Butterfly (Mariah Carey song)

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Butterfly"
Single by Mariah Carey
from the album Butterfly
B-side
ReleasedSeptember 1997 (1997-09)
Recorded1997
StudioCompass Point (The Bahamas)
Genre
Length4:34
LabelColumbia
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Mariah Carey
Producer(s)
  • Mariah Carey
  • Walter Afanasieff
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"Honey"
(1997)
"Butterfly"
(1997)
"Breakdown"
(1998)
Music video
"Butterfly" on YouTube

"Butterfly" is a song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her sixth studio album Butterfly (1997). Columbia Records released it as the second single from the album in September 1997. Written by Carey from the perspective of her husband, Columbia executive Tommy Mottola, the lyrics are about what she wished he would have told her amid their separation. Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff to produce the song and compose its music, which features keyboards, synthesizers, and programmed drums. She adopts a restrained vocal style that gradually evolves from whispers at the beginning to chest voice near its conclusion. A pop, pop gospel, and R&B ballad, "Butterfly" was originally conceived as the house record "Fly Away" (Butterfly Reprise). Carey co-produced the latter with David Morales; it appears on both the album and as the single's B-side.

Critics considered "Butterfly" one of the album's best songs and one of Carey's premier vocal performances. It received a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 1998 Grammy Awards. Reception for the music and lyrics was more varied. A moderate success on music charts worldwide, "Butterfly" peaked within the top ten in Taiwan and on radio airplay charts in Croatia and Spain. It reached number sixteen on Hot 100 Airplay in the United States, Carey's worst performance on the chart at the time. In the United Kingdom, "Butterfly" peaked at number twenty-two and ended her streak of twelve consecutive top ten singles dating to 1992.

Carey directed the song's music video with Daniel Pearl. It depicts her escaping a house and interacting with horses. She performed "Butterfly" live on American television programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live, and the Late Show with David Letterman. In 1998, she sang it during the Butterfly World Tour. "Butterfly" is ranked high in retrospective lists ranking Carey's songs. It appears on her compilation albums Greatest Hits (2001) and The Ballads (2008).

Background and release[edit]

American singer Mariah Carey concluded her successful Daydream World Tour in June 1996. After returning to the United States, she began contemplating her future and conceptualizing the follow-up to her 1995 album Daydream. Her marriage with Tommy Mottola, the head of her record label Columbia, was a constant struggle at the time due to personal and professional differences.[1] Mottola wrote a note to Carey at their home one day with the lyrics "Butterflies are free to fly / Fly away" from the 1975 Elton John song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight".[2] While separating from Mottola and leaving their home in December 1996,[1] a melody and the words "Don't be afraid to fly / Spread your wings / Open up the door" came into Carey's mind and formed the basis of the song "Fly Away".[3] Initially conceived as a house track, "Fly Away" became the ballad, "Butterfly", upon further reflection. She subsequently completed "Fly Away" as it was originally envisioned, and subtitled it "Butterfly Reprise".[4]

Carey began recording the songs for her new album in January 1997[5] and named the record Butterfly due to the significance of "Butterfly".[6] The latter appears as the second song on the album while "Fly Away" is the penultimate track and acts as an interlude between "Whenever You Call" and "The Beautiful Ones".[7][8] By June 1997, "Butterfly" was scheduled to be released as the album's lead single.[9] After instead issuing "Honey" in July,[10] Columbia released "Butterfly" to American radio stations in September, the same week the album was released in the country.[11] It acted as the second single from Butterfly[12] and was serviced to a variety of formats, including adult contemporary and urban contemporary radio stations.[13][14] Billboard commentator Geoff Mayfield considered a strong performance from the song crucial to improve the album's commercial viability.[15]

Citing continued sales of "Honey", Columbia did not release "Butterfly" to retail outlets in the United States.[16] It issued the single as a cassette and two CDs in the United Kingdom on November 24, 1997.[17] A mini CD single followed in Japan on November 27, 1997.[18] "Fly Away" appeared as the song's B-side and on the 1998 maxi single and 12-inch vinyl formats of "My All",[19][20] the album's fifth single.[12] "Butterfly" was later included on Carey's compilation albums Greatest Hits (2001) and The Ballads (2008).[21] Columbia and Legacy Recordings released a digital extended play as part of the MC30 promotional campaign marking three decades of Carey's career on August 28, 2020.[22][23]

Composition[edit]

Music[edit]

"Butterfly" is a pop,[24] pop gospel,[25] and R&B ballad.[26] It lasts for four minutes and thirty-four seconds[27] and has a slow tempo.[28] Carey wrote the lyrics herself and composed the music with her longtime collaborator Walter Afanasieff.[29][30] Recording primarily occurred at Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas,[31] with additional work in New York at Crave Studios, in California at WallyWorld, and in New York City at The Hit Factory. Dana Jon Chappelle, Mike Scott, and David Gleeson engineered the song with assistance from Ian Dalsemer and Oliver "Wiz" Bone. It features keyboards, synthesizers, and programming from Afanasieff, as well as additional keyboards, programmed drums, and electronic sound design from Dan Shea.[29] The piano features prominently.[32] After Carey and Afanasieff produced the track, Mick Guzauski mixed it at Crave and Bob Ludwig mastered it at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine.[29] DJ Grego, DJ Memê, and Amorphous subsequently produced various remixes.[7][33]

Critics perceived the production as elaborate.[A] J. D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun said "it has all the touchstones of R&B tradition – softly tinkling piano, a slow-boil rhythm arrangement and gospel-schooled harmonies on the chorus".[35] Although Carey described "Butterfly" as unlike any of her past collaborations with Afanasieff,[31] critics described it as similar to their previous work.[B] Authors Andrew Chan and Tom Reynolds considered the composition characteristic of Carey's ballads.[39][40] According to Alex Petridis of The Guardian, the song could have easily been released earlier in the decade.[41] In contrast, biographer Chris Nickson summarized it as "richer, sexier, more grounded in the R&B she loved".[42]

Lyrics[edit]

The lyrics of "Butterfly" are structured in two verses, a bridge, and a chorus that repeats four times.[29] They use the act of flying as a freedom metaphor and materializes it via the butterfly, "a delicate symbol of beauty" according to Neil Strauss of The New York Times.[43] Critics viewed the song as having a positive[C] and inspirational tone.[D] For Billboard's Samantha Xu and The Plain Dealer's John Soeder, "Butterfly" helps emotionally process the act of adapting in life.[32][49] Newfound personal autonomy was viewed as a lyrical theme;[E] Lindsey Dobbins dubbed it the "Mariah Carey Declaration of Independence" in Vulture.[53] Entertainment Weekly's David Browne and the Gavin Report's Annette M. Lai said it utilizes the adage of loving someone enough to let them go.[25][54] Others deemed it a derivative of the 1985 Sting song "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free".[F]

Critics related "Butterfly" to Carey and Mottola's separation.[G] The lyrics "Blindly I imagined I could / Keep you under glass" received particular commentary. In The Village Voice, Michael Musto considered them evidence Carey "casts herself as the oppressor" in the relationship.[59] For Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters, the line instead demonstrates how Carey feels she was suppressed.[60] Rich Juzwiak from Slant Magazine likened the lyrics to Stockholm syndrome wherein Carey shows empathy for Mottola despite his actions toward her.[61] According to Richmond Times-Dispatch writer Melissa Ruggieri, they show how "Carey unabashedly acknowledges her crumbled marriage and its ensuing effect on her psyche".[48] In contrast, others were less convinced the song was specifically about their relationship.[H]

Carey has discussed the track's meaning on several occasions. Upon the album's release, she considered it "a song of strength, about being strong enough to recognize when a situation is not right and having the power within yourself to let that go".[6] In 2003, she described it as "a wish list of things I hoped somebody would say to me, but I wrote it as though I were talking to someone else".[64] Later in 2007, Carey specified she wrote the song from Mottola's perspective and what she wished he would have said and done before she decided to divorce.[65]

Vocals[edit]

Critics considered Carey's vocals restrained.[I] She uses, for the first time in her career, a whisper style that is high in pitch yet soft in sound on "Butterfly".[61] Carey transitions to falsetto in the second verse and uses chest voice from the bridge onward.[26][35] Mark Marymont of the Springfield News-Leader thought the song showcases "her stylized vocal pyrotechnics".[66] According to Xu, her vocal performance has the effect of progressing from a sense of fragility to stability.[49] Carey credited her vocal delivery to recording in the Bahamas: "It was all about the whole freedom of the feeling of being there. That style of singing is really about what comes out of your mouth at the time. It can only come from being inspired."[31]

"Butterfly" features background vocals from Carey, Melonie Daniels, and Mary Ann Tatum.[29] The latter two belt the chorus lyrics, "Spread your wings and prepare to fly / For you have become a butterfly",[29][67] which Billboard classified as a chant.[36] In the Philadelphia Daily News, Jonathan Takiff thought Carey's background vocals were reminiscent of the 1939 song "And the Angels Sing".[68] Considine said they are heard "floating above the main theme like wisps of smoke over a chimney".[35]

"Fly Away" (Butterfly Reprise)[edit]

Three minutes and forty-nine seconds in length,[27] "Fly Away" (Butterfly Reprise) was described by critics as a dance,[69] disco,[28] house,[70] and deep house version of "Butterfly".[46] Carey co-produced the song and composed its music with David Morales,[29] whom she had previously collaborated with on the remix to "Fantasy" (1995).[46] Morales and Satoshi Tomiie added additional production, and Peter "Ski" Schwartz played the keyboards.[29] Elton John and Bernie Taupin are credited as lyricists along with Carey due to the inclusion of words from the song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight".[4][29] Dave "EQ3" Sussman and Dana Jon Chappelle engineered "Fly Away" with assistance from Ann Mincielli. In New York City, Morales mixed it at Quad Studios and Herb Powers Jr. mastered it at Powers House of Sound.[29]

Eric Henderson of Slant Magazine described "Fly Away" as a "jazzy, dubby" track.[8] Writing in Camera Obscura, English professor Hiram Perez said the composition was influenced by loops heard in hip hop music.[71] He summarized it as "an anthemlike mix of throbbing percussion, disco, and gospel, all combining to invoke a lexicon of gay musical sounds".[70] Background vocals feature prominently throughout the song;[67] in addition to Carey, they are provided by Mary Ann Tatum and Melonie Daniels.[29] Carey sings in the whistle register on them, one of the few such occasions on Butterfly.[46][47] Her vocal delivery also includes runs and ad-libs.[67] Muzik writer Seamus Haji viewed the song as a vocal showcase for her.[72]

Critical reception[edit]

Music critics considered "Butterfly" one of the album's best songs.[J] It has appeared high in ratings of Carey's musical output. Among her best singles, "Butterfly" has been ranked at number twenty-five (The Guardian),[41] number twenty-two (Cleveland.com),[75] and number five (Vulture).[53] On lists of her best songs, it was placed at number fifty-nine (Billboard),[49] within the top ten (Entertainment Weekly),[76] and at number two (Gay Times).[77]

The lyrics received mixed reviews. Billboard contributors considered them advanced[36][46] and Michael Corcoran of the Austin American-Statesman and J. Freedom du Lac of The Sacramento Bee viewed them as underdeveloped.[55][78] In the Waco Tribune-Herald, Grey Cavitt called the butterfly theme "a thin, flimsy greeting card to build a song".[79] Piatkowski perceived the metaphor instead as a genuine depiction of Carey's experiences.[60] The music also received varied opinions. Lai and Buffalo News writer Anthony Violanti described the production as powerful;[52][54] Marymont and Reynolds thought it was overpowering.[40][66] In the San Francisco Chronicle, Gary Graff deemed the song an example of Carey's "cloyingly torchy material".[28] Writing for The Washington Post, Richard Harrington said it allowed her vocals to excel.[62]

Critics called Carey's vocal performance one of the best of her career.[K] The restrained style of her voice received positive commentary. Music Week wrote: "No longer over-singing for the sake of it, Carey has rarely sounded more stunning."[82] Considine considered it in alignment with butterflies' "fragility and grace";[35] Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggested it was evidence of artistic advancement.[58] According to USA Today critic Steve Jones, "Butterfly" serves as an impressive vocal showcase for Carey.[38] Differing in The Star-Ledger, Jay Lustig thought her voice overshadows the song's message.[83] "Butterfly" was nominated in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category at the 1998 Grammy Awards but lost to Sarah McLachlan's "Building a Mystery".[84]

"Fly Away" received critical commentary regarding its placement on Butterfly. Cavitt and Carol Nader of The Age questioned its inclusion due to the prior appearance of "Butterfly".[79][85] In contrast, Vibe's Preezy Brown thought it rivaled the quality of many tracks despite being shorter in length.[67] Billboard writer Jon O'Brien said it "is such a convincing diversion you wish Carey would commit to a whole album full of similar bangers".[46]

Commercial performance[edit]

Critics predicted "Butterfly" would become commercially successful.[L] As it lacked a retail release in the United States, "Butterfly" was ineligible to appear on the Billboard Hot 100.[87] The song instead peaked at number sixteen on the Hot 100 Airplay component chart. It was Carey's lowest-peaking entry of her career on the list at the time.[88] Similarly on Hot R&B Airplay, "Butterfly" reached number twenty-seven and became her third-lowest charting appearance.[89] It was her ninth song to reach the top ten of Rhythmic Top 40, which ranks tracks played by rhythmic contemporary radio stations.[90] According to Gold Derby writer Daniel Montgomery, the number eleven peak on Adult Contemporary is the song's most notable chart performance in the country.[91]

"Butterfly" performed moderately on music charts worldwide.[67] It reached the top ten on the Taiwan sales chart[92] and on airplay charts in Croatia and Spain.[93][94] In New Zealand, the song topped out at number fifteen.[95] It reached the top twenty on British, French, and Italian airplay charts.[96][97] In Canada, the track peaked at number twenty-two on the airplay chart published by RPM.[98] "Butterfly" debuted at its best position in the United Kingdom of number twenty-two. It ended Carey's streak of twelve consecutive top ten singles dating to "I'll Be There" in 1992.[99][100] Elsewhere, "Butterfly" entered the top forty in Australia and Sweden.[101][102] Reflecting on the song's limited commercial performance, Carey stated in 2024: "I loved it and I think a lot of my die-hard fans loved it and it really was meaningful".[103]

"Fly Away" appeared on British and American dance music charts. It peaked at number twenty-five with "The Roof" on the UK Record Mirror Club Chart published by Music Week.[104] "Fly Away" reached number thirteen on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play in the United States, her third-lowest peak on the chart at the time.[105] It was far more successful on Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales. With "My All", the song topped the list for two months and remained on the chart for almost two years—her longest-charting title.[106] The single was the second-best performing on the chart in 1998 and ranked at number twenty-eight in 1999.[107][108]

Music video and performances[edit]

Carey directed the song's music video with Daniel Pearl.[109] It was partially inspired by a melatonin-induced dream Carey experienced in which she cut her finger on a fence while chasing something that jumped over it and was unable to keep up.[110] She worked with acting coach Sheila Gray to develop the storyline. The latter described Carey's persona as a departure from the past because it is "really soulful in a way that's going to be exciting for people to see".[111] The video opens with Carey posing like Caroll Baker in the Tennessee Williams film Baby Doll (1956), which depicts the marriage between a young woman and an older man.[112] She is later seen being spied on through a peephole, escaping a mansion, and interacting with ponies.[60][113]

Columbia released the video in 1997[109] and later included it as a bonus on Carey's 1999 video album Around the World.[114] According to Piatkowski, "intriguing shots with her singing on a landing, the light casting large shadows of the spindles which throw vertical bars across Carey's face" symbolize a yearning for personal independence.[60] Emmanuel Hapsis of KQED perceived the production as peculiar.[113] Writing for BET, Jon Reyes said it "almost reads like a love letter to a horse that should have been set free".[115]

Carey performed "Butterfly" on several occasions in the 1990s. In 1997, she sang it on American television programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live,[116] and the Late Show with David Letterman.[33] Rolling Stone named the latter one of the best performances of her career.[117] In 2022, it was included on the 25th anniversary edition of Butterfly.[33] Carey also performed the song during her 1998 Butterfly World Tour.[118]

Track listings[edit]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the Butterfly liner notes.[29]

Charts[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Such as David Browne of Entertainment Weekly,[25] Gary Graff of the San Francisco Chronicle,[28] and Gerald Poindexter of The San Diego Union-Tribune[34]
  2. ^ Such as those from Billboard,[36] Music Week,[37] and Steve Jones of USA Today[38]
  3. ^ Such as Jon Pareles of The New York Times,[44] LLoyd Sachs of the Chicago Sun-Times,[45] and Neil Strauss of The New York Times[43]
  4. ^ Such as Jon O'Brien of Billboard,[46] Kevin O'Hare of the Sunday Republican,[47] and Melissa Ruggieri of the Richmond Times-Dispatch[48]
  5. ^ By those from Billboard,[50] Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times,[51] and Anthony Violanti of the The Buffalo News,[52] among others
  6. ^ Attributed to Michael Corcoran of the Austin American-Statesman,[55] Timothy Finn of the Kansas City Star,[56] and John Soeder of The Plain Dealer[32]
  7. ^ Such as Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times,[51] John Lyons of the Winnipeg Free Press,[57] and Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution[58]
  8. ^ Such as Richard Harrington of The Washington Post,[62] Charlie Martin of the Catholic News Service,[63] and Gerald Martinez of the New Straits Times[26]
  9. ^ Such as J. D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun,[35] Melissa Ruggieri of the Richmond Times-Dispatch,[48] and Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution[58]
  10. ^ Attributed to Preezy Brown of Vibe,[67] A. M. Jamison of the Dayton Daily News,[73] and Paul Taylor of the Manchester Evening News[74]
  11. ^ Attributed to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic,[80] Kevin Howard of The Chronicle,[81] and Rich Juzwiak of Slant Magazine[61]
  12. ^ Such as Gerald Martinez of the New Straits Times,[26] Dave Sholin of the Gavin Report,[86] and Neil Strauss of The New York Times[43]
  13. ^ "Fly Away" (Butterfly Reprise) David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie mixes; with "The Roof" (Mobb Deep mix)
  14. ^ "Fly Away" (Butterfly Reprise)
  15. ^ a b c "Fly Away" (Butterfly Reprise); with "My All"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Shapiro 2001, pp. 97–98
  2. ^ Mottola & Fussman 2013, p. 295
  3. ^ Carey & Davis 2020, p. 201
  4. ^ a b Nickson 1998, pp. 168–169
  5. ^ Nickson 1998, p. 164
  6. ^ a b Morse, Steve (September 14, 1997). "With a New CD, Carey Goes a Little Deeper". The Boston Globe. p. F5. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c "'Butterfly' EP - Album by Mariah Carey". Jaxsta. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal; Henderson, Eric (May 24, 2024) [First published May 13, 2014]. "Mariah Carey's 10 Greatest Remixes". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "Mariah Carey Album Should Arrive Soon". MTV News. June 3, 1997. Archived from the original on October 31, 2003.
  10. ^ Sandiford-Wallter, Theda (August 9, 1997). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. p. 71. ProQuest 1506006784.
  11. ^ Ruggieri, Melissa (September 16, 1997). "Independence". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. D1. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b Shapiro 2001, p. 156
  13. ^ "Top 40 Highlights". Top 40 Airplay Monitor. September 26, 1997. p. 1.
  14. ^ "Addvance Notice". Radio & Records. October 3, 1997. p. 98. ProQuest 1017306154.
  15. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (November 15, 1997). "Between the Bullets". Billboard. p. 90. ProQuest 1506035093.
  16. ^ Farber, Jim (April 20, 1998). "Mariah Risking 'All'". Daily News. p. 34. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. November 22, 1997. p. 37.
  18. ^ "バタフライ" ["Butterfly"] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024.
  19. ^ a b
  20. ^ Flick, Larry (May 2, 1998). "Columbia's Carey Reconnects with Her Dance Roots". Billboard. p. 30. ProQuest 1506038454.
  21. ^
  22. ^ "'Butterfly' EP" (in Japanese). Mora. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024.
  23. ^ Shaffer, Claire (August 19, 2020). "Mariah Carey Announces The Rarities Collection of B-Sides, Unreleased Tracks". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023.
  24. ^ Rogers, Charles E. (December 4, 1997). "In Butterfly Mariah Carey Spreads Hip-Hop Like 'Honey'". New York Amsterdam News. p. 23. ProQuest 2642594185.
  25. ^ a b c Browne, David (September 19, 1997). "Butterfly". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d Martinez, Gerald (October 12, 1997). "Mariah Set to Score with Butterfly". New Straits Times. p. 17. ProQuest 269160740.
  27. ^ a b "Butterfly – Album by Mariah Carey". Jaxsta. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c d Graff, Gary (September 14, 1997). "Mariah Carey's Leaden Wings". Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. p. 54. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Carey, Mariah (1997). Butterfly (Media notes). Mariah Carey. New York: Columbia Records.
  30. ^ Shapiro 2001, p. 107
  31. ^ a b c Lorez, Jeff (September 23, 1997). "Mariah Carey". Blues & Soul.
  32. ^ a b c Soeder, John (September 12, 1997). "Mariah Carries in New Directions". The Plain Dealer. p. 23.
  33. ^ a b c Kaufman, Gil (September 16, 2022). "Mariah Carey Flying High for Butterfly 25th Anniversary: 'One of the Proudest Moments of My Life'". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023.
  34. ^ Poindexter, Gerald (September 18, 1997). "Butterfly". Night & Day. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 11.
  35. ^ a b c d e Considine, J. D. (September 16, 1997). "Butterfly Is Sweet as Honey". The Baltimore Sun. p. 8E. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ a b c Flick, Larry, ed. (September 27, 1997). "Singles". Billboard. p. 93. ProQuest 1506049932.
  37. ^ "Reviews – For Records Out on 16 March 1998". Music Week. March 7, 1998. p. 28.
  38. ^ a b Jones, Steve (September 16, 1997). "Carey Soars and Dips on Butterfly". USA Today. p. D8. ProQuest 408739343.
  39. ^ Chan 2023, p. 75
  40. ^ a b Reynolds 2008, p. 204
  41. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (December 3, 2020). "Mariah Carey's 30 Greatest singles – Ranked!". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024.
  42. ^ Nickson 1998, pp. 167–168
  43. ^ a b c Strauss, Neil (September 21, 1997). "Flying Is the Reigning Metaphor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023.
  44. ^ Pareles, Jon (September 21, 1997). "A New Gentleness from a Pop Diva". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022.
  45. ^ Sachs, LLoyd (September 16, 1997). "Mariah Carey, Butterfly". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 28. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024 – via GenealogyBank.
  46. ^ a b c d e f O'Brien, Jon (September 16, 2022). "Mariah Carey's Butterfly at 25: All the Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022.
  47. ^ a b O'Hare, Kevin (September 14, 1997). "Mariah Carey Spreads Her Wings". Sunday Republican. p. F3. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024 – via GenealogyBank.
  48. ^ a b c Ruggieri, Melissa (September 16, 1997). "Independence". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. D1. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ a b c Xu, Samantha; et al. (October 5, 2020). "The 100 Greatest Mariah Carey Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022.
  50. ^ Verna, Paul, ed. (September 13, 1997). "Singles". Billboard. p. 74. ProQuest 227095770.
  51. ^ a b Johnson, Connie (September 14, 1997). "Carey Gets Personal in her Latest Release". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 58. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ a b Violanti, Anthony (September 16, 1997). "Mariah Carey Emerges from Her Musical Cocoon". The Buffalo News. p. C1. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ a b Weber, Lindsey; Dobbins, Amanada (May 28, 2014). "These Are Mariah Carey's 25 Best Singles". Vulture. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023.
  54. ^ a b Lai, Annette M. (September 26, 1997). "A/C Picks". Gavin Report. p. 62.
  55. ^ a b Corcoran, Michael (September 16, 1997). "Mariah Carey Takes Flight on Butterfly". Austin American-Statesman. pp. E1, E3. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ Finn, Timothy (September 22, 1997). "Singing for Her Suffering". Kansas City Star. p. E8. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ Lyons, John (September 18, 1997). "Mariah Carey / Butterfly". Showtime. Winnipeg Free Press. p. D4. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
  58. ^ a b c Murray, Sonia (September 18, 1997). "Carey Unfolds Her Wings with Spirited New Effort". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. F4. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ Musto, Michael (September 23, 1997). "Fly Away, Superstar". The Village Voice. p. 74. ProQuest 232197041.
  60. ^ a b c d Piatkowski, Peter (September 15, 2022). "Mariah Carey Spread Her Creative Wings with Butterfly 25 Years Ago". PopMatters. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023.}}
  61. ^ a b c Juzwiak, Rich (September 18, 2003). "Review: Mariah Carey, Butterfly". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022.
  62. ^ a b Harrington, Richard (September 14, 1997). "Divorce and the Divas". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022.
  63. ^ Martin, Charlie (December 12, 1997). "When It's Time for Two People to Grow". The Messenger. Belleville, Illinois. Catholic News Service. p. 12. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ "Mariah Carey: Fly Life". VH1. 2003. Archived from the original on August 28, 2003.
  65. ^ Sischy, Ingrid (September 2007). "Mariah". Interview. p. 162.
  66. ^ a b Marymont, Mark (September 28, 1997). "Carey's Butterfly Will Burn Up Cash Registers". Springfield News-Leader. p. 6G. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ a b c d e f Brown, Preezy (September 16, 2017). "20 Years Later: Mariah Carey's Butterfly Tracklist, Ranked". Vibe. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022.
  68. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (September 17, 1997). "Diva-luation". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 41. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ Dean Ford, Lynn (September 21, 1997). "Mariah Carey". Indianapolis Star. p. I7. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ^ a b Perez 2008, p. 114
  71. ^ Perez 2008, p. 115
  72. ^ Haji, Seamus (January 1998). "Garage". Muzik. p. 92. ProQuest 1771194763.
  73. ^ Jamison, A. M. (September 26, 1997). "Recordings on Review". GO!. Dayton Daily News. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  74. ^ Taylor, Paul (September 19, 1997). "Albums". Manchester Evening News. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  75. ^ Smith, Troy L. (August 23, 2020). "All 76 Mariah Carey Singles Ranked". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022.
  76. ^ Slezak, Michael (December 16, 2005). "The 10 Best Mariah Carey Songs... Agree?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023.
  77. ^ "Dahlings ... We Ranked Mariah Carey's 14 Best Songs Ever". Gay Times. March 27, 2019. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024.
  78. ^ du Lac, J. Freedom (September 21, 1997). "Free as a ... Butterfly?". Encore. The Sacramento Bee. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  79. ^ a b Cavitt, Grey (September 20, 1997). "Mariah's Still Underusing Her Voice". Waco Tribune-Herald. p. 8B. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  80. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Butterfly Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023.
  81. ^ Howard, Kevin (September 19, 1997). "CD Albums". The Chronicle. p. 3-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  82. ^ "Reviews – Records Out on November 17, 1997". Music Week. November 8, 1997. p. 14.
  83. ^ Lustig, Jay (September 16, 1997). "On Butterfly Wings, Mariah Carey Soars". The Star-Ledger. p. 31. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024 – via GenealogyBank.
  84. ^ "40th Annual Grammy Awards". Detroit Free Press. February 26, 1998. p. 3F – via Newspapers.com.
  85. ^ Nader, Carol (October 5, 1997). "Butterfly". Cue. The Age. p. 9. ProQuest 2521600195.
  86. ^ Sholin, Dave (September 19, 1997). "Singles". Gavin Report. p. 62.
  87. ^ Mayfield, Geoff; Sandiford-Waller, Theda (December 5, 1998). "A New Hot 100 Reflects Changes in Music Business". Billboard. p. 129. ProQuest 1505960408.
  88. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022.
  89. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022.
  90. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022.
  91. ^ Montgomery, Daniel (March 27, 2023). "The 23 Best Mariah Carey Songs that Didn't Hit Number-One: Underrated Hits from the Elusive Chanteuse". Gold Derby. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  92. ^ a b "IFPI Taiwan Single Top 10". IFPI Taiwan. Archived from the original on December 24, 1997.
  93. ^ a b "Top 20" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on February 23, 1998.
  94. ^ a b "Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. December 13, 1997. p. 27.
  95. ^ a b "Mariah Carey". Charts.org.nz. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023.
  96. ^ a b "Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. November 29, 1997. p. 27.
  97. ^ a b c "Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. January 17, 1998. p. 23.
  98. ^ a b "100 Hit Tracks & Where to Find Them". RPM. December 1, 1997. p. 6. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  99. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Songs and Albums – Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022.
  100. ^ Jones, Alan (December 13, 1997). "Chart Focus". Music Week. p. 15.
  101. ^ a b "Mariah Carey". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022.
  102. ^ a b "Mariah Carey". Swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022.
  103. ^ Trust, Gary (May 23, 2024). "Mariah Carey on Her Unprecedented Billboard Chart Success: 'It's a Little Hard to Wrap My Head Around'". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024.
  104. ^ a b "The Club Chart". Record Mirror. Music Week. November 22, 1997. p. 7.
  105. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023.
  106. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023.
  107. ^ a b "The Year in Music 1998". Billboard. December 26, 1998. p. YE-54. ProQuest 1529171323.
  108. ^ a b "The Year in Music 1999". Billboard. December 25, 1999. p. YE-61. ProQuest 1505993448.
  109. ^ a b Shapiro 2001, p. 158
  110. ^ Nickson 1998, p. 165
  111. ^ Gardner, Elysa (September 7, 1997). "Calling the Shots, Solo". Los Angeles Times.
  112. ^ Udovitch, Mim (February 5, 1998). "Mariah Carey: An Unmarried Woman". Rolling Stone.
  113. ^ a b Hapsis, Emmanuel (August 12, 2015). "All 64 Mariah Carey Music Videos, Ranked from Worst to Best". KQED. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022.
  114. ^ "Mariah Carey Around the World". MTV. Archived from the original on May 26, 2002.
  115. ^ Reyes, Jon. "Mariah Carey Singles That Deserved to Be No. 1 (But Didn't Get There)". BET. slide 13. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024.
  116. ^ Nickson 1998, p. 166
  117. ^ Spanos, Brittany; Chan, Tim; Perpetua, Matthew (May 15, 2020). "15 Incredible Mariah Carey Performances". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023.
  118. ^ Aoki, Deb (February 22, 1998). "Carey Needs More Song, Less Style". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. A24. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  119. ^ "Butterfly" (CD maxi single). Columbia Records. 1997. 665095 2.
  120. ^
  121. ^ "Butterfly" (CD maxi single). Columbia Records. 1997. 665336 2.
  122. ^ "Butterfly" (CD maxi single). Columbia Records. 1997. 665336 5.
  123. ^ "Butterfly" (Mini CD single). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. 1997. SRDS 8334
  124. ^ "Butterfly" (12-inch vinyl single). Columbia Records. 1997. 665095 6.
  125. ^ "Mariah Carey – 'Butterfly'" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022.
  126. ^ "Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. January 26, 1998. p. 14. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  127. ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 59. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  128. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. December 27, 1997. p. 17.
  129. ^ "European Radio Top 50". Music & Media. December 20, 1997. p. 20.
  130. ^ "Mariah Carey" (in French). Lescharts.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022.
  131. ^ "Mariah Carey – 'Butterfly'" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015.
  132. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 50, 1997" [Tip parade list from week 50, 1997] (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021.
  133. ^ "Mariah Carey" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023.
  134. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 07 December 1997 – 13 December 1997". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023.
  135. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 – 07 December 1997 - 13 December 1997". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023.
  136. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  137. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  138. ^ "Crossover Airplay". Top 40 Airplay Monitor. November 21, 1997. p. 19.
  139. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  140. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Tropical Airplay)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023.
  141. ^ "AC Top 30". Radio & Records. December 19, 1997. p. 70. ProQuest 1017306005.
  142. ^ "CHR/Pop Top 50". Radio & Records. December 12, 1997. p. 47. ProQuest 1017299637.
  143. ^ "CHR/Rhythmic Top 50". Radio & Records. December 5, 1997. p. 43. ProQuest 1017305679.
  144. ^ "Hot AC Top 30". Radio & Records. November 28, 1997. p. 76. ProQuest 1017307214.
  145. ^ "Urban Top 50". Radio & Records. December 12, 1997. p. 62. ProQuest 1017308836.
  146. ^ "Urban AC Top 30". Radio & Records. January 23, 1998. p. 56. ProQuest 1017308761.
  147. ^ "'97 Year End ... Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. December 15, 1997. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  148. ^ "Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. December 26, 1997. p. 38.
  149. ^ "Rhythmic Top 40 Singles". Airplay Monitor. December 26, 1997. p. 42.
  150. ^ "97 of 1997". Radio & Records. December 12, 1997. p. 89. ProQuest 1017310927.
  151. ^ "97 of 1997". Radio & Records. December 12, 1997. p. 42. ProQuest 1017310293.
  152. ^ "97 of 1997". Radio & Records. December 12, 1997. p. 44. ProQuest 1017299534.
  153. ^ "97 of 1997". Radio & Records. December 12, 1997. p. 58. ProQuest 1017308765.
  154. ^ "Most Played Adult Songs". Airplay Monitor. December 25, 1998. p. 24.
  155. ^ "98 of 1998". Radio & Records. December 11, 1998. p. 89. ProQuest 1017322206.
  156. ^ "98 of 1998". Radio & Records. December 11, 1998. p. 60. ProQuest 1017322040.

Literature[edit]