Top 10 Mariah Carey Songs

Mariah Angela Carey was born in Long Island, NY to Patricia (née Hickey,) who is of Irish decent and Alfred Roy Carey, who was of Venezuelan and African-American decent. Carey has two older sisters named Alison and Morgan. Becoming a singer-songwriter in high school, Carey was introduced to opera by her mother, but never really liked the genre and was pulled more towards a “Motown-vibe.” After completing her four song demo tape, Carey attempted to pass it to music labels, but was met with failure each time. Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to rising pop singer Brenda K. Starr. As their friendship grew so did Starr’s interest in seeing Carey succeed in the industry so she handed Carey’s demo to Tommy Mottola, head of Columbia Records at a record executives gala Starr and Carey attended together. After listening to the tape on his way home, he tracked Carey down and immediately signed her. Her self-titled debut album was a massive success with such hits as “Someday,” “Vision of Love” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry.” In a career spanning over two decades, Carey has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In 1998, she was honored as the world's best-selling recording artist of the 1990s at the World Music Awards. She has endured her share of personal problems, but overcame them and is now happily married to actor/comedian Nick Cannon and they have two children, Moroccan and Monroe. In honor of her 44th birthday, here is a Top 10 list of Mariah Carey songs.

10. “Heartbreaker” featuring Jay-Z: Off of her seventh studio album. Rainbow, Carey recorded the song featuring rapper Jay-Z. It was the first time in her career that another artist was featured on one of her lead singles. Featuring more R&B than pop, the album got positive reviews from critics. The song’s lyrics talk about Carey’s heart being broken by her man, who she catches cheating on her with lines like, “Heartbreaker you've got the best of me/But I just keep on comin' back incessantly/Oh why did you have to run your game on me/I should have known right from the start/You'd go and break my heart.” The video featured actor Jerry O’Connell as the cheating boyfriend and shows Carey ultimately getting revenge on him for cheating on her thanks to her pushy yet caring friends. It’s a great breakup song and incredibly fun and danceable!

9. “Fantasy”: The follow-up to her internationally successful 1993 album Music Box and her 1994 holiday album Merry Christmas, “Fantasy” was the lead single off her 1995 album titled Daydream. It became the first single by a female artist to debut at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, went on to top the chart for eight weeks and became the second best-selling single of 1995 in the country. The lyrics have Carey singing about fantasizing about the object of her affection all through the day with lines such as, “Oh when you walk by every night/Talking sweet and looking fine/I get kind of hectic inside/Oh baby I'm so into you/Darling if you only knew/All the things that flow through my mind/Sweet sweet fantasy baby/When I close my eyes/You come and take me/On and on and on/It's so deep in my daydreams/But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby.” It’s the perfect song if you want to convey your love to someone who isn’t aware of it or someone who is, LOL!

8. “Hero”: Off her massively successful third studio album, Music Box, “Hero” was one of four singles released from the album. It was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 1995 Grammy Awards. The song’s lyrics talk about being your own “hero” and believing in yourself with lines like, “There's a hero, if you look inside your heart/You don't have to be afraid, of what you are/There's an answer, if you reach into your soul/And the sorrow that you know, will melt away…Look inside you and be strong/And you'll finally see the truth/That a hero lies in you.” It’s a great song to listen when you’re doubting yourself and when you need a musical pick me up!

7. “Always Be My Baby”: Another track off her 1996 album Daydream, this song was the third single released from the album. Written by Carey and rapper/songwriter/producer Jermaine Dupri, Carey sings about how a girl can stay attached to an ex-lover and even though they’re no longer together, he’ll “always be her baby.” The song became Carey’s 11th chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100, tying her with Madonna and the late Whitney Houston for most number one singles for a female artist. Its lines have Carey crooning about missing her ex with lyrics such as, “We were as one babe/For a moment in time, and it seemed everlasting/That you would always be mine/Now you wanna be free/So I'll let you fly/'Cause I know in my heart babe, our love will never die/You'll always be a part of me/I'm part of you indefinitely/Boy don't you know you can't escape me/Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby.” It’s the quintessential song for reminiscing about a long ago love or the one that got away.

6. “It’s Like That” featuring Fatman Scoop and Jermaine Dupri: Off her 10th studio album titled The Emancipation of Mimi, the album was considered Carey’s “comeback” album after her barrage of personal issues and became her highest-selling release in the US in a decade. Written again by Carey and Dupri, the song has an infectious party vibe and borrowed its hook "it's like that y'all" from the 1984 Run–D.M.C. track "Hollis Crew" and 1983’s "Here We Go (Live).” It was the first single to be released off the album, was a Top 20 hit in many countries and was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Its lyrics talk about Carey not letting the small stuff get to her anymore and just letting go with lines like, “I came to have a party/Open off the Bacardi/Feeling so hot tamale/Boy, I know you watchin’ me/So what's it gonna be?/Purple taking me higher/I'm lifted and I like it…Cuz it's my night/No stress, no fights/I'm leavin’ it all behind/No tears, no time to cry/Just makin’ the most of life.” This song is incredibly danceable and was Carey’s musical declaration to the industry that she had put her personal demons behind her and was ready to reclaim her pop throne and boy did she succeed!

5. “Someday”: The third single released from Carey’s 1990 self-titled debut album, the song topped US charts and was Carey’s third consecutive #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It also received a BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) Pop Award. It was one of the five songs on the demo tape Brenda K. Starr gave to Tommy Mottola that led to him signing Carey to a recording contact. Its lyrics speak about a boy who treated a girl badly even though she liked him, but who now wants her back but she’s no longer interested. Carey’s upbeat voice made such lines soar as, “You were so blind to let me go/You had it all but did not know/No one you'll find will ever be/Closer to all your dreams than me/Believing the grass would be greener/You told yourself "I just don't need her now"/But I know you'll soon discover/You're never satisfied with any other/Someday oo someday/One you gave away will be the only one you're wishing for/Someday hey hey/Boy you're gonna pay 'cause baby I'm the one who's keeping score.” This is the perfect song to play for a guy who made a romantically foolish choice.

4. “All I Want For Christmas Is You”: Off of Carey’s 1994 fourth studio album and her first Christmas album titled Merry Christmas, this song became the best-selling holiday ringtone in the US. The song’s lyrics talk about how Carey doesn’t want presents or anything but her man for Christmas, with lines like, “I don't want a lot for Christmas/There is just one thing I need/I don't care about the presents/Underneath the Christmas tree/I just want you for my own/More than you could ever know/Make my wish come true/All I want for Christmas is you, yeah.” A catchy holiday ditty, it’s a seamless track to play for your sweetheart to show how much you long for him when you’re apart, especially during the holidays!

3. “Dreamlover”: Another track of her hit 1993 album Music Box, on this song, Carey sings about fantasizing for her dream man to find her. It was the lead single released from the album. It’s a joyous song about wishing to find the man who will make you feel complete with lyrics such as, “I need a lover to give me the kind of love that will last always/I need somebody uplifting/To take me away/I want a lover who knows me/Who understands how I feel inside/Someone to comfort and hold me/Through the long lonely nights/'Till the dawn/Why don't you take me away/Dreamlover come rescue me/Take me up take me down/Take me anywhere you want to baby now/I need you so desperately/Won't you please come around/'Cause I wanna share forever with you baby.” Definitely a sentiment that every woman feels at one time or another.

2. “I'll Be There” featuring Trey Lorenz: Carey and R&B singer Trey Lorenz sang a cover of this Jackson 5 hit on the 1992 MTV Unplugged special. It was performed as a romantic duet, with Carey singing Michael Jackson's lines and Lorenz singing Jermaine Jackson's lines. Due to the unplanned success of the song, Carey’s music label at the time, Columbia Records, received many requests for it to be released as a single. It was nominated for the 1993 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song. Its famous lyrics include, “You and I must make a pact/We must bring salvation back/Where there is love/I'll be there/I'll reach out my hand to you/I'll have faith in all you do/Just call my name and I'll be there.” A sweet sentiment that resonated with Carey’s fans and is still remembered as one of her most memorable performances.

1. “One Sweet Day” (duet with Boyz II Men:) Yet another track off Carey’s 1995 album Daydream, this duet with R&B group Boyz II Men was the second single released from the album. It debuted at the top of the US charts and became the longest running #1 single in US history, spending 16 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard charts. Carey, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, Nathan Morris and Michael McCary sang about losing a loved one and eventually seeing them again in heaven. The mix of Carey’s soft voice and the Boyz earthy vibe makes this song a heartbreaking one and one to listen to when you’re thinking of your lost loved ones. Touching lines in the song include, “Sorry I never told you/All I wanted to say and now it's too late to hold you/'Cause you've flown away/So far away…And I know you're shining down on me from heaven/Like so many friends we've lost along the way/And I know eventually we'll be together/One sweet day.” I still cry every time I hear this song as it makes me think of my grandfather, who passed away when I was 16. Now at 32, there are so many things I’d like to ask him and hope he’s looking down on me and is proud.