"Never Forget You" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey for her third studio album, Music Box (1993). Carey co-wrote the slow jam with Babyface and the pair produced it with Daryl Simmons. Columbia Records released the song on January 21, 1994, as the B-side to "Without You" and promoted it to American urban contemporary radio stations as the album's fourth single. The lyrics lament the end of a romance. Strings, synthesizers, and percussion characterize the composition; Jermaine Dupri altered them for remixes.
Music critics deemed "Never Forget You" unremarkable and derivative. The song's level of emotion and Carey's vocal performance were further topics of commentary. "Never Forget You" peaked at numbers one and three on the US urban contemporary radio charts published by Radio & Records and Gavin Report, respectively. It also reached number three on Billboard Hot 100 Singles and number seven on Billboard Hot R&B Singles. Combined with "Without You", the single sold 600,000 copies in the US throughout 1994.
Background and release
After the 1992 release of her first extended play, MTV Unplugged, Mariah Carey began to work on her third studio album, Music Box (1993). She resumed recording with previous collaborators Walter Afanasieff, David Cole, and Robert Clivillés, and began new relationships with producers Dave Hall and Babyface. The latter was known for his traditional ballad productions. According to author Marc Shapiro, this aligned with the album's intended musical identity of "leaning toward the basic R&B feel while not forgetting the orchestration and polish". The label promoted the sixth track, Carey–Babyface collaboration "Never Forget You", as the album's fourth single and provided it to American urban contemporary radio stations in January 1994. Columbia issued the song in several formats: 7-inch vinyl, 12-inch vinyl, cassette, maxi cassette, CD, and maxi CD. Billboard writer Andrew Hampp thought this indicates the release was inconsequential to her and Columbia.
Composition and lyrics
"Never Forget You" is a pop and R&B slow jam. The pair composed the music and then produced the song with Daryl Simmons. It features strings, synthesizers, and percussion prominently. Babyface plays the drums and keyboards and Koyo performs the bass.
Jim Zumpano, Dana Jon Chappelle, and Jim Caruana engineered the track at Right Track Recording in New York City, after which Mick Guzauski mixed it in Sony Music Studios. Like every song on Music Box, "Never Forget You" was mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway in Portland, Maine. It has a swung rhythm every sixteenth note and lasts for three minutes and 45 seconds. Phil Tan and Jamie Seyberth engineered the tracks and Dupri and Tan mixed them at Hollywood's Larrabee Sound Studios. Chuck Campbell of The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Gary Graff of the Detroit Free Press, Leah Greeblatt of Entertainment Weekly, Andrew Hampp of Billboard, and Paul Willistein of The Morning Call and unoriginal. They compared it to Babyface's other compositions such as Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" (1992). David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said "Never Forget You" squanders Babyface's abilities.
Critics evaluated the song's level of emotion; several described it as genuine. Bill Speed and John Martinucci from the Gavin Report called it "a ballad that puts you into a sentimental mood before you can say 'I like this. Toledo Blade writer Stewart Walker thought it showcased "Carey as one of those rare artists who can actually convey her feelings to her listeners". In contrast, Dayton Daily News critic Dave Larsen derided "Never Forget You" as overblown Billboard writers Andrew Hampp and Princess Gabbara complimented Carey's harmonies with Babyface. According to Julianne Shepherd of Vibe, "her piercing vocals amplify [his] signature indelible melodies".
Chart performance
"Never Forget You" is one of the best-performing songs produced by Babyface in the 1990s. Combined with "Without You", the single sold 600,000 copies in the United States throughout 1994. An urban radio success, "Never Forget You" peaked at numbers one and three on charts published by Radio & Records and Gavin Report, respectively. "Never Forget You" received some spins from pop radio stations and charted with "Without You" on Hot 100 Singles beginning February 12, 1994. The single peaked at number three in the week ending March 19, 1994. and remains her sole double-sided appearance. "Without You" was listed with it from March 12, 1994, and the pair reached number seven in the week ending April 9, 1994.
| 8
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!scope="row"|US Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)<br/>
|3
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!scope="row"|US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)<br/>
| 7
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!scope="row"|US Top 100 R&B Singles (Cash Box)
| 5
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! scope="row"|US Urban (Gavin Report)
| 3
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! scope="row"|US Urban (Radio & Records)
| 1
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{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders floatleft" style="text-align:center; margin-right:1em;"
|+1994 year-end chart performance
! scope="col"| Chart
! scope="col"| Position
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!scope="row"|US Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)<br/>
| 16
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!scope="row"|US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)
| 35
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! scope="row"|US Urban (Radio & Records)
| 39
|}
Track listings
- 1994 US maxi cassette/maxi CD single
:A1. "Never Forget You" (Extended) – 5:17
:A2. "Never Forget You" (Radio Edit) – 3:35
:A3. "Never Forget You" (Instrumental) – 3:34
:B1. "Never Forget You" (Album Version) – 3:45
:B2. "Without You" (Album Version) – 3:34
- 2020 MC30 digital EP
- "Never Forget You" (Radio Edit) – 3:35
- "Never Forget You" (Extended) – 5:17
- "Never Forget You" (Instrumental) – 3:34
Credits
Album version
Locations
Personnel
Dupri remixes
Locations
Personnel
Notes
References
Books