Mariah's fifth studio album, Daydream, was released in the United States on October 3, 1995, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 after selling 224,00 copies. It spent six non-consecutive weeks atop the chart and remained in the Top 10 for twenty-nine weeks, becoming the second best-selling album of 1996, and the eighteenth best-selling album of the 1990s. On December 18, 1998, Daydream became Mariah's second album to be certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America, denoting shipments of over 10 million units. On March 27, 2022, it was certified 11X Platinum.
Internationally, the album was also hugely successful and topped the album charts in countries like Japan, Australia or the United Kingdom, making it one of Mariah's biggest-selling albums, with estimated sales of over twenty-five million copies.
Daydream's lead single was “Fantasy,” which Mariah co-wrote with Dave Hall, who she previously worked with on “Dreamlover,” in 1993. After being released on September 12, 1995, it became Mariah's ninth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and made chart history by becoming the first song by a female artist to ever debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and the second single in chart history to enter at the top, after Michael Jackson's “You Are Not Alone.” “Fantasy” topped the chart for eight consecutive weeks and was certified 6X Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 31, 2023.
Mariah teamed up with producer Sean “Puffy” Combs and rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard for the Bad Boy remix of “Fantasy.” “I listen to this kind of music all the time. It wasn't like I said, ‘Tell me, who does good remixes?’ or ‘Who's the hot rapper of the moment?’ I knew what I wanted to do and who I wanted to do it with,” she explained. “I really wanted Puffy to do the remix and the first thing I said to him when I met him was, ‘I wanna get O.D.B. to come and do this’ because his flavor is perfect for the track. I pulled the wool over my record company's eyes, because they had no idea what or who I was talking about when I mentioned O.D.B. That record was a turning point for me because it was an official street record. I'd be walking around New York and hear it blasting out of Jeeps.”
“One Sweet Day” — a duet with Boyz II Men — was released as the second single on November 14, 1995. “I wrote the initial idea for ‘One Sweet Day’ with Walter Afanasieff,” Mariah said about the song. “When I did it and I had the chorus, I stopped and I said ‘I really wanna do this with Boyz II Men’ because I'm a big fan of theirs and I just thought that the chorus was crying out for the vocals that they do. We finally got together, I sang them the song and Nate had written a song that was basically identical to my song in the theme, and melodically you could actually sing it over my song and it was really bizarre, it was like fate. So we put the two songs together and came up with ‘One Sweet Day.’ ” The duet became Mariah's second single to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent sixteen consecutive weeks, becoming the longest running number-one song in chart history.
Mariah co-wrote seven of the twelve songs on the album with songwriting partner Walter Afanasieff. “This album is even more of a true collaboration between us. Certain songs don't have the usual, predictable, Walter/Mariah thing,” Mariah said about their working process. “There's a song called ‘Underneath The Stars’ which we did and it was my idea to have a '70's type, Minnie Riperton era vibe. I wanted it to sound authentic so got a real Fender Rhodes type sound. I just think we stretched in a lot of ways. In the past, just because of time we would write the song, music and melody together and I'll sing a bunch of different melodies over it and he'd go home and I'd write the lyrics and he'd work on the track. This time we worked together for the most part on every song we did from the inception of the idea to the completion of the track — except when I do my vocals which I do alone.”
Daydream saw Mariah working with Jermaine Dupri for the first time and her music evolving towards a more R&B sound. “There's a very fine line for me between changing and maintaining what people have latched onto about me. I enjoy working with different producers, some of the more street-influenced producers, because it does add a different element to my sound,” she explained. “I don't think that I've gotten lost in those tracks. I think we really came together and created something that was just my sound with more of an edge — an updated version of where I kind of went with ‘Dreamlover.’ On this album there are more songs in that vein. And that's really the music that I like to listen to. I'm a radio addict. All I do is listen to the radio. I listen to hip-hop a lot, and have grown up with it, in a sense, as a listener.”
Written by Mariah and Jermaine Dupri, “Always Be My Baby” was released as the album's third single in the United States on February 27, 1996. “Jermaine, Manuel Seal and I sat down and Jermaine programmed the drums. I told him the feel that I wanted and Manuel put his hands on the keyboards and I started singing the melody. We went back and forth with the bridge and the B-section. I had the outline of the lyrics and started singing ‘Always Be My Baby’ off the top of my head.” The song became Mariah's eleventh number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, tying her with Whitney Houston and Madonna as the female solo artist with the most number one singles. On August 31, 2023, it was certified 6X Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Daydream also includes a cover of the song “Open Arms,” originally recorded by rock band Journey in 1981. “I've always loved Steve Perry's voice, I think he's really an amazing singer,” Mariah said. “I have a lot of good memories of growing up listening to that song and I always used to sing it and think that it would be a great singer song, kind of a great performance song.” “Open Arms” was released as a single in Europe in February 1996, peaking at number four on the United Kingdom's Official Singles Chart.
“Forever,” co-written by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff, was released on June 18, 1996, as a radio-only single in the United States. “‘Forever’ was kind of inspired by old '50s/'60s ballads that are just kind of really big performance style ballads,” Mariah said about the song. “It's got a very romantic feeling and I think it's kind of nostalgic too because it does remind you of like an old record in a lot of ways.”“Forever” peaked at number nine on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and at number two on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song got a limited release in Europe and Australia in late October 1996, peaking at number forty-seven on the Dutch charts.
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds co-wrote the song “Melt Away.” “I really love working with Kenny because he's smart and really easy to work with. I'm the kind of person where if someone starts playing something on the piano I can write a melody on top. It's one of my favorite things to do. He's the kind of person who can just sit down and come up with something, so we really vibe with each other. Believe it or not my natural voice is very low. I was just experimenting on that song, singing an octave lower than where I normally would and Babyface said, ‘You should start it out like that because not a lot of people have that low range like that.’ ”
Written by: Mariah Carey, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Dave Hall, Adrian Belew, Steven S. Stanley.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and Dave Hall.
4:04
2
Underneath The Stars
Written by: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by: Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:33
3
One Sweet Day (Duet with Boyz II Men)
Written by: Mariah Carey, Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by: Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
4:41
4
Open Arms
Written by: Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain.
Produced by: Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:30
5
Always Be My Baby
Written by: Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri. Co-produced by Manuel Seal.
4:18
6
I Am Free
Written by: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by: Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:08
7
When I Saw You
Written by: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by: Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
4:24
8
Long Ago
Written by: Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri. Co-produced by Manuel Seal.
4:32
9
Melt Away
Written by: Mariah Carey, Babyface.
Produced by: Mariah Carey.
3:42
10
Forever
Written by: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by: Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
4:01
11
Daydream Interlude (Fantasy Sweet Dub Mix)
Written by: Mariah Carey, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Dave Hall, Adrian Belew, Steven S. Stanley.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and David Morales.
3:04
12
Looking In
Written by: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by: Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:36
Bonus Tracks
Track #
Song
Run time
Bonus
El Amor Que Soñé (Spanish Version of Open Arms)
Written by: Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain. Spanish adaptation by Manny Benito.
Produced by: Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
3:28
Bonus
Fantasy (Def Club Mix)
Written by: Mariah Carey, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Dave Hall, Adrian Belew, Steven S. Stanley.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and David Morales.
11:14
Releases
Original Release
Daydream was issued on CD, Cassette, MiniDisc and — exclusively in Europe — 12" vinyl. In Japan, the album was available on CD and MiniDisc, featuring a slightly different front cover and the Radio Mix of “Fantasy” (listed as Def Club Mix) as a bonus track.
Daydream was re-released in Spain and Latin America to include the Spanish Version of “Open Arms” as a bonus track. In 2015, Legacy Recordings Japan issued the album on Blu-spec CD 2.
The original Daydream vinyl, released in 1995, was only available in Europe. In September 2019, the album was released on vinyl for the first time in the United States, when Vinyl Me, Please issued an exclusive 180g metallic gold vinyl pressing. In 2020, Daydream was re-released on vinyl.
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Oh when you walk by every night
Talking sweet and looking fine
I get kind of hectic inside
Hmm baby I'm so into you
Darling if you only knew
All the things that flow through my mind
But it's just a
Sweet sweet fantasy baby (Yeah)
When I close my eyes
You come and you take me (Oh yeah yeah)
On and on and on
It's so deep in my daydreams (So deep, so deep)
But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby (Sweet sweet fantasy)
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do (And I want you oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Images of rapture
Creep into me slowly
As you're going to my head
And my heart beats faster
When you take me over
Time and time and time again
But it's just a
Sweet sweet fantasy baby (Hey baby)
When I close my eyes
You come and you take me (Yeah, yeah)
On and on and on
It's so deep in my daydreams (So deep, so deep)
But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby (Sweet fantasy)
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Yeah)
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh so badly)
Shoo do do-do do do do do (Oh oh it's just a sweet)
Sweet sweet fantasy baby
When I close my eyes
You come and you take me
On and on and on
It's so deep in my daydreams (So deep bay)
But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby (Sweet fantasy)
I'm in heaven
With my boyfriend
My laughing boyfriend (On and on and on)
There's no beginning and there is no end
Feels like I'm dreaming but I'm not sleeping
Oh oh it's just a sweet…
Sweet sweet fantasy baby
When I close my eyes
You come and you take me (Oh yeah yeah)
On and on and on
It's so deep in my daydreams (So so deep)
But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby (Sweet fantasy)
Sweet sweet fantasy baby
When I close my eyes
You come and you take me (Ooh yeah yeah)
On and on and on
It's so deep in my daydreams (You touch me baby, you drive me crazy)
But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby (You rock me baby, you come and take me)
Sweet sweet fantasy baby (Sweet)
Sweet sweet fantasy baby (Fantasy)
Shoo do do-do do do do do
Lyrics: Mariah Carey, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth. Music: Mariah Carey, Dave Hall, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Adrian Belew, Steven Stanley.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Dave Hall.
One summer night
We ran away for a while
Laughing, we hurried beneath the sky
To an obscure place to hide
That no one could find
And we drifted to another state of mind
And imagined I was yours and you were mine
As we lay upon the grass
There in the dark
Underneath the stars
(Young love)
Underneath the stars
Weak in the knees
Wrapped in the warm gentle breeze
So shy, a bundle of butterflies
Flush with heat of desire
On a natural high
As we drifted to another place in time
And the feeling was so heady and sublime
As I lost my heart in you
There in the dark
Underneath the stars
(Young love)
Beautiful and bittersweetly
You were fading into me
And I was gently fading into you
But the time went sailing by
Reluctantly we said good-bye
And left our secret place so far behind
And I lay in bed all night and I was
Drifting drifting drifting drifting
And I was yours
And you were my own
My own baby
As we lay
As we…
Lay underneath the stars
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
Sorry I never told you
All I wanted to say
And now it's too late to hold you
Cause you've flown away
So far away
Never had I imagined
Living without your smile
Feeling and knowing you hear me
It keeps me alive
Alive
And I know you're shining down on me from heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'll be together (Together)
One sweet day (And I'll wait patiently to see you in Heaven)
Darling I never showed you (I never showed you)
Assumed you'd always be there (I thought you'd always be there)
I took your presence for granted
But I always cared (But I always cared)
And I miss the love we shared
And I know you're shining down on me from heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way (Lost along the way)
And I know eventually we'll be together (I know, I know)
(We'll be together)
One sweet day
(And all that I know is I'll wait patiently to see you in Heaven)
Although the sun will never shine the same
I'll always look to a brighter day (Yeah…)
Lord I know when I lay me down to sleep
You will always listen as I pray
And I know you're shining down on me from heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way (Yes, like so many)
And I know eventually we'll be together (Yes I know, I know)
(We'll be together)
One sweet day (One sweet day)
One sweet day
And I know you're shining down on me from heaven (And I know you're shining down on me)
(I will see you eventually)
Like so many friends we've lost along the way (I know you're looking down from Heaven)
And I know eventually we'll be together (I know, I know yeah yes)
(Yes we will)
One sweet day (One sweet day)
(Patiently to see you in Heaven)
Sorry I never told you
All I wanted to say
Lyrics: Mariah Carey, Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman. Music: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
Lying beside you here in the dark
Feeling your heart beat with mine, mine
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere
How could our love be so blind
We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side
So now I come to you with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms…
Living without you, living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much I wanted you home
But now that you've come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay
So now I come to you with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me…
Open arms
Lyrics and music: S. Perry, J. Cain.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
We were as one
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine
Now you want to be free
So I'll let you fly
'Cause I know in my heart
Our love will never die
You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're ever gonna shake me
Oh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
I ain't gonna cry
And I won't beg you to stay
If you're determined to leave boy
I will not stand in your way
But inevitably, you'll be back again
'Cause you know in your heart babe
Our love will never end
You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're ever gonna shake me
Oh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
I know that you'll be back boy
When your days and your nights get a little bit colder
I know that you'll be right back baby
Oh baby believe me it's only a matter of time
You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're ever gonna shake me
Oh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey, Manuel Seal.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri. Co-produced by Manuel Seal.
Soft heavenly eyes gazed into me
Transcending space and time
And I was rendered still
There were no words for me to find at all
As I stood there beside myself
I could see you and no one else
When I saw you
When I saw you
I could not breathe, I fell so deep
When I saw you
When I saw you
I'd never be, I'd never be the same
Only once in a lifetime love rushes in
Changing you with the tide
And dawn's ribbon of light
Bursts through the dark
Wakening you inside
And I thought it was all untrue
Until there all at once I knew
When I saw you
When I saw you
I could not breathe, I fell so deep
When I saw you
When I saw you
I'd never be, I'd never be the same
With no beginning and
Without an end
You are the one for me
And it's evident
And your eyes told me so
Your eyes let me know…
When I saw you
When I saw you
I could not breathe, I fell so deep
When I saw you
When I saw you
I'd never be, I'd never be the same…
Never be the same
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
Once upon a time you whispered softly in my ear
Loving words and fairytales that I longed to hear
I gave you my body and soul and you took control
As you slowly swept me up and carried me away
You told me pretty lies
As I held on to you tight
You knew how to get your way
Ignorance was bliss in your warm embrace
Long ago
You used to want me
Now it's all so far away (Now it's all so far, far)
But you still haunt me
And take me back to yesterday
Every now and then I drown in thoughts of yesterday
And the fools paradise that you blew away
I feel you beside me again and remember when
You came to my window on a dark and stormy day
Baby I need you now (I need you baby right now)
Tonight I'm crumbling down (Down)
Sinking in the memories
Shadows of you keep washing over me
Long ago
You used to want me
Now it's all so far away (Not it's so far)
But you still haunt me
Long ago
You used to want me
Now it's all so far away
But you still haunt me
(You still haunt me, you still haunt me, yes you do baby)
Long ago (So long)
You used to want me (But you, you…)
Now it's all so far away (And now it's all so far, far)
But you still haunt me (Haunt me, you haunt me)
(And take me back to yesterday)
So long ago, so long ago, so long ago, so long ago
So long ago, so long ago, so long ago, so long ago
Baby I need you now (Oh I need you right now boy cause)
Tonight I'm crumbling down
Sinking in the memories
Shadows of you keep washing over me
Long ago (You, you used to)
You used to want me (You used to want me baby, baby, baby)
Now it's all so far away (And now it's all so far)
But you still haunt me (You haunt me, you haunt me)
(And you take me back to yesterday)
Long ago (So long)
You used to want me (So long, so long)
Now it's all so far away (Tonight I'm crumbling down)
But you still haunt me (You do, you do, you do, you do)
So long ago
Long ago (Once upon a time you came along)
You used to want me (And you whispered softly in my ear)
Now it's all so far away (Loving words and all those fairy tales)
But you still haunt me (You knew that I would love to hear)
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey, Manuel Seal.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri. Co-produced by Manuel Seal.
You come to me with a casual flow
And suddenly my defenses start to go
When you talk to me in that sensual tone
It envelopes me and I lose my self control
And baby I just melt away
Fall like rain
Every time I see your face I go off
I just want to break it down
Anytime you come around
Maybe I could melt away in your arms
Imagining that you're taking it slow
And so tenderly
'Till the feeling overflows
When you look at me I go soft and cave in
And I can't conceal that I'm slowly weakening
And baby I just melt away
Fall like rain
Every time I see your face I go off (Every time I see your face I lose my self control)
I just want to break it down
Anytime you come around
Maybe I could melt away in your arms
You and me in a cloud of reverie
Spin around inside my head unendingly (Over and over, and over and over)
Thoughts run wild as I sit and rhapsodize
Paint pretty pictures of what I'd do if you were mine
Baby I
And baby I just melt away
Fall like rain (Fall)
Every time I see your face I go off
I just want to break it down
Anytime you come around
Maybe I could melt away in your arms
And baby I just melt away
Fall like rain
Every time I see your face I go off
I just want to break it down (You and me ain't got a typical thing)
Anytime you come around (You and me ain't got a typical thing)
Maybe I could melt away in your arms
Lyrics and music: Mariah Carey, Babyface.
Produced by Mariah Carey.
Those days of love are gone
Our time is through
Still I burn on and on
All of my life
Only for you
From now
Until forever
And ever, my darling
Forever
You will always be the only one…
You will always be the only one…
As long as I shall live
I'll hold you dear
And I will reminisce
Of our love
All through the years
From now
Until forever
And ever, my darling
Forever
You will always be the only one… yes
You will always be the only one…
If you should ever need me
Unfailingly, I will return to your arms
And unburden your heart
And if you should remember
That we belong together
Never be ashamed
Call my name
Tell me I'm the one you treasure
Forever
And ever, my darling
Forever
You will always be the only one… yes
You will always be the only one…
Oh baby you will always the only one…
Forever, you will always be the only one (You…)
Forever, you will always be the only one (You…)
Forever, you will always be the only one (You…)
Forever, you will always be the only one (You…)
Forever, you will always be the only one (You…)
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
It's so sweet
In my daydream
And every night you creep into my dreams
Fantasy
It's so deep, but it's a fantasy
Every night you
Creep into my dreams
It's so real
(In my daydream)
It's just a sweet
It is a sweet
(My daydreams)
It seems so real
You touch me
You come into my dreams
Come to me
But it's just a fantasy
It feels so sweet
But it's just a dream
Oh baby it's just a sweet fantasy
And daydream is all that I can do
I feel raptured over you
In silence I keep it to myself
Come take me I don't want nobody else
And it's sweet I feel sweet
And it's sweet I feel sweet
And it's sweet I feel sweet
And it's deep I feel reality
It's just a sweet
It's just a sweet
You're like the kiss of life
You're like the kiss of life
Beaming in the sky
But it's just a fantasy
Oh baby
You come into my dream
Yeah
But you're just a fantasy
Lyrics: Mariah Carey, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth. Music: Mariah Carey, Dave Hall, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Adrian Belew, Steven Stanley.
Produced by Mariah Carey and David Morales.
You look at me and see the girl
Who lives inside the golden world
But don't believe that's all there is to see
You'll never know the real me
She smiles through a thousand tears
And harbors adolescent fears
She dreams of all that she can never be
She wades in insecurity
And hides herself inside of me
Don't say she takes it all for granted
I'm well aware of all I have
Don't think that I am disenchanted
Please understand
It seems as though I've always been
Somebody outside looking in
Well here I am for all of them to bleed
But they can't take my heart from me
And they can't bring me to my knees
They'll never know the real me
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
