I Don't Wanna Cry

Last updated

"I Don't Wanna Cry"
Cassette single i don't wanna cry.jpg
US cassette cover
Single by Mariah Carey
from the album Mariah Carey
B-side "You Need Me"
ReleasedMarch 1991
Studio
Genre Pop
Length
  • 4:47 (album)
  • 4:25 (edit)
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Narada Michael Walden
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"Someday"
(1990)
"I Don't Wanna Cry"
(1991)
"There's Got to Be a Way"
(1991)
Music video
"I Don't Wanna Cry" on YouTube

"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.

Contents

Critics viewed "I Don't Wanna Cry" as a standout track from Mariah Carey and complimented the dynamic between Carey's vocals and Walden's production. The song received high airplay across American adult contemporary, urban contemporary, and contemporary hit radio stations. It became Carey's fourth consecutive number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, making her the second act to have their first four entries reach number one. The Recording Industry Association of America certified it Gold. Internationally, "I Don't Wanna Cry" reached the top ten on sales and airplay charts in Canada and the top twenty in New Zealand.

Larry Jordan directed the accompanying music video, which shows Carey and a male model brooding over their tainted relationship. His director's cut version includes scenes that Columbia thought projected a sexualized image of Carey. She performed "I Don't Wanna Cry" during the 1993 Music Box Tour, the 1996 Daydream World Tour, and the 2015 concert residency #1 to Infinity. Carey's former husband and head of Columbia at the time of the song's production, Tommy Mottola, considers her lack of creative control during the process a factor in the demise of their relationship.

Background

Then-backup singer Mariah Carey accompanied Brenda K. Starr to a record industry party in late 1988. [1] Tommy Mottola, president of CBS Records Group, obtained Carey's demo tape at the gala and was immediately impressed by her voice. [2] He signed Carey within a month to establish her as Columbia Records's answer to Whitney Houston of Arista Records. [3] Mottola persuaded Arista promoter Don Ienner—who had been part of the marketing strategy that made Houston a household name—to join Columbia. [4]

Although Carey requested to work on her debut album Mariah Carey (1990) with longtime co-writer Ben Margulies rather than well-known producers, [2] Mottola felt it required further influences. [5] To broaden the album's music, Ienner suggested they hire Houston producer Narada Michael Walden. [2] [a] This aligned with their view of Carey as "a franchise" with marketability to multiple demographics [4] as Walden's work appealed to both pop and R&B audiences. [6]

Recording

Mottola phoned Walden personally to request that he write a successful song with Carey in New York. [7] [8] She was apprehensive and feared that her music would become "too schmaltzy" like his work with Houston. [2] After meeting each other, the pair held a writing session at the city's Hit Factory studio where Walden heard Carey's voice for the first time. While working on some uptempo songs, he believed she needed one that was slower and melodramatic. Influenced by recordings such as Chuck Jackson's "I Don't Want to Cry", Walden began singing a concept to Carey. [7] They composed the melody and wrote the chorus to "I Don't Wanna Cry", after which Carey completed the remaining lyrics. [9]

"I Don't Wanna Cry" was recorded at Tarpan Studios [b] and The Plant Studios in California. [10] Carey sought to redo licks multiple times during the process, and Walden agreed. After she recorded more vocals, Walden refused to incorporate them because he felt the song was complete. [7] Mottola encouraged Carey to follow his advice but acknowledged her discontent. [5] She never collaborated with Walden after Mariah Carey, [11] stating, "The label was very excited for me to work with him because of his collaborations with hugely successful vocalists ... it was very important for me to keep my identity as a songwriter." [12] Carey married Mottola in 1993 and they later divorced due to his controlling nature. [13] Retrospectively, he considers Carey's experiences with Walden how "her whole issue of feeling controlled" came into being. [5]

Composition and lyrics

"I Don't Wanna Cry" is a torch song [14] in the form of a Latin soul-influenced [15] pop ballad. [16] Like many recordings, it references the act of crying. [17] The lyrics are simple and concern the demise of a romance: "Though I've given you my heart and soul / I must find a way of letting go / 'Cause baby, I don't wanna cry." [11] [18] According to David T. Farr of the Sturgis Journal , they introduce an element of vulnerability to Carey's image. [19] Scholar Dorothy Marcic views them as an example of the progression of women's societal role as they showcase a sense of inner strength rather than victimhood like songs from previous decades. [20]

With an introduction, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, post-chorus, bridge, and outro, "I Don't Wanna Cry" features a prototypical song structure. It is organized in compound AABA form. [21] Set in common time, the music is played "tenderly" at a tempo of 66  beats per minute according to sheet music published by Hal Leonard. [22] It is written in the key of F-sharp minor until the first chorus when modulation to the relative key of A major occurs. The key reverts to F-sharp minor for the next verse. Upon the climax at the final chorus, a key change to B-flat major takes place. The song concludes in the relative key of G minor . This alternation constructs prosody; lyrics about breaking up ("Only emptiness inside us") are in minor key while those about moving on ("I must find a way of letting go") are in major key. [23]

Carey engages in riffing during the song's introduction. [24] She uses a low register during verses and an upper register for the chorus. [11] Her vocal range spans two octaves and six semitones from the low note of C3 to the high note of G5. [25] Carey's timbre varies between whispering, [26] cooing, [27] belting with bravura, [28] and "raspy grit". [11] Aside from producing, Walden plays the drums heard in "I Don't Wanna Cry". The song features an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar played by Chris Camozzi. [10] They evoke the sound of a Spanish guitar, which was a vogue production choice at the time. [29] The guitars are soft-sounding and play the melody while programmed keyboards are heard in the background. [30] [31] Walter Afanasieff worked with the keys and synth bass electronically; Ren Klyce used the Fairlight CMI digital synthesizer for rhythm programming. [10] As with most Mariah Carey tracks, Bob Ludwig conducted mastering at Masterdisk in New York. [10] The album edition of "I Don't Wanna Cry" is four minutes and forty-seven seconds long [10] and an edited version lasts four minutes and twenty-five seconds. [16]

Release

"I Don't Wanna Cry" is the third track on Mariah Carey, [10] which Columbia released on June 12, 1990. [32] It forms the record's mass market appeal along with other ballads such as "Vision of Love" and "Love Takes Time". [28] By early 1991, the first three singles had reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart [c] and the album was in the midst of an 11-week run at number one on the Billboard 200 following Carey's Best New Artist win at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards. [11] [34]

Columbia issued "I Don't Wanna Cry" as the fourth single from Mariah Carey. [35] The label distributed cassettes and 7-inch vinyls to retail in March 1991 with the album track "You Need Me" as a B-side. [16] [36] The latter song has a similar relationship separation theme, [37] this time incorporating funk and rock music. [38] A promotional CD includes a radio edit version. [39] In Japan, Sony Music released "I Don't Wanna Cry" as a mini CD on May 2, 1991. [40] It is featured on Carey's compilation albums #1's (1998), [41] Greatest Hits (2001), [42] and #1 to Infinity (2015). [43]

Critical reception

Critics judged "I Don't Wanna Cry" to be one of the best songs from Mariah Carey. [d] Aside from Carey's work, it received comparisons to other ballads about relationships such as George Michael's "Careless Whisper" and Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game". [48] [49] Commentators considered "I Don't Wanna Cry" conventional [e] and thought that Carey's vocal performance elevates the song's orthodoxy. [f] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday regarded it as perhaps "the surest sign from her debut that [Carey]'s powerful voice could turn an average song into a hit" [52] and Cleveland.com's Troy L. Smith reckoned although it might have generic production, that "doesn't stop Carey from rescuing the song with an amazing vocal". [29]

Critics felt that Carey's vocals and the composition complement each other [g] and resonate emotion. [h] According to Billboard , "Walden's grand production suits her acrobatic vocal style". [16] Rob Tannenbaum of Rolling Stone thought that Carey's "downcast whispers animated the song's luxurious sorrow" and Vibe 's Julianne Shepherd said "she strikes a perfect balance between vocal ability and emotional rawness." [58] Reviewing retrospectively, Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly graded "I Don't Wanna Cry" a B+ [59] and Stereogum 's Tom Breihan scored it a 5 out of 10. [11]

Commercial performance

In the United States, "I Don't Wanna Cry" debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart dated April 6, 1991, as Carey's "Someday" departed the top 10. [7] It rose from number eight to number one in the May 25, 1991, issue and replaced "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" by Hi-Five. [60] The song's jump to number one was the biggest since Meco's "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" did the same in 1977, [61] a feat British publication Music Week deemed "unprecedented". [62] [i] "I Don't Wanna Cry" became Carey's fourth consecutive number one on the Hot 100. This made her the second act after the Jackson 5 in 1970 to have their first four singles reach number one and the second female artist after Paula Abdul to have four number-one songs from a debut album. [64] "I Don't Wanna Cry" spent two weeks at number one and nineteen total on the chart. [33] As of 2018, it is Carey's 11th-best performing song on the Hot 100 [65] and Walden's final number one as a producer. [11]

"I Don't Wanna Cry" experienced success across multiple radio formats in the United States. The song topped at least one of the adult contemporary, urban contemporary, and contemporary hit radio charts published by Billboard , Gavin Report , or Radio & Records magazines. [66] [67] [68] It received citations from performance rights organizations ASCAP and BMI for being one of the most-played songs on American radio and television stations in 1991. [69] [70] The Recording Industry Association of America certified it Gold in 2022, which denotes 500,000 units based on digital downloads and on-demand streams. [71] [72]

Outside of the United States, the song performed well in Canada. It reached the top 10 on the sales-based singles chart published by The Record (No. 7) and the airplay-based chart produced by RPM (No. 2). [73] [74] [75] Elsewhere, "I Don't Wanna Cry" peaked at number 13 on the New Zealand singles chart and number 49 on the Australian singles chart. [76]

Music video and performances

The video for "I Don't Wanna Cry" shows Carey and a male model despondent about their relationship. I Don't Wanna Cry MV(1).png
The video for "I Don't Wanna Cry" shows Carey and a male model despondent about their relationship.

Carey's video album The First Vision (1991) presents a preview of the song's music video. [77] The clip captures her singing amid red-orange lighting on an empty stage. [78] Larry Jordan directed the official video for "I Don't Wanna Cry", which Columbia released in April 1991. [79] [j] He had previously done so for "Someday". [80] The sepia-toned video features Carey and a male model in a dark Midwestern United States home surrounded by candles and empty picture frames. After brooding over their tainted relationship, she enters a wheat field and cries. [81] [82] [83]

The video received critical commentary. According to KQED's Emmanuel Hapsis, Carey's performance foreshadows her strong acting ability in Precious (2009). [81] People writer Drew Mackie thought her walking barefoot appears seductive. [84] Carey disavowed the video later in her career. As Columbia reshot scenes due to the appearance of her dress and the male model, she prefers the director's cut. [85] [k] This version premiered on MTV in November 1998 and is included on her 1999 video compilation #1's. [86] [87]

"I Don't Wanna Cry" is not one of Carey's fondest compositions; [18] she has seldom performed it live. [11] The song is noticeably absent from her 1993 high-profile Here Is Mariah Carey concert. [88] Carey sang "I Don't Wanna Cry" during the 1993 Music Box Tour [15] and the 1996 Daydream World Tour. [89] Her performance of the song at the Tokyo Dome during the latter is included on her compilation album The Rarities . [90] In 2015, Carey resumed singing "I Don't Wanna Cry" for her Las Vegas concert residency #1 to Infinity. [91]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Mariah Carey. [10]

Charts and certifications

See also

Notes

  1. Walden had produced songs for Houston in the late 1980s such as "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "So Emotional", and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" [6]
  2. Tarpan is Walden's personal recording studio [6]
  3. Namely "Vision of Love", "Love Takes Time", and "Someday" [33]
  4. Specifically Ivan Brunet of the Nanaimo Daily Free Press , [44] J. D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun , [45] David Hinckley of the New York Daily News, [46] Rob Tannenbaum of Rolling Stone , [26] and Devon Powers of PopMatters [47]
  5. Specifically Trevor Anderson of Billboard , [18] Tom Breihan of Stereogum , [11] Jon Pareles of The New York Times , [50] and Troy L. Smith of Cleveland.com [29]
  6. Specifically Tom Breihan of Stereogum , [11] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times , [51] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday , [52] Mitch Potter of the Toronto Star , [31] and Troy L. Smith of Cleveland.com [29]
  7. Specifically Billboard , [16] Ivan Brunet of the Nanaimo Daily Free Press , [44] David Hinckley of the New York Daily News, [46] and Rob Tannenbaum of Rolling Stone [26]
  8. Specifically Brenton Blanchet of Spin , [53] Pamela Bustios of Billboard , [54] Entertainment Weekly , [55] Barbara Jaeger of The Record , [56] author Chris Nickson, [57] and Julianne Shepherd of Vibe [58]
  9. Billboard attributed the jump to the previous week's top eight songs all experiencing similar levels of success. [63]
  10. The video was produced by Kim Turner and Lexi Godfrey of KRT Productions. [79]
  11. Columbia's marketing strategy at the time was to present "Carey as the most agreeable young singer imaginable". [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Mariah Carey</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Mariah Carey

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forever (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1996 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterfly (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1997 single by Mariah Carey

"Butterfly" is a song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her sixth studio album Butterfly (1997). Columbia Records released it as the second single from the album in September 1997. Written by Carey from the perspective of her husband, Columbia executive Tommy Mottola, the lyrics are about what she wished he would have told her amid their separation. Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff to produce the song and compose its music, which features keyboards, synthesizers, and programmed drums. She adopts a restrained vocal style that gradually evolves from whispers at the beginning to chest voice near its conclusion. A pop, gospel, and R&B ballad, "Butterfly" was originally conceived as the house record "Fly Away". Carey co-produced the latter with David Morales; it appears on both the album and as the single's B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anytime You Need a Friend</span> 1994 single by Mariah Carey

"Anytime You Need a Friend" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, for her third studio album, Music Box (1993). It was released on May 24, 1994, through Columbia Records, as the fifth and final single from the album. The song is influenced by pop, R&B and gospel genres. While the album focused heavily on pop oriented and radio friendly material, "Anytime You Need a Friend" deviated from the formula, finishing as the only gospel-infused song on Music Box. Lyrically, the song's protagonist tells her love interest that anytime he may need a friend, she will be there unconditionally for him. Throughout the song's bridge and climax, critics noted the lyrics altering from those of a friend, to those of a lover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Let Go (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1991 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make It Happen (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1992 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emotions (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1991 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someday (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1990 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Takes Time</span> 1990 single by Mariah Carey

"Love Takes Time" is a song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her eponymous debut studio album (1990). Written by Carey and Ben Margulies, while produced by Walter Afanasieff, the song was released as the second single from the album on August 22, 1990, by Columbia Records. An adult contemporary-influenced ballad, the song follows its protagonist lamenting the loss of a lover and confesses that "love takes time" to heal and that her feelings for her ex-lover remain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vision of Love</span> 1990 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dreamlover (song)</span> 1993 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My All</span> 1998 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hero (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1993 single by Mariah Carey

"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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasy (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1995 dance-pop single

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Sweet Day</span> 1995 single by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always Be My Baby</span> 1996 single by Mariah Carey

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honey (Mariah Carey song)</span> 1997 single by Mariah Carey

"Honey" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album, Butterfly (1997). It was released as the lead single from Butterfly on July 29, 1997, by Columbia Records. The song was written and produced by Carey, Sean Combs, Kamaal "Q-Tip" Fareed and Steven "Stevie J" Jordan. The song samples "Hey DJ" by World-Famous Supreme Team and "The Body Rock" by the Treacherous Three. "Honey" was a redefining song in Carey's career, pushing her further into the hip hop scene.

<i>Emotions</i> (Mariah Carey album) 1991 studio album by Mariah Carey

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.

<i>Here Is Mariah Carey</i> 1993 video by Mariah Carey

Here Is Mariah Carey, also known as Mariah Carey or This Is Mariah Carey, is the third video album by American singer Mariah Carey. It presents Carey performing live at Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, New York, in July 1993, and also includes non-concert footage. Carey performs ten songs during the video; four are from her third studio album Music Box (1993), which Columbia Records commissioned Here Is Mariah Carey to promote. She is sporadically accompanied by a band, choir, dancers, and string musicians. In creating the stage for the performance, production designers sought inspiration from works by Boris Aronson and Josep Maria Jujol. Lawrence Jordan, who collaborated with Carey on previous occasions, directed the hour-long video.

<i>The First Vision</i> 1991 video album by Mariah Carey

The First Vision is the debut video album by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey, released by Sony Music Video on January 22, 1991. It is a collection of music videos, live performances, and film footage detailing the development and promotion of Carey's first studio album Mariah Carey (1990). Music videos of three Mariah Carey singles – "Vision of Love", "Love Takes Time", and "Someday" – are featured, as are snippets of the future singles "I Don't Wanna Cry" and "There's Got to Be a Way". The collection presents Carey performing at New York City's Club Tatou and behind-the-scenes footage of her rehearsing for appearances on Saturday Night Live and It's Showtime at the Apollo. During an interview segment, Carey answers questions about her life and music.

References

  1. Nickson 1998 , pp. 22, 25
  2. 1 2 3 4 Tannenbaum, Rob (August 23, 1990). "Mariah Carey: Building the Perfect Diva" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 6, 2021.
  3. Nickson 1998 , pp. 25–26
  4. 1 2 Nickson 1998 , p. 27
  5. 1 2 3 Mottola & Fussman 2013 , pp. 200–201
  6. 1 2 3 McAdams, Janine (June 29, 1991). "Walden's Celebrated Way with Women". Billboard . p. 21. Gale   A11056730; ProQuest   226969026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Bronson 1997 , p. 788
  8. Walden, Narada Michael (May 25, 2017). "Narada Michael Walden, Grammy-Winning Hit Producer & Songwriter, Talks About His Hit Songs With Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey". Songwriter Universe (Interview). Interviewed by Dale Kawashima. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023.
  9. Walden, Narada Michael (June 22, 2022). "How Mariah Carey Harmonizes with Herself" (Interview). Interviewed by Jack Conte. Dead Wax. Event occurs at 4:50–5:10, 6:10–6:15, 6:50–7:00. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023 via YouTube.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mariah Carey (CD liner notes). Columbia Records. 1990. 466815 2.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Breihan, Tom (November 29, 2021). "The Number Ones: Mariah Carey's 'I Don't Wanna Cry'". Stereogum . Archived from the original on April 29, 2022.
  12. #1 to Infinity (LP liner notes). Columbia Records, Epic Records, Legacy Recordings. 2015. 88875102891.
  13. Mottola & Fussman 2013 , pp. 253, 295
  14. Pastorek 2008 , p. 31
  15. 1 2 Kot, Greg (November 18, 1993). "Yes, She Can Sing" . Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on February 18, 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Single Reviews". Billboard . March 30, 1991. p. 123. ProQuest   1505994955.
  17. Cooper, B. Lee (2004). "The Sky Is Crying: Tales Told in Tearful Tunes". Popular Music and Society. 27 (1): 111. doi:10.1080/0300776042000166648. S2CID   219728288.
  18. 1 2 3 Anderson, Trevor (June 12, 2015). "Mariah Carey's Self-Titled Debut at 25: Classic Track-by-Track Review". Billboard . Archived from the original on August 17, 2022.
  19. Farr, David T. (June 18, 2015). "The Farr Side: A Quarter-Century of Mariah Carey". Sturgis Journal . Archived from the original on March 1, 2023.
  20. Marcic 2002 , pp. 193–194
  21. de Clercq, Trevor (2017). "Embracing Ambiguity in the Analysis of Form in Pop/Rock Music, 1982–1991". Music Theory Online . 23 (3). sec. 2.2. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023.
  22. Carey 2007 , p. 79
  23. Josefs 1996 , pp. 167–168
  24. Tracy, Neal (2013). "Music Theater Rocks! Organic Rock Singing 101 and Beyond". Journal of Singing . 70 (2): 213. Gale   A352753361; EBSCOhost   91614877; ProQuest   1498089072.
  25. Carey 2007 , pp. 79–85
  26. 1 2 3 Tannenbaum, Rob (November 14, 1991). "Emotions" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on January 12, 2023.
  27. Campbell, Chuck (June 27, 1990). "Mariah Carey Album Soars Into the Picture". Knoxville News Sentinel . p. B1. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  28. 1 2 Holden, Stephen (July 8, 1990). "Three Voices and the Dangers of Compromise" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 25, 2015.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Troy L. (October 21, 2020). "Every No. 1 Song of the 1990s Ranked from Worst to Best". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022.
  30. Miao, Suzanne (October 21, 1990). "Soul Singer Shines with Debut Album". The Guide. South China Sunday Morning Post . p. 12. ProQuest   2771598742.
  31. 1 2 Potter, Mitch (July 14, 1990). "Crosby, Stills, Nash ... and Old". Toronto Star . p. H2. ProQuest   436224399.
  32. Mall 2021 , p. 242
  33. 1 2 3 "Mariah Carey Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 22, 2022.
  34. Unterberger, Andrew (February 3, 2023). "64 Grammys, 64 Moments: The Greatest Moment From Every Grammys Ceremony So Far". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 4, 2023.
  35. Shapiro 2001 , p. 155
  36. "Hot 100 Singles". Billboard . April 6, 1991. p. 81. ProQuest   1505977575.
  37. Italie, Hillel (August 13, 1990). "Looks, Voice Took Carey to the Top". The Province . Associated Press. p. 42. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  38. Barbieri, Susan M. (July 27, 1990). "Mariah Carey". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel . p. 24. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  39. "I Don't Wanna Cry" (CD). Mariah Carey. Columbia Records. 1991. CSK 73743.
  40. "アイ・ドント・ワナ・クライ" ["I Don't Wanna Cry"] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023.
  41. Shapiro 2001 , p. 154
  42. Greatest Hits (CD liner notes). Columbia Records. 2001. C2K 85960.
  43. Hampp, Andrew (April 13, 2015). "Mariah Carey Announces Release Date, Tracklist for #1 To Infinity". Billboard . Archived from the original on October 12, 2022.
  44. 1 2 Brunet, Ivan (August 3, 1990). "Oldfield Flops On Instrumental Outing". Upbeat: Entertainment Guide. Nanaimo Daily Free Press . p. 20. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  45. Considine, J. D. (June 29, 1990). "Records". Maryland Live. The Baltimore Sun . p. 7. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  46. 1 2 Hinckley, David (June 3, 1990). "Dynamite Debut by Mariah Carey". City Lights. Daily News . p. 28. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  47. Powers, Devon (May 7, 2002). "Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits". PopMatters . Archived from the original on October 6, 2022.
  48. Nickson 1998 , p. 38
  49. Smith, Troy L. (May 18, 2015). "Mariah Carey 1 to Infinity: Ranking Her 18 Chart-Topping Singles". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023.
  50. Pareles, Jon (December 13, 1993). "Venturing Outside the Studio, Mariah Carey Proves Her Mettle" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on February 28, 2023.
  51. Caramanica, Jon (October 4, 2020). "Mariah Carey, Elusive No More" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on November 2, 2022.
  52. 1 2 Gamboa, Glenn (March 15, 2017). "Mariah Carey's Greatest Hits, Ranked: 'We Belong Together', 'Always Be My Baby', More" . Newsday . Archived from the original on April 29, 2022.
  53. Blanchet, Brenton (June 12, 2020). "Give Me What I Deserve: The Definitive Ranking of Mariah Carey's #1 Singles". Spin . Archived from the original on January 21, 2023.
  54. Bustios, Pamela; et al. (October 5, 2020). "The 100 Greatest Mariah Carey Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 19, 2022.
  55. Anderson, Kyle; et al. (December 15, 2020). "Mariah Carey's Best Songs: Ranking Her No. 1 Hits". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 6, 2023.
  56. Jaeger, Barbara (August 30, 1990). "More Than An Echo of Whitney Houston". The Record . p. E-6. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  57. Nickson 1998, p. 38
  58. 1 2 Shepherd, Julianne (November 2007). "The Ultimate Mariah Carey". Vibe . p. 102. ProQuest   2771598742.
  59. Greenblatt, Leah (June 26, 2015). "1991 Chart Flashback". Entertainment Weekly . p. 60. EBSCOhost   103295292.
  60. "Billboard Hot 100 – Week of May 25, 1991". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 6, 2023.
  61. Grein, Paul (June 1, 1991). "Abdul Casts Spell; R.E.M. Back on Time; Ice-T Stirs Sales; De La Soul Alive & Well". Billboard . p. 10. ProQuest   1505924910.
  62. Talbot, Martin (September 21, 1991). "Analysis". Music Week . p. 11.
  63. Ellis, Michael (May 25, 1991). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard . p. 69. ProQuest   1505936881.
  64. Grein, Paul (May 25, 1991). "Bolton Wastes No Time Reaching No. 1; Fences Jumps; Vandross' Power Play". Billboard . p. 6. ProQuest   1505923943.
  65. Corpuz, Kristin (March 27, 2018). "Mariah Carey's Top 40 Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits" . Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2022.
  66. 1 2 "Mariah Carey Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 3, 2022.
  67. 1 2 "Top 40". Gavin Report . May 24, 1991. p. 8.
  68. 1 2 3 4 "National Airplay Overview". Radio & Records . June 7, 1991. p. 96. ProQuest   1017253318.
  69. Rosen, Craig (May 30, 1992). "ASCAP Honors Top Pop Performances". Billboard . p. 18. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023 via Google Books.
  70. Rosen, Craig (May 30, 1992). "Carey, EMI Music, Babyface Rattle BMI Pop Awards". Billboard . p. 19. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023 via Google Books.
  71. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum – 'I Don't Wanna Cry'". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022.
  72. "RIAA and GR&F Certification Audit Requirements – RIAA Digital Single Award" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of America. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 5, 2022.
  73. 1 2 3 Lwin 2000 , p. 59
  74. 1 2 "RPM 100 Hit Tracks & Where to Find Them". RPM . June 22, 1991. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022 via Library and Archives Canada.
  75. "New RPM Charts Reflect Changing Retail Markets". RPM . September 3, 1988. p. 2.
  76. 1 2 3 "Mariah Carey - 'I Don't Wanna Cry'". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023.
  77. Battel, Ashley S. "First Vision Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021.
  78. Nickson 1998 , p. 43
  79. 1 2 "New Videoclips". Billboard . April 20, 1991. p. 54. ProQuest   1506012977.
  80. Nickson 1998 , p. 44
  81. 1 2 Hapsis, Emmanuel (August 12, 2015). "All 64 Mariah Carey Music Videos, Ranked from Worst to Best". KQED. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022.
  82. Messer, Lesley (May 18, 2015). "Mariah Carey Releases Number 1 to Infinity; Watch All the Music Videos". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023.
  83. "I Don't Wanna Cry" (music video). Columbia Records. 1991.
  84. Mackie, Drew (August 3, 2015). "What We've Learned from 25 Years of Mariah Carey Videos". People . Archived from the original on February 23, 2023.
  85. Mariah Carey (May 29, 2015). "Mariah Carey - 'I Don't Wanna Cry' (Memories & Rants Edition)". Event occurs at 0:15–0:30. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021 – via YouTube.
  86. "Mariah Carey's Cookin' On MTV; MTV Airs "Mariah's No. 1's" On Sunday, Nov. 22nd at 2:00PM (ET/PT); 'I Don't Wanna Cry' Video to Premiere" (Press release). MTV. November 18, 1998. ProQuest   446774018 via Entertainment Wire.
  87. #1's (DVD). Sony Music Video. 1999. 50195 9.
  88. Nickson 1998 , p. 122
  89. Nickson 1998 , p. 155
  90. "レアリティーズ" [Rarities] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022.
  91. Caramanica, Jon (May 7, 2015). "Review: Mariah Carey and Her Can't-Look-Away Debut in Las Vegas" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 14, 2022.
  92. "RPM 40AC (Adult Contemporary)". RPM . June 22, 1991. p. 14. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023 via Library and Archives Canada.
  93. "Breves de espectáculos". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish): 42. June 27, 1991. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  94. "Mariah Carey – dorobek wykonawcy na LP3" (in Polish). LP3 . Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  95. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 6, 2023.
  96. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 22, 2022.
  97. "Top 100 Singles". Cash Box . June 1, 1991. p. 4 via Internet Archive.
  98. "Top R&B Singles". Cash Box . June 1, 1991. p. 9 via Internet Archive.
  99. "Adult Contemporary". Gavin Report . May 24, 1991. p. 8.
  100. "Crossover Chart". Gavin Report . May 31, 1991. p. 29.
  101. "Urban Contemporary". Gavin Report . June 7, 1991. p. 26.
  102. Lwin 1997 , p. 107
  103. "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM . December 21, 1991. p. 8. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022 via Library and Archives Canada.
  104. "RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM . December 21, 1991. p. 10. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022 via Library and Archives Canada.
  105. "The Year in Music 1991". Billboard . December 21, 1991. p. YE-14. ProQuest   1286414097.
  106. "The Year in Music 1991". Billboard . December 21, 1991. p. YE-36. ProQuest   1286415000.
  107. "The Year in Music 1991". Billboard . December 21, 1991. p. YE-18. ProQuest   1286414287.
  108. "Top 50 Pop Singles". Cash Box . December 28, 1991. p. 8 via Internet Archive.
  109. "Top 50 R&B Singles". Cash Box . December 28, 1991. p. 36 via Internet Archive.
  110. "Adult Contemporary Top 100". Gavin Report . December 13, 1991. p. 27.
  111. "Top 40 Top 100". Gavin Report . December 13, 1991. p. 24.
  112. "Urban Top 100". Gavin Report . December 13, 1991. p. 26.
  113. "Top 91 of '91". Radio & Records . December 13, 1991. p. 67. ProQuest   1017254722.
  114. "Top 91 of '91". Radio & Records . December 13, 1991. p. 45. ProQuest   1017249395.
  115. "Top 91 of '91". Radio & Records . December 13, 1991. p. 48. ProQuest   1017251946.

Books