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Mariah Carey is the fifth greatest singer of all time, according to Rolling Stone's list of the '200 best singers of all time'. The 55-year-old’s remarkable five-octave vocal range, songwriting skills, and stage presence have made her one of the best-selling female artists of all time with over 220 million records sold worldwide.
The talented singer boasts 19 top-ranking songs on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest for any solo singer in the musical chart’s history.
Mariah Carey found fame with the release of her self-titled album in 1990 and is the only artist to have their first five singles peak at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Her 2005 album, the Emancipation of Mimi was named one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, and her renowned single All I Want for Christmas is You, is the best-selling holiday single by a female artist of all time.
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Carey is also the highest-certified female artiste in the United States and 10th worldwide. This article explores her most popular songs.
Disclaimer: This list is ranked according to Spotify streams at the time of writing.
All I Want for Christmas is You, We Belong Together and other popular Mariah Carey songs to add to your 2024 playlist
1) All I Want for Christmas is You (1,821,606,054 Spotify streams)
All I Want for Christmas is You is a pop-soul single written by Mariah Carey, alongside 66-year-old record producer-songwriter, Walter Afanasieff. It was released in October 1994 as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Merry Christmas.
With over sixteen million copies sold worldwide, the single has achieved commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.
This Christmas-themed single embraces the concept of anti-materialism, as the singer talks about not being interested in the shallow glitz and glamour of the festive season, but rather in genuine love and companionship.
A part of the intro captures the essence of the song:
"I don't want a lot for Christmas/ There is just one thing I need (And I)/ Don't care about the presents/ Underneath the Christmas tree"
In 2019, this classic peaked at number one on the US Rolling Stone 100.
2) We Belong Together (654,649,426 Spotify streams)
We Belong Together is a R&B song that explores themes of grief, heartbreak, and regret. The lyrics of the first verse reflect these themes:
"I didn't mean it when I said I didn't love you so/ I shoulda held on tight, I never shoulda let you go/ I didn't know nothin', I was stupid, I was foolish/ I was lyin' to myself"
Released on March 15, 2005, We Belong Together was penned by a host of writers including Mariah Carey, Manuel Seal, Bobby Womack, and Sandra Sully, amongst others.
It served as the second track from Mariah Carey's tenth album, The Emancipation of Mimi. The single is certified platinum by RIAA.
3) Obsessed (438,376,183 Spotify streams)
Mariah Carey, Terius Nash, and Christopher Stewart are credited as writers on the Obsessed track. The hip-hop record was released on June 16, 2009, as the lead single from the vocalist's twelfth album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.
Obsessed is reportedly inspired by the singer's feud with American rapper, Eminem. With the theme centered around "perception versus reality", the lyrics of the song address the singer's rumored relationship with the rapper.
In the second verse, the singer falsifies any emotional and romantic attachment with the artist:
"You on your job, you hating hard/ Ain't gon' feed you, I'ma let you starve/ Grasping for air, I'm ventilation/ You out of breath, hope you ain't waiting/ Telling the world how much you miss me/ But we never were, so why you tripping?
The single became Mariah's 27th entry into the top ten category of the Billboard Hot 100.
4) Fantasy (434,165,518 Spotify streams)
Fantasy is the lead track from Carey's 12-song album, Daydream, released in September 1995. The single was written by Mariah Carey, Steven Stanley, Chris Frantz, Dave Hall, and others.
Fantasy is focused on a theme of idealized romance, suggesting that there's a thin line between reality and fantasy.
The chorus relates to this concept:
"But it's just a sweet, sweet fantasy, baby/ When I close my eyes, you come and take me/ On and on and on, it's so deep in my daydreams/ But it's just a sweet, sweet fantasy, baby (Fantasy),"
Fantasy earned Mariah Carey a Grammy nomination in the "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" category at the 1996 Grammys.
5) Always Be My Baby (407,649,841 Spotify streams)
Always Be My Baby is a heartbreak song that talks about the complexities of love. The ballad is built on themes of vulnerability, acceptance, compatibility, and love. A part of the second verse reads:
"I ain't gonna cry, no/ And I won't beg you to stay/ If you're determined to leave, boy/ I will not stand in your way/ But inevitably/ You'll be back again/ 'Cause you know in your heart, babe/ Our love will never end, no,"
This mid-tempo R&B song was penned by Manuel Seal, Mariah Carey, and Jermaine Dupri, and was released on February 20, 1996, as part of her fifth album, Daydream.
With over a million units sold, the single has become a five-time platinum-certified song.
6) Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (295, 465,767 Spotify streams)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Mariah Carey is a cover of the original song by US-based singer-songwriter, Darlene Love, released in 1963. Mariah's rendition was released in 1994 as part of her first holiday-inspired album, Merry Christmas.
Her version peaked at number 20 and 59 on the US Holiday Hot 100, and Billboard's Digital Singles Chart, respectively.
The festive-inspired jam captures the emptiness and bittersweet state of a lady desperately waiting for her lover to come back to her.
The first verse conveys the message:
"(Ah) They're singing "Deck The Halls"/ (Ah) But it's not like Christmas at all/ (Ah) 'Cause I remember when you were here/ (Ah) And all the fun we had last year,"
7) Hero (284,572,194 Spotify streams)
Hero is the second track from Mariah Carey's third studio album, Music Box. The pop single was released on October 18, 1993. It is written and composed by the New York-born singer.
This inspirational anthem carries a message of hope, encouraging individuals to never give up on their dreams despite the series of obstacles and adversities that they might encounter along the line.
The bridge reads:
"Lord knows/ Dreams are hard to follow/ But don't let anyone/ Tear them away/ Hold on/ There will be tomorrow/ In time/ You'll find the way,"
Hero claimed the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the singer's eighth single to achieve this feat.
Other popular Carey songs are Without You, Touch My Body, One Sweet Day, and My All.
