Never Forget You (Mariah Carey song)

"Never Forget You" is a song performed by American singer Mariah Carey. It was co-written by Carey and Babyface. It was produced by Carey, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons for Carey's third studio album, Music Box (1993). It was released as the fourth single from Music Box in the first quarter of 1994, as a double A-side with a cover of Badfinger's "Without You". Lyrically, the song's protagonist describes her ex-lover and although they have since moved on, she will never forget them. The song was remixed for single release by Jermaine Dupri, who has since collaborated with Carey on several tracks on almost all her albums since Daydream. No music video was commissioned for the song, making it Carey's first commercially released single not to be accompanied by a video.

For other songs with the same title, see Never Forget You.

"Never Forget You"
Single by Mariah Carey
from the album Music Box
A-side"Without You"
ReleasedFebruary 22, 1994 (1994-02-22)
Recorded1993
Genre
Length3:46
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"Hero"
(1993)		 "Never Forget You" / "Without You"
(1994)		 "Anytime You Need a Friend"
(1994)

Chart performance

At the time of the single's release in the U.S. as "Without You/Never Forget You," Billboard magazine's rules allowed double-sided singles to chart together as one entry on the singles chart. A song that picked up the most airplay and/or sales for the respective chart was listed as the A-side. On the U.S. pop charts, it was listed as "Without You/Never Forget You" and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining in the top forty for 21 weeks.[1]

The maxi-single of "Never Forget You" was only released in the United States and promoted to Urban radio audiences, charting as the A-side when it appeared on the R&B charts. As "Never Forget You/Without You," it reached the top ten on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart primarily due to sales, and the RIAA certified it gold.[2]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described "Never Forget You" as a "softly rhythmic pop/R&B slow jam, equipped with a deliciously catchy chorus and wonderful booming instrumentation." He added, "Carey's vocal is sweetly sincere as she ponders a love affair that has come to an end. Another sparkling moment from the diva's current "Music Box" opus."[3] 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.""[4]

Remixes and other versions

Jermaine Dupri's R&B remixes of the song are included on its maxi-single release. A radio edit, an extended version and the instrumental version of the remix replace Babyface's original production with a new, pulsating synthetic R&B rhythm.[5] The instrumental version was used on Carey's episode of MTV Cribs. The song has been covered by a Japanese R&B singer Double and is featured on her greatest hits album 10 Years Best: We R&B.[6]

On August 7, 2020, along with the celebration of the 30th-anniversary of Carey's debut studio album Mariah Carey (1990), the song was released as an three-track extended play, titled Never Forget You EP, which contained the remixes from the US CD maxi-single – excluding the song's album version and the track "Without You".[7]

Track listing
  • U.S. CD maxi-single[5]
  1. "Never Forget You" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
  2. "Never Forget You" (Extended) – 5:19
  3. "Never Forget You" (Album Version) – 3:48
  4. "Never Forget You" (Instrumental) – 3:35
  5. "Without You" (Album Version) – 3:33
  • Never Forget You EP[8]
  1. "Never Forget You" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
  2. "Never Forget You" (Extended) – 5:19
  3. "Never Forget You" (Instrumental) – 3:35

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  2. "American single certifications – Mariah Carey – Without You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  3. Flick, Larry (January 29, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 79. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  4. Speed, Bill; Martinucci, John (January 28, 1994). "Gavin Urban — New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  5. "Mariah Carey – Never Forget You (1994, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  6. "NEVER FORGET YOU (1995 March Rec. Demo) by Double on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  7. Wass, Mike (August 7, 2020). "Mariah Carey Drops Three 'Music Box' Remix EPs". Idolator. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  8. "Never Forget You EP by Mariah Carey on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  9. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  10. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  11. "National Airplay Overview". Radio & Records. April 1, 1994. p. 84.
  12. "The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. December 24, 1994. pp. YE-26, YE-34. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  13. "The Top 94 of 1994". Radio & Records. December 16, 1994. p. 30. ProQuest 1017281302.
  14. "Best-Selling Records of 1994". Billboard. BPI Communications. 107 (3): 57. January 21, 1995. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
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