Butterfly
Mariah Carey
1997
Album Summary
Butterfly is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released on September 16, 1997, by Columbia Records. The album contained both hip hop and urban adult contemporary sounds, as well as some softer and more contemporary melodies. Throughout the project, Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she had written and produced most of the material from her previous albums. She also worked with many famed hip hop producers and rappers, such as Sean "Puffy" Combs, Q-Tip, Missy Elliott and the Trackmasters. With the latter acts producing most of the album, Butterfly deviated from the adult contemporary sound of Carey's previous albums. With Butterfly, Carey continued the transition that began with previous album, Daydream (1995), which pushed her further into the R&B and hip hop market and away from the pop background of her previous work. During her marriage to Tommy Mottola, Carey had little control over the creative and artistic steps she took on her albums, however, after their divorce midway through the album's conception, she was able to reflect her creative maturity and evolution in the album's writing and recording. Carey writes in the booklet of her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009), that she considers Butterfly her magnum opus and a turning point in both her life and career. Five singles were released from the album; two worldwide commercial singles and three limited promotional singles. "Honey", the album's lead single, topped the charts in Canada and the United States, and reached the top-five in New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. The album's fifth and final single, "My All", became a top-ten hit throughout Europe and topped the charts in the United States. To promote the album, Carey embarked on the Butterfly World Tour, which visited Australia, Japan and Taiwan, with one show in the United States. Butterfly was nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards. Butterfly received acclaim from music critics, many of whom embraced Carey's musical transition. Reviewers complimented the album for its mature sound and production, as well as Carey's musical direction. Though released during Carey's heavily publicized conflict with Sony Music, the album became an international commercial success, topping the albums charts in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Greece, Japan, the Netherlands, as well as the United States. It was certified five-times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States and received the Million Award in Japan. Globally, Butterfly has sold over ten million copies.
WikipediaNot unpleasant, and I can see how R&B fans would like this, but it's not for me. Every track sounds exactly the same. Mariah doesn't really sing songs so much as just moan scales.
Cars crashing, the sound of metal twisting, two pie tins rubbed together, nails across a blackboard- all these are more enjoyable noises.
Not really a huge fan of the whole diva thing (it sounds too much like when people sing the Star-Spangled Banner and they feel compelled to go "AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLAAAAAEEOUUOOAAIIIEEEEEUUUUUER" for some reason). Also not a huge rap guy. Best song: Close My Eyes, which was the only one I really liked and wouldn't be out of place on a Zero 7 album.
It's pretty bad. It fits every cheesy 90s stereotype, even the guy in the background whispering *MC* and *Break it down*. The only redeeming factor is it gave me a laugh
I don't think I realized how much 90s r&b was used in Disney movies credits but this really brought me back to childhood. It's definitely a genre I can't totally get into but none the less this album is a gem. Breakdown is my favorite. But how can we get Fourth of July to be an actual holiday classic?
Favorite tracks: Honey, Butterfly, My All, The Roof (Back in Time), Fourth Of July, Babydoll, Outside Least favorite tracks: The Beautiful Ones 9/10
The Roof Shook Ones Part II sample 🔥, otherwise a very well produced album and Mariah Carey obviously has an incredible voice. Just not the type of music for me
I know she has an amazing voice, but I find it jarring when she (or anyone) goes really high with loads of notes added in and she isn't even singing words - essentially just showing off. Also, pop r&b is probably the only genre I find virtually no enjoyment in. I don't care if millions of people love this album, objectivity can do one. 4.5/10
Almost 1 hour of Mariah Carey? That is...at least, unexpected. A good album if you want to listen to the same song for 50 minutes. That clean and inoffensive hip-hop/pop/soul mix does not mean anything in the end, but I assume that there are some nice songs for some busy days when you won't turn off your mind and do not think or enjoy the music at all.
Mariah Carey, pop darling, is known for her silky smooth voice which has graced 17 albums thus far. This her 5th album. Do you want to know something I didn't know? Carey is credited as the PRODUCER for this album! He made these songs!! All this time I thought she was a pretty face with a voice being used by other producers in the game, but no! She's the songwriter, producer, did her own background vocals too. That's hilarious. Anyway, this album marks a turning point in her discography (from what I read). She pivoted from a more watered-down adult contemporary pop sound to a more hip-hop + R&B sound. This is evident in Honey, the album's opening track. Unfortunately, Honey is also the strongest track as the rest of the album falls back into slow jams that are just okay. It's a bit disappointing because it feels like I listened to the same song in 10 or 11 different ways, just not very engaging. Mariah Carey is a wonderful voice that is delegated to the same shtick over and over and over again. This is also a divorce album, so maybe it's warranted. Marvin Gaye did it better, in my opinion.
Musical pollution. In the case of the people vs. Mariah Carey, this is evidence for the prosecution.
6/3 Mariah's golden voice over flawlessly executed blends of R&B and Hip-Hop production. Standout Tracks: Honey, Butterfly, The Roof (Back In Time), Breakdown, Babydoll, Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)
There’s some really good tracks on this thing. Very mellow, the group vocals and harmonies are really nice, I think some songs feel maybe a tiny bit redundant. Babydoll is a standout. Feels so sexy and groovy. Honestly I had a great time with this lol
Loved the sample from Mobb deep's song (don't know the original sample)
Great voice and respect to her success. Prefer the R&b vibes to the ballads. The R&B stuff is pretty nostalgic of some 90s teenage house party vibes. But on the whole, not for me.
Bit of a gear change from Nick Drake to this one. Gotta say a couple of the poppier tracks are pretty groovy. But her vocalisation is not for me and the rest of the album is just a compilation of RnB ballads which gets boring. Slick production but often feels overproduced. 1 star felt too harsh but it's definitely not for me!
This is my wheelhouse! Loved hearing some R&B; takes me right back to my high school days.
I was under the impression that I did not particularly care for Mariah Carey's music. I was so wrong! I really dig this album. Outstanding.
Mariah Carey Butterfly Honey is a classic. She is really an incredible singer. I love all the super slick production on the 90’s r&b ballads. Well done album the whole way through- I liked the butterfly reprise too. The prince cover is sounds so drastically different from the rest of the album but it works.
Not my usual music, and I find the artist to be unrelatable in interviews I've seen, but this was quite good. Pretty remarkable album, really.
This is earlier Mariah than I was familiar with growing up, but it's great! Her voice is incredible, and I think it does a great job blurring the lines of pop, R&B, and hip-hop. Felt good throughout. Feels like a 3.5 but I'll round up because I found myself grooving!
This album was good. Silky smooth R&B. However, I didn't completely enjoy all of the songs. 4/5 stars.
Solid mix of tunes. A little slow for my liking, but it's cool to see the variety of music genres she brings into her music
Big. Time. Pop. Record. When it was popular I was oh, so, too, cool. I was a dummy then. But I was also distracted by music like Radiohead's "OK Computer," which I think is a worthwhile endeavor. So, I'm giving this record a 4/5 for the impact it had on the people I know who loved it (almost every girl in my life between the ages of 2-20).
Really good album, great beats, harmonies and melodies. Mariah’s singing is still amazing all these years later
syrupy sweet and very "discount sexy" -- breathy hooks and moans, Donna Summer did it better. But Puffy does know what he's doing, it's a solid album.
overplayed but catchy haha. +1 star because its easy to listen to at work.
I decently enjoyed it. Very smooth r&b with some hip hop vibes thrown in. Mariah’s voice is perfection but on a few songs she only sings in a sort of whisper which I don’t find as great. Quite a few really good songs on here though. 7/10
I mean, it's Mariah Carey so it's gonna be good. But that said, this album was worth a listen but not the legendary status where I'd consider it essential for this list. Fave track: "Butterfly", the title track. But this record is no Daydream. Her vocals really "Carey" (har har har) this record. Because even though she has these great whistle tones and amazing technique, and that lives up to the hype, the melodies are meh and the production is just okay. This album reads as much more dated to me than Daydream and the Emancipation of Mimi. And there's the fact that the artist is a serial sexual harasser (funny, isn't it, how the culture dismissed that one during #MeToo) and overalls seems like a shitty person. If I knew her in real life then I'd say I don't know her. Anyway, I digress. Normally this album would be 3 stars but I'm bumping it up one on the strength of the vocals alone.
I wasn't sure what to think about this album at first. This is after the era where I was aware of what Mariah Carey was doing and doesn't contain any of the songs I think of when her name is mentioned. However, at this point I'm three songs deep in the album and I recognize all of them. Moreover, each song has its own thing going on. Some sound more like her earlier work, some presage some of the movements in pop music that would happen in the early 2000s. The hip-hop tracks provide a good balance to the more straightforward R&B tracks. Her vocals are more subdued than a lot of the vocal acrobatics of her earlier work, though the angelic power of her voice is still evident in every track. I do feel like the album bogs down a bit as it goes, but overall it's still a 4/5
Fantastische zangeres, en iets meer R&B dan ik verwachtte. Je merkt waar Beyoncé de mosterd haalde
I'm not a Mariah Carey fan by any means, but this was a pleasant album to have in the background. There's no question that she has talent and it shows on this album.
God, I love her voice. This is not my favorite album of hers. (Music Box is the best followed by Mariah Carey for anyone who is asking. My All is a banger though which is why it deserves a 4 from me. She really can (could?) sing.
me re gusto! fue como escuchar a kali uchis hace 20 años. lo voy a volver a poner, sobretodo para la mañana
SPELLLING! spellling, mi artista favorita de los ultimos años, tiene cosas de mariah carey, la voz, la superposicion de las voces, las melodias, las onomatopeyas "uuuuuuuooooooo" en las canciones, sin el sentimiento y los instrumentos de gospel que tanto identifican a spellling, especialmente turning wheel. Me gustó mucho. También (medio stretch) siento alguuuuuuunas cosas de los bee gees que tambien amo mucho, en las canciones.
Would rate this a 3.5. Not my usual, but it's an interesting mixture of rap and smooth pop.
Luurangot kaapissa vol x: Tykkään Mariah Careyn slovareista. Tällä levyllä niitä on harmillisen vähän ja R&B-kökköilu on suuremmassa roolissa. Ei siis ihan täyskymppi mutta tukeva kolmonen.
Not really my type of thing, but Honey has a cool squelchy bass line. I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.
She does have an incredible voice, and I can certainly see how she influenced pop music at the time. Not really my style, though.
Sensual, feminine, soothing, pretty. Mariah's luscious vocals are on full display. Gorgeous production. Songs mostly address bedroom tenderness, reminiscences, relationships. Overall, this one wraps like a soft embrace. Doesn't speak to me personally but I can appreciate an album well realized.
At first I did not enjoy it because it was way too smooth for my taste, but as it went on I settled on the sound and started to sort of enjoy it. I had no idea which song I was on though because they all sound very similar to me.
First time listening: 8/12 songs liked I much prefer anything upbeat by Mariah Carey: the airy tone she provides becomes TOO airy the slower the song is. Not that disliked the songs on this album, I just like her fast-paced songs more. That said, r&b classic. 2 songs saved
Brings me back to being a kid for sure. Butterflys have a lot of symbolism in my life. So it gets a quite a bit of points on that end. I am not the biggest R&B fan so, I feel like maybe my rating should be taken with a grain of salt. But man, is there a lot of Just AAaahhh or OOOooOOooooOOOss lol.
Raspy, breathy, kind of seductive. Nice beats, but not something I’d play on the regular.
Probably not my favorite Pop album- but they've been so rare on this list that it was quite refreshing
I'm sure there are reasons why other people love this album, I just don't see them personally.
Honey had me seriously turned off, then Butterfly went and turned things around. That said, this isn't normally to my taste.
5/10. Sorry Mariah Carey, you are doomed to be remembered only for your Christmas music.
6/10 great vocal performance of course, but as an album it got a bit boring
3 i guess. not my jam and I did seriously consider a 2, but her vocal skills kept it at a 3.
I find this style of smooth RnB a little monotonous, the best parts of the album for me were when the formula got shaken up a little bit, like on "Breakdown". Everything else was just fine, but it just isn't impactful or bold enough to catch my attention, just kinda slides off me. Mariah is a great singer, though.
Very much not my thing, but made for nice background music while I worked.
Was actually a bit surprised by this album. Had never listened to it and it was better then i thought.
Some good tracks but a bit meh especially for like the best 1001 albums of all time
I actually liked the majority of it. Not every song, but a lot of them I can see why it was a hit, it's quality. Phenomenal vocal control she's got It makes me nostalgic, they don't make music like this anymore.
The Roof (Back in Time) - okej, okej, može se i tako iskoristit sample koji je Mobb Deep napravio za Shook Ones Part II. Prije nekih 13-14 godina bio sam ogromni fan BTNH-a, pa zato i znam Breakdown - koja je za mene klasik. Ne, ovo uopće nije loš album, u većinu slučajeva nije moja porcija paštašute (žalopojke većinom), ali ima dobrih stvari i nek sam ovaj album preslušao. Pod dobre stvari stavljam u potpunosti slijedeće - Honey, The Roof (Back in Time), Breakdown i Close My Eyes.
Nije loš album al mi i nije toliko wau. Možda nisam subjektivna jer mi Mariah nikad nije upala u oko kao neke druge rnb pjevačice 90ih
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did but yeah, all the songs are just a bit samey, and there's just a lot of vocal layers that are kind of buried in the mix and add nothing. When Mariah actually has a strong vocal line to sing, she sounds incredible, it's just a shame that a lot of the album is so washy
I've only listened to Caution which is one of my favorite albums from Mariah Carey, so it was nice to check out some of her older material. While I'm not super into her slow ballad pop cuts on here, it's balanced with the hip-hop influenced bangers and R&B burners. It's a very decent album although it wears its era on its sleeve.
I like my divas a little rougher than this. Mariah Carey is a remarkable singer and I appreciate why this is a popular album. There are some songs that I warmed up to more than I thought I would after several listens. The vocals flit around like… butterflies. There were times I was a bit bored and grew weary of some of the vocals. I think I like Mariah’s pop phase more than this move towards R&B. Still, this is a polished presentation of Mariah Carey’s formidable vocal skills.
I did not love this album. I found it a bit boring. It got me thinking that maybe I don’t care for r&b slow jams…but that’s not right…this particular album just didn’t hit in the right spot for me today.
This gave me a chance to spend some time with Mariah Carey, as generally in the past I had avoided her. I was not previously familiar with any of the songs here, even though they seemed to have been popular. "Honey" isn't the sort of song I would normally pick to listen to, but I found it a somewhat interesting and engaging piece, especially the second time through. Then, there was the rest of the hour of warbling slow jam adult contemporary (maybe best exemplified by "Fourth of July") with a soupçon of hip hop (see "Breakdown"). This very, very extended smooth mood seemed only to be broken by the dancey anthem "Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)" which did inspire me to raise my arms and strut along a bit before going back to the boudoir. I might just feel a little more appreciative of her work, although it's not likely I'll be back. I have, however, filed "Fly Away" for inspiration emergencies.
Ik vroeg me al af waar dit soort albums bleven in deze lijst. Hoewel ik er op voorhand een beetje tegenop zag, kon ik het voor een keer best goed hebben.
I wasn't relishing listening to this album much, but it was more pleasant than I anticipated. That said, it did conform to my preconceptions: silky smooth R&B underlying Mariah's unique voice. Wouldn't listen again, but don't feel that my ears have been violated.
Of course Mariah Carey has a good voice. The production seems a bit dated though and some of the songs read as very shallow (esp that one about growing up too soon) Overall it’s not an unpleasant experience, it could just be so much more