Top 10 Mariah Carey Songs

With her eleventh number one hit, Mariah Carey proved her musical talents couldn’t be stopped. Of particular note was song’s use of the “double voice effect,” which layered her higher lead vocals over her previously recorded lower background vocals. With its pop and R&B flavors, the Daydream single is definitely a highlight from her fifth effort. Pairing her voice with sweet lyrics about standing by her man then sealed the deal of its chart success.

After experimenting with soul and gospel with her previous album Emotions, Carey returned to straight-up pop and R&B with this hit. Instead of focusing on heartbreak, Mariah hopes for someone better in the future. “Dreamlover” took off and became her seventh number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and one of the songs of the summer. The critics loved the song as well, acclaiming its hook and production, as well as Mimi’s restraint when it came to her trademark vocal acrobatics.

This song premiered as her debut single and it instantly catapulted Mariah to superstardom. While “Visions of Love”’s beat and instrumentation have the typical pop sound of the era, Carey’s voice showed more range and depth than many other artists of the time. It reached the Hot 100’s top spot in just nine weeks and nabbed the songstress three Grammy nods and one win. Critics have since cited the track as one that helped shape modern pop music and influenced many artists thereafter.

Not every pop star can say they have their own Christmas classic but Mariah sure can. Instead of recording a holiday standard like most artists, she co-wrote this 4-minute number and helped produce it as well. With lyrics declaring that presents and material things mean nothing as long as she has her love, “All I Want for Christmas is You” adds a fun and sexy feeling to the holiday season. In addition to its worldwide success, the song is also one of the best-selling singles in music history.

This song marked another shift in Mariah’s career as it pushed her towards a more hip-hop-influenced style. Written with artists like Q-Tip and Puff Daddy, as well as super producer Stevie J, “Honey” also had a more sensual sound than her earlier number one hits, as it sampled tracks by the World’s Famous Supreme Team and the Treacherous Tree. Both its lyrics and accompanying music video became topics of much speculation as they appeared to be a statement about her freedom as an artist and woman amid marriage woes.

Mariah both co-wrote and collaborated with Jay-Z for this track off Rainbow, marking the first time she released a single featuring a rap artist. The song is a classic “he said/she said” story, with Carey singing about being addicted to her bad boy lover. Another Billboard number one, “Heartbreaker” achieved even more popularity thanks to a creative music video that reportedly cost $2.5 million dollars to make.

This song almost wasn’t hers. In fact, “Hero” was originally written for Gloria Estefan and Mariah didn’t really connect to its sound until she gave it more of an R&B influence. We’re glad she kept it because it has become one of her most motivating ballads. Far from being cheesy, its lyrics and Carey’s vocals are just bouncy enough to be uplifting. So it’s no wonder it was her 8th chart-topper and a go-to track to mark graduation ceremonies and other sentimental occasions for years.

Like the true diva she is, Mariah proved she’s always ready for a comeback. Her lyrics, and the hip-hop-meets-pop vibe of this song, along with its stunning music video, made critics and audiences re-think the idea that her career was over. Not only did “We Belong Together” become her sixteenth number one smash, it also became the second longest running number one on the American charts, with fourteen weeks at the Billboard Hot 100’s top spot.

While Mariah has shown throughout the years that she knows the power of a good collaboration, it’s this song with Boyz II Men that remains ingrained in our musical memories. “One Sweet Day” was virtually inescapable in the mid-‘90s and quickly became a staple on every chart. Not surprising, considering how beautifully the vocals blend together and the inspirational and sentimental nature of the track. Carey definitely outdid herself with this hit, which still holds the honor of being the longest running number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at sixteen weeks.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Emotions”
Emotions (1991)
- “I’ll Be There” feat. Trey Lorenz
MTV Unplugged (1992)
- “When You Believe” Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston
The Prince of Egypt: Music from the Motion Picture (1998)
- “Without You”
Music Box (1993)

In terms of the perfect pop meets R&B sound, this song just crushes all the competition. Even her own original version! To help her cross over, Mariah paired with an unlikely collaboration partner: O.D.B. from the Wu-Tang Clan. By sampling its beat from “Genius of Love” by the Tom Tom Club, “Fantasy” achieved its funky feel, while Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s raps gave it a hip-hop edge. It’s the perfect mix of sweet lyrics, a danceable beat, and the sexiness of a ‘90s hit – one which was also significant in bringing R&B and hip hop to the masses.

Do you agree with our list? Which Mariah song is your favorite? For more chart-toppingTop 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.