Although Mariah scored #1 hits in every year of the 1990s (15 total from 1990-2000), she failed to garner the notoriety she deserved as a songwriter. Of those 15 #1’s, she wrote 14 of them. The only one she didn’t write was a cover of the Jackson 5 classic, “I’ll Be There.” Despite this amazing feat, she is not viewed as the supreme singer-songwriter she so deserves to be.

Mariah Carey stands as the only solo artist with 18 #1s as both the sole singer and co-writer. The only songwriters who stand ahead of Carey are Paul McCartney, with 32 #1’s achieved via songs written for The Beatles, Wings, himself, and other artists. Similarly, John Lennon has 26. Max Martin has 22, thanks to the numerous hits he co-wrote for many of pop music’s biggest names. At #4, with 18, is Mariah Carey. She is the only female among the top 6, and the only one who was the sole singer of each of her entries.

Chart statistics aside, Mariah Carey possesses a prolific pen. Undoubtedly, she is a musical and lyrical genius. From the infectious melodies she crafted, that vaulted her to the pole position 18 times, to the catchy, relatable words attached to them, she is indeed a master. Beyond that, she has penned some of pop music’s most poetic and introspective lyrics. We have selected fifteen shining examples of her impeccable craft; one from each of her studio albums.

“Vanishing,” from 1990’s Mariah Carey

Written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies.

It’s almost a right of passage to introduce a big, new voice with a stripped-down, piano ballad on her debut album. The difference, in Mariah’s case, was that the pen behind the big voice was her own. “Vanishing” was a perfectly gorgeous, no-frills introduction to Mariah’s voice and songwriting. She wrote the song as a teenager, but she was already displaying incredible skills as a lyricist at such a young age: the theme of darkness/light that recurs in the song and the sophisticated vocabulary make this song a great representation of how she had finessed her craft right from the debut.

Getting so hard to see…
Taking the light,
Letting the darkness inside,
Swiftly,
You’re vanishing

“Can’t Let Go,” from 1991’s Emotions

Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff

The thing about Mariah Carey is that she writes songs that perfectly suit her voice. “Can’t Let Go” is the perfect ballad because it plays to her strengths as a vocalist and allows her to display every emotion she’s singing about. The melody and the lyrics are equal parts catchy and somber for the subject matter of the song and that’s what makes them extremely relatable. This is something that has always characterized Mariah’s output.

Just cast aside
You don’t even know I’m alive
You just walk on by
Don’t care to see me cry

“Hero,” from 1993’s Music Box

Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff

When Mariah wrote “Hero” she wasn’t aware of the impact this song would have on people’s lives. It was probably one of the easiest songs for her to write, but it was also the one that would identify her as an ICON in the eyes of many. Twenty-five years later, “Hero” is still the song many fans turn to when they need a reminder of their inner strength and, as Mariah herself has admitted, even she has had to turn to it in times of need. When all else fails, Mariah will always be there to comfort you with her voice and her universal wisdom. An angel, basically.

You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear

“Underneath the Stars,” from 1995’s Daydream

Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff

The Daydream album was absolutely a turning point for Mariah as a songwriter because it allowed her to experiment by writing more personal lyrics and exploring the use of imagery. “Underneath the Stars” was the first time Mariah made us wander with our minds in a daydream while listening to her silky smooth voice glide over a throwback 70s R&B beat. It’s a song that combines all of her influences effortlessly and is unfortunately pretty underrated.

As we drifted to another place in time
And the feeling was so heady and sublime
As I lost my heart in you
There in the dark
Underneath the stars

“Breakdown,” from 1997’s Butterfly

Written by Mariah Carey, Stevie J., Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone.

Who else but the songwriter supreme would make “nonchalant” work in a chorus with such nonchalance? Her pen game is so strong that it compliments the staccato technique so perfectly and without sacrificing the strong melody at all. “Breakdown” is laced with internal rhymes, modeled after the style of the featured hip-hop group, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, with that signature Mariah flair. In the aptly titled “Breakdown,” she took one of the most relatable, painful shared experiences among human beings and embodied it with words and sounds.

Well, I guess I’m trying to be nonchalant about it
And I’m going to extremes to prove I’m fine without you
But in reality I’m slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of smile, gradually I’m dying inside

“Crybaby,” from 1999’s Rainbow

Written by Mariah Carey and Snoop Dogg*

In the 90s Mariah Carey was often criticized for not displaying emotion through her perfectly technical singing. With “Crybaby” she had a chance to show everyone how wrong they were. A physically exhausted Mariah wrote this song to express her frustration with her life both professionally and romantically. The second half of the song is so raw that it’s unbelievable: her spent vocals are still so powerful that you too really feel exhausted and spiraling while listening. It’s hypnotizing. Once again, she showcases her brilliant storytelling skills, taking you on a journey through her night of “babbling,” until 5 A.M., in her “new friend’s home,” on her “tippy toes,” so that he won’t know. It just feels so real. Like, an oversharing, in-your-feelings Instagram post before anyone ever thought to.

Sipping Bailey’s Cream, by the stereo
Trying to find relief on the radio 
I’m suppressing the tears, but they start to flow
‘Cause the next song I hear is the song I wrote
When we first got together, early that September
I can’t bear to listen so I might as well drift in
The kitchen, pour another glass or two
And try to forget you…

“Want You,” from 2001’s Glitter

Written by Mariah Carey, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Big Jim Wright.

On this 80s via 2001 moment, Mariah delivers one of the most rhythmic, slinkiest tracks in her catalog. Musically, it’s so 80s, thanks to Jam and Lewis, but the delivery was so late 90s/early 2000s thanks to Mariah’s innovative writing and vocal stylings. The pre-chorus is flaw-free, staccato, and rhyme-laden, accented with SAT vocabulary.

But I was timid like a child,
Inhibited and way too shy,
I’d glance but then avert my eyes,
All twisted up in my desire

“Lullaby,” from 2002’s Charmbracelet

Written by Mariah Carey and Dre & Vidal (Vidal Davis, Andre Harris).

Ms. Carey loves to give you a story, and “Lullaby” is further proof of that. She sets the scene and delves into her memory to produce a full-on, four-minute-long short story of literary proportions. She gives you character development, flashbacks, imagery, allusions to her previous work (“The Roof,” “Melt Away,” “Long Ago”), and dialogue to emphasize the internal and external conflicts weaving throughout her tantalizing tale. She is THE literary diva. Oh, don’t even get me started on the arrangements!

So familiar you know
That it actually almost feels like deja vu
Of that night on the roof
We kissed under the sky amid city lights
A sudden flashback to so long ago

“We Belong Together,” from 2005’s The Emancipation of Mimi

Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, and Johnta Austin*

The quintessential comeback song, “We Belong Together” reminded the world of why Mariah Carey and the #1 spot belong together. That reminder, of course, came as the result of an impeccably written pop song. A sibling to “Crybaby” in the sense that both find her pining next to a radio, “We Belong Together” finds the perfect balance between being universal enough to be relatable for all, while seeming so specifically personal that its authenticity was striking and unshakeable. For 14 weeks.

I’m feeling all out of my element
Throwing things, crying tryin’
To figure out where the hell I went wrong
The pain reflected in this song
Ain’t even half of what I’m feeling inside
I need you, need you back in my life baby

“I’m That Chick,” from 2008’s E=MC2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugBxj8eo6S0

Written by Mariah Carey, Johnta Austin, and Stargate (Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Hermansen)*

The majority of the songs on this list are mid-tempos or ballads, so let’s take a moment to appreciate one of Mariah’s boppiest bops: “I’m That Chick.” Some might roll their eyes at the cutesy yet witty puns that abound throughout this disco-themed, “Off the Wall” sampling rollerskating romp, but it just proves that Mariah is clearly an adept master of wordplay. It’s okay to have fun sometimes and remind the other girls that you’re that bitch chick.

Light in the sky let’s fly high
Boy I got you caught up inside of my haze
And you’re gonna be gone for days
I’m like that ooo weee
You’re fiendin’ to blaze up
And taste me

“It’s a Wrap,” from 2009’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel

Written by Mariah Carey*

One of a handful of songs where Mariah is the sole (new) writer, only relying on the use of a sample to complete the track, “It’s a Wrap” finds Mariah revisiting a Barry White classic to set the scene for what would have been one of her most dramatic music videos (or an episode of Maury). Accusing her suitor of stepping out late into the night, Mariah paints the picture of herself sitting up waiting, drinking Patron, and in her feelings. The climax is glorious, with Mariah “checking [the lock on] the gate” and all. There was no couch surfing for her man – he had to sleep outside. She was unbothered, Martini in hand, letting the “credits roll.” It is marvelous indeed when a song can transport you into the experience in the way that “It’s a Wrap” does. No wonder it became a viral sensation on TikTok 14 years after its release!

Put all of your shit in the elevator
It’s going down like a denominator
Trying to keep holding on, holding on
Boy, let me go
You gonna wake my neighbors, get away from my door
That was your last shot, you ain’t coming back
It’s the Martini I mean it, baby
It’s a wrap

“Dedicated,” from 2014’s Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse

Written by Mariah Carey, Chauncey Hollis, James Fauntleroy, and Nasir Jones*

Mariah’s love letter to hip-hop, featuring one of its Kings, Nas, is unsurprisingly well-written. It’s a groove that glides across musical landscapes, sampling WuTang, referencing her own pop game-changer (the “Fantasy” remix), with soulful, enamored vocal delivery. Effortlessly harmonizing and fluttering through her range, she weaves the boundaries R&B and Hip-Hop, or “Hip-Pop,” better and more authentically than anyone. The song’s use of an extended metaphor to personify Hip-Hop as the person she is singing this love song to, recalls Common’s classic “I Used to Love H.E.R.” Not only does Mariah reaffirm her songwriting brilliance with this overlooked gem, but she asserts her status as a genuine member of the Hip-Hop community.

Tell me can you visualize
36 Chambers high
Feels like we’re there, yeah yeah yeah
The remix of a fantasy,
I hear ’em singing back to me

“With You,” from 2018’s Caution

Written by Mariah Carey, Mustard, Prince Charlez & Greg Lawary.

On this “ballad with a beat,” Mariah rides a simple yet lush beat with her signature airy vocal flourishes to deliver one of her most vivid and complex songs, lyrically. With an allusion to another song on this list  (“Breakdown”) and a certainly real-life-inspired storyline, “With You” plays like a diary entry. Melodically, it’s just as rich.

Waves were breakin’ on that shore
As we were sneakin’ through that door
Had to leave by half past four
Still I yearned to touch you more and more
It was war, can’t predict the comin’ storm
Promise that you’ll keep me warm
I don’t wanna play this wrong
He said, “Yo…
I’ve been lovin’ you so long
Ever since that Bone Thugs song
You ain’t gotta break down, you’re too strong”

HOLIDAY BONUSES:

“All I Want For Christmas is You” from 1994’s Merry Christmas

Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff.

How could we leave it off? Mariah’s historic 19th #1 is the greatest, most successful modern Christmas song… and one of the most enjoyable musical experiences ever. It just exudes joy, happiness and festivity. All written by Mariah on her Casio keyboard, spruced up a bit by Mr. Afanasieff. No doubt, for the masses, this song will go down as the most important song Mariah Carey has ever written. Yet most don’t even know she did.

“One Child” from 2010’s Merry Christmas II You

Written by Mariah Carey and Marc Shaiman.

On her first Christmas album, Mariah penned a hymn-style song about the birth of Jesus entitled “Jesus Born on This Day.” For her second Christmas set, she wrote yet another, superior, nativity song. “One Child” replaces the 1994 album’s church vibes with the warmth of an orchestra and more vivid imagery. It’s another classic-worthy original by the Queen of Christmas.

*These songs utilize samples. The writers of the samples have been excluded to showcase the writers involved in the creation of the new body of work is highlighted.

Listen to the playlist:

The post 15 Reasons Mariah Carey is Pop’s Most Underrated Songwriter appeared first on THE 97.

In September 1997, Mariah Carey released Butterfly, her self-described favorite and best album. Among her adoring fans, the #Lambily, it is widely considered the fan-favorite and best album as well, though some do differ in opinion. Still, Butterfly remains a sorely underrated classic in the grander scheme of things. You won’t find Butterfly on most “best albums of all time” lists by music’s most revered and respected publications. Butterfly was not lauded by critics, nor was it showered with Grammy’s. Sure, it received good reviews and praise, but the album is not anywhere near as respected as it should be among other albums by pop stars. It is an injustice.

Butterfly is music’s most underrated album because of this lack of respect. The album contains quite possibly the most poetically beautiful lyrics of any album released by her peers, with vocals equal or arguably better than anyone with the pipes to rival her. Musically, the production is flawless, the sound is subtly innovative, and boasts some groundbreaking collaborations both behind the scenes and with its guest features. The content of the album makes it one of the most personal and honest albums ever recorded. It is by far Mariah’s best work, and Mariah is by far the most successful and talented female singer-songwriter-producer. That alone should catapult Butterfly to the Top 5 or at least Top 10 of every “best albums” list. Below, I’ve outlined 20 reasons why Mariah Carey’s Butterfly music’s most underrated album.

1. The unrivaled introspectiveness

Butterfly is by far Mariah Carey’s most personal album. Free from the control of her looming ex-husband, Mariah was finally able to make an album where she could be 100% true to herself. On Butterfly, she examined her life experiences, both past and present, in songs that sound as though they’re pages from her diary; “Breakdown,” “Close My Eyes,” “Outside” and the title track, for example.

2. The unabashed honesty

With introspection comes honesty, and on Butterfly, Mariah did not hold back. “Breakdown” is probably one of the most honest songs ever recorded about heartbreak. “My All” and “Babydoll” are painfully frank representations of the word “longing,” while “Outside” and “Close My Eyes” don’t hold back in assessing the adversities in her past.

3. The gut-wrenching emotion

Introspection and honesty are the perfect recipe for a gut-wrenching emotional response. Through both her words and her vocals, Mariah delivers some of the most emotional moments of her career. The ad-libs during the heartbreaking climax “Breakdown,” or the powerful promises of “Whenever You Call” will tug on your heart strings for sure.

4. The meaningful metaphor

As an album title, Butterfly is a metaphor for Mariah’s breaking out of the cocoon to be her true self. However, the masterful use of metaphor doesn’t cease there. Throughout the albums lyrics, she weaves in complex, thought-provoking metaphors. The title track creates an allegory through its use of extended metaphor. Within that, she includes a poignant metaphor, singing “wild horses run unbridled or their spirit dies.” Then of course, there’s the lead single “Honey,” which some believe is a metaphor for something very naughty…

5. The timeless nostalgia

Several tracks on Butterfly have a genuine, nostalgic air that made them feel timeless upon their release in 1997. “Fourth of July” and “The Roof” find Mariah recanting past experiences, longing for a replay. No one else delivers a nostalgic moment quite like Mariah. Alas, over the last 20 years, all of the album’s twelve tracks have become irreplaceable pieces of 90s nostalgia.

6. The subtle sensuality

Never before had a Mariah Carey album been so sensual, yet, Butterfly is still subtle in its sensuality. The sexual innuendo “Honey” is cleverly hidden by wordplay, while songs like “My All,” “Babydoll,” and “The Roof” express a sensual yearning for love and affection in a very intimate way. Never raunchy, Butterfly is a beautiful soundtrack for love-making on a romantic evening.

7. The Mariah Carey vocals

It wouldn’t be a Mariah Carey album without the Mariah Carey vocals. Yes, “Mariah Carey” is an adjective; a very specific one. Her versatile vocal abilities are unparalleled. Not only are her technical abilities on display on this album, but perhaps more significant are the many colors and textures of her voice that she showcases on Butterfly. They’re all unmistakably Mariah Carey yet so diverse in delivery. Mariah creates moods and provides outer-body experiences with those vocals. She will send you straight to your feels with the way she delivers a particular lyric. She takes songs to places only she can for their climaxes. On Butterfly, the most notable examples of this are the bridges of “Outside” and its title track. Her voice soars and will leave you on the floor.

8. The iconic visuals

Without question, Butterfly was Mariah Carey’s visual peak. From the album cover, to the full photoshoot, to her hair and ensemble style choices, and most importantly, the music videos… everything was on point. The free-flowing, golden brown, caramel drizzled hair and the controversial skin-bearing ensembles forever changed the image of Mariah Carey. Buttefly‘s videos were innovative, creative, artistic and thought provoking. Whether it be “Honey” where art seemed to imitate life, the theatrical “Butterfly,” or the painting-come-to-life “My All,” with Butterfly MC delivered visually.

9. The relatable themes

Mariah covers a lot of ground on Butterfly. Running through the album’s 12 tracks, in one word each: Infatuation, growth, yearning, reminiscing, young love, unrequited love, lust, adversity, devotion, liberation, heartbreak, and otherness. All of these are easily relatable, making Butterfly not only a fan-favorite, but a classic.

10. The superb samples

Being the hip-hop artist that she is, Mariah is a big fan of the sample. A lot of music we listen to has an element of sampling within it. From Tupac and Eminem to One Direction, inspiration has been taken from previous artists to create something new. With the use of vocal packs, it is becoming even more possible to sample vocals for an artists’ new track. On Butterfly, only two tracks utilize a sample, but both are superbly done. On “Honey,” she utilized two classic hip-hop samples, The World Famous Supreme Team’s “Hey DJ” and The Treacherous Three’s “The Body Rock.” Meanwhile, on “The Roof,” she sampled a then-recent hit by Mobb Deep, “Shook Ones Part 1.” The way she flipped these samples into completely different new songs while still keeping that hip-hop realness is unreal.

11. The incorporation of Hip-Hop

With the samples, Mariah effortlessly incorporated hip-hop elements into her music on Butterfly; more than ever before. In contrast 1995’s Daydream found most of her hip-hop influences regulated to the remix versions of songs. With Butterfly, she had a bit more freedom. Not only were there the samples, but Mariah even enlisted Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to guest on “Breakdown,” their first collaboration with a singer of Mariah’s stature. It was a big deal for both artists.

12. The inventive Prince cover

Mariah flipped Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones” from an energized rock-and-roll tinged electric ballad into a slower, more subdued yet equally emotional ballad. Not only that, but she turned Prince’s classic from a solo number into a duet with R&B group Dru Hill. Once again, Mariah found herself trading lines and holding her own vocally, alongside an entire group, cascading through her range effortlessly.

13. The thesaurus-opening vocabulary

While listening to Butterfly, you might need to pull out your thesaurus because Mariah Carey’s vocabulary is college level. The album’s twelve tracks are littered with SAT words that’ll leave you with an improved vocabulary by the time you’re done. Unlike most, she actually knows how to use the words properly, too. Here’s a sample of some of those words:

blatant, elusive, abruptly, unbridled, ambiguous, emblazoned, envision, apprehension, splendor, flourish, succumb, resounding, fervid, strewn, entwined, ominously, tentatively, unyielding, nonchalant, guise, wayward, dissipate, inherently.

14. The masterful poetic writing

Part of being a poet is using beautiful language in your writing, and her vocabulary skills alone prove that. However, throughout the album’s lyrics she also uses an array of poetic devices and figurative language that enhance the songs both lyrically and musically. The beautiful lyrics to a song like “Close My Eyes,” on which she sings, “orangey clouds roll by, they burn into your image and you’re still alive,” show not only her rhyme-making skills, but just how beautiful she makes language sound.

15. The style-making rap-singing

In the late 90s, as R&B and Hip-Hop became more and more mainstream in Pop music, singers began displaying a bit of a hip-hop, rap-style singing. Most would credit this trend to the rappers, however, Mariah Carey was one of the first release such rhythmic, rhyme-riddled recordings. The chorus of “Breakdown” is one of the best examples of this. Nearly every other word rhymes, and she emulates Bone Thugs’ signature flow effortlessly.

16. The innovative remixes

Mariah has a penchant for remixes, and the Butterfly era delivered some of her best. The lead single “Honey” had a So So Def remix featuring Da Brat as well as a re-recorded dance mix. For the hip-hop remix of “Honey,” she sampled a different part of the same “Hey DJ” song used in the original to create a whole new track. The club mix, on the other hand, is a vocal tour de force. The title track too had a re-recorded dance mix that really stands alone as its own song. “My All,” like “Honey,” had a So So Def remix and a dance mix. Its hip-hop remix was the first of many to come mash-up remixes by Mariah, where she samples and covers portions of an old song and mixes it with her new song that she is remixing. Meanwhile, “The Roof” was remixed featuring Mobb Deep, and “Breakdown” had a “Mo’ Thugs” version as well.

17. The ingenious adlibs

Certainly, its easy to rave about Mariah’s ad-libs from a vocal standpoint. However, equally impressive is the way she will riff and add new lyrics to a song that were clearly freestyled in the vocal booth. For example, on “Babydoll,” amidst layers of backgrounds at the end, she sings, “still laying up in bed, it’s 3:27, my body’s longing, so why ain’t you calling?” Not only does it flow and rhyme, but continues to add to the theme. Usually, an artist will just repeat the lyrics, sung differently – not Mariah.

18. The captivating storytelling

The nostalgic pair of “The Roof” and “Fourth of July” are amazing examples of Mariah’s profoundly captivating storytelling skills. She details these elaborate memories with vivid details and imagery, that it’s almost like listening to a short story. One could probably take either of these songs and work them into a full stage production for Broadway. That’s how well done they are. She gives you characters, a plot and imagery to bring these sensual, nostalgic stories to life.

19. The poignant outsider’s anthem

“Outside” deserves its own mention because, for Mariah’s biracial, LGBTQ or any fans who feel like the “other,” it is an anthem. The powerful song offers solace for anyone who felt similarly to Mariah growing up, and is the reason for the beautiful bond she has with her fans.

20. The lingering, liberating impact

Butterfly forever changed Mariah’s career and sound due to her newfound freedom. It also helped to change the sound and landscape of R&B and Pop, inspiring other Pop/R&B female artists to work with hip-hop artists. Not only that, but it opened the door for Pop artists, particularly females, to be a bit more introspective in their work.

Want more? Here are 10 more articles we’ve penned about Butterfly over the years:

“Butterfly,” the song, and the album overall:
Butterfly, Fly Away: Mariah Carey’s first emancipation

The debut of “Honey”
Breaking Out of the Cocoon: A look back at the debut of Mariah Carey’s “Honey”

The “Honey” remixes:
The Many Forms of Metamorphosis: A review of Mariah Carey’s “Honey” remixes

The “Honey” and “Butterfly” videos:
Emancipating Visuals: Mariah breaks free with “Butterfly” and “Honey”

“Breakdown,” “Close My Eyes,” and “Outside”:
The Butterfly Effect: Mariah discovers The Art of Letting Go

“The Roof,” “My All,” and “Fourth of July”:
Reliving the Splendor: Mariah’s nostalgic storytelling on Butterfly

The “My All” and “The Roof” videos:
Liberating Venus: Mariah’s sensuality awakens with “My All” and “The Roof”

“My All,” as a #1:
“I’m thinking of”… Mariah Carey’s 13th #1: “My All”

“Babydoll,” “Whenever You Call” and “The Beautiful Ones”:
I Wanna Be Your Babydoll: The longings of a Butterfly

The Lyrics = The Feels
18 lyrics from Mariah Carey’s ‘Butterfly’ that’ll put you in your feelings

The post Mariah Carey’s ‘Butterfly’ is Music’s Most Underrated Album appeared first on THE 97.