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Rating: "Butterfly" is the sixth studio album by Mariah Carey, released in 1997.
It was Mariah's first album recorded after her divorce from Tommy Mottola (Puff Daddy also collaborated on the recordings). Mariah considered the album to be "ahead of its time".
Rolling Stone reviewed Butterfly with three out of five stars; and described it as "a transitional work" for Carey. On the other hand, All Music awarded it four out of five stars, calling it "one of the singer's best albums, able to refine and blend her music like few others in the nineties".
The album is also on the list of "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". According to the RIAA, Butterfly has sold around 15 million copies worldwide, with 5 million in the United States alone.
Due to the multitude of producers who worked on the album, Butterfly features very varied tracks. It ranges from the R&B rhythms of Honey, to the Latin guitars of My All, from the house rhythms of Fly Away [Butterfly Reprise], to pop/gospel ballads like Butterfly. Breakdown, Babydoll, The Roof are a preview of what Mariah Carey has become today.
Among the ballads to mention the splendid My All (#1 in the USA along with Honey); in which Mariah Carey showcases her vocal talents, reaching her lowest note ever recorded; low C (C2). Butterfly is one of the most beautiful, crafted, and complete tracks on the album. R&B rhythms, a gospel choir in the background, a piano, and Mariah's fantastic voice.
Whenever You Call is a return to the past, reminiscent of Without You and When You Believe.
The most interesting track is certainly Fly Away [Butterfly Reprise]; a definitely successful and bold experiment to be part of a Carey CD.
To definitely remove is The Beautiful Ones (Prince), an almost useless track on an album like Butterfly, with an absurd length of 7 minutes.
Butterfly is a CD to have; there's something for everyone (even too much). An album to listen to at any time of the day and light to digest (for a Maiala CD).
"Honey" (Carey, Sean Combs, Kamaal Fareed, Steven Jordan, Stephen Hague, Bobby Robinson, Ronald Larkins, Larry Price, Malcolm McLaren)
"Butterfly" (Carey, Walter Afanasieff)
"My All" (Carey, Afanasieff)
"The Roof" (Carey, Jean Claude Oliver, Samuel Barnes, Cory Rooney, Albert Johnson, Kejuan Waliek Muchita)
"Fourth of July" (Carey, Afanasieff)
"Breakdown" (Carey, Anthony Henderson, Charles Scruggs, Stevie J.)
"Babydoll" (Carey, Missy Elliott, Rooney, Stevie J.)
"Close My Eyes" (Carey, Afanasieff)
"Whenever You Call" (Carey, Afanasieff)
"Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)" (Carey, David Morales)
"The Beautiful Ones" (featuring Dru Hill) (Prince)
"Outside" (Carey, Afanasieff)
Rating: 3 out of 5
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Honey (05:02)
Oh, Oh, Honey got me hooked on you
I like that, mm
Ohhh, ohh
Ohh, Honey you can have me when you want me
You just simply ask me to be there
And you're the only one who makes me come running
'Cause what you got is far beyond compare
And it's just like honey
When your love comes over me
Oh baby I've got a dependency
Always strung out for another taste of your honey
It's like honey when it washes over me
You know sugar never ever was so sweet
And I'm dying, for you cryin' for you, I adore you
One hit of your love addicted me
Now I'm strung out on you darlin' don't you see?
Every night and day, I can hardly wait
For another taste of honey
Honey I can't describe
How good it feels inside
Honey I can't describe
How good it feels inside
I can't be elusive with you honey
'Cause it's blatant that I'm feeling you
And it's too hard for me to leave abruptly
'Cause you're the only thing I wanna do
And it's just like honey
When your love comes over me
Oh baby I've got a dependency
Always strung out for another
Taste of your honey
It's like honey when it washes over me
You know sugar never ever was so sweet
And I'm dying, for you cryin' for you, I adore you
One hit of your love addicted me
Now I'm strung out on you darlin' don't you see?
Every night and day, I can hardly wait
For another taste of honey
Mace and Puffy (Repeat 2x):
Harlem world, we won't stop
And Mariah, you're on fire
Harlem world, we won't stop
So Mariah, take us higher
Harlem world, we won't stop
And Mariah, you're on fire
Harlem world, we won't stop
So Mariah, take us higher
Breakdown
Ohh, every little thing you do
Oh, honey got me hooked on you
It's like honey when it washes over me
You know sugar never ever was so sweet
And I'm dying, for you cryin' for you, I adore you
One hit of your love addicted me
Now I'm strung out on you darlin' don't you see?
Every night and day, I can hardly wait
For another taste of honey
(Repeat to fade)
02 Butterfly (04:35)
When you love someone so deep
that they become your life
It's easy to succumb to overwhelming fears inside
Blindly I imagined I could
Keep you under glass
Now I understand to hold you
I must open up my hands and watch you rise
Spread you wings and prepare to fly
For you have become a butterfly (Oooh)
Fly abandonedly into the sun
If you should return to me
We truly were meant to be,
So spread your wings and fly
Butterfly
I have learned that beauty has to flourish in the light
Wild horses run unbridled or their spirit dies
You have given me the courage to be all that I can
And I truly feel your heart will
Lead you back to me when you're
Ready to land
Spread you wings and prepare to fly
For you have become a butterfly (Oooh)
Fly abandonedly into the sun
If you should return to me
We truly were meant to be,
So spread your wings and fly
Butterfly
I can't pretend these tears aren't overflowing steadily
I can't prevent this hurt from almost overtaking me
But I will stand and say goodbye (stand and say goodbye)
For you'll never be mine
Until you know the way it feels to fly
Spread your wings and prepare to fly
For you have become a butterfly (Oooh)
Fly abandonedly into the sun (fly to the sun)
If you should return to me (I will know you're mine)
We truly were meant to be (spread your wings and fly)
So spread your wings and fly
Butterfly (my butterfly)
Spread your wings and prepare to fly
For you have become a butterfly
Fly abandonedly into the sun
If you should return to me
We truly were meant to be (you and I)
So spread your wings and fly (spread your wings and fly)
Butterfly
So flutter through the sky
Butterfly
Fly...
Spread your wings and fly
Butterfly.
04 The Roof (05:15)
It wasn't raining yet
but it was definitely getting a little misty on
that warm November night
And my heart was pounding,
my inner voice resounding,
begging me to turn away
But I just had to see your face
to feel alive
And then you casually walked in the room
and I was twisted in the web
of my desire for you
(And I was twisted)
My apprehension blew away
I only wanted you
to taste my sadness
as you kissed me in the dark
Chorus:
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
and go back in time
to relive the splendor of you and I
on the rooftop that rainy night
And so we finished the Moet and
I started feeling liberated
And I surrendered as you took me
in your arms
I was so caught up in the moment
I couldn't bear to let you go yet
so I threw caution to the wind
and started listening to my longing heart
And then you softly pressed your lips to mine
and the feelings surfaced I'd surpressed
for such a long time
(And I was lifted)
And for awhile I forgot
the sorrow and the pain
and melted with you as we stood
there in the rain
Chorus (2x)
Last night I dreamed that I
whispered the words I love you
and touched you so very
subtly as we were kissing goodbye
(Pretty baby -- how I'm missing you)
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
(Envision you caressing me)
and go back in time
(I go back)
to relive the splendor of you and I
on the rooftop that rainy night
(on the roof that rainy night)
Every time I feel the need
(When I feel the need)
I envision you caressing me
(I envision you over and over and over again)
and go back in time
to relive the splendor of you and I
(It was oh so sweet, you and I)
on the rooftop that rainy night
(on that rainy night)
Every time I feel the need
(Last night I had the strangest dream ... )
I envision you caressing me
(It was actually quite symbolic)
and I go back in time
(As I whispered ... that I loved you)
to relive the splendor of you and I
( ... very subtly)
Chorus (1x)
06 Breakdown (04:43)
Krayzie:
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down,
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down,
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down,
Mariah:
You called yesterday
to basically say
That you care for me, but
That you're just not in love
Immediately I pretended to be
Feeling similarly
And led you to believe it was OK
To just walk away from the one thing
That's unyielding and sacred to me
Chorus:
Well, I guess I'm trying to be
Nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes
To prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath a disguise of a smile
Gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel
And I lie convincingly
Cause I don't want to reveal
The fact that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise
Till I go home at night
And turn down all the lights
And then I break down and cry
Mariah:
So what do you do
When somebody you're so devoted to
Suddenly just stops loving you
And it seems they haven't got a clue
Of the pain that rejection is putting you through
Do you cling to your pride
And sing "I Will Survive"
Do you lash out and say
"How dare you leave this way?"
Do you hold on in vain as they just slip away
Well, I guess I'm trying to be
Nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes
To prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the disguise of a smile
Gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel
And I lie convincingly
Cause I don't want to reveal
The fact that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise
Till I go home at night
And turn down all the lights
And then I break down and cry
Wish:
Yeah, c'mon, yeah, c'mon, c'mon
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down,
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down,
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down,
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down
Wish:
It'll break ya down,
only if you let it
Everyday crazy situation's rockin' my mind
Tryin' to break me down
But I won't let it (forget it)
Krayzie:
I been feelin' like you're breakin' me down
kickin' me round, stressin' me out
I think I better go and get out
And let me relieve some stress
Wish:
Don't ever wanna feel no pain, pain
Hopin' for the sun but it looks like rain, rain, rain, rain
Lord, I just will not maintain
Krayzie:
Oh yeah, often feel the pressures ya' all
But nevertheless Krayzie wont fall
It's over, it's endin' here
Well, I guess I'm trying to be
Nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes
To prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the disguise of a smile
Gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel
And I lie convincingly
Cause I don't want to reveal
The fact that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise
Till I go home at night
And turn down all the lights
And then I break down and cry
( repeat 3x)
07 Babydoll (05:13)
Its 2:11 and I'm stressin'
Watching TV in my hotel suite
I check my service every second
At 2:10 you still hadn't called me
So I'm gonna leave my cell phone
Turned on in my purse by the bed
And before I fall asleep
I guess I'll just check my machine
Again and again because I'm
Obsessing on you
*Chorus*
I wanna be your babydoll
Wrap me up nice and tight
Love me all through the night
Come lay me down
Enfold me in your arms
Cover me with velvet kisses
Rock me on and on
And whisper softly to me
You wanna be my babydoll
Zoning out thinkin' 'bout
You and me between the sheets
I wanna get intimate
But you're not within my reach
So I'll have a little more wine
And I'll try to drink you
Out of my head
And I'll lay awake a while
'Til Im high enough I can
Forget all about you until
I wake up again
*Chorus*
Slipping into dreams
I feel my love surround you
My subconscious seems
To weave itself around you
Do you care for me
Beyond idolization
Tell me how you feel
But don't keep me at bay
'Cause I won't be waiting long
*Chorus (repeat)*
12 Outside (04:48)
It's hard to explain
Inherently it's just always been strange
Neither here nor there --
always somewhat out of place everywhere
Ambiguous --
without a sense of belonging to touch
Somewhere halfway --
feeling there's no one completely the same
Chorus:
Standing alone --
eager to just
believe it's good enough to be what
you really are
But in your heart
uncertainty forever lies
and you'll always be
somewhere on the
outside
Early on, you face
the realization you don't
have a space
where you fit in
And recognize
you were born to exist
Chorus (1x)
And it's hard
And it's hard
And it's hard
Irreversibility
Falling in between
And it's hard
And it's hard
to be understood
as you are
As you are
Oh, and God knows
that you're standing on your own --
blind and unguided
Into a world divided
you're thrown
Where you're never quite the same
although you try -- try and try
to tell yourself
you really are
But in your heart -- uncertainty forever lies
and you'll always be
somewhere on the outside
You'll always be
somewhere on the outside
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By Darius
Butterfly, in particular, is considered by the author herself as the personal "magnum opus" of her career, a genuine turning point, a bridge between the hyper-sweetened past of orchestral ballads and the mischievous future of hip hop.
My indifference towards the haughty "doll", the incurable and untouchable extravagant diva, has somewhat softened into a faint curiosity.
