| "Always Be My Baby" | ||||
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| Single byMariah Carey | ||||
| from the albumDaydream | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | February 20, 1996 (1996-02-20) | |||
| Recorded | December 12–14, 1994 and February 7, 1995 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:18 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Composers |
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| Lyricist | Mariah Carey | |||
| Producers |
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| Mariah Carey singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Always Be My Baby" onYouTube | ||||
"Always Be My Baby" is a song by American singer-songwriterMariah Carey from her fifth studio album,Daydream (1995). Written by Carey,Jermaine Dupri andManuel Seal, and produced by Carey and Dupri, It was released byColumbia Records on February 20, 1996, as the album's thirdsingle in the United States and fourth single internationally. Amidtempopop andR&B ballad, "Always Be My Baby" describes the attachment the singer feels towards an estranged lover, while confidently asserting that they will eventually reunite. Described bycritics as both alove song and abreakup song, its composition is characterized by piano keyboards, drums, acoustic guitars, and layered background vocals.
"Always Be My Baby" received critical acclaim upon release, with reviewers praising its production and Carey's vocals. In retrospect, several publications have ranked it one of Carey's best songs. The song was a commercial success, becoming Carey's eleventh chart-topper on theBillboardHot 100, tying her withMadonna andWhitney Houston for most number-one singles by a female artist at the time. It spent two weeks atop the chart and became Carey's eighth chart-topper on the CanadianRPM Top Singles chart. The song iscertified five-times platinum in the US with 1,254,000 units coming from physical sales, 890,000 coming from digital sales, and 856,000 coming from streaming equivalent units. It is also certified platinum by RIAA for selling 1 million units as master tone in the US by 2007. In other regions, the single performed well, peaking at number three in the United Kingdom, number five in New Zealand, number 17 in Australia and in the top 20 in most music markets where it charted.
The accompanying music video for "Always Be My Baby" features scenes of Carey frolicking by a campsite in upstate New York, as well as swinging on a Cooper Tire over a lake. Additional inter-cuts include scenes of two children, one male and female, sneaking out at night and spending time together by a campfire similar to Carey's location. Most scenes from the video were filmed atThe Fresh Air Fund's Camp Mariah, named after Carey for her generous support and dedication to Fresh Air Fund children. The song was performed live during herDaydream World Tour (1996) and many of her future tours and concerts. "Always Be My Baby" was also featured in Carey's compilation albums:#1's (1998),Greatest Hits (2001),The Ballads (2008) and#1 to Infinity (2015). The U.S. and CanadianB-side "Slipping Away" is included in the compilation albumThe Rarities (2020).
SingerMariah Carey began writing and recording material for what would become her fifth album,Daydream, in late 1994, and enlisted producers with whom she had not worked prior to give her music a different sound.[2]Sony Music Entertainment CEOTommy Mottola, who was Carey's husband and manager at the time, suggested that she work with record producerJermaine Dupri after the two met each other at aGrammys party hosted byColumbia, their shared record label.[3] In 1994, Dupri had previouslyremixed Carey's song, "Never Forget You", for its single release,[2] but "Always Be My Baby" was their first time collaborating on a project.[4][5] According to Carey, she opted to work with Dupri because he had a "very distinct vibe",[2] and said they share a lot of musical influences and childhood favorite songs.[6] Meanwhile, Dupri identified "Always Be My Baby" as the first time he had worked with an artist of Carey's caliber, prior to whom he had mainly worked with newer, upcoming artists.[3]
Carey had envisioned the song as having a harder, rawer production than her previous records, originally suggesting that she record over the beat from "C.R.E.A.M." byWu-Tang Clan, which shocked Dupri.[7] Additionally, Carey commissioned assistance fromhip-hop andR&B producerManuel Seal. As Seal played different keys on the piano, Carey led him with the melody she was "hearing inside her head" and began humming the phrase "always be my baby".[2] Carey said she described how she wanted the song to feel to Dupri and Seal, while Dupri programmed the drums and Seal played keyboard.[8] Carey sang the melody as the collaborators worked on the bridge and B-section for lyrics that Carey had already outlined.[2] According to Dupri, "the whole song actually came from Mariah", and claims he had little to no involvement writing the song's lyrics.[9]
"Always Be My Baby" marked the first of several collaborations between Carey and Dupri. Like producers before him, Dupri commended Carey's vocal abilities, "she can pretty much do anything with her voice. She's really strong vocally."[2] Another musical craft the song featured was the inclusion of heavy background vocals of her lower registers, with Carey then belting and singing the higher notes over her background vocals and melody, creating a "double voice effect".[2] When discussing the technique used in the background vocals, Carey said:
The background vocals are an important part of the picture for me. That's why I like to do them myself a lot of the time, or initially I'll lay down the tracks. I'll double my voice or do a couple of tracks of my own voice. It's easy for me to match my voice. And then if I'm going to use other background singers, I'll let them go on top of mine.[2]
The producer recalled feeling unaccustomed to the rigid schedule of hisrecording sessions with Carey while they were working on "Always Be My Baby".[9] Instead of remaining in the studio until the song was finished, they worked from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, at which time Mottola would end their session to take Carey to dinner, regardless of the progress they had made.[9] Dupri admitted that he did not quite like "Always Be My Baby" upon completing it, fearing listeners would not care for the song.[10] Carey and Dupri collaborated on at least four songs forDaydream, but "Always Be My Baby" was one of only two that were included on the final album.[10] Dupri has expressed some regret that "Always Be My Baby" wasn't selected as its parent album's first or second single, explaining, "I didn't feel like I had accomplished too much of anything ... the fact that I didn't get the first or second single...even with two songs that I did [on Daydream], I felt like I didn't really do what I was supposed to do".[9] He has described the song as arguably "one of my biggest least-known works", despite its popularity and success.[9] Dupri said the record ultimately made him rich and successful by establishing him as Columbia's number-one producer by producing a hit song for their number-one artist at the time,[9] becoming the biggest song of his career at that point.[3]
"Always Be My Baby" is amidtempoballad,[11][12][13] that incorporates thepop andR&B genres.[2][14][15] Dupri described it as a "traditional pop, R&B type of record", likening it to previous work he had done for thegirl groupXscape.[9] Carey herself described it as a "very poppy" song played over a "hard"bassline.[6] JournalistAlexis Petridis said the song is "Perfectly poised between super-smooth pop, R&B andgospel".[16]Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos identified the track as one of the "more straightforward pop hits from the early portion of [Carey's] career, featuring a catchy chorus and one of her most tender vocal performances".[17] The ballad has a "relaxed pop" tempo of 80 beats per minute.[18]Spin's Brenton Blanchet described it as "not quite a ballad and it's not quite adoo-wop anthem", although its "do-do-dos" might convince listeners otherwise,[19] andPitchfork observedMotown influences in its chorus.[20]Pitchfork's Jamieson Cox observed that "there are moments ... where all you hear is Mariah singing over rock-solid piano chords", finding its arrangement and simplicity "almost surprising given her taste for the ostentatious".[21] Chris Gayomali ofGQ said that, musically, the song begins conventionally before surprising listeners by introducing elements such as a guitar-played intro and Carey harmonizing with herself in different octaves, before culminating in akey change where the singer "just really starts going full-throttle".[22]
Jordan Runtagh ofPeople and Tom Breihan ofStereogum described the ballad as a hybrid between alove andbreakup song,[5][7] with the latter saying Carey expresses "near-psychotic levels of self-confidence" by remaining unbothered despite having been dumped.[7]The Daily Telegraph described the track as a love song that details Carey's attachment to her former lover,[15] whileEntertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak andThe Stranger's Kyle Fleck said it is about enduring love.[13][23] According toBillboard's Jason Lipshutz, Carey sings from a position of understanding that she can not salvage her relationship; she promises she will thrive, regardless of whether or not her partner returns.[12] Another writer forBillboard, Charné Graham, agreed that Carey takes "a more optimistic" approach to heartbreak, describing her declarations that her partner's departure is only temporary as "almost-threatening".[24] Contrarily, Brad Nelson ofPitchfork said "Always Be My Baby" is not a breakup song but rather "a song about eternity" emphasizing "Just because something is over doesn't mean it'sover".[20] Its lyrics feature severalad libs, opening with "doo-doo-doo dow" heard throughout the song's chorus.[25][11] According toForbes senior contributor Jacqueline Schneider, the song's playful verses "speaks to Carey's signature songwriting style".[26] Brendan Schroer ofSputnikmusic theorized that "Always Be My Baby" was one of the songs onDaydream inspired by Mottola, since "she says a certain ex-lover will always be a part of her despite the two splitting apart".[27] Thehook reads, "You'll always be a part of me, I'm part of you indefinitely/Boy, don't you know you can't escape me/Darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby".[23] Instrumentation includes piano, "tinny" keyboards,[10] drums,[28] and acoustic guitar that "ides the beat a little bit", according to Breihan,[7] and "has the artificial shimmer of a romanticized memory", according to Nelson.[20]
Carey'svocal range on the song spans twooctaves and onesemitone, from the lownote of E3 to the high note of F5.[18] The song features a "double voice" which is an effect Carey created in the studio, where her lower vocal notes are used as backup, and herhigher chest notes are belted overtop and used as the song's main focal point.[29][2] Breihan said that, vocally, the song finds Carey "finding a new comfort zone, twirling her wildly virtuosic dip-divy vocal ululations around an easy lope of a hip-hop beat and just letting her voice flow", in contrast to theadult contemporary ballads she had sung prior.[7] Carey's own background vocals are also supported by contributions from singerKelly Price.[7]
"Always Be My Baby" has received acclaim frommusic critics.[15][29]Larry Flick fromBillboard described it as "a delightfully bright and funky finger-snapper". He added that "the pop princess reminds us that she has the loose-wristed soul to go with those deliciously soaring and dramatic high notes amid a sweet arrangement of easy acoustic guitars, rolling piano lines, and chipper jeep beats."[30] Daina Darzin fromCash Box noted its "swoop of pure, airy harmonies and gently syncopated R&B rhythms".[31] Ken Tucker fromEntertainment Weekly complimented the song's "relaxed swing", and felt that its instrumentation helped make it a standout from the album.[32] Alan Jones fromMusic Week stated that "it's a concise, fairly subdued and very catchy tune and a fine showcase for Carey, who resists the temptation to indulge too heavily in vocal gymnastics."[33]Stephen Holden, editor ofThe New York Times, complimented "Always Be My Baby", calling it one of "the best on the album".[34] Chris Gayomali ofGQ called it "As far as perfect pop songs go".[22] Brendan Schroer ofSputnikmusic felt the track demonstrates a maturation and effort in Carey's lyrics compared to her previous work,[27] while Kyle Fleck ofThe Stranger found it to be "the most compelling of all Carey's ballads", despite its sentimental title, and "the first and most potent of Carey's breakup anthems".[23] In a ranking of Carey's albums,Slant Magazine called the track "note-perfect".[35] At the38th Grammy Awards the song received a nomination forBest Female R&B Vocal Performance.[36]
Retrospectively, "Always Be My Baby" has consistently been ranked among the strongest songs inCarey's discography by several publications.[13][37][38][39][40]Oprah Daily considers it to be one of the 12 best songs of Carey's career.[41] In 2014, aVulturelisticle declared it Carey's best single, calling it "essential, archetypal Mariah".[42] In 2020,Billboard placed it first in a ranking of the singer's 100 greatest songs, describing "Always Be My Baby" as a "practically unmatched" track that "crystallizes Carey's pop genius and has imprinted itself on millions".[12] Staff members forEntertainment Weekly ranked it second among her number-one singles, behind only "Fantasy" from the same album.[25]Cleveland.com ranked it the second-best single of her career, with author Troy L. Smith saying it "contains what may be the most infectious piano melody in music history".[43] Ranking "Always Be My Baby" Carey's second best number-one, Glenn Gamboa ofNewsday noted that the song "shows that she can be chill and laid-back enough to make 'doobedoo oh' work as a chorus".[11]American Songwriter ranked it her third-best song,[44] whileUs Weekly ranked it her third-best number-one song.[4]The Independent,Rolling Stone, andTheGrio named it her fifth-best song.[29][17][45] Brenton Blanchet ofSpin ranked it her fifth-best number-one, saying it "set a whole new standard for what pop was going to be in 1996".[19]Alexis Petridis ofThe Guardian ranked it Carey's sixth-greatest single, noting that 2005's "Don't Forget About Us" is aspiritual successor due to appearing to revisit "lyrical heartbreak set to music that feels sunlit".[16]Forbes ranked it 24th on its "50 Greatest Love Songs".[26]
According to Anna Oseran of Genius, "Always Be My Baby" "solidified [Carey's] place alongside other pop divas".[10] Several media outlets have called "Always Be My Baby" one of the greatest songs of the 1990s,[46][47][48] withGlamour ranking it seventh.[49]The Oregonian ranked it the second-best song of 1996.[50] In a countdown of the "250 Best Songs of the 1990s",Pitchfork ranked "Always Be My Baby" 49th.[20] Author Brad Nelson said the song ushered in "a point of transformation for Carey".[20] Troy L. Smith of Cleveland.com ranked it the 23rd best number-one song of the 1990s, calling it " the one Mariah Carey single where she's more impressive as a songwriter".[28] Nicholas Hautman ofUs Weekly said the song's success, which was Carey's first collaboration with Dupri, ultimately led to "one of the strongest partnerships in modern-day music".[4] Some publications have also recognized "Always Be My Baby" as one of the best breakup songs.[24][51]
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glamour | The 53 Best ’90s Songs | 7 | |
| Pitchfork | The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s | 49 | |
| Yardbarker | The Best Pop Songs of the 1990s | 28 |
"Always Be My Baby" was released byColumbia Records on March 9, 1996, in Europe, and debuted at number two on theBillboard Hot 100 chart on the issue dated April 6, 1996, behindCeline Dion's "Because You Loved Me", which had replaced Carey's previous single, "One Sweet Day", at number one.[55] "Always Be My Baby" stayed at number two for four weeks, and topped the Hot 100 on May 4, 1996, where it spent two weeks before returning to the number two position for an additional five weeks.[55] At the end of its US chart run, the song spent a total of nine weeks at number two, thefourth longest stay in the chart's history.[55] The song became Carey's 11th chart topper in the United States, tying her withMadonna andWhitney Houston as the female solo artist with the most number-one singles, a record she soon passed.[55] After spending two weeks atop the Hot 100, the three singles fromDaydream had given Carey a combined 26 weeks (six months) atop the chart, something never duplicated by another artist until Usher and the Black Eyed Peas in the mid to late 2000s.[55] In Canada, the song became Carey's eighth chart topper, after it ascended to the number one position on theCanadianRPM Singles Chart during the week of May 20, 1996.[56]
While it charted well inside the US, the song didn't manage to chart as high as her previous two singles "Fantasy" and "One Sweet Day" elsewhere. In Australia, the song entered theAustralian Singles Chart at number 28 during the week of March 13, 1996. The song spent 16 weeks fluctuating in the chart before spending its last week at number 47 on June 30.[57] "Always Be My Baby" was certifieddouble platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting sales and streams of over 140,000.[58] The song debuted and peaked at number five in New Zealand, spending three consecutive weeks at the position. After 16 weeks, the song fell off thesingles chart and was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).[59][60] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number three on theUK Singles Chart, making it the highest-charting single from the album.[61] In its second week, the song fell to number four, staying on the chart for a total of ten weeks.[62] As of 2008, sales in the UK are estimated at 220,000.[63] In Ireland, the song peaked at number ten on theIrish Singles Chart, spending nine weeks in the chart.[64] In the Netherlands, "Always Be My Baby" entered the singles chart at number 43 during the week on April 20, 1996. The song peaked at number 27, spending one week at the position and five weeks in the chart overall.[65] "Always Be My Baby" entered the singles chart in Sweden at number 58 during the week of May 3, 1996. After peaking at number 38 and spending a total of five weeks in the chart, the song fell off theSwedish Singles Chart.[66]
The accompanyingmusic video for "Always Be My Baby" was the second video Carey's directed.[67][55] In it, she is the seemingly happy narrator of a tale of young love, as a young boy and a girl elope in the middle of the night. The video was filmed on location at Carey's sponsored charity,the Fresh Air Fund upstate New York camp.[55] The video begins with scenes of Carey, in a denim jacket, jeans, and bare feet, on a lakeside tire-swing, smiling and beginning to retell a story of young love. As she sits upon the swing, scenes of two children sneaking out of theirbungalow in the middle of the night are shown. They frolic together beside a fireplace, soon coming up to the lakeside swing Carey had been on before. They soon go swimming wearing their clothes, much like Carey did in her video for "Dreamlover" though she does not jump into the water herself this time. As they jump into the water, Carey is then seen by the campfire they passed on their journey to the lake, smiling with friends and enjoying herself by the fire. Eventually the boy and girl are seen kissing underwater. The video concludes with scenes of the young boy and girl walking together back to their bungalow, walking hand-in-hand. Having possibly witnessed the entire event, Carey is seen once again by the large swing, chuckling and staring into the night's sky.[55] On August 14, 2020, the music video was re-released in aremastered form, inHD quality.
An alternate video was shot for the song's remix. It too was directed by Carey, and was shot in black and white. The shot of Carey in a beret that would become the cover for this single is a scene from the video. The video features Da Brat and Xscape and a cameo appearance by Jermaine Dupri.[55] It begins with Carey and the others recording in Carey's in-home studio. In the video, Carey is wearing a large white, puffy jacket and long golden hair. Scenes of Carey by her indoor pool are shown, with cameos made by her dog, Jack. Da Brat and Xscape are seen poolside with Carey, playing cards and drinking beer, as they further bond and laugh. Towards the end of the video, scenes of the studio are shown, intermingled with snippets of Carey walking inside the mansion she shared with then-husbandTommy Mottola. The video ends with Carey and Da Brat bonding by the studio and pool.[55]
Carey performed the song throughout the entire run of herDaydream World Tour (1996),Rainbow World Tour (2000),The Adventures of Mimi (2006),The Elusive Chanteuse Show (2014),Caution World Tour (2019),[68] and during select shows on herCharmbracelet World Tour (2002–03), andAngels Advocate Tour (2009–10). During the Japanese shows in 1996, Carey donned a white suit and jacket, and featured three female back-up singers. Red spotlights were used throughout the performance, as well as some light dance routines.[citation needed] During her Rainbow World Tour, Carey wore a two-piece outfit, a pair of pants and top, with golden heels. Three back-up singers were provided, one male and two female, while Carey interacted with the front row fans.[citation needed] On her Adventures of Mimi Tour in 2006, Carey donned a pair of black leggings, worn with a bikini-like top. WearingChristian Louboutin pumps, Carey sang on the arena's secondary stage, where she sang three of the set-list's titles.[citation needed] On her Elusive Chanteuse Show in 2014, Carey often used the song as her encore, entering the stage in a tight-fitted blue gown and black gloves. Carey included the song in her 2015 Las Vegas residency,Mariah Carey Number 1's, where she walked through the audience for the second verse and chorus. Carey also included the song in her 2018–2019 Las Vegas residencyThe Butterfly Returns, where she was accompanied by her children Moroccan and Monroe in selected dates. In 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Carey closed outFOX'siHeart Living Room Concert for America with the song.[69]
On theseventh season ofAmerican Idol,David Cook performed arock arrangement of the song during the April 15, 2008, episode, in which Carey mentored the contestants on her songs.[70] His version received high praise from all three judges, and even Carey herself. Cook's studio recording of the song was released on theiTunes Store during the show's run as "Always Be My Baby (American Idol Studio Version) – Single" and was among the season's best-selling singles.[70] In 2015, girl groupFifth Harmony heavily sampled "Always Be My Baby" in their song "Like Mariah", a track from their debut studio album,Reflection, that features rapperTyga.[71] In 2022, singer-songwriterRosie Thomas covered the song withSufjan Stevens, the Shins, Josh Ottum, and percussionist James McAlister.[72] The cover was included on Thomas' albumLullabies for Parents, Vol. 1.[73] Chris Deville ofStereogum said the cover "achieves its goal of transforming 'Always Be My Baby' into a grownup lullaby", despite not rivaling the original.[74] The song is referenced and featured in the 2019romantic comedyAlways Be My Maybe, starringAli Wong andRandall Park.[75][76] Carey herself shared the film's trailer onTwitter, saying "I approve the song selection! (literally)".[77] In 2022, Carey launched the "Always Be My Baby" challenge to promote Snapchat's Spotlight feature, by encouraging users to use "Always Be My Baby" in a romantic-themed video for a chance to win a cash prize.[78][79]
The main remix for the song was also produced by Jermaine Dupri. Known as the "Mr. Dupri Mix", it features re-sung vocals with all of the lyrics and most of the melodic structure retained while using a sample of the song "Tell Me If You Still Care" byThe SOS Band. It includes a rap fromDa Brat and background vocals fromXscape.[80][81]
Carey recorded yet another set of vocals for dance remixes produced byDavid Morales that were initially only released on maxi-single in the UK until their release in the US as part of "#MC30", a promotional campaign marking the 30th anniversary of Carey's self-titled debut.[82] The main dance remix, named the "Always Club Mix" (along with its edit, the "Def Classic Radio Mix"), has a totally new melodic structure and lyrics altered to fit the new melody and song structure. DJSatoshi Tomiie also created a dancedub that used these new vocals; calling it the "ST Dub", it appeared on the maxi-single that included the Morales mixes.[81]
The original album vocals were also remixed into a reggae version that included Jamaican-American reggae rap artistLi'l Vicious. Called the "Reggae Soul Mix", this remix includes a rap breakdown by Vicious, with him shouting over Carey's vocals throughout the track.
In 2021, Carey recorded a new version of the song which was included in theHBO Max's animated television special,The Runaway Bunny based on thebook of the same name.[83]
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Credits are adapted from theDaydream liner notes.[89]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[58] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[156] | 2× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[157] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[158] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[159] Mastertone | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | February 20, 1996 | CD single | Columbia | |
| United States | February 27, 1996 | |||
| Japan | March 7, 1996 | Mini CD single | Sony Music Japan | |
| United States | March 19, 1996 |
| Columbia | |
| United Kingdom | June 3, 1996 |
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Critics praised the song on its release
Critically and commercially successful
in 2018, Billboard's editorial staff placed "Baby" atop the list of Carey's 100 greatest songs
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