Throwback: Mariah Carey-Honey

Mariah Carey wrote “Honey” with Diddy, Q-Tip and Stevie J in a move that switched her sound more to R&B and hip-hop. Carey was a respected pop queen with an image strictly curated for that audience and her music stayed within that design. She wrote in the booklet to her Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel album that her Butterfly album was a moment of change in her career. “Honey” was the first song released from her sixth studio record and it made an impact by topping domestic and international charts. The sound was enhanced by samples of “Hey DJ” by The World Famous Supreme Team and “The Body Rock” by The Treacherous Three. The Paul Hunter-directed video for “Honey” was also a career game-changer as it was the first time Carey dared to be sexy dancing with sailors in a mini skirt on a yacht. “Honey” had a Bad Boy Remix that featured Da Brat, The LOX, Mase and Diddy as well as treatments from So So Def and club remixes from David Morales. Carey won Soul Train, American Music, World Music and Billboard awards for Butterfly which had a successful tour and eventually reached Diamond status in sales. Butterfly is still heralded as one of Carey’s stellar efforts and an essential pop and R&B album with an appeal that has transcended the time of its release. Carey just participated in a Masterclass where in addition to teaching vocal fundamentals she did a collaboration of “The Roof” with Brandy.