Brad's 60 Favourite Mariah Carey Songs (#27)

by **Brad** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:29 am

Mariah Carey is something of an exception in my music taste; my not-so-guilty pleasure from a young age that has stuck with me through the years.
I was undecided on whether to do this, but whilst I wasn't busy I managed to list my top 60 favourite songs and thought I would share them before I changed my mind. I'm not going to tell you which songs came close (and would've made a top 65) or those that didn't stand a chance because I think that would make this all the more predictable.

by **ANH** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:49 am

Looking forward to this! "The Roof" FTW!

by **Brad** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:58 pm

60. Don't Forget About Us
The Emancipation Of Mimi
I listen to this mainly for its bridge. "I bet she can't do it like me, she'll never be MC." Other than that, there's not much I can say about it. It's quite forgettable, which is funny considering its title, but I always enjoy this song when I listen to it.

59. You Had Your Chance
Charmbracelet
Many disregard this song as one of her worst. Not me. I enjoy every second of it and consider it one of the highlights of Charmbracelet. Perhaps it's because I can relate to the lyrics. "I let you into my soul (didn't know you couldn't be trusted)". This contains some of my favourite notes she has sung in the whistle register.

58. Clown
Charmbracelet
Pow.

57. Say Somethin'
The Emancipation Of Mimi
Says everything when it comes painting pictures of how you'll kiss and fuuuu...
I appreciate Snoop Dogg's presence on the track too, I think it would fall flat without him.

56. I Only Wanted
Charmbracelet
I think this song is among the best she has written. "Farewell fair-weather friend, abandonment returns to taunt me again." I could quote the entire song. Sadly, it's another I can relate to.

by **PosziMC2** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:06 pm

I love the description of Clown :lol:

DFAU and Say Somethin' were much higher for me.
I only Wanted is beautiful though My All Part 684651.
You Had Your chance is cool 8-)

by **Dahling** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:16 pm

I feel the same about You Had Your Chance, I can relate to it too. I would put Say Something and DFAU higher though.

"Pow" is indeed a good description for Clown lol 8-)

I love I Only Wanted, the lyrics are beautiful.

by **light_inside** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:15 pm

Good so far

And I agree completely about Don't Forget About Us.

by **Wayne** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:36 am

Say Somethin' is my favourite from the first bunch

Very underrated. Also kinda like Don't Forget About Us too.

by **ANH** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:42 am

Yeah, I like "Don't Forget About Us" for the same reasons as you.
And, "I Only Wanted" is sometimes really nice to listen too. Other times, it's just meh.

"Clown"...I can only listen to that song sporadically. It's too boring in heavy doses.
The other two are...er...have....really nice descriptions.

by **Brad** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:30 pm

ANH wrote:The other two are...er...have....really nice descriptions.

I didn't expect them to be popular.

by **Eamon** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:18 am

Love all those songs so far!! "I Only Wanted" is my least favourite of the bunch. It's a clone of "My All". It's nice clone but I rarely listen to it!

by **Tiger** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:37 am

57. Say Somethin'
60. Don't Forget About Us

Let's see what's higher

by **Brad** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:57 pm

55. Sprung
The Emancipation Of Mimi
This song is... different. I wish she'd try something new like this more often. It's fun to listen to sometimes. "Taj Mahal, I like that"... okay then Mariah.

54. Migrate
E=MC²
The one that got away. I kept waiting for this to be a single but it never happened. Oh well. It sounds a little dated now, I still like to play it though. This was the first time T-Pain ever worked with a female artist and the first time I ever tolerated him in a song.

53. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
Rainbow
I don't like the orginal, I don't think it's a great song in general and I never listen to the edit with Westlife. However, whenever I listen to the solo version I'm always left thinking it's one of her best covers and a highlight of a patchy album. It's hard to describe why I've always liked it.

52. My All
Butterfly
There was a time when I hated this song and it took up until last year to grow on me. "I am thinking of you in my sleepless solitude tonight" is a line I feel I could've wrote myself. I consider it one of her most honest moments.

51. Fourth Of July
Butterfly
I never used to pay attention to this song, but I once listened to it whilst driving through some mountains in Spain and it has stuck with me ever since. Every time I listen to it, it takes me back to that beautiful place. By chance, the last time I went to that same place in Spain was on the fourth of July last year. It's often compared to Underneath The Stars, but I think this is much better; it's so beautifully worded and produced.

by **ANH** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:41 pm

"Sprung", "Migrate", "Against All Odds" and "Fourth Of July" are all cute songs.

"My All" is great. The remix is better. "Don't leave, don't, don't leave...".

by **JSparksFan** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:35 am

I'm a bit disappointed to see "Don't Forget About Us" so low but she's got a great discography so that's to be expected, I guess.

"Migrate", "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)", and "My All" are all superb.

by **Titan3510** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:25 am

Aww. Don't come for Phil. Mariah's version is better; more musically dynamic. But Phil Collins is my guilty pleasure...and he should some for the work he put into the original.

I didn't even know she worked with Westlife...much less on Against All Odds... :wink:

I used to hate Sprung with a passion. God, that song was annoying. Nowadays, I don't mind it so much. I'm glad it didn't make the album: it wouldn't of fit it. I appreciate Mariah going for something different but I just can't get with the high she was on. At least, not right now.

Migrate is still hot to this day. A lot of T-Pain's stuff sounds horribly dated. Migrate is still cool though.

My All and Fourth of July are just...unbelievable. I'm not going to write an essay or a post that stretches to infinity and beyond... :roll:

I'll go into those when I do my Mariah countdown one of these days.

by **Tiger** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:28 am

52. My All
53. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)

Two good songs definitely

by **PosziMC2** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:10 am

Sprung - Great, but yes it is different! 8-)

Migrate - I agree with you on this.

Against All Odds - I love this one so much! 8-)

My All - Eww.(though sometimes I play that song) The remixes are better.

I aore Fourt of July. Nice track 8-)

by **Dahling** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:17 pm

I love My All And Fourth Of July, those two are amazing songs. Fourth Of July takes you into a dream world, the background vocals, everything about this song is beautiful. My All and the remixes have great vocals and great lyrics.

Against All Odds...it took me a while to enjoy this song, I always thought her vocals could be better, specially during the climax.

Migrate is awesome, a great track, I usually listen to it when I'm getting ready to go out or something :lol:

Sprung is nice, not one of my favourites because I get this kind of "headache", like when I listen to Stay The Night

But I like the production a lot.

by **Brad** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 9:23 pm

50. I Want To Know What Love Is
Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel
I've loved this since the first time I ever listened to it. I used to listen to the original when I was younger and was anxious about how her cover would sound, but I wasn't disappointed. From the piano intro to the over the top climax that fades out too early, it's just great.

49. Whenever You Call
Butterfly
What can I say? The song speaks for itself. The duet with Brian McKnight is lovely too.

48. Subtle Invitation
Charmbracelet
The best thing about this song is its live sound. She really needs more like it. Other than that, her voice is fantastic here. She was mentioning her own songs in lyrics long before For The Record here: “I just wanted you to know that anytime you need a friend” and “I’m quite sure you’ll know that this one’s for you ‘cause I’m giving my all”.

47. The Wind
Emotions
If ever asked to pick a unique song in Mariah’s discography, I would choose this one. With lyrics about death and a jazzy sound, it sounds like nothing else she has ever done. I like the transition from Till The End Of Time to this, it’s really well done.

46. I Am Free
Daydream
Odd that this was recorded when she was anything but free. Perhaps she was writing what she wished was true. It builds up to an amazing climax and I feel it’s one of the finest moments on Daydream; yet another song I can relate to.

by **Dahling** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:00 pm

I almost never listen to I Want To Know What Love Is. The climax is too short and, overall, it's a bit disappointing.

Whenever You Call is a lovely song, love the combination of Mariah and Brian McKnight's voices.

Subtle Invitation - I admit the song has a nice sound, the whole jazzy feel to it, but her vocals don't appeal to me. I feel like she's shouting during the climax...

The Wind is one of a kind, her haunting voice, the lyrics...amazing!

I Am Free is one of my favourites, the power in her voice blows me away. It's hard to imagine what it was for her, to sing that song even though she was a prisioner.

by **Tiger** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:24 am

49. Whenever You Call
50. I Want To Know What Love Is

Awww Whenever You Call is low

by **Brad** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:41 am

Tiger wrote:49. Whenever You Call
50. I Want To Know What Love Is

Awww Whenever You Call is low

It used to be one of my absolute favourites yet I ended up forgetting about it. I've been listening to it more again lately though.

by **PosziMC2** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:43 am

5 great songs here!
I Want To Know What love Is just missed my Top 50
Whenever You Call is so aamzing.

I looooooooove Subtle Invitation That jazzy style. Im here for that!

The Wind is so magical! 8-)

I Am Free One of my favorite songs ever!

by **Wayne** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:09 pm

I Am Free is beautiful - in my top 5 Mariah tracks of all-time [now, as my list has changed somewhat since last time].

I Want To Know What Love Is is awesome too. As is Whenever You Call.

by **winny** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:33 am

RightToDream wrote:47. The Wind
Emotions
If ever asked to pick a unique song in Mariah’s discography, I would choose this one. With lyrics about death and a jazzy sound, it sounds like nothing else she has ever done. I like the transition from Till The End Of Time to this, it’s really well done.

To this day, and probably for a long time, it's the only jazz standard - it's not just a jazzy song - she has ever done. And she nailed it! Mariah has this unique ability to go through different genres and sound great. I have no doubt that one day - in 10 years? - she'll move into that direction. Only a few "mainstream" artists can manage to do the same. This is why her career will last very, very long.