Unless you’ve been living on another planet since 1994, you know that November and December is officially Mariah Carey season, as you cannot escape the upbeat, catchiness of her holiday classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” With her unmatched eight-octave voice dominating playlists, we decided to celebrate some of our favorite tracks. Dear Lambs, these are not in any particular order, we’re just having fun. We all know this could’ve been a ridiculously long list, because Mariah has more hits than anyone ever. Alas, we had to draw the line somewhere, so just relax and enjoy a roundup of our favorite Mariah Carey songs.
Suggested Reading
“All I Want For Christmas Is You”
Let’s start with the one we’re all waiting for. If you’re not listening to this at least three times a day, every day until Jan. 1, you’re not celebrating the holidays right.
“Fantasy (Remix feat. O.D.B.)“
Mariah has a lot of catchy songs, but “Fantasy” might be her biggest earworm. One listen is all it takes to have it stuck in your head for days. As a bonus, the remix with Ol’ Dirty Bastard was one of the first times she brought hip-hop into her music.
“Vision of Love”
Do you remember where you were the first time you heard Mariah sing? One listen of her first hit was all it took to figure out we were discovering a legend in the making.
“My All”
Warning: If you listen to this epic love song post-breakup, it will absolutely destroy you. This is one of those tracks where you get to revel in what a brilliant songwriter Mariah is.
“We Belong Together”
“It’s still so hard to believe” but before “We Belong Together” came out, some critics were trying to say Mariah was done. She answered them with one of her biggest hits ever.
“Dreamlover”
While “Dreamlover” is a quintessential early Mariah pop song, it also showcases how she was beginning to reach into her R&B bag. It’s the bridge between “Someday” and “Honey.”
“Obsessed”
It’s not important who this song is about. What is important is how she completely bodies this track, highlighting how fantastic she is at simultaneously reinventing herself while never losing sight of what made her one of our favs.
“Someday”
When Mariah first exploded on the scene we were treated to quite a few ballads. It was until “Someday” that we got a glimpse at the artist who would deliver some of our favorites bangers.
“Honey (Bad Boy Remix feat. Mase, The Lox)“
We didn’t see it coming, but there’s something endlessly special about how perfect Mariah’s vocals blend with Bad Boy’s signature bounce. Whether she’s giving us light and breathy or deep in her R&B groove, it just works. And it’s one of her best videos too.
“Breakdown (with Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone)“
Just when we thought we knew what to expect from her, the superstar drops a smooth groove featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Wish Bone and Krayzie Bone. The way Mariah constantly evolves her sound is why she’s still one of the biggest stars in the world.
“Loverboy (Remix feat. Da Brat, Ludacris and Shawnnta)“
We had to at least mention Glitter. No matter how you feel about the movie, there’s no denying that this is one of Mimi’s best remixes.
“Emotions”
“Emotions” is just a spectacular showcase of her vocal control as a singer. If you listen to the way she uses her range to convey how it feels to fall in love, this unassuming pop song is actually a technical clinic for vocalists.
“Make it Happen”
Mariah straight up goes to church on this one. If you don’t feel inspired to get your life together after listening to “Make it Happen,” you might be robot. Scratch that, even robots love Mariah.
“Shake it Off”
We usually look to ballads for a full vocal showcase. But on “Shake it Off” she not only gave us another uptempo anthem, she delivered a spectacular reminder of just how special her voice is.
“One Sweet Day (with Boyz II Men)“
From the end of 1995 to early 1996 you could not get away from “One Sweet Day.” Its beautiful message about missing a lost loved one resonated with fans and it became one of the star’s biggest hits. Mariah and Boyz II Men’s voices blend flawlessly.
“Always Be My Baby”
Other than “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” there may not be another song on this list that fans love singing along to more than “Always Be My Baby.” From the moment those first “Do do doo dum” harmonies hit, this is a song that makes you smile every time you hear it.
“When You Believe (with Whitney Houston)“
For years, music critics were trying to drum up a rivalry between Mariah and Whitney Houston. As two of the greatest singers of all time, they couldn’t possibly like and respect each other. They put all that to rest with this epic duet from The Prince of Egypt. It’s truly a shame we didn’t get more collaborations from them.
“Heartbreaker (Remix feat. Missy Elliott and Da Brat)“
Mariah is the queen of remixes. Seriously, name another singer with more unforgettable remixes. Because her remixes were only played on Black radio and BET, they started to become an event. In the 2000s and 2010s, we were anticipating the remixes more than the singles.
“Hero”
What makes this song so special is that it’s helped many of us through some of our most difficult times. Its lyrics are able to lift us when we need “the strength to carry on.” It’s yet another display of Mariah’s exceptional songwriting skill.
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