To celebrate Mariah's anniversary, MariahCarey.com asked fans to send their top 10 Mariah songs to an e-mail address to form a countdown of the fans top 20 Mariah songs.

 

So far 20-11 have already been counted down, the website has fans comments too but I've just taken the main bits:

 

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EMOTIONS, #20 on our countdown, was the first single from Mariah's Emotions album and was her 5th consecutive #1 hit. An upbeat, disco-influenced dance number, the song was composed with the C&C Music Factory duo (Clivilles and Cole). The video was shot in blue, orange and pink filtered lenses around a party scene with Mariah laughing and joking with friends. "Emotions" is especially loved by fans for the repeated use of Mariah's unique signature high notes in it.

 

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At #19 on our countdown is Charmbracelet's lead single THROUGH THE RAIN. The song centers around a soft melody, uplifting lyrics, and commanding vocals from Mariah. The video, inspired by her parents interracial marriage during a time of turmoil and in memory of her father, was shot around New York City and features The Sopranos' Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

 

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ONE SWEET DAY, Mariah's timeless duet with Boyz II Men is at #18 on the countdown. The second single from Daydream holds the record for most weeks spent at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (16). Fans have expressed their gratitude towards Mariah for writing this touching song in memory of loved ones who passed. The video for the song documents the recording process of the song and clips of the group joking in the studio. The single featured several acapella remixes that captured the rawness of the song's lyrics and sincere message.

 

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CLOSE MY EYES comes in at #17. This album-cut from the Butterfly album may be unknown to casual listeners, but Mariah's hardcore fans have always shown Mariah their love for it. "Close My Eyes" is one of Mariah's most personal songs whose heartfelt lyrics tell Mariah's life story and hardships she's gone through as a child. The beautiful melody and Mariah's poignant delivery carry the song to its final, almost visual climax. Mariah performed the song on the Rosie O'Donell show in 1997 and sang it at a couple of tour stops per fans' requests.

 

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TOUCH MY BODY, #16 is the first song from E=MC2 on the top 20 countdown. Last year, the song achieved an historic feat as it became Mariah's 18th #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, making Mariah the solo artist with the most #1 singles on the chart. "Touch My Body" was released as the first single from E=MC2, blew up on the radio faster than anyone expected and broke the record for most digital downloads in its opening week. Thanks to its light attitude, breezy vocals, fun lyrics and unforgettable music video, the song which coined the contagious line "I best not catch this flick on YouTube" is ubiquitously loved by fans.

 

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VANISHING, the second album-cut on the top 20, is at #15. Taken from the debut album, "Vanishing" is the first song Mariah had ever produced on her own. The beauty of this song is in its simplicity having Mariah sing with nothing but the piano in the background, allowing fans to concentrate on the haunting vocals and melancholic feeling of the song.

 

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MAKE IT HAPPEN, #14, is the second song from Emotions on the countdown's top 20. This motivating song that Mariah wrote from her own personal struggles, is about believing in yourself, the power of prayer, and never giving up on your dreams. "Make It Happen" is known for being a true crowd-pleaser; Mariah's powerful vocals on top of the great beat given to the song by the C&C Music Factory duo David Cole and Robert Clivilles, gives the song a vibe of an upbeat gospel classic. In her 1995 concert at the Madison Square Garden in NYC, Mariah introduced the song with a message to the fans: "This is for all of you out there tonight, reaching for a dream - don't ever give up! Never ever listen to anyone, when they try to discourage you, because they do that, believe me!"

 

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MY ALL, the #13 song on the countdown is one of Mariah's biggest international hits to date. This sultry ballad, known for its soulful vocals and guitar-driven instrumental was first released as the second single from the Butterfly album. This entry benefits from two remixes for the song: the David Morales dance remix which Mariah loves going into when performing the song live, and the "My All / Stay Awhile" version, sampling Loose Ends' "Stay a Little While" in a Jermaine Dupri production. The music video was one of the last ones to be directed by legendary photographer Herb Ritts.

 

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HONEY, coming in at #12, was the first single from Mariah's groundbreaking Butterfly album, debuting at a record-breaking #1 on Billboard, her third song to achieve this feat. The song's bouncy hip hop beat over The Treacherous Three's "Body Rock," and coy lyrics made the song an instant hit among fans and the industry alike, and marked Mariah's further transition to more hip-hop influenced music. The song's James Bond video concept was Mariah's idea and is still one of her most memorable music videos. Mariah plays the elusive "Agent M" trying to escape rogue thugs (played by Eddie Griffin and Goodfellas star Frank Sivero) on a tropical Puerto Rican beach, narrowly dodging them on jet skis and a helicopter. The song's remix featuring Mase & The Lox proved to be just as popular as the original, and featured a new version of the video.

 

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At #11, FLY LIKE A BIRD, missing the top ten by only a few points. This spiritual album track from The Emancipation of Mimi is easy to be swept into, especially when Mariah's resounding vocals are interlaced with a gospel choir and live instruments - such has been done during the live performances in the 2006 Grammy Awards and "The Adventures of Mimi" world tour.

 

Looks like it was voted for by the proper fans then, I'm surprised at how many album tracks made it. :o I would have liked "Emoitions" to be a bit higher but top 20 is quite good. Any predictions for the top 10 before they're revealed? I'm guessing "Shake It Off" and "Whenever You Call" will feature, those seem to be fan favourites.

Some surprises there. :o

 

Can't wait to see what the second half of the completed table is like. ;)

and the rest of them...

 

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The first song in the top 10 is the 18 years-old CAN'T LET GO at #10. A long lasting "classic" Mariah tune, this is the highest countdown entry from the Emotions album. "Can't Let Go" captures Mariah's ability to tell a story through a wide variety of emotions and an incredible range of vocals. Mariah goes from restraint to aching in a passionate delivery of this beautiful melodic song. "Can't Let Go" was performed as an encore in "a spur of the moment" on Mariah's unplugged concert and was recently included as a snippet during "The Adventures of Mimi" world tour.

 

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THE ROOF, taken from the Butterfly album is the #9 song on the countdown. Co-produced by Mariah and the Trackmasters, this song cleverly samples Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones" and features the group in the "infamous" remix. With a catchy beat, a sexy setting and Mariah's soft and inviting vocals on top of the dominant piano instrumental, "The Roof" is an edgy, influential track that solidified Mariah's position as a trend-setting artist in the Urban music industry.

 

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At #8: CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY (MARIAH'S THEME), the third single from the 1999 Rainbow album. This uplifting song, co-written by Mariah and Diane Warren, has always been close to Mariah's heart due to the personal nature of its lyrics. It was Mariah's determined delivery, strong vocals, and words of inspiration that made the song an anthem among fans as well with its chorus of "They can try but they can't take that away from me." The music video was especially loved by fans, since it included clips sent in by fans around the country talking about how the song inspired them as well as clips of personalities that inspired Mariah like The Williams Sister and her nephew Shawn.

 

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BREAKDOWN (featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony) at #7 is another fan-favorite on the Butterfly album. Not only loved for its raw lyrics and unique singing style, it is considered one of Mariah's most groundbreaking and influential songs of her career. Her ability to mimic and complement the rapping style of Bone Thugs through her well-crafted vocal arrangement, fast singing style, and incredible layers of music and voice is still considered one of the early forerunners to today's modern R&B/hip hop music styles.

 

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BUTTERFLY, the title track off Mariah's seventh album comes in at #6 and is the third top 10 track on the countdown from the Butterfly album. The song is loved by fans for its personal lyrics and symbolic meaning. The chorus starts with the bittersweet lines "Spread your wings and prepare to fly / For you have become a butterfly" which Mariah wrote based on her own journey. "Butterfly" now represents Mariah's freedom and emancipation and is performed as the closing outro at many of her concerts.

 

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FANTASY REMIX (featuring O.D.B.), the only song on the countdown to receive more votes than its original version, is at #5. Originally released in 1995 as the first single from Daydream, the song broke a record on the American charts as it debuted straight at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Mariah the first ever female artist to achieve that feat. The famous music video, the first one to be directed by Mariah, was shot at the famous Rye Playland amusement park, and features clips of Mariah enjoying the park's historic wooden roller coasters. The remix, produced by Puff Daddy, surprised many when it featured the unconventional guest star - rapper O.D.B. The remix became a huge success and yielded one of the most famous pop music phrases of the 90's: "Me and Mariah, go back like babies with pacifiers".

 

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Ranked at #4, HERO is considered by many fans to be one of Mariah's most inspirational and self-empowering songs. Released as a single in 1994, "Hero" became the second single from the Music Box album and went on to become Mariah's anthem song, performed at events like Live-8, the NBA All-Stars tribute to Michael Jordan, U.S. President Barack Obama's inauguration party and America: Tribute to Heroes (following 9/11). Over the years, "Hero" was performed by many artists, including a Mariah duet with Luciano Pavarotti and a cover version by Aretha Franklin. Fans have always had a special connection to the song's lyrics which were written by Mariah. Likewise, Mariah has always said she prefers the live renditions of "Hero" where she can connect with the audience to the studio version.

 

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ALWAYS BE MY BABY at #3 is the second song from Daydream on the top 10! Released as the third single from the album in 1996, this sweet sounding R&B tune was the first of many collaborations between Mariah and Jermaine Dupri. When sung live, the fans and Mariah keep the tradition of singing the addictive hook together and sharing the "Shoo doo doo's" throughout the song. The music video for "Always Be My Baby", directed by Mariah, was shot in Camp Mariah and follows the story of a young love. The song's high position is owed in part to points received by its remixes: The Mr. Dupri remix featuring Da Brat & Xscape and a dance remix by David Morales. The former sampled the '80s song "Tell Me If You Still Care" by the S.O.S. Band and got its own music video!

 

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Coming in at #2, VISION OF LOVE, Mariah's first ever single from her self-titled debut album; Released in 1990, "Vision of Love" introduced Mariah to the world and launched one of the biggest careers in music history. The long intro leading up to the memorable lines "Treated me kind / Sweet destiny..." is ironically similar to the introduction of Mariah: it was worth the wait. By the time Mariah reached the famous chorus ("I had a vision of love / and it was all that you've given to me"), there was no doubt in anyone's mind: she is here to stay. The song spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to this day remains one of Mariah's signature songs. "Vision of Love" was first performed in May 1990 on the Arsenio Hall show and on every Mariah tour since then.

 

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WE BELONG TOGETHER is the definitive #1 of this countdown. The song appeared on more than half of the fans' lists and doubled the #1 votes any other song received. This universal smash hit from The Emancipation of Mimi broke every airplay record in the book during the summer of 2005, topped eight different Billboard charts including an unprecedented 16-weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, and won awards at the Grammys, Soul Train, Vibe and World Music Awards.

Some surprises there. :o

 

Can't wait to see what the second half of the completed table is like. ;)

I agree and there were a few in the top 10, but I think it was a bit predictable in the end.

 

It looks like "Butterfly" appears to be one of her most popular albums. :o I can't say I've ever heard that "Fantasy" remix but I love the original. :wub:

My list would be way different.

I am so glad that Vision Of Love charted so highly. I have been a fan of Mariah since the release of that song. :cheer:

 

As I have posted sometime ago, I am an old school Mariah fan. :heehee:

 

Thanks for posting this Aaron.

Predictable but pleasing list. I've never got the love for 'Fly Like A Bird' :( I really don't like it. Breakdown <3

I am so glad that Vision Of Love charted so highly. I have been a fan of Mariah since the release of that song. :cheer:

 

As I have posted sometime ago, I am an old school Mariah fan. :heehee:

 

Thanks for posting this Aaron.

No problem, thought it might be interesting. I think both old school and current Mariah are good for different reasons, I almost consider them to be different artists. :lol:

 

Predictable but pleasing list. I've never got the love for 'Fly Like A Bird' :( I really don't like it. Breakdown <3

I think "Fly Like A Bird" is a decent enough song, one of the better 'Emancipation' album tracks, but that's about it. My list was even more predictable, I think "Migrate" was the only album track, but I'm not really an 'intense' Mariah fan. I only know the album tracks from her last two albums, despite downloading pretty much all of them.

I'm not surprised We Belong Together came first, it is one of her best. I was hoping for I Stay In Love and I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time to appear though. :(

I'm not surprised We Belong Together came first, it is one of her best. I was hoping for I Stay In Love and I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time to appear though. :(

Great top 20! Always Be My Baby is one of my favorites

Yup I agree We belong together deserve in number 1 spot..

I've really begun appreciating Mariah's work. There's so many great songs to pick, and the list is actually really strong, in my opinion.

I would swap "Butterfly" for "One Sweet Day" and it'd be a near perfect Top 10. "We Belong Together" is great, but I'm not sure if it's her best. It's definitely deserving of it's placement, though, as it thrusted her back to the top (and stayed there for a long time).

I would swap "Butterfly" for "One Sweet Day" and it'd be a near perfect Top 10. "We Belong Together" is great, but I'm not sure if it's her best. It's definitely deserving of it's placement, though, as it thrusted her back to the top (and stayed there for a long time).

For me "Butterfly" is my favourite outside the top 3 in that top 10. I've never really rated "One Sweet Day" highly either. It hasn't really clicked with me.

 

I think I put "Migrate" as my favourite but "We Belong Together" was very deserving too, it's her signature song from the last 10 years, at least.

We belong together is certainly not one of my favourites. She has done alot better songs like Can't let go, Hero, Butterfly & One sweet day.

It would be interesting to do something similar after a longer period of time has elapsed since her last release. The chart won't be so influenced by the recent chart success so much.

It would be interesting to do something similar after a longer period of time has elapsed since her last release. The chart won't be so influenced by the recent chart success so much.

I don't think it's that influenced by her recent stuff. I doubt "Touch My Body" would feature in a couple of years, but that's about it. I was actually surprised at how diverse it was with all the album tracks and a remix. :o