1 / 35

Almost to the Top - Darling Mariah has the second highest number of No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, with a tally of 18 singles that have topped the charts. That’s a ton of singles that have received a massive audience and insane attention.With that many hits, there have been just as many misses by our elusive chanteuse. Obviously, the singles that didn’t make the top of the charts aren’t any less amazing than those that did. In many cases, some are better. We’ve taken the liberty of ranking 34 singles that didn’t get to the top of the charts. Did they deserve to? Let’s see. – Jon Reyes (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

2 / 35

34. 'Up Out My Face' (2010) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: No. 100 This single, which featured Nicki Minaj, is the equivalent of looking at photos of you and an ex-friend – these girls were awful to one another on American Idol. Even with help from Nicki, the slow-paced production by The-Dream and Tricky Stewart didn’t quite translate to a Mariah hit. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

3 / 35

33. 'Boy (I Need You)' (2003) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted This laid back single rode Cam’ron’s popularity at the time pretty heavily as it sampled “Oh Boy” almost verbatim. It’s definitely an odd single among Carey’s collection, with a video that looked like it was directed by Hello Kitty and an intro by Cam’ron that is so not the business. We’re good on this one. (Photo: Island Records)

4 / 35

32. 'Angels Cry' (2010) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted Another casualty of the Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel era that also got help from another famous act: Ne-Yo. The duet, while beautiful, just didn’t really have the punch a Carey-ballad should have. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

5 / 35

31. 'Triumphant (Get 'Em)' (2012) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never chartedOh, man, this return to the stage didn’t go well at all. Even with Rick Ross and Meek Mill on the feature, what was supposed to be a lead single for a Mariah Carey album ended up being a single that didn’t even make the album (which was delayed until 2014). Though, in retrospect, the video is definitely way better than the single if only because DJ Khaled makes a couple of appearances. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

6 / 35

30. 'Bye Bye' (2008) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: No. 19 Thanks to the release of this single, Mariah was able to meet her future husband Nick Cannon. A couple of weeks after the release of the single and the single’s video, she married Nick. The Stargate produced single was an ode to all those people that have passed on from Mariah’s life. It managed to hit the top 20 even though it’s really not that memorable. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

7 / 35

29. 'It's Like That' (2005) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: No. 16 Mariah’s comeback in 2005 kicked off with this lead single from The Emancipation of Mimi that didn’t quite make the statement it needed to make — thank goodness for “We Belong Together.” Though one thing is for sure, the video was chock full of all the ridiculousness that we’ve come to expect from Mariah: slow motion fan sequences, broad shouldered men carrying her everywhere, basic choreography and oddly cut dresses. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

8 / 35

28. 'Infinity' (2015) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: No. 82 Her wave goodbye to Nick Cannon didn’t bode well on radio, which was ironic since it was found on her second compilation concentrating on her No. 1 singles. We're rooting for the next one, you elusive chanteuse. (Photo: Epic Records)

9 / 35

27. 'I Want to Know What Love Is' (2009) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: No. 60 For Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, Mariah decided to follow-up “Obsessed” with this cover of the famous Foreigner song. As far as Mariah covers go, her cover of Prince’s “Beautiful Ones” will probably be very hard to top. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

10 / 35

26. 'You're Mine (Eternal)' (2014) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: No. 88 The ballad from her 2014 album, Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse, wasn’t one of the best songs on the album. We definitely could have dealt with this one just being an album cut. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

11 / 35

25. 'Bringin' on the Heartbreak' (2003) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted Mariah’s formula of doing at least one cover song on her albums has remained pretty steady. This time around, she went for a Def Leppard cover that didn’t really do much for her or her 2002 release, Charmbracelet. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)  

12 / 35

24. 'Crybaby' (1999) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #28 During the summer of 2000, after months of feuding with her label over lack of promotion (due to Carey’s divorce from Mottola) this single was released and didn’t even crack the top 20 - a first for a commercially released single by Carey. Either way, aside from the Snoop Dogg feature this track off her 1999 album didn’t really scream hit single. (Photo: Columbia Records)

13 / 35

23. ‘Butterfly’ (1997) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted This single was actually the follow-up to Mariah’s full-fledge debut into urban music (the ODB feature in 1995 for “Fantasy” was a Bad Boy remix), “Honey.” The title track to her 1997 album was schmaltz city and the video almost reads like a love letter to a horse that should have been set free. We're still rolling our eyes at this one. Should have stayed an album cut. (Photo: Columbia Records)

14 / 35

22. 'Anytime You Need a Friend' (1994) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #12 The final single from Music Box didn’t even crack the top 10. It might have sounded too close to “Hero” making it easily forgettable among the Carey catalog. Still, it’s an epic power ballad that should have gotten more shine. (Photo: Columbia Records)

15 / 35

21. 'Through The Rain' (2002) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #81 After Virgin released Carey from her $100 million dollar contract with a payout of $50 million dollars (a loss but not a big one for only releasing one album) Carey went to Def Jam. “Through the Rain” was her comeback single, and first with her new label, after a relatively dark period in her career. Among the list of Mariah’s empowering ballads it doesn’t really stand out but has a special place if only for its timing and significance for Carey herself. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

16 / 35

20. 'Don't Stop (Funkin' 4 Jamaica)' (2001) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted Not even Mystikal could help a track that was cursed simply by being part of the Glitter soundtrack. Its catchiness is undeniable and DJ Kool’s prints are all over this. It’s a shame it didn’t receive one bit of attention. (Photo: Virgin Records)

Photo By Photo: Virgin Records

17 / 35

19. ‘Can’t Take That Away From Me (Mariah’s Theme)’ (2000) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted This empowering anti-bullying single co-penned with Diane Warren was also caught in the crossfire of a feud with her Sony label. At the time, the label didn’t stand behind the track because they wanted something more upbeat after “Thank God I Found You”: the result was a lackluster promotional campaign that caused this Mariah-baby single to never chart. (Photo: Columbia Records)

18 / 35

18. ‘Forever’ (1996) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted Another single that was never commercially released and thus never charted. One of the last singles to be released from Mariah’s 1995 album was another mid-tempo ballad that stands as a fan favorite. (Photo: Columbia Records)

Photo By Photo: Columbia Records

19 / 35

17. 'Say Somethin'' (2006) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #79 Another Snoop Dogg and Mariah combo that didn’t quite work. The Pharrell Williams produced track was a standout track on Mariah’s real comeback album that didn’t translate on radio. Doesn’t matter though, it’s a banger. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

20 / 35

16. 'Make It Happen' (1991) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #5 This gospel-pop song which included a gospel choir for the single’s video made it to the #5 spot on the charts - so close! Still, it’s one of those uplifting Mariah songs that’s managed to make it to most of Mariah’s concert sets. (Photo: Columbia Records)

21 / 35

15. 'When You Believe' (1998) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #15 This is probably one of the most epic duets in history. Whitney and Mariah together was definitely something for the ages. At the time, both of their respective catalogs were skewing more on the urban side, so it’s easy to imagine this soundtrack ballad (recorded for the animated film, The Prince of Egypt) not getting its proper due on the charts. One important fact still remains: we got these notorious vocalists together on wax for a once in a lifetime occurrence. (Photo: DreamWorks)

22 / 35

14. 'Never Too Far' (2001) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted The soundtrack to Glitter fell victim to a myriad of unfortunate events including the critical demise of the film and Mariah’s mental breakdown. This ballad co-written and co-produced by Carey and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, was an absolute stand out among a slew of songs draped in 80s garb. (Photo: Virgin Records)

23 / 35

13. 'Obsessed' (2009) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #7 In case anyone was wondering, this track's sole purpose was to throw shade at Eminem. The fact that it cracked the top 10 was just a bonus. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

24 / 35

12. 'I Stay In Love' (2008) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted Produced by Bryan Michael-Cox (“We Belong Together”) this track deserved to get more love. Plus, the video is of Mariah Carey playing the role of a Las Vegas show girl. We’re here for it. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

25 / 35

11. '#Beautiful' (2013) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #15One of the few duets Mariah has ever recorded, which is an honor for Miguel. The song was definitely a standout during the summer of 2013. Why it never reached the top is a little perplexing as it is pretty timeless. Just don’t listen to the Spanish language version. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

26 / 35

10. 'I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time' (2008) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #58 On the list of Mariah bangers, this is definitely one of them. It got no love on the radio but we dare you not to play this while driving to the beach in the summer. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

27 / 35

9. 'Can't Let Go' (1991) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #2 This one was Mariah’s first single to not make it to #1. It could have been her 6th consecutive single to top the chart but Color Me Badd’s “All 4 Love” kept it from topping the chart. The song is Mariah stand out even though it's highly reminiscent of Keith Sweat’s “Make It Last Forever.” (Photo: Columbia Records)

28 / 35

8. 'Shake It Off' (2005) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #2 The follow- up to “We Belong Together” was this Jermaine Dupri collaboration that, if anything, should have been the lead single for The Emancipation of Mimi instead of “It’s Like That.” A track where Mariah is blowing someone off is always...perfect. This totally deserved #1. (Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

29 / 35

7. 'Without You' (1994) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #3 A top three single is nothing to scoff at, especially a cover that’s, over the years, managed to become synonymous with Mariah and not the original band, Badfinger. (Photo: Columbia Records)

30 / 35

6. ‘Breakdown’ (1998) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted Another causalty of the Carey-Columbia feud during the Butterfly era was this epic slow jam that featured Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Such a deserving track. (Photo: Columbia Records)

31 / 35

5. ‘Underneath the Stars’ (1996) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted Oddly enough, this star track on the Daydream album was never commercially released rendering it ineligible for the Billboard 100. Rumor has it that there was a video filmed that was never released and even Mariah has no idea where it is. Internet, can you find it for us? (Photo: Columbia Records)

32 / 35

4. 'You Don't Know What To Do' (2014) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted This disco inspired single could have gone without the Wale feature and could have used a video. It never got it and sadly contributed heavily to the song never charting, even though it was awesome. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

33 / 35

3. ‘The Roof’ (1998) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: Never charted Mariah’s divorce from Tommy Mottola began to be felt as the third single from her 1997 was released. A feud between Carey and her label at the time (headed by her ex-husband) stagnated this single and it’s follow-up. Rumor was that it was that the track, built around the Mobb Deep record “Shook Ones (Part II),” was just too urban for Columbia Records' taste. What a missed opportunity.  (Photo: Columbia Records)

34 / 35

2. 'I Still Believe' (1999) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #4 This cover by Mariah was actually a thank you letter to the original signer, Brenda K Starr. Before Mariah was signed, Carey was Brenda’s back-up singer and even handed Carey’s demo tape to Tommy Mottola which resulted in the signing of the superstar. (Photo: Columbia Records)

35 / 35

1. 'Loverboy' (2001) - Peak Billboard 100 Position: #2 Released as the lead single from the soundtrack to Mariah’s film debut, Glitter, Carey doesn’t really consider this a proper album. Either way, the song received a good amount of airplay and promotion from her then label, Virgin. Mariah was a trendsetter by tapping into something that would be done heavily years later: going retro and making everything sound super 80s. With a feature by Cameo ( track “Candy” the song samples) the co-sign was an added plus. This deserved to be #1, all the way, and deserved way more love than it got. (Photo: Virgin Records)