Crybaby (Mariah Carey song)
"Crybaby" | ||||
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Single by Mariah Carey featuring Snoop Dogg | ||||
from the album Rainbow | ||||
A-side | "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" | |||
Released | April 17, 2000 | |||
Recorded | June 1999 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:19 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Mariah Carey singles chronology | ||||
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Snoop Dogg singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Crybaby" on YouTube |
"Crybaby" is a song by American singer and songwriter
The song was the center of a very public controversy between Carey and her label
Background and composition
"Crybaby" was recorded during the summer of 1999 in Capri, Italy.[1] The song is composed in common time in the key of D minor and features instrumentation from the guitar and piano.[2] The song moves at a tempo of 79 beats per minute.[3] Carey's vocal range throughout the song ranges from the low note of B2 to the high note of F5. "Crybaby" features a rap verse from Snoop Dogg, and incorporates heavy usage of background vocals. The song's lyrics find the protagonist struggling with insomnia due to thoughts of a past lover throughout the night, not allowing her to sleep.[4] According to Carey, the song also has a more personal message, relating to the difficulty of getting rest with such a work-filled schedule.[1] She claimed that through writing, recording, and producing her music, as well as all the promotional appearances, it became increasingly difficult for her to unwind and sleep at night. At one point in the song, Carey sings "I gotta get me some sleep," before finishing the final chorus.[1]
The song was recorded very quickly in late June due to contractual obligations
In her 2020 memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey, Carey revealed that the song's lyrics were inspired by the angst she felt after her 1997 romance with baseball star Derek Jeter abruptly ended.
Label dispute
Reception
Critical reception
Critical reviews for "Crybaby" were positive. Danyel Smith from Entertainment Weekly called the song "sexy" and wrote "[Snoop Dogg]'s words tumble like dice across her velvety vocals."[5] Editor from Rolling Stone, Arion Berger, also complimented "Crybaby," especially the way Snoop Dogg's verses blended with Carey's vocals. Berger called his rap verses "fittingly careless."[6] Robert Christgau, an editor from The Village Voice, commented that the song was "not real R&B thrush," but wrote "its good enough to fake it."[7] While reviewing Rainbow, Dara Cook from MTV wrote that "Mariah amazes," on the song also calling the collaboration "Snoop Dogg enhanced." Cook wrote further "Perhaps culled from remnant Derek Jeter-directed rage, a frenzied and fed-up Mariah aggravates herself into a soulful, improvisational tizzy."[8]
Commercial performance
"Crybaby" was released as the third single from
Music video
The song's music video was directed by Sanaa Hamri, who also directed the video for "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)." Both videos were shot back to back, and were released simultaneously to music programs and channels for immediate circulation.[11] The video begins with Carey lying in her bed, as she receives a text message from Snoop Dogg reading "Yo what's happening? What you crying for? Now you know you look 2 damn good 2 be crying... Come here... Holla at a playa DPG style... Ya know," to which Carey responds "I can't sleep." As the video progresses as the lyrics continue, it appears to be 5 AM, and Carey is still unable to sleep. She lies in bed with the lamp on, pondering on thoughts of a past lover until she takes a bath. Afterwards, she makes her way to the kitchen, and begins pouring an abundant amount of cereal and milk into a bowl, spilling it over the counter in a restless rage. As the scene finishes, Snoop's face is seen on a small monitor, directing his verse to Carey in the video. As the last chorus plays, Carey becomes restless and tosses a champagne glass and bottle at a large window, shattering it and sending glass around the living room. The video ends with Carey lying down on the couch one more, attempting to sleep once more.[12]
Live performances
Carey performed "Crybaby" live during every show on the Rainbow World Tour.[citation needed] For the song's performances, the stage was set with a large bed, pillows and comforters, as well as a small desk and homely props. Carey, dressed in pajamas, sang while re-enacting segments of the video.[citation needed] During her performance at Madison Square Garden on April 11, 2000, she threw the audience small stuffed bears and completed the song while lying in the bed on stage. After the song's bridge, Snoop's pre-recorded verse was played over the background vocals.[citation needed] The song was also performed on select nights of The Elusive Chanteuse Show tour in 2014. The most recent performance of the song however, was on Carey Vegas residency, The Butterfly Returns.
Track listing and formats
- US CD Single[13]
- "Crybaby" (Radio Edit) – 4:31
- "Crybaby" (Album Version) – 5:19
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the Rainbow liner notes.[14]
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Charts
Chart (2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[15] | 4 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] with "Against All Odds"[17] |
20 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] with "Against All Odds" |
27 |
UK Club (Music Week)[19] with "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" |
40 |
UK Urban Club (Music Week)[20] with "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" |
19 |
US Billboard Hot 100[21] | 28 |
US Crossover (Billboard)[22] | 39 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] | 23 |
US CHR/Rhythmic (Radio & Records)[24] | 40 |
US Urban (Radio & Records)[25] | 31 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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Canada | April 17, 2000 | CD maxi single (with "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)") |
Columbia | |
United States | April 18, 2000 | Rhythmic contemporary radio
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June 6, 2000 |
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References
- ^ a b c Shapiro 2001, pp. 121
- ^ Lorenz, Trey (August 4, 2014). "Mariah Carey "Crybaby" Sheet Music in F Major - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ^ "Crybaby - Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey - Spot On Track". www.spotontrack.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- Alfred Publishing. Archivedfrom the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
- Time Warner. Archivedfrom the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- ^ Berger, Arion (November 25, 1999). "Mariah Carey Rainbow". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Limited Liability Company. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1998). "Robert Christgau: CG: Mariah Carey". RobertChristgau.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- Viacom. Archived from the originalon January 13, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
- ^ a b c Pietroluongo, Silvio (June 24, 2000). "Hot 100 Spotlight". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ Google books. June 24, 2000. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ Shapiro 2001, pp. 133–134
- YouTube
- ^ Crybaby (US CD Single liner notes). Mariah Carey. Columbia Records. 2000. CSK 12714.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Carey, Mariah (1999). Rainbow (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Mariah Carey. New York City, New York: Columbia Records.
- ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 28. July 8, 2000. p. 46. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "Mariah Carey – Against All Odds" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 28. July 8, 2000. p. 46. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 29, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ "Club Chart Top 40". Music Week. July 8, 2000. p. 17.
- ^ "Urban Top 20". Music Week. July 8, 2000. p. 17.
- ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
- Top 40 Airplay Monitor. May 19, 2000. p. 34.
- ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
- ProQuest 1017357714.
- ProQuest 1017343363.
- Sony Music Canada. Archived from the originalon November 27, 2003. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ProQuest 1017349679.
- ^ "Mariah Carey: "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Single)". Sony Music Store. Archived from the original on September 29, 2003. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ProQuest 1506058596.
Further reading
- Shapiro, Marc (2001). Mariah Carey: The Unauthorized Biography. ISBN 978-1-55022-444-3.