Released: October 3, 1995

Label: Columbia

Genre: R&B

Producer: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff, Dave Hall, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, David Morales.

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By 1995, Mariah Carey was an international superstar. After the success of her third and fourth studio albums “Music Box” & “Merry Christmas,” Mariah began work on Daydream.

Before the creation of Daydream, Mariah had very little control over the music she wanted to make. Her then husband Tommy Mottola wanted Mariah to make contemporary music and pop ballads. Mariah is a lover and student of R&B & hip hop music. Now don’t get me wrong, Mariah’s earliest work had elements of soul and R&B incorporated, but Mottola always wanted her to appeal to white audiences.

Nevertheless, Daydream is a dreamy R&B masterpiece. It is so mesmerizing and one of Mariah’s most perfect albums. Selling over 20 million records worldwide, Daydream remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. The album also peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip Hop Album charts!

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you: Mariah Carey’s “Daydream.”

Fantasy

Written by Mariah Carey, Dave Hall, Adrian Belew, Chris Frantz, Steven Stanley, Tina Weymouth.

Fantasy was a defining moment in Mariah’s career at the time. Fantasy is a pop masterpiece that showcases the beauty of how a music sample could be converted into a remarkable record. Mariah is credited for pioneering R&B & hip hop collaborations into mainstream pop culture (NOT THE FIRST, but she made it stick like grits,) & it became the standard for rap artists to be a featuring act on a pop star’s single.

The lyrics of the song discusses how a woman is so in love with a man, and how every time she sees him, she starts fantasizing about an impossible relationship with him.

Fantasy Remix featured the late legendary rapper ODB (Ol’ Dirty Bastard) of the Wu Tang Clan, and became Mariah’s ninth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also the first single by a woman to debut at the top of the charts. Talk about iconic. The song sampled Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love,” and is sampled in Mariah’s “Loverboy.”

Underneath The Stars

Written by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff

Considered to be one of the highlights of Daydream, Underneath The Stars is an enchanting affair. Paying homage to 70s soul and artists like Minnie Riperton, Mariah shines beautifully on this song.

One Sweet Day

Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff, Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman & Wanya Morris.

We love a HIT RECORD WITH A POWERFUL MESSAGE. One Sweet Day is a tearjerker for sure, but is a song that speaks about the death of a loved one…and how they took their presence for granted, how much they miss them and how they will see them again. The song also was relatable to the AIDS epidemic in the mid-1990s.

One Sweet Day became Mariah’s tenth chart topper, and Boyz II Men’s fourth. Until 2017, it held the title of being the only song to top them charts for sixteen weeks. That’s longevity for your ass!

Open Arms

Written by Stephen Perry & Jonathan Cain

Mariah’s cover of Journey’s Open Arms wasn’t received well by critics, but I love it! Mariah pays homage ALWAYS with her powerful vocals.

Always Be My Baby

Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri & Manuel Seal.

The third single from the album, Always Be My Baby is about the feeling of attachment and unity the singer feels towards her estranged lover..and states that he will always be a part of her even though they are no longer together.

The song became her eleventh number one single, and tied her with Whitney Houston and Madonna for the most number one songs by a woman at that time. The remix to this song featured Da Brat & Xscape, and was sampled by Fifth Harmony.

I Am Free

Written by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff

Gospelriah took us HOME with I Am Free. One of my favorites of all time!

When I Saw You

Written by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff

A classic ballad from Mariah & Walter.

Long Ago

Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri & Manuel Seal

Long Ago is one of Daydream’s best gems. Another great one from Carey, Dupri & Seal. The song samples Zapp’s “More Bounce to the Ounce.”

Melt Away

Written by Mariah Carey & Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds

Melt Away is a flawless R&B joint we need to have more discussions about! I always wished Mariah & Babyface wrote more songs together because it was pure magic during the Music Box & Daydream eras.

Forever

Written by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff

A SONGGGGGGG GIRLIES! Forever is one of my favorite ballads from Mariah hands down. She sounds so amazing.

Daydream Interlude (Fantasy Sweet Dub Mix)

Written by Mariah Carey, Chris Frantz, Dave Hall, Adrian Belew, Steven Stanley & Tina Weymouth.

A club remix version of Fantasy is produced by David Morales, a famed house music producer. It is vibrant and the closest thing to house music you’re going to get from Mimi. One of my favorite tracks.

Looking In

Written by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff

You look at me and see the girl who lives inside the golden world, but don’t believe that’s all there is to see. You’ll never know the real me..

…sings Mariah on the final song for the album. Written in a whopping 15 minutes, Looking In was Mariah’s most personal song at the time, and let her guard down and express how she felt about how the world doesn’t see the real her since they’re on the outside looking in.

Mariah will always go down in history as the greatest to ever do it, and Daydream is a testament to that. It is a shame how this album did not receive any Grammys for it, but hey they didn’t respect and acknowledge greatness like they should. I bet they do today, cause dahhhhling Mariah Carey is the blueprint and the QUEEN OF MUSIC. -MJ