Mariah Carey - Without You

[duxi91]

Mariah Carey's version, based on Harry Nilsson's version rather than the Badfinger original, was released as the third single of Music Box in the first quarter of 1994, and in the United States it was released on 24 January 1994, just over a week after Nilsson had died following a heart attack on 15 January 1994. In the U.S. it was promoted as a double A-side with "Never Forget You". Carey said that she decided to cover the song when she heard it in a restaurant (although when performing the song in Tokyo, she said she listened to it when she was a little girl). Her version has been considered very popular on talent shows. "Without You" was later included on some non-U.S. pressings of her compilation album #1's (1998), and her 2001 compilation, Greatest Hits. It became a huge hit all over the world becoming one of the most covered songs in talent shows.

Legendary vocals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hat1Hc9SNwE

There's not a thread for this amazing song covered by one of the best vocalists of all time, so I decided to make it. It's one of the most powerful love ballads of all time for sure. Prefer Mimi's version to original though. ;)

[Goldmoney]

A superb and chilling vocal performance from the immaculate and legendary songbird supreme. Her best cover IMO.

[Wayne]

She has "better" cover songs, but for a good 15 years, this was THE Mariah Carey song, so iconic [since then, I think All I Want For Christmas Is You has become her signature - and best-selling - song].

I just love it. I don't think its the best song on Music Box - not by a long shot - but it just takes me back to what is one of the most important and greatest decades of music.

It typifies the 90's - the decade ruled by Mariah & Céline and the defined by female balladry overall.

I like Nilsson's version, but he cannot hold a candle to this - the vocals, the production, the live performances, she slays it.

[CrazyCrazy]

I like Nilsson's version, but he cannot hold a candle to this

Bollocks.

[Wayne]

I knew you'd make an appearance.

Your guy just cannot compete with Mimi - even on his own song. Eek.

[abdon]

The original one is light years better, but this cover is far superior than Bringin´ on the heartbreak (Def Leppard) she really destroyed that song, probably the worst cover ever !! But she looks damm fine in the video xD and I love her for that

[Wayne]

The original one is light years better, but this cover is far superior than Bringin´ on the heartbreak (Def Leppard) she really destroyed that song, probably the worst cover ever !! But she looks damm fine in the video xD and I love her for that

Disagreed.

Her cover of that is superior too.

[abdon]

The original one is light years better, but this cover is far superior than Bringin´ on the heartbreak (Def Leppard) she really destroyed that song, probably the worst cover ever !! But she looks damm fine in the video xD and I love her for that

Disagreed.

Her cover of that is superior too.

Nope !!

DeF Leppard Ruled this song in every way !!

[Storyteller]

The original one is light years better, but this cover is far superior than Bringin´ on the heartbreak (Def Leppard) she really destroyed that song, probably the worst cover ever !! But she looks damm fine in the video xD and I love her for that

Disagreed.

Her cover of that is superior too.

Nope !!

DeF Leppard Ruled this song in every way !!

Their lead singer even said Mariah’s cover was better

[JSparksFan]

A superb and chilling vocal performance from the immaculate and legendary songbird supreme. Her best cover IMO.

I agreed wholeheartedly with you up until that second sentence.

This is obviously outstanding though. The original is nice, but I can't bear to hear it after familiarising myself with Mariah's cover. This seems to be one of her most loved songs outside of the lambily too.

[toni_pest]

I used to liek this, but it's so overplayed. Still one of her better songs

[grooveboy]

So she had like zillion #1s in America in the 90s and this didn't make it?? Poor dat

Great song and great cover

[Brad]

This is her best cover and Wayne was right about the original being completely blown off the map.

[RayRay]

It entered the UK charts straight at #1. It was weeks at #1 in my country.

And I thought it was a bad single choice. LOL
I never thought it would become such a big hit.
Then again, it made me appreciate the song more.
A favorite of mine ever since.

[NorthernMonkey]

Without You made me a fan 20 years ago.. Beautiful cover!!

[stevyy]

Without You made me a fan 20 years ago.. Beautiful cover!!

me too. The song which made me aware of her. It must have been my alltime most played song up until 2000 when the title went to When you Believe (which it still holds)

[CrazyCrazy]

I knew you'd make an appearance.

Your guy just cannot compete with Mimi - even on his own song. Eek.

Harry had a beautiful and emotive voice, fair dues you like Mariah's one more but I don't. No surprise but I also prefer Badfinger's original to this.

I do actually like her version too believe it or not.

[stevyy]

are we talking about which version is technically better or just which version you prefer personally.. I mean can we really find an agreement which version is the best? I know a variety of versions and I can enjoy most of them because the song is pretty amazing in general. Mariah gives it the diva, female super-power-voice touch which I also love.

[spiritboy]

This is the song along with Dreamlover and Hero that introduced me to Mariah and i became a fan. I know it's a cover song but i don't care about other versions, for me this is a Mariah song, she made it her own.

[Storyteller]

Radio here still play this a lot, mostly in the evenings.

[GetBack]

This still is and will be her most popular song worldwide. I love her Daydream Madison Square Garden performance of this song!

[BillyBlitzkid]

I remember when I first heard this on a Music channel. I was a kid and my mother was cleaning the Windows in my room. Suddenly this came on and I turned the volume up. Then just a few days later my aunt had this on her Walkman (oh those were the days) and I always asked her to rewind for me. When I asked her to give me the Cassette she wouldn't do it, because she was also madly in love with the song. The atmospehere of this song was brutally interrupted though, as the next song on the Cassette was "Beinhart" from the Werner movies

My sister and me were always making fun of Mariah, because in the Music Video she is stomping so much with one of her feet. We found that totally funny, don't know why to be honest

I notice only now how many memories I connect to this song.

[Gravity]

This is one of the first songs I've ever heard from Mimi, it's a classic. Probably her biggest hit in Europe as well.

[intosoul]

Great rendition.
She and Whitney knew how to cover a song!

[DOSSOME]

Fantastic Rendition...She nailed this song