Well, let's see . . .
Although the sun will never shine the same
I'll always look to a brighter day
Lord, I know when I lay me down to sleep
You will always listen as I pray
#22
"One Sweet Day"
with Boyz II Men
Score: 8.364
High scores: 10×21 (@Music Is Life, @WhatKindOfKylie?, @EricG1990, @tylerc904, @AdzBrown, @ohaimanabu, @Daniel_O, @Pinky25, @RUNAWAY, @Robsolete, @ysev, @japanbonustrack, @lalaclairi_, @Slice of Life, @Lost In Japan., @LeBratt, @Oleander, @Blond, @Remorque, @Sail On, @Oceandrive), 9.1×1 (@mokitsu), 9×5 (@P'NutButter, @Maria, @Sprockrooster, @Cowboystyle, @If You Go)
Low scores: 2×1 (@Ana Raquel), 4×1 (@DominoDancing), 5×1 (@CasuallyCrazed)
My score: 8.75
5 ballots: #26, 8.95 avg.
10 ballots: #41, 8.155 avg.
15 ballots: #29, 8.570 avg.
20 ballots: #25 (tied), 8.578 avg.
25 ballots: #29, 8.262 avg.
30 ballots: #24, 8.345 avg.
35 ballots: #22, 8.396 avg.
40 ballots: #21, 8.446 avg.
45 ballots: #24, 8.336 avg.
50 ballots: #26, 8.254 avg.
55 ballots: #22, 8.376 avg.
60 ballots: #22, 8.337 avg.
61 ballots: #22, 8.364 avg.
10 ballots: #41, 8.155 avg.
15 ballots: #29, 8.570 avg.
20 ballots: #25 (tied), 8.578 avg.
25 ballots: #29, 8.262 avg.
30 ballots: #24, 8.345 avg.
35 ballots: #22, 8.396 avg.
40 ballots: #21, 8.446 avg.
45 ballots: #24, 8.336 avg.
50 ballots: #26, 8.254 avg.
55 ballots: #22, 8.376 avg.
60 ballots: #22, 8.337 avg.
61 ballots: #22, 8.364 avg.
"One Sweet Day" was released as the second single from "Daydream" on November 14, 1995. Its lyrics were written by Mariah and Boyz II Men (Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman) and it was composed, arranged, and produced by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff. The single was hugely successful worldwide and peaked in the top ten in most territories it was released, including the US (#1 for a record-breaking 16 weeks; a record it held for 24 years), Canada (#1), New Zealand (#1), Australia (#2), the Netherlands (#2), Ireland (#4), Denmark (#5), France (#5), Norway (#6), the UK (#6), Sweden (#7), and Belgium (#8), and has sold 3.26 million physical copies worldwide (2.335 million of which were sold in the US alone). The song's huge success in the US led to it winning Billboard's Song Of The Decade Award for the '90s - a feat she would repeat by winning the same award again in the '00s... but we'll get to that in part two of the rate.
Shortly after Mariah's friend and frequent collaborator, David Cole of C+C Music Factory, passed away from complications of spinal meningitis brought on by AIDS in January 1995, she began working on a song to pay tribute to him, as well as other friends and family members who had passed away. She had written the song's basic melody and finished the chorus, then put the song on hold as she decided it would work better as a duet: "I wrote the initial idea for 'One Sweet Day' with Walter, and I had the chorus... and I stopped and said, 'I really wanna do this with Boyz II Men,' because... obviously I'm a big fan of theirs and I just thought that the work was crying out for them, the vocals that they do, so I put it away and said, 'Who knows if this could ever happen, but I just don't wanna finish this song because I want it to be our song if we ever do it together'."
Due to their busy schedules, Mariah and Boyz II Men were only able to get together to complete and record the song as well as film the music video over the course of one day. Once Mariah played the group what she had been working on they, were shocked; Nate Morris had already begun working on a track with a similar theme in dedication to the group's road manager who had also recently passed away. Mariah recalls " It had basically the same lyrics and fitted over the same chord changes. It was really, really weird. We finished the song right then and there. We were all kinda flipped about it ourselves. Fate had a lot to do with that". A version of the track incorporating Nate's original melody, titled Chucky's Remix, was released as a b-side on some editions of the single.
I typically prefer Mariah's darker, more somber ballads to the more saccharine stuff like this and "Hero", etc. but I simply can't deny how strong the melodies on display here are. I find it a little weird that this was huge in the '90s, but has no real legacy today aside from its chart success today. I occasionally hear other '90s tracks ("Always Be My Baby" and "Fantasy (feat. O.D.B.)" mostly) played on the radio here still, but I never hear this - or even see it get much discussion nowadays. I guess it's a good thing this one huge song hasn't eclipsed the rest of her whole non-holiday career, but it's still a little odd to me. Not that I'm complaining ddd.
Shortly after Mariah's friend and frequent collaborator, David Cole of C+C Music Factory, passed away from complications of spinal meningitis brought on by AIDS in January 1995, she began working on a song to pay tribute to him, as well as other friends and family members who had passed away. She had written the song's basic melody and finished the chorus, then put the song on hold as she decided it would work better as a duet: "I wrote the initial idea for 'One Sweet Day' with Walter, and I had the chorus... and I stopped and said, 'I really wanna do this with Boyz II Men,' because... obviously I'm a big fan of theirs and I just thought that the work was crying out for them, the vocals that they do, so I put it away and said, 'Who knows if this could ever happen, but I just don't wanna finish this song because I want it to be our song if we ever do it together'."
Due to their busy schedules, Mariah and Boyz II Men were only able to get together to complete and record the song as well as film the music video over the course of one day. Once Mariah played the group what she had been working on they, were shocked; Nate Morris had already begun working on a track with a similar theme in dedication to the group's road manager who had also recently passed away. Mariah recalls " It had basically the same lyrics and fitted over the same chord changes. It was really, really weird. We finished the song right then and there. We were all kinda flipped about it ourselves. Fate had a lot to do with that". A version of the track incorporating Nate's original melody, titled Chucky's Remix, was released as a b-side on some editions of the single.
I typically prefer Mariah's darker, more somber ballads to the more saccharine stuff like this and "Hero", etc. but I simply can't deny how strong the melodies on display here are. I find it a little weird that this was huge in the '90s, but has no real legacy today aside from its chart success today. I occasionally hear other '90s tracks ("Always Be My Baby" and "Fantasy (feat. O.D.B.)" mostly) played on the radio here still, but I never hear this - or even see it get much discussion nowadays. I guess it's a good thing this one huge song hasn't eclipsed the rest of her whole non-holiday career, but it's still a little odd to me. Not that I'm complaining ddd.
—
@Music Is Life (10) — "The first ballad of the album, an iconic single and duet with Boyz II Men, it makes sense why this was number one for so long. It's got great lyrics, great vocals, great production and two of the biggest stars at the time. A great fucking song."
@WhatKindOfKylie? (10) — "Outstanding. Masterpiece. Triumph. Whatever you wanna call it, no words would be a good job to sum up how extraordinary this song is. It's Mariah Carey at her creative and chimerical peak and easily her finest collaboration ever too. Was the long running #1 in America for a reason, and it took 20 years for it to be tied for a good reason as well. Although, the less said about that so called song the better..."
@Pinky25 (10) — "Just an absolutely gorgeous song from lyrics to vocals."
@ysev (10) — "A CHORUS if I ever heard one!"
@Blond (10) — "This didn't fair too well in the 90s Number Ones rate, and Lil Nas X just snatched its crown in the record books, but I think this is a great song that deserves to do well here. It certainly straddles the cheesy line, but it seems sincere and the vocals are absolutely sickening."
@Oceandrive (10) — "Whilst I am slightly sad at the record being broke here Mariah will always have something to be very proud of with this song. Even if power ballads aren't really your thing there is at least one lyric or chord progression here that will trigger an emotional response on some level."
@mokitsu (9.1) — "Somehow this always gets my atheist-self emotional and belting along."
@Sprockrooster (9) — "Not my pick of a song for such a massive record from this queen, that she might have lost when the reveal of this song is lost. I find the chorus about too cheesy, but damn those verses. Mimi is holding back her vocals and sounds more powerful than ever."
@Womanizer (8.8) — "Chorus drags a little but honestly so powerful."
@godspeed (8.5) — "What sums up 'mid-90s R&B' better than 'One Sweet Day'? I honestly don't know. If that's not the first song you think of when I say 'legendary collaboration,' I don't know what's wrong with you."
@pop3blow2 (8.3) — "Oh, One Sweet Day. Not nearly as good as its musical cousin, The Wind. Parts of the melody here were undeniable, but at any times it because less harmonizing between the vocal forces of their day & more about oversinging. I liked this a bit at the time, but did get tired of it... which was the first time that happened with a Mariah song. Don't really come back to it now. Its chart run was impressive, though, back in the day."
@bonnieetclyde (8) — "lovely vocal arrangement, although Boyz II Men sound like they are playing catch up to Mariah's effortless vocal delivery. That chorus is so strong though."
@Imagineitwasus (8) — "Potent."
@nikkysan (8) — "It is overly saccharine but the vocal harmonies and melodies are still so beautiful so I can't be mad at it. I wonder if this will still have its Billboard Hot 100 record by the time this rate starts..."
@londonrain (8) — "Okay, I stan classic Boyz II Men and all, but I'm always surprised that THIS, of all songs, was the record-breaker. Not Fantasy? Not Always Be My Baby? It's a cute girl and I love every overblown run, but a 10 it is not."
@Veeis (8) — "It should be recognised more by general public. I adore her vocals in it and it blends nicely with Boyz II Men voices."
@Jimmyandroid (7) — "I've never really got One Sweet Day. I don't dislike it but am never reaching to put it on."
@evilsin (7) — "I know this is a record-breaking track, but it never really clicked with me. Although I do recognize it's pretty nice."
@Seventeen Days (6.5) — "Look, I'm not totally heartless; this is a beautiful tribute to the loss of a loved one, and there's a reason it holds the record for the most weeks at #1 on Billboard to this day. But... this song was EVERY. SINGLE. PLACE. back in the day, and it got to be grating after a while. Don't worry though, Mariah - I can't stand 'Uptown Funk' or 'Despacito' for the same reason, so it's not just you."
@abael (6) — "Is it just me or does Mariah overdo things in duets? As if she feels it's a competition."
@DominoDancing (4) — "Urghs. Sappy in the absolute worst way. I applaud them for writing a song inspired by the AIDS epidemic and people they lost, but I honestly believe that ultra-generic lines like 'you're shining down on me from heaven' are not up to scratch for a topic like this. I don't even like the key change."
@Ana Raquel (2) — "It's kinda surreal how it topped the charts for several weeks because... it's awful? one of her most tedious songs."
@WhatKindOfKylie? (10) — "Outstanding. Masterpiece. Triumph. Whatever you wanna call it, no words would be a good job to sum up how extraordinary this song is. It's Mariah Carey at her creative and chimerical peak and easily her finest collaboration ever too. Was the long running #1 in America for a reason, and it took 20 years for it to be tied for a good reason as well. Although, the less said about that so called song the better..."
@Pinky25 (10) — "Just an absolutely gorgeous song from lyrics to vocals."
@ysev (10) — "A CHORUS if I ever heard one!"
@Blond (10) — "This didn't fair too well in the 90s Number Ones rate, and Lil Nas X just snatched its crown in the record books, but I think this is a great song that deserves to do well here. It certainly straddles the cheesy line, but it seems sincere and the vocals are absolutely sickening."
@Oceandrive (10) — "Whilst I am slightly sad at the record being broke here Mariah will always have something to be very proud of with this song. Even if power ballads aren't really your thing there is at least one lyric or chord progression here that will trigger an emotional response on some level."
@mokitsu (9.1) — "Somehow this always gets my atheist-self emotional and belting along."
@Sprockrooster (9) — "Not my pick of a song for such a massive record from this queen, that she might have lost when the reveal of this song is lost. I find the chorus about too cheesy, but damn those verses. Mimi is holding back her vocals and sounds more powerful than ever."
@Womanizer (8.8) — "Chorus drags a little but honestly so powerful."
@godspeed (8.5) — "What sums up 'mid-90s R&B' better than 'One Sweet Day'? I honestly don't know. If that's not the first song you think of when I say 'legendary collaboration,' I don't know what's wrong with you."
@pop3blow2 (8.3) — "Oh, One Sweet Day. Not nearly as good as its musical cousin, The Wind. Parts of the melody here were undeniable, but at any times it because less harmonizing between the vocal forces of their day & more about oversinging. I liked this a bit at the time, but did get tired of it... which was the first time that happened with a Mariah song. Don't really come back to it now. Its chart run was impressive, though, back in the day."
@bonnieetclyde (8) — "lovely vocal arrangement, although Boyz II Men sound like they are playing catch up to Mariah's effortless vocal delivery. That chorus is so strong though."
@Imagineitwasus (8) — "Potent."
@nikkysan (8) — "It is overly saccharine but the vocal harmonies and melodies are still so beautiful so I can't be mad at it. I wonder if this will still have its Billboard Hot 100 record by the time this rate starts..."
@londonrain (8) — "Okay, I stan classic Boyz II Men and all, but I'm always surprised that THIS, of all songs, was the record-breaker. Not Fantasy? Not Always Be My Baby? It's a cute girl and I love every overblown run, but a 10 it is not."
@Veeis (8) — "It should be recognised more by general public. I adore her vocals in it and it blends nicely with Boyz II Men voices."
@Jimmyandroid (7) — "I've never really got One Sweet Day. I don't dislike it but am never reaching to put it on."
@evilsin (7) — "I know this is a record-breaking track, but it never really clicked with me. Although I do recognize it's pretty nice."
@Seventeen Days (6.5) — "Look, I'm not totally heartless; this is a beautiful tribute to the loss of a loved one, and there's a reason it holds the record for the most weeks at #1 on Billboard to this day. But... this song was EVERY. SINGLE. PLACE. back in the day, and it got to be grating after a while. Don't worry though, Mariah - I can't stand 'Uptown Funk' or 'Despacito' for the same reason, so it's not just you."
@abael (6) — "Is it just me or does Mariah overdo things in duets? As if she feels it's a competition."
@DominoDancing (4) — "Urghs. Sappy in the absolute worst way. I applaud them for writing a song inspired by the AIDS epidemic and people they lost, but I honestly believe that ultra-generic lines like 'you're shining down on me from heaven' are not up to scratch for a topic like this. I don't even like the key change."
@Ana Raquel (2) — "It's kinda surreal how it topped the charts for several weeks because... it's awful? one of her most tedious songs."
—
