Butterfly

Great

Judging by the first dozen or so reviews I was expecting this to be bloody awful. It actually has really good, catchy pop R&B songs throughout. It even had a hit or two that I recognized. I don't know what people expect, yeah Mariah can over sing, but if I could solo like Hendrix or Van Halen I'd be wailing like a mofo too. But anyway, this isn't the style of my music I'm ever putting on but this album absolutely deserves to be on the list.

Sorry to the other reviewers who can't acknowledge when a Diva is at work.

good background music

אלבום פסיכי כל השירים באנגרים

This was amazing. Mariah’s voice is incredible and I’m fond of her lyricism. You can tell a lot of care went into making this.

I'm sorry Ms. Carey that I've never put on one of your albums before. I've been doing a disservice to myself. Every single song is beauty. This is my Christmas Album. Its getting played all day during Christmas. This makes me realize I messed up my previous ratings cause some of them shouldn't be as close as they are to this one. The whole album got added and saved. It dont sound like something I would listen to daily, but definitely when the mood is right. Now I feel like hootin and hollerin. Im bout to go sing My All in the shower 10/10🔥

Så frydefullt! Gøy å endelig bli satt til å høre på sånn pop æ delvis vokste opp med men aldri helt hadde et nært forhold til.

I’ve been a Mariah fan (Lamb) since I was 8 years old and I’m 37 now. Daydream was my first Mariah album I owned on cassette and I bought Butterfly on CD when it came out. Butterfly is my favorite Mariah album. I’ve spent hundreds of hours listening to it over the past 28 years. To many Lambs, Butterfly is Mariah’s magnum opus. It’s the first album where she’s writing from her own experience instead of generic adult contemporary pop. The lyrics and storytelling are beautiful. She sings about loss, falling in love, lust, and feeling like an outsider because of being racial mixed and the challenges it causes. My favorite tracks are Babydoll, Fourth of July, Honey, and Breakdown. Mariah always incorporated some R&B into her previous albums but I love that she was able to go full out here once she departed from Tommy Mottola. I feel like R&B suits her vocal style better than adult contemporary. The tracks are so dreamy and at times do feel like they are floating like a butterfly. I’m so happy to have gotten this album today.

For all of Mariah’s fame to come after this album, this is her at her best. I absolutely love the true R&B showcased here, while she still has the room to let her vocals shine. Really amazing stuff. Also, the Bone Thugs fit so well on “Breakdown,” and I loved it so much. Best Track: Breakdown

I loveee

My de. Tt hasn’t

Oh Mariah! Crush!

A classic, DUH

To preface, I love Mariah Carey. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" is one of my favorite songs and yes I heard it a million times working retail. Yes Mariah often over sings, to the point of bringing the song down, but I still love it. Each song here is gold and even the Prince cover is not bad, but makes me wish I was just listening to the original. The Butterfly reprise is amazing, and the album as a whole is perfectly produced. It sounds great

solo llevo dos canciones, y sinceramente m tatuaria el album. Chiquito espectaculo, una cosa d locos my all es legal? sin palabras, los tiempos, el ritmo, como juega con los tonos de la voz, la letra... mis bendiciones fouth of july? breakdown? cada cancion m da un microinfarto, que locura estoy blessed

Love

The Golden Hour!

Love

favs: my all

Really enjoyed this, very solid R&B

DSie Musik inst Inressant und schön, natürlich kenne ich die sängerin von namen her

Show de voz. Sonoridade macia, como uma almofada aveludada cor de vinho. Repleto de lindas baladas e de neo-soul saboroso, de ótimo gosto. Produção milenial temperada corretamente para complementar a refeição completa que são os vocais de Carey, tão ternos e apaixonantes. Único defeito é um que sempre digo, a duração. Longo demais, com algumas canções que poderiam ter sido encurtadas para uma experiência mais sucinta. Ainda assim, é um ótimo álbum vindo de alguém que eu subestimava. 4/5

She's the GOAT

this was so fun and good! imagine listening to this on a discman with your feet bent straight up in the air

It's nice to finally hear something of hers that isn't the Christmas album. "The Roof" takes off running with a Mobb Deep sample and partially because of that, it's my favorite song here. I used to have a much larger spot in my life for this smooth, silky 90s R&B but these days it's not something I pay attention to. I wouldn't be shocked if my grandparents owned this CD though.

A vocal gymnast with incredible range. Is the melisma overindulgent? Perhaps. But I would wager that the producers and record label wanted that. By this point she had already told us that she doesn't want a lot for Christmas. I'm guessing that if that song were "All I Want for Today Is You" we would hear a lot less of it AND it would be more universally loved. But that song - in all its brilliance - is not on this record.

Not really my choice of music but undeniably a great album.

This album captures the 90s R&B-Hip-Hop sound that I remembering hearing when I was little. That's not really a sound I gravitate towards, but this was a nice listen - her vocal talent and some of the samples (Mobb Deep and Prince) kept things interesting! During my listen, I really wanted to put "My All" on repeat rather than continue on with the album - it really caught my ears.

A smooth record throughout, and I tended to gravitate towards the more upbeat tracks like “Honey” and “Babydoll,” even though the slower ballads allow Carey to show off her vocal skills more. I was on the fence about this one until I got to the last two tracks. I actually thought I had somehow queued up Purple Rain when “Beautiful Ones” came on. It’s such an inspired production, and didn’t think there was any way to follow it up, but then Carey gives such a powerful performance for the finale.

What a time capsule. Hello, high school.

an album by '90s pop sensation mariah carey. certainly a person who doesn't need a big introduction. this is chart-topping pop music, with r&b and hip-hop sounds sprinkled in throughout. i say "sprinkled" because if you know how mariah carey sings, this is more of the same; there's just some stylish beats on each track and the occasional hip-hop vocalist calling out some phrases or little shouts. her breathy vocal quality, her habit of running and adlibbing all over the place.. it's all here. the sound is objectively very pleasant and there's more than a few pop anthems in here, i just think there's only so many slow-jam ballads i can take.

Oh my, to be 12 again! Honey and all the rest. #nostalgia

I surprisingly enjoyed it, Mariah does have a very pleasant voice and the production is pretty sweet

For about two full years Mariah Carey and this album, especially Honey and Butterfly were EVERYWHERE!

Some bangers and some sweet songs

Not really my kind of music, but I do have a huge crush on Mariah Carey.

I remember this one. not as good as the album before this.

I didn’t mind it, if anything I liked it, I want to so bad just stereotype her and not like her but I fear I can’t

Je savais pas qu'elle avait fait plus d'un son, j'ai bien apprécié qq variations et samples intéressants. Elle a une super voix et elle aime bien susurrer aux oreilles grrr

Mariah at the top of her game! Shes top 5 alltime for sure!

This one has aged better than I expected. Solid musically and stellar vocally.

i had know clue her vocals were gentle, considering my only exposure to her was screaming stupid fucking christmas songs. very very smooth. id be mad as fuck if i was only known for christmas songs when i can make actually really good rnb, but i guess it doesn't matter cuz she gets paid a bajillion dollars every december. good for her. i fw this album heavy

7.5/10

Mariah Carey's *Butterfly* (1997) represents a pivotal moment in her career—an album that marked her artistic emancipation and redefined the intersection of pop, R&B, and hip-hop. Released on September 16, 1997, through Columbia Records, this sixth studio album arrived during a period of intense personal upheaval: Carey's marriage to Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola was dissolving, granting her unprecedented creative freedom that would reshape her musical identity. --- ## **The Context: Emancipation Before *The Emancipation*** *Butterfly* emerged from the ashes of Carey's controlling marriage to Mottola, who had exerted tight creative control over her previous albums. The dissolution of their relationship coincided with the album's production, creating a work that functions as both personal diary and artistic manifesto. Carey herself described this as the moment she "found her voice," and the album's themes of transformation, desire, and liberation reflect her journey from a constrained pop diva to an autonomous R&B artist . Sony executives, including Mottola, feared that Carey's pivot toward hip-hop would alienate her established adult contemporary audience. The album's commercial performance—while still impressive with 10 million copies sold worldwide and a #1 debut on the Billboard 200—was viewed as a disappointment compared to the blockbuster sales of *Music Box* (28 million) and *Daydream* (20 million) . However, this "failure" laid the groundwork for the future of pop-R&B fusion. --- ## **Musical Evolution: From Pop Princess to R&B Architect** ### **Production and Sound** *Butterfly* represents Carey's decisive break from the polished adult contemporary sound that defined her early career. The production credits read like a roadmap of late-90s urban music innovation: - **Sean "Puffy" Combs** and **The Ummah** (Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jay Dee) crafted the lead single "Honey," blending boom-bap drums with airy pop sensibilities - **Trackmasters** (Poke & Tone) and **Cory Rooney** produced "The Roof," sampling Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones Part II" - **Missy Elliott** co-wrote "Babydoll," marking an early collaboration between two future legends - **Walter Afanasieff**, Carey's longtime collaborator, remained for ballads like "Butterfly" and "My All," providing continuity amid the sonic shift The album's sound palette expanded dramatically: vinyl scratches, booming 808s, Latin guitar arpeggios, and house music elements coexisted with Carey's signature balladry. This wasn't merely genre-hopping—it was genre-synthesis. ### **Vocal Transformation** Critics noted Carey's more restrained, intimate vocal approach. Rather than the show-stopping belting of her early hits, *Butterfly* showcases what Slant Magazine's Rich Juzwiak called "the relatively high and thin register that she sings in when not belting... the first time that Mariah the vocalist seems consistently real" . On tracks like "Breakdown," she adopts a staccato, chant-like delivery that mirrors her Bone Thugs-n-Harmony collaborators, while "The Roof" features whispered verses that build to emotional crescendos . --- ## **Lyrical Themes: Desire, Loss, and Self-Actualization** ### **The Architecture of Longing** A dominant theme throughout *Butterfly* is **desire**—not the innocent romantic longing of her earlier work, but a mature, sometimes conflicted yearning for connection, freedom, and self-definition. As one critic noted, "Pre-Butterfly, Mariah's songs were always from the perspective of somebody who longed for love... With Butterfly however, the songs all come from the perspective of somebody who desires to feel true love, or to recapture something they had lost" . **"Butterfly"** (the title track) operates as both breakup letter and self-affirmation. Written from the perspective of what she wished Mottola would say to her, the lyrics—"Spread your wings and prepare to fly / For you have become a butterfly"—transform a narrative of release into one of celebration . The metaphor of metamorphosis permeates the album, suggesting that constraint (the cocoon) was necessary for transformation. **"The Roof"** stands as perhaps the album's most sophisticated narrative—a cinematic account of a clandestine rooftop encounter set against November rain. Sampling Mobb Deep's menacing "Shook Ones Part II," Carey creates a noir-ish atmosphere of sensuality and secrecy. The lyrics detail a fleeting connection ("It was just a matter of time before I fell in love with you") that exists outside conventional relationship structures . **"Close My Eyes"** offers the album's most explicit autobiography, addressing her rise to fame and suffocating marriage: "I was a wayward child / With the weight of the world that I held deep inside... I left the worst unsaid / Let it all dissipate / And I hid behind my face" . The song's confession that she "practically died" but "thankfully woke up in time" cuts to the core of her emotional state during this period . ### **Sexual Liberation and Agency** Tracks like **"Babydoll"** (co-written with Missy Elliott) and **"Honey"** mark Carey's embrace of sexual agency. "Babydoll" pulses with erotic urgency—"I'm gonna leave my cellphone turned on in my purse by the bed"—while "Honey" celebrates physical liberation through its iconic music video imagery of Carey escaping a mansion-prison in a swimsuit . This wasn't merely titillation; it was a declaration of bodily autonomy after years of being packaged as a virginal pop commodity. --- ## **Standout Tracks and Deep Cuts** ### **"Honey"** The album's opening salvo and lead single announced Carey's new direction unequivocally. Sampling The Treacherous Three's "The Body Rock" and World's Famous Supreme Team's "Hey DJ," the track blends hip-hop breaks with a breezy, tropical-pop melody. It became her 12th #1 single and third to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100—a feat no artist had achieved before . ### **"Breakdown" (feat. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony)** Often cited as the album's centerpiece, this collaboration with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony represents Carey's full immersion in hip-hop aesthetics. She adopts their rapid-fire, melodic flow while maintaining her vocal identity. The song's structure—building from spoken verses to harmonized desperation ("I'm gonna break down")—mirrors its lyrical journey from denial to emotional collapse . ### **"My All"** A Latin-tinged ballad that became the album's second #1 hit, "My All" features synthetic guitar arpeggios and Carey's signature whistle register. It serves as a bridge between her past and future—romantically devoted yet musically adventurous . ### **"Fourth of July"** This jazz-influenced deep cut showcases Carey's whistle tones as background vocals from the opening seconds. The lyrics reminisce about a magical holiday encounter, demonstrating her ability to find transcendence in specific, personal moments . ### **"Outside"** The album closer addresses Carey's mixed-race identity and feelings of otherness with unprecedented candor: "It's hard to explain / Inherently, it's just always been strange / Neither here nor there / Always somewhat out of place everywhere" . This exploration of racial identity would become more prominent in her later work. --- ## **Critical Reception: From Mixed to Masterpiece** Contemporary reviews were decidedly lukewarm. *Entertainment Weekly* gave it a B-, with David Browne noting that while the album was "undeniably pleasant," it was also "the last thing anyone would have expected from her: blandly self-effacing" . *Rolling Stone* awarded three stars, acknowledging the production quality but questioning the coherence of the new direction. Robert Christgau of *The Village Voice* dismissed it with a "dud" rating . The Grammy Awards reflected this ambivalence—three nominations (Best R&B Song and Vocal Performance for "Honey," Best Pop Vocal Performance for "Butterfly") but no wins, and notably absent from the major categories . However, retrospective assessment has been overwhelmingly positive. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as "one of Carey's best records," noting that she was "continuing to improve and refine her music, which makes her a rarity among her '90s peers" . Slant Magazine's 4.5/5 star review called it "elegant" and praised Carey's "mature vocals" . By the album's 25th anniversary in 2022, it was widely recognized as her magnum opus—a transformation that took decades to fully appreciate . --- ## **Legacy and Influence** *Butterfly* stands as a foundational text for the pop-R&B-hip-hop fusion that dominates mainstream music today. By proving that a pop superstar could authentically engage with hip-hop without losing commercial viability, Carey paved the way for artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Ariana Grande to navigate similar genre-fluid careers . The album's influence extends to: - **Vocal production**: Demonstrating that pop vocals could be intimate and restrained rather than constantly virtuosic - **Hip-hop collaboration**: Establishing the template for R&B singers working with rap acts as equals rather than gimmicks - **Creative autonomy**: Showing that artistic risk-taking, even with commercial costs, could yield long-term career sustainability --- ## **Pros and Cons** ### **Strengths** | Aspect | Analysis | |--------|----------| | **Artistic Cohesion** | Despite diverse production, the album maintains thematic unity through its focus on transformation and desire | | **Vocal Evolution** | Carey's restrained, nuanced delivery adds emotional authenticity missing from her earlier technical showcases | | **Production Innovation** | Seamless integration of hip-hop elements (samples, flows, beats) into pop-R&B structures | | **Lyrical Maturity** | Personal, specific songwriting that avoids generic romantic platitudes | | **Cultural Impact** | Established the blueprint for pop-R&B-hip-hop fusion that defined the 2000s and beyond | | **Deep Cut Quality** | Album tracks like "The Roof," "Breakdown," and "Fourth of July" match or exceed the singles | ### **Weaknesses** | Aspect | Analysis | |--------|----------| | **Pacing Issues** | The middle section (particularly "Close My Eyes" and "Whenever You Call") can feel ballad-heavy and slow the momentum | | **"The Beautiful Ones" Cover** | The duet with Dru Hill on the Prince classic is widely considered the album's misstep—ill-conceived and less compelling than original material | | **Vocal Intelligibility** | Some critics noted that the airy, whispered delivery occasionally obscures lyrics | | **Commercial Sacrifice** | The deliberate move away from MOR (middle-of-the-road) appeal alienated some of her established fanbase | | **Inconsistent Energy** | The shift from uptempo hip-hop tracks to sparse ballads can feel jarring without the remixes that often accompanied her singles | --- ## **Conclusion** *Butterfly* is not merely an album—it is a document of artistic liberation. In choosing authenticity over accessibility, hip-hop over easy listening, and personal truth over universal palatability, Mariah Carey created a work that was initially misunderstood but ultimately vindicated by history. The album's 10 million copies sold, while modest by her previous standards, represent something more valuable than commercial dominance: the establishment of an artistic identity that would sustain her through decades of changing musical fashions. The caterpillar-to-butterfly metaphor that gives the album its name and central theme proved prophetic. This was not Carey's peak commercial moment, but it was the moment she became the artist she was meant to be—one whose influence would flutter through R&B and pop for generations to come.

90s pop. One of my faves of her. Takes me back.

This album is the turning point for Mariah Carey.Midway it's production a divorse came up with Motola and a heinous conflict with Sony Music.But except all that she could write more mature lyrics and produce the way she wanted,she had Q-Tip,Puff Dadd..sorry Diddy and Missy Elliott in this one.That's why is on this list in case you wondered. Honey,nice breakdown in 3:38 or so.High notes from heaven towards the end. Butterfly,beautiful piano balad.Great lyrics and harmonies as well.A bit of ''Hero'' vibes.Sheer heaven. Vocals are out of this world.Ending singing got me chills. My All,is at the pantheon of balads with great guitar,as ''Unbreak my heart''by Toni Braxton.It's all about the break-up.You can feel her pain.Bring it on sista! The Roof(Back In Time),great hip hop/r'n'b vibes,sensual with many layers of harmonies.Bliss. Fourth Of July,jazzy r'n'b Mariah's style.Not my thing,but still feels good to my ears.A bit of Stevie Wonder vibes.Birds singing at the end. Breakdown,proper r'n'b.Interacting male vocals feels like a lovers conversation.Not my favourite again but feels nothing but boring. Babydoll,same fashion as Breakdown but instead of male vocals we have backing female vocals.Ok that was a bit repetative and boring-sorry. Close My Eyes,great from the beginning,i mean the piano,,wow.Beautiful balad and Mariah's delivery and lyrics are magical.Reminded me a bit of Michael Jackson's balads.One of my favourites. Whenever You Call,strong ''Hero'' vibes in this as well.Fantastic orchestra underneath.Could have been in a soundtrack.Going higher towards the end makes it epic.Also a favourite. Fly Away(Butterfly Reprise),a more eclectic club house remix turn by legendary David Morales and Satoshi Tomiie.Absolutely fantastic.Could have been a great drum 'n' bass remix as well. The Beautiful Ones,great job with sparse delay in snare at times.Bluesy,soulful,Gospel like and spiritual.Very interesting.Again MJ vibes especially towards the end.Great guitar.One of my favourites as well. Outside,how clear the keys are in this one.. Overall it's a great album,except 2 or 3 songs i really enjoyed it,and i'm very eclectic with r'n'b plus it's almost December and Xmas is almost here but i survived a non-Xmas album from MC. 4/5

throwback

4.0

90's R&B...ish. The vocals, as expected, are amazing. She is extremely gifted, just not my thing. The vote is for the quality of the vocals and her range.

SOOOOOO melodramatic. Much more R&B and much less pop than I anticipated. I'd have to listen through her discography to know if this is actually her best, but that seems to be the consensus. This sounded fresh and unique 20 years later and a direction pop music just didn't go. Really consistent production through out and just an incredible voice.

Mariah is the blueprint for all divas, I prefer some of her other releases on pure listenability but this is getting the "Fuck Tommy Mottola" bump. I don't think so, honey, overhead lights.

Where had this album been all my life??? I loved this album. Its more R&B songs were the best in my opinion, which after doing some research seems like it was a newer experimentation for her at the time. These songs were sexxxxxxy, the lyrics, the sound, her voice—no notes. I didn’t fuck with the ballads that were more about herself as much, unfortunately, I’m no better than a man. But My All, Fourth of July, and Baby Doll are going to be on repeat. Perfect music for walking around town.

Honestly I think that being exposed to Mariah Carey once she had her larger than life public facing persona is a disservice. This album is fantastic, deeply “down to earth” and shows me not only her insane vocal range but some of the earlier works she produced in her career. “Whenever you call” was a particular highlight.

My favorite bug!

Sweet melodies and great songwriting

Is this one of the albums you MUST hear before you die? Perhaps not. Did it have some bangers? Yes it did

Sexy!!!

Good

Smoother than expected and quite pleasant

In an era defined by a minimalist turn in alternative music and the burgeoning lo-fi aesthetics of indie rock, Mimi's Butterfly stands as a glorious repudiation of such sensibilities. It is a work that argues for the power of excess, for the virtue of the grand, the sweeping, and the all-encompassing. The album is a testament to the fact that when every element, from the layered vocals to the innovative production and the deeply personal lyrics, is turned up to its maximum, the result is not cacophony, but a sublime and overwhelming masterpiece. Butterfly is a declaration that true artistry is not found in the quiet whispers of a muse, but in the thunderous, undeniable roar of a liberated spirit.

This album has low ratings on here, shocking. 4.

This is good. Not amazing. Strange choice.

Very solid. Some of the most polished and confident R&B of the late century, and possibly 2000s.

On her way to Divadom

Love Mariah, but I typically listen to the singles, so this may have been one of first times I’ve listened straight through an album, and I was surprised that I liked so many of the slower songs on this one. The only song that felt weird and like it didn’t fit was the Dru Hill collab.

Mariah has such amazing range and runs. The songs are lovely, great choral work behind some of them. I don't think this is my favorite of Mariah's albums, but it's solid.

There are some undeniable classics on here for Mariah. I don’t think this is her best work and I hope they didn’t choose this over an album like “Daydream”, but I can’t imagine there’s two Mariah Carey albums on this list, so that’s disappointing. Anyway, the vocals were obviously incredible, unique, and instantly recognizable. The production was everything it needed to be, but seldom more. Instrumentation followed suit. The writing was good, but got repetitive halfway through. Pleasantly, the lyrics were consistently good and kept me interested and I was thrilled to see all but the Prince cover were penned by Mimi herself. She has better albums, but this isn’t a bad pick and I enjoyed listening. 4/5

adri: 8'5, que vozarron. Record merecido. mar: 6, de fondo está bien pero no es mi estilo.

Quite good actually

Magnifique voix, pop de qualité. J'aime beaucoup les espèces de murs d'accords du r&b des 90's ça me ramène à une autre époque dans la cour d'école avec les bonbons à 5 cents et la sloche.

my first Mariah album! i really haven’t delved into rnb too much so this was a nice listen. i’m not crazy about the slower tracks towards the end, they kind of stalled the album for me, but the first half… Fourth of July! Honey! woah. 3.5ish

A few dang good tracks & some other middle of the road r&b. Great singer on the songs

Despite this album not having the all time banger that is Fantasy, it is a pretty solid pop album. Honey and Butterfly were my standout tracks

Surprisingly pleasant. I would have hated it when it was released

Closing credits music

Definitely worth a re-listen. Nice cozy album with some unknown (to me) bangers.

I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would. Subtract a half-star for the P Diddy collab, but then give it back for the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony appearance.

Maybe I'm just feeling generous today, but damn, this was kinda great? Not really my kind of music, but I'm impressed.

I initially hated this, but when I realised every single little thing is in service of Mariah Carey's Voice™ it's actually kind of amazing. It's musically and lyrically so light it needs to be tied down, but just Mariah Carey's Voice™ OMG.

Oh yea, it's hot girl summer baby Butterfly is pure ascension This album is such a vibe I need to lay on the floor and listen to it full blast. I will be getting a noise complaint

Very good but not my thing

wtf this isnt christmas music

Favourite songs: - Honey - Butterfly

Listening to Mariah sing is like listening to Steve Vai play guitar for me. I don’t always care for the overall compositions, but I can not stop listening because she’s is so freaking talented. The tone and flexibility across registers is so mesmerizing. She can sing anything and I’d want to listen.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump down to a 4, but I was definitely at a 5 for a while, and it could easily go back up someday. A while back, I looked at the list – I imagine most people tend to, especially when they’re almost 400 albums in & pretty deeply entrenched & committed to finishing the list. I did a little CTRL+F, and I looked for Mariah Carey, because I kinda figured she’d have to have one, and I fully expected it to be Daydream. Instead, it was this album, and that’s stuck with me – Daydream is the one with Fantasy, One Sweet Day, Always Be My Baby, and some of the other massive hits, and it’s the one that I would think of when noting her presence as one of the biggest artists of the 1990s. Mariah herself has apparently called THIS album her magnum opus, which surprises me. The only track I knew off of this album was the title track, Butterfly, which is a seminal 90s ballad as far as I’m concerned. Past that, though… nobody really talks about the other singles (or tracks) on this album. They don’t really come up in “best of” conversations, and even now, after listening, I’m still a bit baffled about why Daydream wasn’t the pick here. Granted, I’m only baffled because I’m a sucker for pure pop, and this is not quite pure pop – this is pop with far more of an R&B/hip-hop blend, and when it hits, it REALLY fucking hits. There are some great tracks on this album, and I can’t say I ever really disliked any of them. It hits 12 for 12 in terms of like, enjoyability & easy listening, which is what I would expect from a Mariah Carey album. On that count, this album was probably always bound to get at least a 4 from me. However, I do think this suffers from not feeling as timeless as it could be – this production is heavily stuck in 1997, and while it might work for something seminal like Jagged Little Pill, it doesn’t quite work as well here when Mariah just has other songs that actively ARE timeless. That lack of “timelessness” links up to her vocals as well – besides Butterfly (which is again, all-timer as far as I’m concerned) and a few other tracks, I find her to be a bit… “breathy” on this album. Granted, who the fuck am I to critique Mariah Carey’s vocals, but I only say she’s “breathy” in the sense that so many of the choruses & bridges, which have great lyrics, tend to be buried by the production, instrumentals, and her own backing vocals – just enough to make her main vocals, normally a bit more potent & present in the mix on her biggest hits, feel a little lost in the shuffle, and it stops them from having the same impact that they could. The other thing knocking this album down for me is in how many of the tracks here are indeed big bombastic 4 to 5 minute long Celine Dion-esque ballads – Walter Afanasieff, one of the producers of this album, may as well be the Jack Antonoff of the 80s & 90s. Just look at the guy’s work. He is immensely prolific for Mariah’s career, and some of my favorite songs ever by her are steeped in his production. However, I do think Walter sort of stumbles here – I think he let Mariah get a bit self-indulgent around the middle of the album, where so, so many of the songs settle into a “first or second minute is the whole track” sort of phase that slowly becomes a bit tiring to listen to, no matter how great Mariah’s vocals are on those tracks. The same thing rings true with the Prince cover – it’s a great cover, but it’s an absolute momentum stopper on the album for me, because it’s just so tonally different from what surrounds it, and at 7 minutes, it really sucks the air out of the room, and stops “Outside” from truly hitting as the great album closer that it is. All of that said, it’s still Mariah Carey in the 90s, and I’m still a sucker for a lot of this album’s quirks, which is why I’m still at a 4.5 bumped down to a 4 – for as much as I ripped into this album hitting a “most of the tracks feel kinda similar” point, there’s something about them in the moment, where you’re just absolutely stuck in a zen state, mesmerized for a while about how someone can sound THIS goddamn good, with some pretty strong lyrics, where none of those complaints I had truly matter. It’s only when this album escapes that zen state (usually mid-track) where it starts to fall apart a bit, but I was in the zen state for most of the tracks for a long, long while there. I can hear every other female pop star of the mid to late 90s throughout this album, but there’s a few obvious influences in particular – “Fourth of July” feels a lot like a Janet Jackson track, and “Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)” is remarkably similar to “Together Again”, even though Janet’s album came out after this one. There’s a bit of Celine Dion, obviously, but I’m surprised at how much of this album feels like Whitney Houston’s late 90s / early 2000s stuff; “Breakdown”, “Baby Doll” & “Close My Eyes” in particular struck me as very Whitney-esque, which makes it even more criminal she doesn’t have a damn album on this list. Truly insane to me. Realistically, I’ve almost talked myself back up into a 5, but trust me; I can understand why people might give this a 3, a 2, or even a 1. It’s a bit self-indulgent at times, Mariah’s not as captivating as she could be, and its production, for as good as I think it is, feels remarkably dated 28 years later, which sticks out compared to her bigger hits. Honestly, though, there’s not a single bad individual track here as far as I’m concerned, just an album experience that collapses a bit under its own weight and ambition. It is a style & and a time period that I’m just an absolute sucker for – this is directly right at that 4.5 line for me, but this does have enough little flaws that build up over time to the point where I have to bump it down to a 4 on a first listen, but if it ever clicks better on another day, I’m shooting straight up to a 5. I totally recommend it regardless -- it is unabashedly my style, and I won't apologize for that. It still probably should’ve been Daydream, though. (P.S., shoutout to the Mobb Deep sample on "The Roof". Sick, sick sample flip.)

I love Mariah Carey. I am biased. This is not a perfect album though a few songs are a miss but overall still great

4!

Very 90s and the production is sick. In did vibe to it even though it wasn't my think. This album is a 3 for me but a light 4 for it's mixing and sounding quality.

Quite lovely

I am not going to turn this review into a TED talk about the music industry. However, it is remarkable to me that Mariah Carey is obscured by so many other "pop" singers now-a-days who frankly can't reach her range. I don't know sometimes what happens to musicians and bands that are truly outstanding and fade into the distance. The collaborations on this album and the diversity of genre is refreshing. Well, at least it fits as a great example of an album that SHOULD be on a list of must hear albums.

I'm loving the nostalgia this album has. I never really listened to MC other than what they played on the radio, but she's got such a beautiful voice omg!! I really loved My All holy shit! That went right into my Liked songs. gonna re listen to it right now actually. Man so beautiful!

Diddy jumpscare track one 7/10 love rnb

I am not a pop fan. But this album with Mariah incredible voice is one of a kind.

Great album showcasing some of the best 90's R&B had to offer. I feel like you don't hear the singles off this album as much as the singles off her previous album, which makes it feel less timeless than Daydream but it's still a great album.

it was fine, just sounded like mariah carey, not really my style

She is a lot closer to hiphop than I ever realized

While pulling out my old CD, ended up finding that at some point I had also ended up with a bootleg of it.

4☆/5 07.31.2024

Amazing voice, but prone to using gymnastics in the wrong spots at times

Man I love ballads. Sure it's the most groundbreaking or interesting music or anything, but wow it sounds good. Generational vocal talent and swoony love songs, what else can you ask for. I liked everything except for when I got a little bored during the 3 song stretch between Fourth of July and Babydoll. Also wasn't a big fan of the Butterfly Reprise, but I'm still giving this a 4

Her voice, obviously, like wow. Slow jams.

Classic R&B. Don’t really like her voice but can’t deny it

It was okay

Now we're talking! Late 90s diva pop.

7/10 not really for me but I can still appreciate it :)

Mariah Carey - Butterfly I listened to the first two albums from Mariah, but never really took the time to listen to the the albums that came after. This album has the same feel as those earlier albums, but with a P. Diddy flare. Lots of guest artists from the day as well. I feel like there are better representations for Mariah over this album, but it's still a good album. 4/5

No hay voz como la suya. Podría escucharla para siempre.

pretty good yeah

Crazy voice we all know it. I can truly only listen to so many runs in one sitting but good for her. Would listen intently if soemone put it on.

A time capsule. 90s r&b. Mariah Carey elevates this above the usual 90s r&b noise. A truly stunning voice. 8/10

90's classic R&b. Her voice is still one of the best.

Not my favorite, but still great!

Pretty good as an album, her voice is lovely and the songs had decent variation. Would potentially listen again.

Great voice. Not my favorite style of music.

Well. Mariah is full voiced and absolutely bringing it here. Her tone is angelic and the songs themselves are catchy and mostly upbeat. The love ballads feel full and sincere and the features work to juxtapose Mariah superbly.

Let me start by saying Mariah has one of the most incredible voices of all time. She shows it off on some of the softer tracks or ballads like Butterfly, My All, Close My Eyes, Whenever You Call (those are my favorites). She absolutely deserves at least one album on the 1,001 list but this is a strange pick for me. Yes, it solidifies her metamorphosis into a new genre. But she started that transition on the previous album Daydream. And if we want to reward her reinventing herself, why not the even more surprising album The Emancipation of Mimi, which was her comeback 8 years later. Or just take her self-titled debut, when she and that voice came out of nowhere. I don't know, this album just doesn't feel like it capitalizes on Mariah's talents like it should even if her songwriting improved (per the critics). It feels a bit like the hip hop is forced in on songs like Honey or Breakdown rather than nicely blending. There just seemed to be a bit more harmony on some of her previous album collaborations (e.g., with Boyz II Men) than here with overlays of P Diddy or Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, though the latter collaboration is better. And The Roof and Babydoll are also fairly hip hop, but sound better to me because they focus more on Mariah with subtle contributions from backup female singers. I don't think this album is quite a 4 but it's at least a 3.5. And I'm giving her a bump for that voice.

Listened Before? Y This has long been one of my 'guilty pleasure' albums. Her voice was peaking on this one, and she avoided a lot of the high-pitched gimmick from her early work. It's appropriate that the first song is "Honey" because that's exactly what her voice evokes. Simply a great pop record. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Honey, Breakdown

it's great to listen to someone that can sing really well

vildt god imo 🤷 gode produktioner, sindssyg stemme, definitiv lyd for æraen

Butterfly is the sixth album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It's an R&B/hip hop album that is considered a turning point in Carey's career, because she moved away from traditional pop to more urban R&B music. This album is certified quintuple platinum in the US and received widespread critical acclaim. Although this Carey album has a more "urban" feel, she is still able to control her voice to soften it for some songs. She can both belt out loud high's, while charming listeners with airy whispers. This was a big part that made this album amazing. It's a great Mariah Carey album and probably my favorite I've listened to so far.

This is a classic R&B album of the late 90s, one of the best. Rich production, that utilizes some of the typical bells and whistles of the era, but always keeps Mariah at the center, where she should be. And my, doesn't Mariah sound like an angel? Fave Songs: Butterfly, The Roof, Breakdown, My All, Honey, Fourth of July

Really good. Could use a few more memorable melodies, but overall good.

Cool album

A fun one with a lot of good see cuts I hadn’t heard! A classic for a reason.

Disclaimer: I am not an R&B fan, never listened to this album before. This album feels really representative of the time it came out. I was pretty young, but I seem to remember a lot of music on the pop stations around that time having this style of late '90s R&B. Now, again, I'm no expert on R&B, so I can't really say whether Mariah started the wave or just rode it, but this does scratch a certain nostalgic itch for me.

Classic tracks by a major artist. Not really my jam though.

It doesn’t have quite the high moments as Daydream (Fantasy, Always Be My Baby, One Sweet Day), but it clearly builds on and experiments with the success of those hip-hop/soul-influenced-pop formulas. Honey is a smooth album all the way through. Standout: Fly Away was a fun moment. 4/5.

vuelve a quedar demostrado que el pop lo es todo para mi. 8/10

Not my music but generally speaking a great commercial album

I think it's impressive how Mariah can adapt to basically any track. On another singer's record, the gamut of gospel, R&B, hip-hop, and pop might sound strange, but for the most part Mariah fits perfectly in. A few duds here, but otherwise solid album. Favorite tracks: "My All", "The Roof", "Breakdown"

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.

rnb sensual y buenos feats

me re gusto! fue como escuchar a kali uchis hace 20 años. lo voy a volver a poner, sobretodo para la mañana

good rnb

first listen pretty good r&b

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.

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.

Очень приятный R'n'B альбом, в своём жанре звучит ближе к блюзу и джазу по лёгкости звучания.

Fantastische zangeres, en iets meer R&B dan ik verwachtte. Je merkt waar Beyoncé de mosterd haalde

Prachtige stem , mooie songs!

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

Nice enough, liked Beautiful Ones.

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 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

overplayed but catchy haha. +1 star because its easy to listen to at work.

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.

Really good album, great beats, harmonies and melodies. Mariah’s singing is still amazing all these years later

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).

Is good, not a big fan of the constant yodeling.

Muy buen disco

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

Imagine singing like that

This album was good. Silky smooth R&B. However, I didn't completely enjoy all of the songs. 4/5 stars.

3.5

Cet album avait marqué mon entrée dans le générateur. J'étais alors rempli d'insouciance, pensant que celui-ci allait m'ouvrir l'esprit. Trois ans plus tard, la seule chose que j'ai réussi à ouvrir est le crâne de Robert après l'avoir rué de coups.

quelle voix, 4/5

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!

I liked it more then I expected.

Surprising enjoyable.

I forgot that she's much more than "All I Want for Christmas."

She’s such a talented singer it’s sad her reputation kind of ruins it

Not a fan but her voice is unique and I did like a couple of songs on this album, especially My All.

010726 17:55 3.5

Mariah got pipes. That's all though. Very standard late 90's popballad album. Don't really see why it's on the list.

Maria Carey has an amazing voice, and this album shows that. However, beyond that I don't feel any particular love for this album, the music is very much of its time and not super interesting. Each song feels very much the same. Decent album I just don't care fore

Butterfly hat starke Momente, aber für mich wirkt es oft wie ein sehr glattes, sehr 90s‑R&B‑Popalbum, das mehr Atmosphäre als echte Highlights liefert.

linda voz, linda diva, mas meio pressão baixa né...

Solid pop album but 1 hour 40 mins is crazy

She has a beautiful voice and is obviously an icon, but the songs were painful to sit through. At a certain point girl just get the word out not everything needs to be a run

Sessão nostalgia anos 2000.. Claro, o disco é de 97, mas a vibe R&B é a mesma das músicas que cresci ouvindo na década seguinte. Inclusive, o disco é do ano em que vim a este plano, e a deusa norte americana ainda fez uma música com o mês em que nasci. Por pouco não acertou até o dia lol Whatever.. É um disco legal de R&B mas ainda assim bem maçante.. não teve muitos hits como os outros discos da cantora, porém já demonstrava um baita potencial.

Nice

This was fun to listen to. Interesting wiki read too - this album was my intro to Mariah Carey as a young teenager, so at the time I didn't understand that this was a departure from her earlier work and image.

It's perfectly cromulent, but I didn't overly enjoy it.

3/5

Pretty decent enough, but it's quite dated and way too samey.

Day888 - mariah is on the mt rushmore of pop divas but other than butterfly this album has got too much of the sean combs production sound.

Honey, this wasn’t really my thing, but I did give it My All.

It’s Mimi’s world. We’re all just living in it.

not as bad as i expected but gets pretty boring towards the end 6/10 Favourite: Honey Least Favourite: The Beautiful Ones

I would have chosen Daydream or Music Box for the only Mariah Carey album on the list, but maybe that's because I prefer the "opening garage doors" era Mariah more.

Thoughts before listening: I'm sure this is great, but I've just never felt the urge to listen to any Mariah Carey album. That being said, something tells me the nostalgia factor will be off the charts with this one, and Mariah certainly has a great voice. Review: You know most of this album fell into pop/r&b territory that I just don't connect with. I know its well written, sounds great, and Mariah's voice is amazing, but it just isn't what I listen to. The hits were fun to listen to, but even those really weren't doing a ton for me. Then "The Beautiful Ones" dropped and this Prince cover hit hard complete with guitar solos and it absolutely works for me. I'll give this 3-stars.

idk r&b is fine. Mariah is remarkable

Gospel infused everything. It all feels a little bit gospel, some very much on the nose, but probably more a bit less direct. When it's being hip hop or R&B or a little bit Dancey, it's always being a bit gospel. I think that's what I like about it. I think there's a big part of me that grew up with pop a little bit like this as generic background music, and that part of me feels like the whole thing is plastic and insincere. The wavering and whistle tone singing takes things more into that camp. But there's definitely a lot of credible musical heart here too.

Like butter. Her voice is amazing. Does she overdo it a bit at times? Yes, but she’s Mariah and can do whatever she wants.

Liked the vibe. Voice was a bit too whiny for me. Won't listen to it again. Maybe other work from this singer

I liked the first couple of tracks and then I felt a lot of songs sounded really similar. Can’t fault her voice. My all is a great song. Didn’t particularly find the album interesting

Mariah Carey will always have the reputation of being the one who made All I Want For Christmas, but she is actually an important 90s r&b icon. Her voice is smooth and cozy like a warm blanket. The production does a great job at capturing the era, it's sensual, groovy and combines parts of old soul, modern r&b and some hip hop. Apart from the title track which is a boring millenial pop ballad (a similar thing is fone way better on My All), the album starts off pretty great. Honey has some really sticky vocal lines and great production. The Mobb Deep samples on The Roof work better than they have any right to and Breakdown also incorporates hip hop elements very tastefully. Unfortunately after that point the record leans more into ballads and gets rather underwhelming. There is some good songs still but not nearly enough gas in the tank to keep things interesting.

Mariah Carey is groundbreaking in her own way, and this album is filled with many hits. Her airy voice is an interesting choice, but not really for me.

Mariah may be a very talented singer but I could never listen to this again.

Above average pop, r&b album. 3.3/5

Honey and Whenever You Call are great. The rest didn’t do much for me. I prefer her Daydream album.

"Butterfly"and "My All" are perfect, "Honey" is nice.

On Butterfly, Mariah Carey evolved her style from Adult Contemporary into a more modern and *urban*-inspired Pop sound, most likely due to the huge success of Tom Tom Club-sampling "Fantasy" from her previous album. Granted, Mariah's output quality would take a HUGE slump right after this. This album is alright, nothing too special, really. I do understand its inclusion, although it could have been another Mariah album instead. Just at least one Mariah album, to represent how important she and other big-voiced singers were in the music world at the time, and we're not going to get any Céline Dion or Whitney Houston records on this list. Key tracks: Honey Butterfly My All

Slightly less ballads than the other Mariah so it is slightly better. I do wish that she would come up with some better songs to sing with her amazing voice though.

There’s no denying the singing talent of Mariah, but all of these songs kind of run together - at least on first listen. That’s not necessarily bad, there’s nothing unpleasant, but there’s just nothing that really stands out after Honey.

Unfortunately the repetitive themes in each track take away from the overall emotion this album produces. The vocals and production are so tight, so groovy, so full of soul. I can only listen to songs of lost love and longing for so long through….

Solid R&B joint. Good beats. Great voice. It doesn't amount to anything super outstanding though, and Christmas continues to overshadow her 😭 Standouts: Honey • Breakdown • Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise) • The Beautiful Ones

I can't deny her talent, but Mariah Carey always sings like she is trying to beat the track into submission with her voice. On the songs where she lets the music breathe, like Close My Eyes, I get a vision of what this album could have been.

Mariah has the personality on this to evaluate a sunny day but I prefer her pop stuff way more.

Not a fan, even in retrospect.

I know it's Mariah Carey, but why are we whispering. Favourite song: Close My Eyes

she can really sing and that is really all this has going for it. the lyrics are trite, the songwriting is neither interesting itself nor shows off the vocals enough to compensate, and the arrangements are deeply unremarkable.

Listened first to the EP of Butterfly and that is much better.

Pretty cool r&b

Loved the hits. The others are okay.

The lyrics are so unintentionally funny, but damn it if she doesn't have a great voice. I also couldn't help comparing this to Adele while listening. Whereas Adele relies entirely on her voice, with the instrumentation and melodies as afterthoughts, Mariah Carey goes to a little effort to develop music with a focus on melody. Imagine my surprise to see the average rating on this album be more than an entire star lower than the Adele albums on this list. It must be because of the lyrics, but doesn't make much sense. That said, this is a little long and certainly too syrupy for sustained enjoyment. 2.5/5.0: Mixed

Mariah is a one of one talent vocally, but this isn't my style and P. Diddy ad libs are a jump scare in this day and age.

Did listen and I did enjoy

Man Mariah has a VOICE, undoubtedly the best part of this album. This is very nice sounding but nothing too innovative, some good tracks but a bit of filler as well

It's Mariah Carey, what would you expect? This is what the 90s RNB scene was like, with her smooth vocals and a well-produced sound. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's not horrible to listen to.

She legitimately has a good voice. But, as is the case with most pop stars, the songs are purposefully bland. It’s a shame that her catalog is mostly Disney ballads and whispering whistle scales. Fly Away is a good example of how much better her voice sounds when she sings in a more soulful/gospel style. Overall, this is probably fine for the slow jam rotation. Honey is still a bop. It was fun to learn about her affair with Derek Jeter. But that’s about it for me. 3/5

This is pretty and has a few tracks I really enjoyed (“Honey,” “Close My Eyes,” “Whenever You Call,” “Outside”). It can get a little repetitive at times. Mariah’s voice is impeccable, but I don’t know if the breathy vocal style she uses a lot on this album is the best showcase for that.

pas exceptionnel

Expected to like it more. I liked “the roof”

Ah, Mariah Carey, the bane of every retail worker's existence near Christmas time especially when the store they work at blares "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOUUUUUU". Honestly it would have made more sense for me to get Butterfly during Christmas due to that very popular Christmas song of hers. It probably wouldn't change my opinion as i would still think that this album is alright. The production here is solidly handled and Mariah did a good job on the vocals. The problem is how samey this album gets. Nearly every song has literally the exact same sound with minimal changes which makes this album feel like it's a bit too long. It sounds good, it just could have benefited from being shorter. Best Song: The Roof (Back In Time) Worst Song: Outside

I think she has significant talent. The taint of Puff Daddy is affecting my view of the album as a whole with the first track Honey sounding very much like it could have been on a Bad Boy compilation cd at the time.

Pleasant enough without challenging the listener in any way. Very impressive voice as always and we’ll always have Christmas!

I guess she has a decent voice, but it’s all a bit naff for my liking - not proper Aretha, Ela soul, more generic R&B

You know what. Not my style of music but Carey has a generational voice and the songs all pass by rather pleasantly.

First things first: Mariah Carey has a great voice, far be it from me to deny that. However, there are two large issues I had with this album: First, she often keeps on a note and then just drags it out while styling on it. That is not impressive to me, it is just annoying. Second, the lyrics she performs are too similar throughout the entire album and they are never more than average. So all in all, I think this album is very much middling, not really great but not awful either. Best songs are Butterfly and The Roof. 5/10, maybe a different songwriter can help her use her potential.

Some bangers on here for sure but the rest of the album just doesn’t hold up. The big songs I played on repeat and the others I was eye-rolling through

I enjoyed this album while I was listening to it, but the moment it was over I forgot all the songs on it. Even after a second listen I'm having trouble recalling anything like melodies or hooks. It was good, and I can see certain moments in life this was made to soundtrack, but it's not going in my playlists.

Undeniably talent, not my normal listen

I find the songs like the first couple on this album a little funny to be honest. Gradually I actually came to appreciate some of the production and writing on this album, even though it is very 90's. Not the biggest fan of the singing, even though she's "obviously" a great singer. I think it's a bit too... flashy - or overdone I guess...

Fun

My All - 100/10. Остальное - обычная Мэрайя, какой я ее знаю.

90s R&B staple. Mariah forever the goat.

Album #1,051 We know she can sing. She knows she can sing. She does it well here, a little too much to be honest. This is just an average album for this list. Personally I would have preferred her earlier, poppier stuff, songs that I had heard before. My favorite of hers is Hero. But this is OK I guess.

Not my favourite type of music at all. She's not a terrible singer. In fact she is talented. But this is too long for what it is. It's super repetitive. All the songs sound exactly the same to me.

nice voice

Beautiful album and voice. Chill R&B vibes

This album is OK but I prefer Mariah's earlier work. She still has incredible vocal control and range, but she sometimes uses more of a "breathy" style. The song "All My" is great. The rest is just OK.

Sarah liked it, I thought it was ok

Aight

6.5 / 10

Had a really hard reviewing this for some reason, and deciding whether I liked it a lot. I think I concluded that it was alright? I mean it doesn't move me, but doesn't make me want to turn it off either. R&B isn't really my thing, so it mostly passed by unnoticed. Mariah Carey sings well, but can't say much more than that.

The woman can sing. She has been kissed on the vocal chords by God. The songs however, seem to have been written to show what notes she can hit rather than to say anything worth saying. The fact that they all sound so sameish speaks volumes. It is an ok album as background music but for someone so prodigiously talented it feels underwhelming

החצי הראשון של האלבום הזה די מטורף החצי השני ירידה משמעותית ברמה איכשהו נב my all נשמע כמו שיר יום זיכרון רק באנגלית (לטובה)

It's bubblegum. There's nothing wrong with that. There are some surprisingly good tunes on here, aside from the hits. The Roof is a quality song, as is Babydoll. It's kinda samey like a lot of mainstream pop. Also, that cover of Prince's "The Beautiful Ones" is just...bad. But you know what you're getting into here. And she does have a gorgeous voice.

Did nothing for. She sings high pitched and is the most popular Xmas song cover artist. Nothing exciting here. Exactly as expected adult contemporary r&b. I think she got more ghetto on her next record.

I think I like Mariah’s greatest hits more than a full album. Not sure I know her catalog well but surprised to see this versus others that I would assume have bigger hits. So I guess this is more critically acclaimed? Regardless, a few songs I liked but a lot of this seemed like a lot of falsetto with the occasional run. 2.5 but rounding up.

Rounding up cuz it's Mariah, but surprised to see this on the list... 2.75/5

A mesma música várias vezes seguidas

Typical 90s R&B. I enjoy Mariah's Daydream album substantially more than this one. Maybe it's because Fantasy is such a banger (mostly because Genius of Love is such a banger).

Tiene un flow muy bonito

Beautiful voice, just okay group of songs.

Feels like a middle school dance. The hits are a fun throwback. The rest is trash

Good pop music

90er pop for fuld udblæsning. Meget lækkert

3/5 The production mostly saved this album for me. The lyricism was just surrounding the same theme of 'love', which is fine, but it gets a little tiring after a while. I loved the R&B-ness of it all and Mariah's voice is wonderful. No song felt the same, and that's hard to do with this genre I feel.

Mariah has some pipes! I didn’t recognize any songs on this, but she can sing. I dug the more hip-hop infused songs more that the more ballad-y ones.

Overall Rating - 3.00/5 (6.00/10). She's a very talented singer with excellent range and a very nice voice. I just don't care for the style.

6/10

nothing super memorable, but i loved the vibe and overall it was pretty good.

Pienso que es mejor Music Box o Daydream, y aún mejor un grandes éxitos porque Mariah los tiene para deslumbrar a cualquiera. Es una de las artistas con más números uno, y con merecimiento. Ha estado más semanas en el nº1 Billborad que nadie, y tiene más números que 1 que nadie salvo los Beatles. Además del record con Boyz II Men por One Sweet Day... Este es el disco del que más orgullosa está, un paso adelante según ella aunque a mi me parece un retorno a Janet Jackson o TLC. Aún así tiene calidad a raudales. My all es el clásico del disco sin lugar a dudas. El resto es R&B bien producido.

I really wanted to rate this two stars, I hate listening to it, but realistically the skill and the quality is there

It's fine. Mariah is fine. Rappers like her because you can rhyme her name with "fire" or "higher."

Great artist with a great voice. the songs on this album isn't amongst her best songs for me though. Still great to hear her sing.

Mariah's voice is excellent, but the songs on this album are bland as hell. She could have done better if she had a different team around her. Overall it was ok, 3/5

I have a ton of respect for her facility as a singer but I rarely like her music. That said this was a well composed album and wasn't entirely unwelcome on a Christmas day. It's fine.

Too much falsetto, uneven album and p diddy

Such a pretty voice but overall the songs didn't really match my vibe, except for "My All".

Quite a talent.

I can appreciate this album. But I will admit, every song sounded the same to me and if asked I wouldn't have been able to tell you which was which in the moment

mariah carey I was not familiar with your game (Ive been living under a rock, yes) this is the type of album thats not for me but I can recognize as great it is just a bit two slow inside the r&b spectrum and I have adhd

I appreciated this album. Not enough to put it in my personal library, but I did enjoy a few of the songs. It's just not my jam. 3/5

The epitome of black 90s RnB, almost too much so for me…. I prefer alternative music (including rnb) also wasn’t feeling some of gospel type feel to some the songs but there’s no bad songs. Wouldn’t listen to this album again though. Saved (1/12): - I GIVE MY ALLLLL (already had this one saved) - The Beautiful ones - Fourth of July

REALLY thought hard about giving this 4 stars. Mariah has the voice of a generation, one that I don’t think anybody will ever surpass. But the album isn’t necessarily one that I want to visit again. Tough call…

Even when you manage to dodge her for most of December, the universe invents new, twisted ways for her to get you. It was good at first but it gets quite samey. The tracks would probably sound better listened to one at a time, but together they blend together a bit. I might listen to a track or two again at some point, but probably not the album as a whole.

I had only heard My All before this. Very lovely vocals. There's not a lot of variety, but also not very strong Hip Hop influences.

Beautiful vocals over some typical 90s songs.

3/5

Mariah Carey is a very talented singer and a Hall of Famer. I’m just not into her. I get annoyed with the runs and showiness. There are plenty of good songs on this album. I would have never listened to the five songs I listened to if not for the 1,001 Albums list, but I quickly became disinterested and quit. It’s just not for me, dawg. On to the next.

I mean…there’s nothing wrong with it, but how did they end up picking this album when she has a lot of well known stuff?

Það verður ekki frá henni tekið. Hún er alveg mögnuð söngkona. Mér finnst samt lögin aldrei ná neinu flugi en þessi plata er mjög hugljúf og sómar sér vel sem bakgrunnstónlist við hin ýmsu tilefni.

My All x Phantom The Roof x Vienna Fourth of July: Bass 👌 Breakdown: Drums 👌 Babydoll: top bang track

I simply do not understand how she packs that many melismas in one song

I'm sorry, I just can't. This is album isn't for me, and it's the first one I just can't bring myself to listen to. I have a ton of respect for her talent. It's just music that I don't want to listen to. I'll leave 3 stars to be neutral

3.1 2x liked it better than expected. start of album is great but dwindles down for the second half.

Fine enough, if more subdued than I’d like, but I can’t help but feel like they choose the wrong Mariah album. Daydream or even the Christmas album would have been a lot more representative. Still, My All is one of my favorite hits of hers that doesn’t get enough credit.

Smooth songs. Fun album and the mobb deep sample was unexpected, but cool. Didn't save anything to my library tho.

Some truly classic songs here, some fun and decent '90s R&B songs and some cheesy and generic ballads... I'm not sure how well it actually aged and how much is just nostalgia but I still liked it alright.

Cover 6 She's got a lot of great songs. There are certainly great songs on this album and the overall affect of the album is a good one. I haven't listened to R&B in a long while, except on occasional spurts throughout the years. I can tell this would be a top 100 best album of all time for those who do. For me, while I do like it, it wouldn't be up there but that's just a matter of taste.

I think I like more Pop Mariah than I do R&B Mariah and that is what this is. She can sing but the whole flow of the album is too slow for me.

I would definitely listen to this album again. I don't usually listen to pop music, but this one was very well polished. There are tracks that are impossible to miss.

I owned this album as a teenager! I didn't like it as much as Daydream, but there are some standout tracks like Honey, The Roof, and Close My Eyes. (I actually don't think I ever listened to any of the songs after Close My Eyes when I owned this on CD.)

The first song “honey” was lit but the rest was just alright to pretty good

++: The Roof (Back in Time), Fourth of July, Babydoll, Fly Away, The Beautiful Ones, Outside +: Honey, Breakdown +-: Butterfly, My All, Close My Eyes, Whenever You Call 6,4/10

Meh pop

Mariah’s voice is fantastic, but the songwriting here leaves something to be desired. Really says something when far and away the best song here is a Prince cover. I liked this. Favorite songs were The Roof, Breakdown, and The Beautiful Ones.

I liked it more than I was expecting. Mariah’s voice is obviously great, but many reviews said the songwriting wasn’t that good, and sure it isn’t world class, but it works. An hour is a bit longer than this album needs to be, it feels like a lot of these songs could and probably should have been shortened, but this was enjoyable. I was worried that this would be a repeat of my experience with Justin Timberlake’s Justified where I could feel my brain slowly turning to mush, but this was way better. However, I’m not entirely sure why I needed to hear this before I die. 3/5

top 3: - honey - the roof (back in time) - breakdown

Good album. Though we don't experience Mariah's vocal range, she still has such a great voice.

If you're like me, you've heard just one song from Mariah Carey (and we all know which song that is). And your opinion of her music is ambivalent in virtue of this track's extremely overdone vocals and the fact that it's played everywhere. Maybe you're worried that this will just be an hour of the same pain. Well, behold: Butterfly is noticeably better – or at least, it starts off that way. We begin with Honey, a hip-hop-inspired track with lots of different frequencies playing at once. It gives the ear a lot to latch onto, and though it could be overwhelming, I found myself really enjoying it (excluding the triangle which is a bit annoying). Light, magical, and unabashedly feminine. Carey absolutely nailed the atmosphere. She finds this delicate, vulnerable, expressive, and technically near-perfect vocal tone in the next two songs. It sounds so darn good. At least until she hits some of the higher-intensity parts in My All, where her note-warbling gets old very quickly. (Not every melody needs to be riffed and wobbled over, Mariah.) Whenever You Call has the same problem. The main issue is, once you get over the initial awe of her utterly magical vocal, you realise the songs (particularly from Babydoll onward) just aren't that good. The instrumentation is lacking in songs like Fourth of July, Whenever You Call, and The Beautiful Ones. That by no means drops my rating down to a 2 or a 1, but it's worth considering. An important element of any album is consistency, so if you only have a few strong tracks released as singles and the rest is sloppy and musically uninteresting, you didn't do a great job. There are a lot of things in this album that seem a little low-effort, including the album artwork, which feels like Carey said to the producers, "Hey, I can be a pretty girl just standing there. Holding a butterfly. Get it? Like the name of the album. Wink wink." Even though there are plenty of weak elements to point out, I'm convinced people don't like this because of the weak album cover and because they have some vendetta against Carey for her past crimes. 3/5 Key tracks: Butterfly, My All, Breakdown

Pretty, but flimsy voice and weak runs

Great voice, but she knows it.

I can’t stand the high pitch bird squawk that Mariah belts out. I don’t care if that’s talent or not. She can sing though and she can create catchy music. This isn’t my cup of tea as it’s too showy and I feel like that takes from whatever message this album is trying to say. There’s better stuff out there

There were some nice songs here. She has a great voice but sometimes it seems unfocused. Pretty good example of late 90's radio R&B.

5/10…r&b