"It's Like That" is a song by American singer Mariah Carey from her tenth studio album,The Emancipation of Mimi (2005). Written by Carey,Jermaine Dupri,Fatman Scoop,Manuel Seal,and JohntáAustin,and produced by Carey and Dupri,the song borrows the hook "It's Like That Y'all" from the Run–D.M.C. tracks "Hollis Crew" and "Here We Go (Live)". Several other tracks were contenders for the album's lead single. However,plans were changed when Island Def Jam Music head L.A. Reid suggested to Carey she record a few more strong songs to ensure the album's success,thus "It's Like That" was written and chosen as the album's lead single,being released on January 25,2005.
American singer Mariah Carey has released 88 official singles,22 promotional singles,and has made 30 guest appearances. Her self-titled debut album in 1990 yielded four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100,the first being "Vision of Love",a song credited with revolutionizing the usage of distinguished vocal stylings,predominantly the practice of melisma,and effectively influencing virtually every female R&B performer since the 1990s. Subsequent singles "Emotions" (1991) and Carey's cover of the Jackson 5 track "I'll Be There" (1992) continued the singer's streak of US number-one singles,with the latter becoming her fourth chart-topper in Canada and first in the Netherlands. With the release of Carey's third studio album,Music Box (1993),the singer's international popularity surged upon release of "Hero" and the album's third single,her cover of Harry Nilsson's "Without You",which became the singer's first number-one single in several countries across Europe.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her fourth studio album and first holiday album,Merry Christmas (1994). She wrote and produced the song with Walter Afanasieff. It was released as the lead single from the album on October 29,1994,by Columbia Records. The track is an uptempo love song that includes bell chimes,backing vocals,and synthesizers. It has received critical acclaim,with The New Yorker describing it as "one of the few worthy modern additions to the holiday canon". The song has become a Christmas standard,with a significant rise in popularity every December.
"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.
"Emotions" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey for her second studio album of the same name (1991). It was written and produced by Carey,Robert Clivillés,and David Cole of C+C Music Factory and released as the album's lead single on August 13,1991,by Columbia Records. The song's lyrics has its protagonist going through a variety of emotions from high to low,up to the point where she declares,"You got me feeling emotions." Musically,it is a gospel and R&B song heavily influenced by 1970s disco music and showcases Carey's upper range and extensive use of the whistle register. Jeff Preiss directed the song's music video.
"I Don't Wanna Cry" is a song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her first album Mariah Carey (1990). Written by Carey and producer Narada Michael Walden,Columbia Records released it as the album's fourth single in March 1991. A Latin soul–influenced pop ballad,the torch song describes the end of romance. It features drums,guitars,digital synthesizers,and a classic song structure with highly delineated section roles. Modulations occur between these segments that emphasize the singer's emotions. Varying from whispering to belting,Carey's vocal range spans more than two octaves.
"Someday" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her self-titled debut studio album (1990). It is a dance-pop,new jack swing and R&B song. Prior to Carey signing a record contract,she and producer Ben Margulies had written and produced a four-track demo which included "Someday". After signing a contract with Columbia Records,Carey began work on her debut album and she reached out to Ric Wake to ask if he would produce the song,to which he agreed. The composition of the demo recording was changed during the recording process,most notably replacing the horns with a guitar,which Carey disapproved of.
"Vision of Love" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey,recorded for her eponymous debut studio album (1990). It was written by Carey and Ben Margulies. After being featured on Carey's demo tape for Columbia Records,the song was re-recorded and produced by Rhett Lawrence and Narada Michael Walden. The song features a slow-dance theme tempo and backing vocals sung by Carey,and introduces her usage of the whistle register. The lyrics of the song represent her past life filled with "alienation" and how she had dreamed of achieving her triumph over adversity up to the moment when it finally came to fruition as the "vision of love" that she had always believed in,despite everything that she has had to deal with in life. The song was released as the lead single from Mariah Carey on May 15,1990,by Columbia Records.
#1's is the first greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey,released by Columbia Records on November 17,1998. 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. The album has sold 16 million copies globally.
"Dreamlover" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter and record producer Mariah Carey,released on July 23,1993 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.
"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.
Trey Lorenz is an American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born in Florence,South Carolina and is a graduate of Wilson High School. Lorenz is best known for his duet with recording artist Mariah Carey on "I'll Be There",a cover of the 1970 number-one Jackson 5 recording of the same name. The record topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles chart a second time in 1992 and earned Lorenz and Carey both a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. They would later perform the song again at the funeral of Michael Jackson on July 7,2009. He is also known for his 1992 hit single "Someone to Hold".
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.
"Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and singer/actress Diana Ross. In this ballad,the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by Luther Vandross with R&B-pop singer Mariah Carey,and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all time.
"Touch My Body" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey,released as the lead single from her eleventh studio album,E=MC² (2008),on February 12,2008,by Island Records. Carey co-produced the song with Tricky Stewart,and they co-wrote it with Crystal "Cri$tyle" Johnson and Terius "The-Dream" Nash. The song's lyrics feature a double message,with the first describing sexual fantasies with her lover,while also jokingly warning him against recording or releasing information regarding their rendezvous.
"I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey for her eleventh studio album E=MC² (2008). It was produced by Carey,Aldrin Davis,who wrote it alongside Crystal Johnson and Clifford Harris. As the song's hook and instrumentation is derived from sampling DeBarge's "Stay with Me",Mark DeBarge and Etterlene Jordan also share songwriting credits. Lyrically,the song demonstrates the lengths the protagonist will go for her lover. It was released as the third single from E=MC² on July 1,2008,by Island Records;its remix featuring T.I. was simultaneously released.
"Oh Santa!" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her second Christmas album and thirteenth studio album,Merry Christmas II You (2010). Carey wrote and produced the song in collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. It was released as the lead single from the album on October 1,2010 by Island Def Jam Records. It is an up-tempo R&B song about Carey making a plea for Santa Claus to bring back her partner in time for the Christmas holidays. It received a positive response from music critics,with many praising its composition and style.
"Photograph of Mary" is a dance,R&B,and pop song recorded by American singer Trey Lorenz for his eponymous debut studio album,Trey Lorenz (1992). Epic Records released it as the album's second single in December 1992. Written by Seth Swirsky,the lyrics concern a man regretting the end of a relationship with a woman while looking at her picture. A "na na na" hook functions as the chorus. Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey produced "Photograph of Mary" and others produced remixes.
