Mariah Carey: Butterfly Album Review (1997)

Welcome back everyone, today we are going to continue with Mariah Carey’s album cycle with her sixth album Butterfly. There where expectations ahead of this given that Daydream was highly successful even though she didn’t win the Grammy. But around this time, Mariah’s marriage with Tommy Mottola was coming to an end, they filed for separation and eventually divorce by decades end. This album is transitional for Mariah as the butterfly has deep meaning for her. According to Mariah, symbolizes liberation, metamorphosis, and finding her voice and freedom. Hence why there’s a butterfly tattoo on Mariah’s mid-back. Enough of the background, let’s get into this album.

Mariah Carey “Butterfly”

1.       Honey: Recognizable song on the album. I remember placing this on my top 10 Best songs of 1997. So I’ll keep this one brief. I also remember highlighting the remix making the list as this song featured the LOX, Mase and produced by the baby oil messiah.  This song uses the “Hey DJ” sample and it’s not much else for me to add. It’s a standout single from Butterfly, but it’s not my favorite from this album, we’ll get into that… (AMAZING)


2.       Butterfly: This song is one of Mariah’s personal favorite. Around this time, Mariah and Tommy Mottola had separated and she felt free. She was once was a caterpillar with Tommy Mottola but she is now a butterfly and free. She did say in the song that reconciliation was possible and if true, then the love was authentic. But that didn’t happen for good reason. Vocally, it’s one of her best performances to date, again meant a lot to her. In all, I have no major issues with this one (AMAZING)

3.       My All: This is another single and this one was said to have some Latin influences. I can hear a few of them, but I just here a strip down cut longing for your lover song. Even though it’s a good song, I don’t have much to say. It’s a typical Mariah ballad that is only good. But it’s still good on the ears (GOOD)

4.       The Roof (Back in Time): The first thing that comes to mind was the Mobb Deep sample. Turns out this song was about Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees because they allegedly shared a kiss on a rooftop. This is Mariah channeling her hip-hop and this one surprisingly works. Again not much to the content, but I do feel like Mariah meshed with the sample very well. This one is also solid. (GOOD)

5.       Fourth Of July: This one is one of the finer performance on this album and to match the productions, this one is very easy on the ears. Another song where the content is minimalistic too minimalistic for it to be considered a 4th of July staple. But again easy on the ears, fine enough (GOOD)


6.       Breakdown (ft. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony): It was between this and Honey as my favorite song on the album and it was very close. But I think was the first song I enjoyed on Butterfly (prior to me listening to the album of course). Surprised how well Bone Thugs and Mariah meshed together (won’t be the last time they collabed). The content is Mariah dealing with a breakup. Mariah is trying to move on but she just can’t. Where Bone Thugs come in, they try to explain to Mariah that they didn’t mean to hurt but it’s necessary for them to move on for the sake of health. This song is produced by the baby oil messiah and it doesn’t use a sample. This song is fantastic should’ve been a single, screw you Tommy Mottola on not making that happen (AMAZING)

7.       Babydoll: Now we have a Missy Elliott production and I wished this song worked. Mariah is obsessing over her partner who isn’t calling in. She is willing to wait till 3:27 AM for him (there’s a reference in that). Wanting to be someone’s babydoll so he can wrap you up that ac hoice. All in all, production might save this but I don’t have much use for this. (DECENT)

8.       Close My Eyes: Is another Mariah favorite because it’s one of her personal cuts yet. This song could possibly talk about her upbringing or her relationship with Mr. Mottola (perhaps both). The reason I say it could be both is because Mariah had a rough upbringing and the relationship with Mottola took a toll on her mental health. Other than that, it’s a Mariah ballad that do tug at the heartstrings. Another one where the issues are miniscule (AMAZING)

9.       Whenever You Call (or w/Brian McKnight): There are two different versions for this one. One solo one with Brian McKnight. I decided to listen to both versions and I came to this conclusion. The Brian McKnight version is better because the song is a supposed breakup song we get both sides and I think the key change emphasizes this because solo it’s not as powerful instead of them two being together. On production this song does remind me of I Don’t Wanna Cry a little bit and since I Don’t Wanna Cry is solid, it’s fine enough. My verdict, solo is fine but the duet is better, give it a listen (GOOD)

10.   Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise) (N/A)

11.   The Beautiful Ones (ft. Dru Hill): This song is a Prince cover from his classic Purple Rain soundtrack. Let me ask this question, how did Dru Hill score a duet with Mariah because Dru Hill was only one album deep at the time. Since this is a cover song, I am forbidden to talk about the content but instead to judge if it matches or overtake the original and it doesn’t. Mariah decide to slow the tempo and made a five minute song drag into seven minutes. I don’t know whose idea was that but it wasn’t a good one. I’ll give Dru Hill some credit on the harmonies, just stick to the original. (DECENT)

12.   Outside: Last song on the album this is another personal cut. Mariah talks about her biracial upbringing and that being a struggle for her, so she uses her testimony to tell listeners who feel left out, alone or alienated because of their status. I do have two nitpiks and their both minor. 1) the gospel elements not being my thing. 2) I thought she already made a song for the outcasts. Those are just minor nitpiks, it’s all fine way to end an album  (GOOD)



Final Thoughts: I’ll say this, we have two good Mariah albums in a row. This is her first true take on the transition to hip-hop/R&B that would be influential in the early millenium. Let me also say that these are some of the best batch of ballads in this review cycle. So yes, we have another 8/10 album but less than Daydream. Next album is Rainbow, the final album on Columbia.

Best Songs: Honey, Butterfly, Breakdown (ft. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony), Close My Eyes

Worst Songs: Babydoll

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