Mariah Carey Singles That Deserved to Be No. 1 (But Didn't Get There)

Did these 34 singles have the potential for No. 1?

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)
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)
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)
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)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)

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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)

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