musical trademarks that would become staples of Carey's work, namely catchy hooks, emotional ballads, powerful vocals, and R&B influences.[89] The singer also began changing her vocal style, adopting an airier quality she would continue exploring on subsequent releases.[90]
Princess Gabbara of Grammys.com noted that although 1997's Butterfly is typically cited as Carey's transition from pop singer to R&B and hip-hop artist, her true metamorphosis began with Daydream, as evidenced by collaborations with R&B artists Boyz II Men, Jermaine Dupri, and Babyface.[91][92] The album also marked the beginning of Carey's working relationship with Dupri as a producer and songwriter.[78][88][93] According to Kailyn Hayes of Hilltop Views, the album established "the tone for how a true MC song should sound" by allowing her to assert her independence for the first time in her career, which would only be cemented by its immediate successor Butterfly.[85] Carey would eventually feature hip-hop artists such as Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Jay Z, and Snoop Dogg on subsequent projects.[88] Hayes credited Daydream with inspiring future pop acts such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Ed Sheeran to pursue their own collaborations with rappers and hip hop artists.[85] The writer concluded, "The landscape of current music as we know it would be vastly different had it not been for Carey trailblazing a path that celebrates cross-genre genius",[85] while Vibe writer Adelle Platon said Carey "etched the blueprint for modern-day pop melodies featuring rap verses", citing her influence on artists like Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé.[94] According to Platon, Daydream graduated Carey from "Titanic-y ballad voice box to R&B&Pop queen".[94]
Journalist Audie Cornish said Daydream's musical direction and success spared Carey from being relegated to "a glitter-laden version" of singer Whitney Houston.[73] A writer for Slant Magazine reported that Carey had "arguably reached a new apex in her career" with Daydream due to its mainstream, mass pop appeal, and "perfectly balanced" selection of songs.[81] In a 2017 retrospective review, Jamieson Cox of Pitchfork said Daydream symbolized the end of Carey's innocence, while coinciding with the beginning of the end of her marriage to Mottola.[93] Cox observed that by preceding the less successful albums Rainbow and Glitter by a few years, Daydream now indicates that Carey's "absolute commercial zenith would soon be in the rear-view mirror".[93] Similarly, a writer for The 97 stated that while Daydream might be Carey's most famous album, it was "probably the last time Carey managed to truly have mass appeal as an international superstar".[89] Critics have noted that Daydream's follow-up Butterfly, which ventured further into hip-hop and R&B, was less commercial, and sold considerably less than Daydream.[95][96] Despite its achievements, Carey described Daydream as her "most bittersweet album" in 2022.[97]
Track listing
All lyrics written by Mariah Carey, except where noted.
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
1 2 Farley, Christopher John (June 24, 2001). "Pop's Princess Grows Up". Time. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2010. Daydream is a refreshingly understated piece of work and her best album yet
↑ Jones, Alan (October 7, 1995). "Mariah wins in albums standoff". Music Week. p.21. Though not released until Thursday, her Daydream album stormed to the summit on the strength of three days' sales
↑ Underneath the Stars (CD Single liner notes). Mariah Carey. Columbia Records. 1996. CSK 8776.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ Cox, Jamieson (December 10, 2017). "Mariah Carey: Daydream". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017. Her second stroke of genius was ultimately more impactful. Carey did more than any other artist to bridge the gap that once separated traditional pop and hip-hop and R&B. She fused genres and sounds that were otherwise distinct, encouraging future artists to find and meet her somewhere in the middle.
↑ "Hits of the World"(PDF). Billboard. Vol.107, no.49. December 9, 1995. p.53. Archived(PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
↑ "A recordista das paradas". Veja (in Portuguese). Editora Abril. May 15, 1996. p.121. In Brazil, where American music is a bit low, Mariah Carey's new album is doing well. Launched in December last year, it has already sold 100,000.
Mariah Carey is the debut studio album by American R&B singer Mariah Carey, released on June 12, 1990, by Columbia Records. Its music incorporates a range of contemporary genres with a mix of slow ballads and up-tempo tracks. Originally, Carey wrote four songs with Ben Margulies, which solely constituted her demo tape. After Carey was signed to Columbia, all four songs, after being altered and partially re-recorded, made the final cut for the album. Aside from Margulies, Carey worked with a range of professional writers and producers, all of whom were hired by Columbia CEO, Tommy Mottola. Mariah Carey featured production and writing from Rhett Lawrence, Ric Wake and Narada Michael Walden, all of whom were top record producers at the time. Together with Carey, they conceived the album and reconstructed her original demo tape.
Butterfly is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released on September 10, 1997, by Columbia Records. The album contains both hip-hop and urban adult contemporary sounds, as well as some softer and more contemporary melodies. Throughout the project, Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she had written and produced most of the material from her previous albums. She also worked with many famed hip-hop producers and rappers, such as Sean "Puffy" Combs, Q-Tip, Missy Elliott and the Trackmasters. With the latter acts producing most of the album, Butterfly deviated from the adult contemporary sound of Carey's previous albums.
"Forever" is a rock and roll and pop song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her fifth studio album, Daydream (1995). Columbia Records released it to American radio stations for airplay on June 18, 1996, as the album's fifth single. The lyrics, written by Carey, are about one's continued affection despite the end of a romantic relationship. She composed the music and produced the song with Walter Afanasieff. Described by critics as referencing American music of the 1950s and 1960s, "Forever" is a doo-wop-influenced sentimental ballad in the form of a waltz. Its composition includes keyboards, guitars, and programming.
"Can't Let Go" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey for her second studio album, Emotions (1991). Columbia Records released it as the album's second single in November 1991. Featuring synthesizers and drum programming, "Can't Let Go" is a breakup song in the form of an R&B and pop slow jam. The lyrics, written by Carey, are about post-breakup sadness. She composed the music and produced the song with Walter Afanasieff, who had previously worked on her 1990 single "Love Takes Time". Carey's vocal range spans more than three octaves; her delivery is predominately breathy and in a low register, with whistle notes in the song's introduction and ending.
"Make It Happen" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. Written and produced by Carey and C+C Music Factory's David Cole and Robert Clivillés. It was released on April 4, 1992, by Columbia Records as the third and final single from her second studio album, Emotions (1991). The pop-, R&B-, and dance-influenced track incorporates traces of gospel in its bridge and crescendo. Described by author Chris Nickson as Carey's most personal and inspirational song, it tells of her personal struggles prior to her rise to fame, and how her faith in God helped sustain her.
#1's is the first greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released by Columbia Records on November 16, 1998. The album contained Carey's then thirteen number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as four new songs. In Japan, the album also included her popular single, "All I Want for Christmas Is You", which was Carey's biggest selling single there.
"Dreamlover" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter and record producer Mariah Carey, released on July 27, 1993 by Columbia Records, as the lead single from the singer's third studio album, Music Box (1993). Its lyrics were written by Carey, with music composed by Carey and Dave Hall, and was produced by Carey, Walter Afanasieff and Hall. The song incorporates a sample of the hook from "Blind Alley" by the Emotions—previously used in "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" (1988) by Big Daddy Kane—into its melody and instrumentation. "Dreamlover" marked a more pronounced attempt on Carey's part to incorporate hip hop into her music, as was seen in her decision to work with Hall, who had previously produced What's the 411? (1992) by Mary J. Blige. This was partly in light of the mixed reception to her previous studio effort Emotions (1991), which featured gospel and 1960s soul influences. Lyrically, the song pictures a protagonist calling for a perfect lover, her "dreamlover," to whisk her away into the night and not "disillusion" her like others in the past.
"My All" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album, Butterfly (1997). It was released as the album's fifth single overall and second commercial single on April 21, 1998, by Columbia Records. The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. "My All" is built around Latin guitar chord melodies, and makes subtle use of Latin percussion throughout the first chorus, before taking on a more conventional R&B-style beat. Carey was inspired to write the song and use Latin inspired melodies after a trip to Puerto Rico, where she was influenced by the culture. The song's lyrics tell of a lonely woman declaring she would give "her all" to have just one more night with her estranged lover. It is the first song Carey wrote for the Butterfly album.
"Hero" is a song by American singer-songwriter and record producer Mariah Carey released on October 18, 1993, via Columbia Records as the second single from her third studio album, Music Box (1993). The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. While writing the song, Carey did not connect to its style or sound, therefore forfeiting it to Gloria Estefan, who was intended to sing it for the soundtrack of the film of the same name (1992). However, after being convinced by Sony executive Tommy Mottola to keep it for herself, she changed some of the lyrics to more precisely fit her personality. Lyrically, the song is regarded as one of Carey's most inspirational and personal ballads, with its protagonist declaring that even though people may feel discouraged or down at times, in reality, they are "heroes" if they look inside themselves and see their own inner strength; in time, it will help them "find the way".
"Fantasy" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on August 23, 1995, by Columbia Records as the lead single from her fifth album, Daydream (1995). The track was written and produced by Carey and Dave Hall. It samples Tom Tom Club's 1981 song "Genius of Love". The lyrics describe a woman who is in love with a man, and how every time she sees him she starts fantasizing about an impossible relationship with him. The remix for the song features rap verses from Ol' Dirty Bastard, something Carey arranged to assist in her crossover into the hip-hop market and credited for introducing R&B and hip hop collaboration into mainstream pop culture, and for popularizing rap as a featuring act.
"One Sweet Day" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey and American vocal group Boyz II Men. The song was released on November 14, 1995, as the second single from the former's fifth studio album, Daydream (1995) by Columbia Records. The artists co-wrote the song with Walter Afanasieff, who co-produced it with Carey. Lyrically, the song speaks about the death of a loved one, how the protagonist took their presence for granted and misses them, and finally about seeing the person in heaven. The artists wrote the song about specific people in their lives, being inspired by sufferers of the AIDS epidemic, which was globally prevalent at the time.
"Always Be My Baby" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her fifth studio album, Daydream (1995). Written by Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal, and produced by Carey and Dupri, It was released by Columbia Records on February 20, 1996, as the album's third single in the United States and fourth single internationally. A midtempo pop and R&B ballad, "Always Be My Baby" describes the attachment the singer feels towards an estranged lover, while confidently asserting that they will eventually reunite. Described by critics as both a love song and a breakup song, its composition is characterized by piano keyboards, drums, acoustic guitars, and layered background vocals.
Emotions is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on September 17, 1991, by Columbia Records. The album deviated from the formula of Carey's 1990 self-titled debut album, as she had more creative control over the material she produced and recorded. Additionally, Emotions features influences from a range of different genres, as well as 1950s, 1960s and 1970s balladry infusion. On the record, Carey worked with a variety of producers and writers, including Walter Afanasieff, the only holdover from her previous effort. Additionally, Carey wrote and produced the album's material with Robert Clivillés and David Cole from C+C Music Factory and Carole King, with whom she wrote one song.
Music Box is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released by Columbia Records on August 31, 1993. The album comprises ballads primarily written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, with whom she had previously worked on Emotions (1991), and a few urban dance tracks. During the course of the album's development, Carey wanted to broaden her audience, choosing a more pop/R&B oriented sound. During this time frame, she experimented with different musical instruments, leading the album's sound away from her more contemporary previous two efforts.
Rainbow is the seventh studio album by American R&B singer Mariah Carey, released on November 2, 1999 in the United States, by Columbia Records. The album followed the same pattern as Carey's previous two albums, Daydream (1995) and Butterfly (1997), in which she began her transition into the urban adult contemporary market. Rainbow contains a mix of hip hop-influenced R&B tracks, as well as a variety of ballads. Carey produced the album with David Foster and Diane Warren, who, as well as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, replaced Walter Afanasieff, the main balladeer Carey worked with throughout the 1990s. As a result of her divorce from Sony Music CEO Tommy Mottola, Carey had more control over the musical style of this album, so she collaborated with several hip-hop artists such as Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Master P and Mystikal as well as female rappers Da Brat and Missy Elliott. Other collaborations include the pop and R&B acts Joe, Usher and boyband 98 Degrees.
Merry Christmas is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, and her first Christmas album. Released by Columbia Records on October 28, 1994, at the peak of the initial stretch of Carey's career, between Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995), the album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs in addition to original material. Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she wrote all of the original tracks, as well as producing Carey's interpretations of the covered material. Three singles were released from the album, of which "All I Want for Christmas Is You" went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time and the best-selling Christmas ringtone in the United States.
MTV Unplugged is a live EP by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released in the United States on June 2, 1992, by Columbia Records. Following the success of Carey's previous two albums and the growing critical commentary on her lack of concert tours and unsubstantial televised performances, Sony organized a live performance show at the Kaufman Astoria Studios, New York on March 16, 1992. The show, titled MTV Unplugged, originally aired on MTV to help promote Carey's second album Emotions, as well as help shun critics who deemed Carey a possible studio artist. However, after its success, the show was released to the public as an EP, with an accompanying VHS titled MTV Unplugged +3.
"Open Arms" is a song by American rock band Journey. It was released as a single from the Heavy Metal soundtrack and their 1981 album, Escape. Co-written by band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, the song is a power ballad whose lyrics attempt to renew a drifting relationship. It is one of the band's most recognizable radio hits and their biggest US Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching number two in February 1982 and holding that position for six weeks. It also reached number two in Canada.
"Underneath the Stars" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, for her fifth studio album, Daydream (1995). It was released as a promotional single on November 19, 1996, through Columbia Records, and as a B-side to "Forever" in Australia. The R&B-influenced song, which has been considered by Carey as one of her personal favorites, features a soft and retro-style melody and had music critics drawing comparisons to earlier works from Minnie Riperton, one of Carey's vocal inspirations.
"Looking In" is a song by the American singer Mariah Carey from her fifth studio album, Daydream (1995). Carey wrote the song's lyrics, and she composed and produced it with Walter Afanasieff. It became available as the album's twelfth track on September 26, 1995, when it was released by Columbia Records. A soul song, "Looking In" portrays Carey as an isolated, misunderstood diva, struggling with youthful fears and insecurity and draws inspiration from her childhood and marriage to Tommy Mottola.
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