We Belong Together by Mariah Carey

Album: The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)

Charted: 2 1

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Songfacts®:

This song about heartbreak makes reference to some R&B songs that share a similar theme: you can't stop thinking about the person you broke up with. In the song, Mariah is listening to the radio when Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" comes on. Womack is a very influential Soul singer who recorded that song on his 1981 album The Poet. It gets a little intense, so Mariah changes the station, only to hear Babyface singing "Two Occasions," a song he recorded with The Deele, a group formed by L.A. Reid (Babyface and Reid went on to form LaFace records). This song contains the classic line, "I only think of you on two occasions, that's day and night." Not a good way to get over someone.
This won 2005 Grammys for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Carey performed this on the show in 2006.
The video is a sequel to the video for "It's Like That." Both videos feature Eric Roberts and Wentworth Miller, who went on to fame on the Fox TV series Prison Break.
The wedding dress that Mariah wears in the video is the same one in which she got married to Tommy Mottola in 1993. Mottola and Carey divorced in 1998, but she held onto the wedding dress, and when the video's director needed a dress, she volunteered the use of it. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Jimoh - The Bronx, NY, for above 2
The song's 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is the equal longest stay at the top position in the 21st century. In 2009. The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" also managed 14 weeks at the summit.
Billboard announced in December 2009 that this was the best-selling song of the 2000s in the US.
The song achieved a peak audience of 212 million on the week of July 9, 2005, the highest ever audience total since the Hot 100 radio panel was expanded to include all formats in December 1998.

The song's audience rule was ended eight years later when Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" achieved 219.8 million all-format audience impressions on the chart dated August 17, 2013.
Jermaine Dupri, who produced the song, recalled to Hits Daily Double: "The first two [songs] we did, 'It's Like That' and 'Get Your Number' were more uptempo. When we got back together in the studio, my idea was, let's try some ballads this time - let's flip the switch. We put a condenser mic in the studio so we could record every idea we came up with. When we went to play it back, you could hear the song coming to life. I cut the vocal myself at first, and she followed my direction to a T."
The song was done in just one day. Jermaine Dupri recalled to Billboard:

"Mariah came to the studio at 10 p.m. and we worked through the morning until she got on another plane at 9 A.M. We stayed in the studio from 10 until 9 in the morning. I was so tired.

There was this one line that they had a space for and she said, 'Come up with a line, Jermaine.' I came up with the line, but I was so tired that I didn't want to put the line down. But she was like, 'No, I need this song finished right now.' It was so crazy, because her energy about the song was almost felt like she knew it was going to become what it did."
Carey is in love with hip-hop music and wanted to intensify the urban flavor on this track, but Dupri talked her out of it. He recalled in his 2007 book Young, Rich, and Dangerous: The Making of a Music Mogul: "The songwriting went smoothly, but, musically, me and Mariah had some back-and-forth. At first Mariah was pushing for something more ghetto. 'No it's too out there, too urban,' I said. 'Lean it more towards the middle.' I didn't want her doing all the syrupy ballad stuff her past label executives tried to push her into. She also needed to hold herself back from trilling up and down the scales. I wanted to keep the power of her voice inside the framework of a great song. We finally agreed on what she called a 'thugged-out ballad.'"

Comments: 29

Dave White from Indianapolis Mariah has great vocal skills and presents herself in a sensual fashion. Thanks for the memories.
Bethany Ellis from Blacksburg, VaI love that song it’s my wedding song if you sing we belong together me and Joshua will belong to the family and I will be joshuas wife.
Dent from UgandaIt's an emotional song, really good
Emmy from Bellville, OnSaddest Mariah Carey song ever.
Kelsey from Sandusky, Ohmariah carey is one of my favorite singers especially the song we belong together
Lamarr from New Castle, PaMariah Carey is awesome,the song has so much meaning
Zack from New Castle, United Kingdomthis songs anthem stands the test of time. a lover who went away, arranged marriage and a runaway bride yep deffintley a classic but it does show that you should follow your heart in life in marry the person that loves you no matter what anyone says
Mary from New Castle, Paits a very cute songggg! girls feel like this when their bf breaks up with them!
Ally from New Castle, Pasike. this song is about heart break and how mariah believes that her and her ex belong together and not split apart.
Eric from Los Angeles, Nvyeah...sing it to me baby....got cha' back.....ain't too proud to beg,,,,
Courtney from Salt Lake City, UtWow...I can totally relate to this song right now. My soul mate (so I thought) is getting married in a month and when he told me the news I just cried and cried. I have been fighting to win him back for four years now (I did break his heart and that's my biggest regret in life.) Anyway, I do relate and obviously that's a main reason why I love the song. Maybe on his wedding day I should go and see if he comes "running" out in the crowd to me like Mariah did in the music video?
Marine from Stanton, American Samoathis song is ok
Michaela from Brooklyn, NyCome on guys!don't you all aree with me that her song 'Don't Forget About Us'Is better?yeah it is!
Elmer from Honolulu, Hithe best song of 2005....
Lisa from Fort Worth, Txawesome song for me in karaoke.....all mariahs songs are great
Katy from Portland, OrI love this song. It is a really romantic, nice song to sing to your ex. This describes me and this one boy. Sometimes I get emotional when I sing it and start to long for his company again but I know I can't have him. So songs like this and other ones by Mariah Carey, like, "can't live if living is without you" help me make it through. I also like "all I've ever wanted".
Brittany from Sierra Vista, Azthis song was me and my ex boy friends song
Spencer from West Milford, NjMariah Carey is awesome
Spencer from West Milford, NjShes soo plastic....but i love the song
Charlette from Budapest, HungaryMariah Carey isn't just a greatest singer, she's a great songwriter/lyricist.
Mark from Makati City, OtherThis alone will make Mariah THE artist to beat for the coveted Artist of the Decade award.
Reese from Calgary, CanadaI don't care how many times I hear this song, I NEVER get tired of it! It's just such a beautiful song. When I was dating my boyfriend-at-the-time, she asked me "so do you guys sing this song to eachother?" and I'm just like "Uh, NO! This a break-up song...not a 'while-were-together' song, duh!" and she just shut right up, lol
Sloba from Hamilton, Canadawe belong together is an amazing song!! she definetly has the biggest comeback of all time!! shes already tied Elvis Presly with 17 #1 hits and for sure will beat the Beattle with 20. once she beats them, she willl b at the top for a good 20 years. the mimi album is amazing especially we belong together and dont forget about us. i love you mariah xoxoxox
Randi from Irvine, KyThis song is really good. I can't tell you how many times a Mariah Carrey song has helped me through something
Sebastian from Providence, RiMimi is the best!! she's sexy, cute and she knows what she is doing!!
Danielle from Richmond, KyI love this song...it just makes me think of like all the memories that me and my boyfriend has had, it can be depressing at times.. But i love it (good job)
Marylyn from Lilburn, GaMe and my boyfriend just broke up and I am listening to this song 24/7, It makes me think of things that we've done together..
Morena from UmagThis song is great.I am listening it right now because it reminds on my boyfriend,this is our song!
Aaron from Mississauga, CanadaThis is definitely Mariah's big comeback single. After suffering a breakdown in 2001, she still made an impressive comeback. This was her 16th #1! Good 4 u, Mariah. U have prevailed!

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