Twenty Enduring Melodies by Mariah Carey Throughout Different Eraes

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Twenty Enduring Melodies by Mariah Carey Throughout Different Eraes

Mariah Carey is a remarkable musical prodigy whose powerful voice and five-octave range propelled her to become one of the most successful '90s artists and a timeless icon. Known for her heartfelt ballads and unique style, her discography spans various genres, from R&B to Christmas songs. Carey's musical talents were honed early by her mother, a classical opera trainer, and she gained recognition as a demo singer in high school before releasing her debut album at 22. This compilation highlights the best songs from Mariah Carey's illustrious career.

Top Mariah Carey Hits

Mariah Carey is a pop musician who has delved into hip hop, soul, and dance. After graduating from high school, she signed with Columbia Records and Tommy Mottola, whom she later married. Her self-titled debut album topped the charts, and she won two Grammys for it.

Carey has produced 15 studio albums, garnering four more Grammys, 20 Billboard Music Awards, and 19 World Music Awards. She broke a Billboard record in 2024 with "All I Want for Christmas," holding the longest streak at No. 1 for a female artist on the Billboard Hot 100. This list showcases her greatest hits, chosen based on commercial success, vocal achievements, and critical acclaim.

20. "Superstar" (1993)

From Carey’s third album, Music Box, “Superstar” was one of her first personal and powerful early songs, inspiring listeners to view themselves as their own heroes. Its captivating melody helped Carey command the top of the Billboard charts for the ninth time, and Spotify reports it remains one of its most-requested tracks.

19. "I Don't" (2018)

Carey’s rich musical catalog from her earlier years is powerful, and she often includes some of her older hits in her discography. This song hails from her 15th album, Caution. “I Don’t” climbed the R&B charts, and its fun beat offers a refreshing change from her early ballads.

18. "Can't Let Go" (1999)

This rendition of the Mariah Carey original appeared on her #1s album, and it reached No. 7 on the Billboard charts. Early in her career, Carey provided back-up vocals for her own songs. In the Michael Haussman-directed music video, Mariah pays tribute to Marilyn Monroe's iconic style.

17. "Touch My Body" (2008)

Carey doesn’t use her full vocal range in “Touch My Body,” but she does showcase playfulness and desire, creating an engaging track. A single from the E=MC2 album, “Body” was Mariah’s 18th song to top the Billboard charts. She received a BET award for the video, directed by Michael Haussman.

16. "Honey" (1997)

Mariah stretched her musical boundaries throughout her career, and this collaboration with The Timbaland Team was an unexpectedly robust hip hop track. Carey still showcased her distinctive belting at the end, helping the song climb to No. 3 on Hot R&B Singles.

15. "Bliss" (2005)

Mariah's The Emancipation of Mimi album saw her collaborate with top R&B artists, such as Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, as she rebounded from a painful divorce and commercial failures. “Bliss” peaked at No. 2 on Billboard, and Mariah performed it on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

14. "Obsessed" (2009)

It's essential to remember that Mariah can stand her ground. This song from the album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel was a response to Eminem's frequent verbal jabs through the years. Mariah didn't directly reference the rapper but effectively dismissed his one-sided infatuation. Critics appreciated her attitude, even if they felt her (unnecessary) use of Auto-Tune was excessive.

13. "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" (2014)

Mariah teamed up with Wiz Khalifa on this remix of the track from her 2009 album, Memoirs. The breakup anthem garnered mixed reviews from critics, but the inclusion of Wiz Khalifa gave it new life, ultimately becoming a viral hit on TikTok.

12. "Can't Let Go" (1997)

Mariah enjoyed experimenting as her career flourished, and this surprising collaboration with TLC was a successful hip hop track. Carey still demonstrated her signature belting at the end, helping the song reach No. 4 on Hot R&B Singles.

11. "Calm Down" (2013)

The lead single from Mariah's Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse marked another collaboration, this time with Chicka. Critics and fans praised their chemistry, and the song reached No. 3 on the Hot R&B Chart. It received a Teen Choice Award nomination.

Carey's initial track demonstrated her upcoming potential. She featured it on her demo for Columbia, displaying her remarkable whistle register and popularizing the melisma effect. The song garnered three Grammy nominations and two Soul Train Music Awards nominations. It stayed at No. 1 for four weeks.

9. "Feels Like That" (2005)

Another collaboration with Dupri from "Emancipation," "Feels Like That" is an R&B/hip hop song that celebrates Carey's newfound independence, earning her a Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance. It marked her highest-charting song since 2001's Loverboy and reached No. 16.

8. "Everlasting Love" (1995)

This heartfelt tribute to an ex-lover is often regarded as one of Carey's best vocal performances. The song highlighted her immense range and gathered a best female R&B performance Grammy nomination. When it hit No. 1, Carey tied with Madonna and Whitney Houston for the most top songs by a female singer.

7. "We Belong Together Forever" (2005)

Yet another Emancipation hit, "We Belong Together Forever" marked Carey's comeback after a few challenging years. Billboard named it "Song of the Decade," spending 14 weeks atop the charts and becoming Carey's 16th No. 1 hit. It earned song and album of the year Grammy nominations and won best R&B song and best female R&B performance.

6. "Sweet Honey" (1997)

"Sweet Honey," a cut from album Butterfly, gave Carey a record three consecutive debuts atop the Billboard top 100. The video showcased her most daring performance yet, and Carey earned Grammy nominations for best R&B song and best R&B female vocal performance.

5. "My Heart's Desire" (1995)

This collaboration with producer Dave Hall continued Carey's shift towards hip hop, with the singer showcasing her affection for her ideal lover. It was her seventh Billboard No. 1, a position it held for eight weeks. It earned critical acclaim for its catchiness and fun factor.

4. "One Special Day" (1995)

One of the most significant '90s songs, "One Special Day" topped the charts for 16 straight weeks, setting a Billboard record. Carey teamed up with Boyz II Men for the song, which paid tribute to a friend who passed away from AIDS.

3. "I've Got a Fantasy" (1995)

The lead single from Carey's fifth album, Daydream, showcases her vocal range and abilities once more. Carey performed the song at the American Music Awards and Britain's Top of the Pops, and it became her second single to debut at No. 1, a position she held for eight consecutive weeks.

2. "Feelings of Emotion" (1991)

The track from Carey's second album, also titled Emotions, sees Carey experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, leading her to croon, "You've got me feeling emotions." The song has touches of gospel and even disco, and Carey delves into the whistle register. She received a best female pop vocal Grammy nomination and topped the chart.

1. "My Wish for Christmas" (1994)

Could there have been any other song? Carey's soulful vocals make this standard one of the most enduring songs of the past 50 years. It returns to the Billboard charts every holiday and broke a record for consecutive weeks at No. 1 in 2024, despite charting at just No. 4 initially.

Final Thoughts

Mariah Carey has delivered some of the most legendary songs of her lifetime. Whether you're in the mood for a heartfelt ballad, a breezy R&B hit, or a hip hop-influenced effort, Carey's delivery is unparalleled, and her beautiful singing voice is a delight to listen to whenever you explore her greatest hits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Many No. 1 Hits Does Mariah Carey Have?

Mariah Carey boasts 19 No. 1 Billboard hits, maintaining the record for the most number ones for any solo artist in history. All but three of those top hits came during the 1990s, when she released hits like "Vision of Love," "Hero," and "Fantasy."

Her later No. 1 hits include 2008's "Touch My Body" and 2005's "We Belong Together." Only the Beatles have more No. 1s than Carey, with 20.

What Is Mariah Carey's Finest Christmas Music?

Mariah Carey has produced a variety of popular Christmas songs. Her most renowned ones include:

“My Wish for Christmas,” released in 1994, is Carey's most successful career achievement.

“Please Come Home for Christmas,” another 1994 release, is another fantastic Carey Christmas song.

How Many Studio Albums Has Mariah Carey Released?

Mariah Carey has released 15 studio albums. They are:

  1. Self-Titled Album (1990)
  2. Emotions (1991)
  3. Music Box (1993)
  4. Merry Christmas (1994)
  5. Daydream (1995)
  6. Butterfly (1997)
  7. Rainbow (1999)
  8. Glitter (2001)
  9. Charmbracelet (2002)
  10. The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
  11. E=MC² (2008)
  12. Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009)
  13. Merry Christmas II You (2010)
  14. Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse (2014)
  15. Caution (2018)
  16. EequalsMC2 squared (2008)
  17. Recollections of an Imperfect Gabrielle (2009)
  18. Joy to the World, Number 2, for You (2010)
  19. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Vocalist (2014)
  20. Warning (2018)
  21. Mariah Carey's self-titled debut album, released in 1990, topped the charts and earned her two Grammy Awards.
  22. Carey's 15th studio album, "Caution," released in 2018, includes her song "I Don't," which climbed the R&B charts.
  23. Mariah Carey is known for her iconic Christmas music, such as "All I Want for Christmas" which broke a Billboard record for the longest streak at No. 1 for a female artist.
  24. Her song "Can't Let Go," released in 1999, appeared on her compilation album "#1s" and reached No. 7 on the Billboard charts.
  25. Carey's influential singles like "Fantasy," "Vision of Love," and "Hero" are considered some of her No. 1 hits and define her remarkable career.

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