After a brief break on the bench, ‘TGJ Replay’ is back!
Designed much like our ‘Retro Rewind’ and ‘From the Vault’ features, ‘Replay’ is That Grape Juice‘s newest retrospective segment – a written quest, if you will, to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday.
Unlike its ‘Rewind’ and ‘Vault’ predecessors, ‘Replay’ looks to dust off and showcase entire albums (and eras) from a library of pop and Urban pop music hits. As September brought with it the 17th anniversary of Mariah Carey‘s groundbreaking ‘Butterfly’ album, this ‘Replay’ is set to take a flight in time back to 1997.
Join us…
By the end of 1996, Mariah Carey had already established herself as the force of the 90s. In addition to leaving virtually every female pop or R&B competitor in the dust with an amassment of 11 number 1 singles, the longest running #1 single in history (‘One Sweet Day’ featuring Boyz II Men), and over 80 million albums sold in 6 years, the pressure to continue this streak was ever mounting.
However, as scoring one of the biggest hits of her career with ’96’s ‘Fantasy’ (ft. Ol Dirty Bastard) would suggest, Carey was ever ready to manifest her affinity for harder Hip Hop-based/rhythmic sounds into a full body of work. Coming on the hems of a marital and (to some degree) professional divorce from husband/label head/longtime mentor Tommy Mottola, the album’s thematic conception was reportedly centered around her newfound freedom from Mottola’s svengali-esque aura – and her own burgeoning sex symbol status. Tapping longtime collaborator Walter Afanasieff to helm, the duo created what would become (unbeknownst to them) Carey’s definitive work.
In grand diva fashion, the announcement of said newfound status was presented in music video format via lead single ‘Honey’:
Sweet and dripping with an infectious Hip Hop flavoured groove, ‘Honey’ would prove itself part of an ear candy recipe that was an instant winner with music listeners. Becoming the third single of her career to debut at #1 on the Hot 100, she would cement herself as the only artist in history to see three singles debut atop the chart. A record she still holds nearly 20 years later.
Likewise, the video – in all its symbolic splendor – featured a scantily clad Carey showing off a svelte figure long hidden behind gowns and other coverups. The famous intro that shows Mariah shedding her clothes before diving into a pool resonated with fans as proof that a “new Mariah” was here.
Even showing off a set of moves rarely seen from her stage shows prior, Mimi – as she was affectionately known – set out to prove she was ready to up the ante. With ‘Honey’ giving the songstress her 12th number 1 hit, her name was etched in history books as she surpassed Madonna and Whitney Houston to have the most #1 hits by a female artist. On the wings of ‘Honey,’ ‘Butterfly’ (the album) followed suit to debut at #1 in the last week of September 1997.
Despite being drenched in an Urban-based flair, ‘Butterfly’ contained enough ballad-esque elements to not alienate fans of her earlier work. This was evidenced by the album’s second single, which also served as the set’s title track. Reaching the Hot 100 Airplay’s top 20, the anthemic song’s “unofficial status” as a single barred it from charting on the Hot 100. Interestingly, the tune didn’t fare much better elsewhere around the world either.
Undaunted by the response, the next releases would see Mariah continue to flaunt her love affair with rhythmic/Hip Hop music by appointing ‘The Roof’ and the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony-assisted number ‘Breakdown’ as follow-ups:
Both were moderate performers internationally.
To aid the waning interest in ‘Butterfly,’ Carey and team opted to select another ballad from the album. Possibly in an attempt to appeal to the singer’s base legion of fans who took to the ‘Vision of Love,’ ‘Hero’, and ‘One Sweet Day’-esque numbers that ruled the charts in the early 90s, the song ‘My All’ would round out the project’s era.
The choice proved itself a home run.
The song became the diva’s 13th chart-topper on the Hot 100 and further extended her reign as the most #1-awarded female in music history. Quickly becoming a fan favorite, a live rendition of the tune still rings as one of the most memorable moments from her inclusion in the inaugural class of VH1’s ‘Divas’ (featuring Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Carole King, Gloria Estefan, and Aretha Franklin).
The top-rated showing would effectively help to conclude what is (arguably) Carey’s definitive era. Despite only garnering three Grammy nominations (but zero wins), the album did manage to sell over 10 million copies worldwide and gave the diva yet another honor – the first female artist in history to have seven consecutive triple platinum certified albums in the United States.
From TGJ’s standpoint, ‘Butterfly’ soars as the first time where her total package worked and the fullness of her product seemed authentically her. Arguably, she would not see another milestone album of this magnitude until nearly a decade later via her comeback album ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’
Yes, we still bump ‘Whenever You Call’ and ‘Honey’ here at TGJ HQ on the regular. But, as always, we turn to you to ask: