"Heartbreaker" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey featuring American rapper Jay-Z for her seventh studio album Rainbow (1999). It was released on August 23,1999,by Columbia Records as the lead single from Rainbow. The song was written by the artists and produced by Carey and DJ Clue,with additional writers being credited for the hook being built around a sample from "Attack of the Name Game" by Stacy Lattisaw. "Heartbreaker" pushed Carey even further into the R&B and hip hop market,becoming her second commercial single to feature a rapper. Lyrically,the song describes lovesickness towards an unfaithful partner.
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.
"When You Believe" is a song made for the 1998 DreamWorks musical animated feature The Prince of Egypt,music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. A pop single version of "When You Believe" performed by American singers Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey,with additional music and lyrics by writer-producer Babyface,was also recorded for the film's end credits and its soundtrack album by DreamWorks Records. Additionally,the song serves as the soundtrack's lead single on November 2,1998 and for both Houston's fourth studio album,My Love Is Your Love by Arista Records and Carey's first compilation album,#1's by Columbia Records. The original version of the song,featured in the narrative portion of the film,is performed by Sally Dworsky,Michelle Pfeiffer,and a children's choir soloist Andrew Bryan. "When You Believe" is described as a big ballad,with meaningful and inspirational lyrics,describing the ability each person has to achieve miracles when they reach out to God and believe.
"Can't Let Go" is a song recorded by American singer and 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 featured in the song's introduction and ending.
"Make It Happen" is a song by American singer and 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 and 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.
"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.
"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 recorded by American singer-songwriter,and record producer Mariah Carey for her fifth studio album,Daydream (1995). It was released by Columbia Records on February 20,1996,as the third single in the United States and fourth worldwide. Written and produced by Carey,Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal,"Always Be My Baby" is a midtempo song,with lyrics describing the feeling of attachment and unity the singer feels towards her estranged lover,even though they are no longer together,she says he will always be a part of her and will "always be her baby" even after they move on.
"Honey" is a song by American singer and 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.
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. Richie's friend Kenny Rogers also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all time.
"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.
"I Still Believe" is a song written and composed by Antonina Armato and Giuseppe Cantarelli,and originally recorded by pop singer Brenda K. Starr for her eponymous second studio album,Brenda K. Starr (1987). It is a ballad in which the singer is confident she and her former boyfriend will be together again one day. It is Starr's biggest hit in the United States,reaching the top-twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 and being considered her signature song. "I Still Believe" was covered by American singer Mariah Carey,a former backup singer for Starr before she achieved success,for her #1's album in 1998 and released as a single in 1999. It was also recorded by Cantopop singer Sandy Lam in 1989.
