Hearing from me twice in one week? So crazy. Who has the time? I guess I do. I had to make the exception for Valentine's Day and do a special lil post because it’s also an excuse to talk about one of my favorite artists, Mariah Carey.
It’s no secret that Mariah Carey writes beautiful love songs. This probably happens annually, but over the last couple of years, I’ve seen it pointed out that the streams for her song We Belong Together go up today. That is one of my all-time favorite songs. It always bumps. I will never skip it. But I wanted to offer some other Mariah Carey songs you might be missing for your Valentine’s needs.
I think all types of love should be celebrated on Valentine’s Day. It’s just a love day in general to me, not only for romantic love. Growing up, my mom always gifted me a Valentine’s Day basket, and I loved it. I also remember passing out little Valentine’s cards and candy to my classmates in elementary school. It’s just fun. Everyone should feel the love on this day. That being said, I’m going to include songs that fit a variety of moods around love.
Holistically, I think the album Daydream might be the perfect Valentine’s Day album (if you’re a one-stop shop kinda person). The aux cord in my very old car is broken, which makes it less fun to drive when you can’t listen to all the songs you want, but luckily for me, my old ass car has a CD player. I like collecting CDs because physical media is fun, but now it’s actually very necessary for my driving experience. I took my mom’s old Daydream CD a while back and have been playing it nonstop over the last week or two.
I played it simply because I loved it, but I noticed that many of the songs were sweet love songs. It’s an oversimplification—and this post isn’t to dive into the nuances of her genius but simply to recommend songs—but I noticed that the overall vibe of this album felt rooted in a love that feels good and fun, not necessarily devastating or sensual (like some of her others could be described). This makes me feel it’s an overall good time for Valentine’s Day. The track listing is as follows:
Fantasy
Underneath the Stars
One Sweet Day
Open Arms
Always Be My Baby
I am Free
When I Saw You
Long Ago
Melt Away
Forever
Daydream Interlude
Looking In
What a freaking run of songs. Top to bottom, no skips. If you’re skipping I Am Free or When I Saw You, stop doing that. Just hit after hit. It’s her second Diamond-certified album, which happened within the last few years, so my opinion is not unique, but I’m just in awe.
Although I said this album is not overall devastating, I should mention that the last song, Looking In, is quite devastating. Underneath the Stars is one of my favorites. So good, so charming, all the feels of a young romance. She released the lost music video just a few years ago! You can watch it here. Melt Away is another one of my favorites, particularly the part when she sings:
You and me, in a cloud of reverie
Spin around inside my head unendingly
(over and over, over and over)
Thoughts run wild as I sit and rhapsodize
Pretty pictures of what I’d do if you were mine
I love it for the break in the pattern of the song and there’s something about it that just goes oooooff, so simply and shortly for that moment. It’s the beat, it’s the vocals, it’s the adlibs, it’s all of it. But I also love it for its elite vocabulary. Reverie? Rhapsodize? Excuse me! Mariah Carey theee scholar. She co-wrote this with Babyface, and it’s just perfection.
Long Ago is also extremely slept on. I never see/hear people talk about it. I love it. It gives a slightly edgier feel compared to the other songs. I don’t know, it’s something about the instruments. I’m not a music scholar, I digress. But where are the Long Ago fans?
Also justice for the Fantasy and Always Be My Baby remix. I wish they were included on the album so I could listen to them in my car on the CD player. Many people know the Fantasy remix, but if you haven’t heard or watched the Always Be My Baby remix music video, it’s everything.
Slipping Away is a song off The Rarities, which is a collection of previously unreleased music. I think Slipping Away was intended to be on Daydream, but it got cut for being “too urban.” Cue my eye roll. Her creating this album during one of the worst times in her personal life (surmised from her memoir) is something that pops into my mind often.
So, if you haven’t listened to this album top to bottom, I highly recommend it, especially today! It will give you the sweet love feels. Below, I’m giving you a sprinkling of songs across an assortment of her albums that fit different love vibes. The songs I’m selecting are songs that I think are underrated or not as widely known.
For if you’re feeling sexy:
Babydoll on Butterfly
Bliss on Rainbow
The Roof on Butterfly
One Mo’ Gen on Caution
Your Girl on The Emancipation of Mimi
For if you’re feeling in love:
Yours on Charmbracelet
The One on Charmbracelet
Fourth of July on Butterfly
To Be Around You on Emotions
All My Life on Glitter
For if you’re feeling heartbreak:
Breakdown on Butterfly
Mine on The Emancipation of Mimi
Vanishing on Mariah Carey
Crybaby on Rainbow
Circles on The Emancipation of Mimi
It’s A Wrap on Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
Subtle Invitation on Charmbracelet
For friendship or family love:
Anytime You Need A Friend C&C Club Version
Whenever You Call on Butterfly (this could be lover or friend and I choose friend)
Supernatural on Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse
If We on Glitter (this is also romantic, but because she emphasizes best friend so much, I’m putting it here!)
My Saving Grace on Charmbracelet
Bonus: I’ll Be There on MTV Unplugged: Mariah Carey
For if you’re feeling kinda vengeful:
GTFO on Caution
Prisoner on Mariah Carey (she hates this song, but I still love it; I don’t care!)
You’re So Cold on Emotions
You Had Your Chance on Charmbracelet
Heat on E=MC2 (kind of obsessed with her saying she’ll fight a hoe)
Up Out My Face on Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
This was actually extremely hard to create, given the restraint I had to show. I tried to narrow it down to five recs per category of love, but it was too hard as I continued. Anytime I try to make a list of Mariah Carey's songs, it becomes exponentially too long because she has too many great songs (and because she has such a wide discography, there’s so much music that the general or casual fan doesn’t know). I can’t pick! But this will do for now.
All of these are great to listen to at any time, but on this day of love, it feels even more poignant. If you’re very much a We Belong Together girl, I recommend Breakdown if you haven’t heard it. I once heard Mariah Carey say when she and Jermaine Dupri made We Belong Together, they were channeling the vibes of Breakdown. They’re cousins.
Endless Love with Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross also happens to be my favorite version of that song. Especially watching them perform it together feels magical. Another fitting Valentine’s song.
Mariah Carey is not only the Queen of Christmas, but she’s also the Queen of Valentine’s Day, as she makes quintessential love songs for every mood. What are some of your favorite Mariah Carey love songs? How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? Let me know!
Announcement
I’m part of the Black Boy/Girl Writes Mentorship program, and we just released an article about it on Deadline!
Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you feel loved.
Cheers,
Paige Elson
