Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Mariah Carey
#8: “Demented” (1995) Chick
Since her debut in 1990, Mariah Carey has dominated the pop and contemporary R&B music genres. She even popularized the incorporation of hip-hop into pop music through song remixes. But, what many may not know is that Carey also ventured into alternative rock and grunge. Yes, together with her friend Clarissa Dane, the singer privately co-wrote and recorded a rock album titled “Someone’s Ugly Daughter” in 1995. Due to contractual obligations, she was prevented from releasing the songs with her lead vocals, so Dane had to re-record them. Carey also directed the music video for the album’s second single “Demented” and you can still hear her vocals in the background. Interestingly, the song’s chorus inspired the name of her now-defunct label Crave Records.
#7: “I Lose Control” (1993) Penny Ford
Songs You Didn't Know Were Written By Lady Gaga
While crafting her self-titled debut album, Mariah Carey worked with renowned songwriters such as Rhett Lawrence and Narada Michael Walden. With Walden, she wrote “I Lose Control,” which was reportedly supposed to be included on the album but was cut from the final tracklist. The song eventually found its way into the hands of Penny Ford, who recorded it as the second single from her sophomore solo album. Ford’s version was a groovy, catchy pop piece that helped solidify her solo career after her departure from the Eurodance group Snap! Even though it was recorded by an artist with a vastly different sound, you can still hear Carey’s influence in the song’s structure.
#6: “Don’t Go Looking for Love” (1999) Blaque
Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Ryan Tedder
The American girl group Blaque drew upon several influences in the making of their eponymous debut album. The 1999 record was equal parts R&B, pop and hip-hop, and helped launch the music careers of the trio. While it wasn’t so well-received by music critics, the album fared much better commercially, selling over a million copies and earning a Platinum certification. The tenth track, “Don’t Go Looking for Love” was a collaborative writing effort between the album’s producers and Mariah Carey. It combines the recurring themes of love characteristic of Carey’s music with the vocal harmonies of Blaque. The result? A soulful tune that just keeps on giving.
#5: “Head over Heels” (1997) Allure feat. Nas
Of Monsters and Men Talk 'My Head is an Animal'
Throughout her decades-long career, Mariah Carey has ventured into record label ownership quite a few times. Her first foray into the business came in 1997 when she founded Crave Records. The label immediately signed on multiple acts, with the best-known of them arguably being the R&B quartet Allure. For their debut album, the girls got the help of Carey, their label boss, in crafting the lead single “Head over Heels.” She also made a brief appearance in the music video. The song, which features Nas delivering two hard-hitting rap verses, was a moderate success for the group, reaching #35 on the Hot 100. In addition to “Head over Heels,” you’ll also find Carey’s writing credit on “Last Chance.”
#4: “After” (1998) 7 Mile
Top 10 Mariah Carey Songs
One of the lesser-known acts signed to Mariah Carey’s Crave Records, 7 Mile only released one album before they disbanded. They put out their self-titled debut effort in 1998 and only managed to send the third single, “Do Your Thing,” onto the Hot 100. Before releasing her new signees out into the world, Carey put in work on the album, and is credited as one of the producers. Alongside Steven Jordan, Will Turpin and Melanie Daniels, Carey also co-wrote the second single “After.” While it failed to chart, “After,” with its slow, thumping beat and perfectly harmonized backing vocals, truly encapsulated the marvel of simplicity.
#3: “Someone to Hold” (1992) Trey Lorenz
Top 10 Hardest Mariah Carey Songs to Sing
Trey Lorenz saw his first glimpse of stardom in 1992 when he performed a cover of “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5 with Mariah Carey on “MTV Unplugged.” The duet became an international hit and secured Lorenz a recording contract with Epic Records. For his debut effort, Carey came on board as a producer and also helped write the lead single “Someone to Hold,” which was a top 20 hit. After providing background vocals on Carey’s album “Emotions,” she returned the favor on this ‘90s R&B gem about finding the one to call your own. She also received songwriting credits on Lorenz’s songs “Always in Love” and “Make You Happy,” the latter of which was recorded for the “Men in Black” soundtrack.
#2: “Help Me Find a Way to Your Heart” (1993) Daryl Hall
Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written By Dolly Parton
Daryl Hall, whom you may know as one half of the successful rock and roll duo Hall & Oates, also has multiple solo projects to his name. His third solo album, “Soul Alone” was released in 1993 and marked a major deviation from the familiar pop rock sound of his internationally acclaimed band. To achieve the soulful feel of the album, Hall recruited the help of several R&B producers and musicians, including Mariah Carey. Carey co-wrote the album’s third single, a moving ballad titled “Help Me Find a Way to Your Heart.”
#1: “Where Are You Christmas?” (2000) Faith Hill
Top 10 Best Mariah Carey Live Performances of All Time
Mariah Carey is undoubtedly the Queen of Christmas. Just six years after she released her record-smashing holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” she recorded yet another potential hit. “Where Are You Christmas?” was co-written and recorded by the artist for the 2000 holiday movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” However, due to a messy divorce with music mogul Tommy Mottola, Carey was legally blocked from releasing her version of the tune. Instead, it was performed by Faith Hill, whose rendition was well-received by most music critics. Carey recently confirmed that she still has her demo of the song, so here’s hoping she’ll gift us a present under the music tree soon enough.