Mariah & Whitney Singles Rate - THE RESULTS

Surely anything Mariah released after Emancipation would have gone to #1?

I don’t mind TMB, but I do wonder if her second wind might not have lasted longer had she released something a bit more... substantive?
I think it was the right lead single, as you say basically anything would have gone #1 especially given how huge and front-loaded digital sales were at that time. The issue was that they went with a WBT retread (although much worse) for single #2 that killed her momentum. There was also some bad press around her vox for the first time, and that "stop singing my part now baby" miming blunder.
 
I've had quite the journey with "Butterfly". I initially ignored it when the album came out and thought it was a VERY strange odd 2nd single given the bops on offer, but I guess the record label were trying to hold on to the housewife (read: money) demo as she shifted to a more contemporary vibe. I also thought it was just TOO MUCH with the layered adlib singathon towards the end. But as time has gone on I've really learnt to appreciate it as a very mature song... musically if not lyrically anyway. It's really not your standard pop ballad and it fits perfectly in the more loungey, sultry mood of the album. Love it.
 
"Almost Home" surprisingly high (I thought "Love Takes Time" and "Hero" would also not make it this high), although it is one of the more acceptable standalone singles she's released over the last decade albeit forgettable.
 
I was all aboard the Whitney train for the final comeback album but I don't listen to it anymore. It's quite light considering her motivations at the time. I get that her voice wasn't the same but it was all very safe.

The only two songs I go back to are "Million Dollar Bill" and "All The Lovers", which are still great bops.
 
I think I Look to You was the best album Whitney could have made in 2009. It was contemporary but had a classic Whitney vibe about it. You just have to get past the fact that her voice was shot ("Nothin But Love" is a bop but she sounds so unhealthy on it, for example).

I'll use this as an opportunity to highlight another favorite Whitney non-single - "Call You Tonight":

 
I was all aboard the Whitney train for the final comeback album but I don't listen to it anymore. It's quite light considering her motivations at the time. I get that her voice wasn't the same but it was all very safe.

The only two songs I go back to are "Million Dollar Bill" and "All The Lovers", which are still great bops.

Those two & 'Call You Tonight' are my go-to's from that album. I agree with you about it all being safe but I think to have a proper hit album at the time she had to do that. She'd done the personal album with 'Just Whitney' and that wasn't a great success.
 
I think I Look to You was the best album Whitney could have made in 2009. It was contemporary but had a classic Whitney vibe about it. You just have to get past the fact that her voice was shot ("Nothin But Love" is a bop but she sounds so unhealthy on it, for example).

I'll use this as an opportunity to highlight another favorite Whitney non-single - "Call You Tonight":



Oh I quite like Nothin But Love too to be fair. I just don't remember it very well at all. I had a listen to it a couple of years ago and it wasn't enjoyable.
 
Her voice is absolutely shot to fuck on ILTY, but I find it lends her a vulnerability and emotional honesty that I sometimes struggle to find on her beltathon imperial anthems.

In that sense it kind of reminds me of Joni Mitchell’s 2000s re-record of Both Sides Now. In terms of pure vocal power she was a shadow of her former self, but emotionally it’s devastating.

 
I Look To You is a lovely album. Her "reduced" voice adds such depth to I Look To You and I Didn't Know My Own Strength. The production might be a little 2009, but everything always sounds at its most dated ten years later.
 
I think it was the right lead single, as you say basically anything would have gone #1 especially given how huge and front-loaded digital sales were at that time. The issue was that they went with a WBT retread (although much worse) for single #2 that killed her momentum. There was also some bad press around her vox for the first time, and that "stop singing my part now baby" miming blunder.
Everything was set up for E=MC to succeed - there was the momentum from Emancipation, and the fact that the album was full of bops that were tailored for 2008 radio. But a lot of things worked against the campaign: the terrible choice of Bye Bye for the second single, her career-low vocals during the promo roll-out (even after a further decade of shaky vocals, 2008 stands out as a real low - you can even hear it on Cool On You), and then running off to get married, which seemingly shifted her priorities post-Touch My Body.
 
I am giving I Look To You a spin right now, and it's still great. I Look To You still hits hard, and Like I Never Left sounds much better these days. It's ageing like Akon.
 
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39th. Heartbreaker/Obsessed
Average score 8.28





Now we have a pair of lead singles, the former from 'Rainbow' and the latter from 'Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel'.

'Heartbreaker' was Mariah's 14th #1 in the US and a Top Ten 10 worldwide. It got mixed reviews from critics with many comparing it to previous lead singles. It's also notable for it's video which at the time was the most expensive music video to date, costing $2.5 million. Remixes were also commissioned, one featuring rappers Da Brat and Missy Elliot and a dance version by Junior Vasquez that interpolates 'If You Should Ever Be Lonely' by Val Young.

'Obsessed', released in summer '09, became Mariah's 27th Top Ten hit in the US but fell short for a lead single only peaking at #7. The song was the subject of controversy with the media suggesting it was aimed at Eminem who had referenced Mariah negatively in some of this songs. The video, directed by Brett Ratner (who also made 'Heartbreaker'), featured Mariah as herself and also as a male stalker.

38th. One Moment In Time
Average score 8.33 (Three 10s)



Whitney's 3rd number one in the UK and a Top 5 hit in the US was recorded for the 1988 Olympics. It remained a non-album single until it's inclusion on 'The Greatest Hits' in 2000. It's video was a montage of various Olympic ceremonies so instead I've opted for the outstanding Grammy performance from 1989.
 
37th. Same Script, Different Cast
Average score 8.33 (Four 10s)



The final song of the new tracks from 'The Greatest Hits' to appear, Whitney teamed up with labelmate Deborah Cox for what one critic called 'a grown up version of "The Boy Is Mine"'. It was released as a promo single only and no video was made. Despite that, to this day I'm still stunned it wasn't a bigger hit in the US, given Deborah Cox was riding high at the time from the success of 'Nobody's Supposed To Be Here' and Whitney had just come off 3 huge singles from 'My Love Is Your Love'.


36th. Didn't We Almost Have It All
Average score 8.42



The second single from 'Whitney' and 5th #1 in a row in the US. It was widely speculated that the song is about Houston's relationship with then NFL star Randall Cunningham. It received mixed reviews from critics ranging from 'big and emotional' to 'schmaltzy and overblown'.
 
Heartbreaker was a fun comeback but I don’t ever listen to it. It really was a combo of the last 3 lead singles, but not as good as any of them IMO
 
Same Script higher than One Moment?

I mean I’m for it, but I didn’t see it coming.
 
All I can say about DWAHIA is that Whitney sings the FUCK out of it
 
35th. Higher Love
Average score 8.67



Whitney's cover of the Steve Winwood hit was originally a bonus track on the Japanese edition of her third album 'I'm Your Baby Tonight' and was reworked by Norwegian DJ Kygo for a posthumous hit last year. It peaked at #2 in the UK becoming her highest-charting single since 1999's 'My Love Is Your Love'.


34th. The Greatest Love Of All
Average score 8.75 (Three 10s)



Another Whitney cover, this was originally recorded by George Benson in 1977 for the Muhammed Ali biopic 'The Greatest'. Clive Davis was against Whitney recording this for her debut album but relented under pressure from her and the song's composer Michael Masser. It was another huge success for her, giving her another #1 single in the US (her third) and hitting the upper echelons of the charts worldwide. It remains her third biggest hit in the US to date. Some stunning live performances of this exist, most notably the one below.

 
33rd. Saving All My Love For You
Average score 8.75 (Four 10s)



Whitney's 1st #1 on both sides of the Atlantic in 1985 was a tender ballad about a young woman in love with a married man. The song was almost not released as a single. The story goes that when composer Michael Masser heard that Arista wanted to release a different song, he made a bet with Clive Davis. During her next performance at the Roxy in Los Angeles, if female audience members rose to their feet after Whitney sang “Saving All My Love for You,” then Davis must choose that track for the next single. The rest is history.

32nd Run To You
Average score (One 11)



The fourth single from 'The Bodyguard' soundtrack was only a moderate hit, most likely due to the fact that most people already owned the song on the album already. By the time of it's release, the album had sold 21 million copies worldwide.It went on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Song, losing to 'A Whole New World' from 'Aladdin'.
 
I mean, the fact that some of Whitney's more... Karenish moments are scoring higher than SS, DC, Heartbreaker and Obsessed. Who voted in this poll? 55yo white women from Minnesota?
 
31st. I Will Always Love You
Average score 8.75 (One 12)



The lead single from 'The Bodyguard', Whitney's biggest hit and arguably her signature song. This was absolutely unavoidable everywhere back in late 1992/early 1993. It held the #1 spot in the UK for 10 weeks and 14 weeks in the US. The song was a cover of the Dolly Parton hit and was only selected to be recorded after plans to record 'What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted' were scrapped when it was discovered the song was going to be used in the Kathy Bates/Jessica Tandy film 'Fried Green Tomatoes'. Her co-star in the movie, Kevin Costner, suggested this song by playing her Linda Ronstadt's version. Despite all her success to that point, Arista were hesitant about releasing it as they felt a song with an acapella intro wouldn't be successful but eventually gave in. Whitney went on to win 2 Grammys, 2 American Music Awards and 6 Billboard Awards with the song.
 
I love the comedic timing of Lou moaning about Karen songs and then IWALY pops up without warning

classic

that’s a fine medley of Whitney wailing right there. I wouldn’t put any of them in my top ten but Saving All My Love For You and Run To You are easily the best of the bunch for me
 
30th. I'm Every Woman
Average score 8.83 (Four 10s)



CHAKA KHAN!

Second single off 'The Bodyguard' soundtrack and another cover version from Whitney, this time the disco classic from Chaka Khan. This was released in January 1993 while 'I Will Always Love You' was still riding high on the charts. It peaked at #4 in the US and in the UK. The video features a very heavily pregnant Whitney with appearances from Cissy Houston, songwriter Valerie Simpson, TLC and Chaka.

29th. Million Dollar Bill
Average score 8.83 (Six 10s)



The lead worldwide single (second in the US) from Whitney's final album 'I Look To You' was composed and produced by Alicia Keys & Swiss Beatz. It gave Whitney her highest charting single in the UK since 2000's Enrique duet peaking at #5 but perfomed modestly in the US. To promote the single/album, Whitney graced us with an appearance on TV's 'The X-Factor' which was a little bizarre to say the least.

 
28th. Someday
Average score 8.83 (One 11, seven 10s)



Third single from the debut album and third #1 in a row for Mariah. This was originally on the famous demo tape Mariah gave to Tommy Mottola that launched her on the path to stardom and was later reworked when it came to the recording of the album. While it was a hit in the US and Canada, it scraped the Top 40 in the UK peaking at #38. Mariah's since admitted she disliked the overproduction on the album version and included the MTV Unplugged version instead on her '#1 To Infinity' compilation.



27th. Can't Let Go
Average score 8.83 (One 12, two 11s, five 10s)



The second single from 'Emotions', this is my own personal fave Mariah track. When released in the US, it became her first single not to make #1 peaking at #2 and kept off the top spot by Color Me Badd. Her success in the UK was getting better and better as it reached #20 there. It was co-written with Walter Afanasieff who'd go on to co-write some of her biggest hits. It also popped up as a surprise inclusion on the MTV Unplugged EP.

 
Every Woman reminds me of The ITV Chart Show playing on the screens at local hot spot The Time Capsule back in the day.

Million Dollar Bill was the most spectacular crash landing since Jenny Frost.
 
funky said:
I love the comedic timing of Lou moaning about Karen songs and then IWALY pops up without warning

classic

You say that, but I Will Always Love You transcends its success, because it is simply a remarkable performance. Stunning.

What I will say about Karens is that this countdown made me realise how much "cooler" Mariah's catalogue feels to me these days. Some queens will say "she doesn't have general public classics", but that is frankly a good thing. How Will I Know will always give you fat auntie at the disco vibes, whereas Fantasy Bad Boy Remix would never.
 
M$B on X-Factor will always be one of the great TV moments of my lifetime, and a high for the franchise along with Beyoncé vs. Alexandra, and the intro videos for Mariah and Britney's 08 appearances.

Glad to see some love for Can't Let Go from Ms. Frozen. It's become one of my Mariah favourites over the years, and the MTV Unplugged version is sublime.

Someday still slaps. It's a shame that she pays it dust, but our Queen does not always show the best taste in her own cat.
 
26th. Queen Of The Night
Average score 8.92



The fifth and final single off 'The Bodyguard' and a rare Whitney co-write, this was released late 1993 to modest success, again most likely to most fans owning the album. It was remixed for release by CJ Mackintosh and peaked at #14 in the UK and topped the US Dance chart. Fun fact - this was the first cd single I ever bought.

25th. Breakdown
Average score 8.94



The fourth single (third depending on the market) from 'Butterfly' was another source of conflict between Mariah and Sony. The label only gave it a limited release where it only ended up being released commercially in Australia and New Zealand. It was highlighted as one of the best songs off the album, with Slant magazine calling it 'the song of her career'.
 
NO. Breakdown is unquestionably one of her Top 5 songs EVER. It has no place this low. You all deserve to be cancelled.
 
28th. Someday
Average score 8.83 (One 11, seven 10s)



Third single from the debut album and third #1 in a row for Mariah. This was originally on the famous demo tape Mariah gave to Tommy Mottola that launched her on the path to stardom and was later reworked when it came to the recording of the album. While it was a hit in the US and Canada, it scraped the Top 40 in the UK peaking at #38. Mariah's since admitted she disliked the overproduction on the album version and included the MTV Unplugged version instead on her '#1 To Infinity' compilation.



27th. Can't Let Go
Average score 8.83 (One 12, two 11s, five 10s)



The second single from 'Emotions', this is my own personal fave Mariah track. When released in the US, it became her first single not to make #1 peaking at #2 and kept off the top spot by Color Me Badd. Her success in the UK was getting better and better as it reached #20 there. It was co-written with Walter Afanasieff who'd go on to co-write some of her biggest hits. It also popped up as a surprise inclusion on the MTV Unplugged EP.



Can't Let Go is my favourite Mariah song. It's the one that made me a fan back in the day.
 
Mariah's since admitted she disliked the overproduction on the album version and included the MTV Unplugged version instead on her '#1 To Infinity' compilation.

#1 I didn't know about this (The more you know) :disco:
#2 silly girl, the overproduction is so DELICIOUSLY 90's it's one of the best features in it :evil:
 
24th. Heartbreak Hotel
Average score 9 (Three 10s)



The second single in the US from 'My Love Is Your Love' saw Whitney team up with Faith Evans and Kelly Price. The song peaked at #2, her highest peak since 'Exhale', and was kept off the top spot by Cher's 'Believe'. It also topped the R*B chart for seven weeks and ended the year as the 3rd best selling single in the US.

23rd. Emotions
Average score 9 (Eight 10s)



The lead single from the second album of the same name, the track was Mariah's fifth US #1 in a row. The track was one of four tracks recorded with dance stars Robert Civilles and David Cole for the album and got positive reviews from critics with some praising the extensive use of Mariah's 'whistle register'.
 

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