Released on November 17, 1998, #1's is a collection of Mariah's thirteen chart-toppers on the Billboard Hot 100 chart from 1990's “Vision Of Love” up until 1998's “My All,” and four new songs. #1's debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and was certified 6x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 17, 2022. In Japan, #1's became not only Mariah's biggest-selling album, but also the country's all-time top-selling album from a foreign artist, selling over three million copies.
The first single was a collaboration with Jermaine Dupri on “Sweetheart,” a song originally recorded by Rainy Davis. “Sweetheart” was included on Jermaine's Life In 1472 album, released on July 24, 1998, and sent to radios as both the lead single from #1's and the second single from Jermaine's album on September 7, 1998. “I was like, ‘Jermaine, let's just do a remake.’ ” Mariah told VIBE in 1998. “I was thinking of the old songs I used to listen to when I was in school. It's a really cute record. Young girls'll like it the way I liked it when I was growing up.”
“When You Believe,” a duet with Whitney Houston recorded for the 1998 The Prince Of Egypt original motion picture soundtrack, was released as a single on November 3. “One of my favorite collaborations I've ever done was with the incomparable Whitney Houston,” Mariah told Billboard in 2019. “Working with Whitney was an experience I'll never forget. Once we knew each other we had the best time together and I was honored to work with her.” “When You Believe” made its debut at number fifty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent seventeen weeks on the chart, peaking at number fifteen on January 30, 1999. “When You Believe” was awarded the Best Original Song award during the 71st Annual Academy Awards and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America on March 27, 2022.
#1's also includes a cover of the song “I Still Believe,” made popular by Brenda K. Starr. “I was a backup singer for Brenda K. Starr right out of high school,” Mariah told Rosie O'Donnell in 1999. “She was very nice to me, kinda took me under her wing and she actually helped me get my start, so I remade the song as a tribute to her.” “I Still Believe,” released as the third single on February 9, 1999, peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of March 20, 1999, and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 17, 1999.
“Whenever You Call,” a song from Mariah's 1997 Butterfly album was re-recorded as a duet with Brian McKnight and included as a bonus track on #1's. “It was amazing to go into the studio with someone who's so successful and has that kind of track record,” McKnight told MTV in 1998. “Mariah is someone who could ask anyone in the world to sing with her, and they called me. The album contains a duet with Whitney Houston and a duet with me, so it's just been great company to be in.”
International editions also include a cover of “Do You Know Where You're Going To,” a song originally recorded by Diana Ross as the theme to the 1975 film Mahogany, and “Without You,” from Mariah's 1993 album Music Box, replacing “I Don't Wanna Cry.”
#1's, originally available on black vinyl, was reissued for the first time on April 22, 2022, as part of the Record Store Day. Japan got an exclusive limited edition clear vinyl pressing of the album on March 22, 2023. The latest editions of the album have been pressed on metallic silver and black swirl vinyl, which became available in 2024, and an opaque white vinyl, released in 2025.
Boy haven't you noticed
A gleam in my eye
Because of you
I'm a little hypnotized
But every time you're with me
I feel so positive
Now with a little love
Something's got to give
A full moon
Is waiting in the twilight
Maybe soon
You will come to be my night
Here we are
Hoping that we never part
Stay with me
Baby, won't you be my sweetheart
We could share a storybook romance
Won't you be my sweetheart
We could share a storybook romance
Just you and I
You are no Casanova
I know that you'll be true
And that's why
I'm so in love with you
But each romantic ending
You leave me at my door
But tonight
I'd like us to explore
A full moon
Is waiting in the twilight
Maybe soon
You will come to be my night
Here we are
Hoping that we never part
Stay with me
Baby, won't you be my sweetheart
We could share a storybook romance
Won't you be my sweetheart
We could share a storybook romance
Just you and I
Stars are bright
Mood is right
To keep me warm away from harm
Nowhere better than my baby's arms
Stars are bright
Mood is right
To keep me warm away from harm
Won't you be mine
Sweetheart
We could share a storybook romance
Won't you be mine
We could share a storybook romance
Just you and I
Let's get together
Live happily ever after
No one to make us sad
Oh baby
You know I need your love
Romance
Written by R. Davis, P. Warner.
Produced by Jermaine Dupri and Mariah Carey.
Many nights we've prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains
Long before we knew we could
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe
In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
My heart's so full, I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I'd say
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe
So in times when all your hope is gone
And you go through life afraid
In your heart there lies a hopeful song
That is there to guide the way
And all the hurt and all the pain
You soon will learn was not in vain
For all your prayers, they will be heard
They'll come to pass through faith
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will (Now you will)
You will when you believe
Written by Stephen Schwartz, Babyface.
Produced by Babyface.
Love wandered inside
Stronger than you
Stronger than I
And now that it has begun
We cannot turn back
We can only turn into one
I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I'll always remember
The part of you so tender
I'll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call
And I'm truly inspired
Finding my soul
There in your eyes
And you have opened my heart
And lifted me inside
By showing me yourself
Undisguised
And I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I'll always remember
That part of you so tender
I'll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call
And I will breathe for you each day
Comfort you through all the pain
Gently kiss your fears away
You can turn to me and cry
Always understand that I
Give you all I am inside
And I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
I won't ever be too far to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
I'll always remember
That part of you so tender
And be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call
Lyrics: M. Carey. Music: M. Carey, W. Afanasieff.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
I am thinking of you
In my sleepless solitude tonight
If it's wrong to love you
Then my heart just won't let me be right
'Cause I've drowned in you
And I won't pull through
Without you by my side
I'd give my all to have
Just one more night with you
I'd risk my life to feel
Your body next to mine
'Cause I can't go on
Living in the memory of our song
I'd give my all for your love tonight
Baby can you feel me
Imagining I'm looking in your eyes
I can see you clearly
Vividly emblazoned in my mind
And yet you're so far
Like a distant star
I'm wishing on tonight
I'd give my all to have
Just one more night with you
I'd risk my life to feel
Your body next to mine
'Cause I can't go on
Living in the memory of our song
I'd give my all for your love tonight
I'd give my all to have
Just one more night with you
I'd risk my life to feel
Your body next to mine
'Cause I can't go on
Living in the memory of our song
I'd give my all for your love tonight
Give my all for your love
Tonight
Lyrics: M. Carey. Music: M. Carey, W. Afanasieff.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Honey you can have me
When you want me
If you simply ask me to be there
And you're the only one who
Makes me come running
'Cause what you got is far
Beyond compare
And it's just like honey
When your love comes over me
Oh baby I've got a dependency
Always strung out for another
Taste of your honey
It's like honey when it washes over me
You know sugar never ever was so sweet
And I'm dying for you, cryin' for you I adore you
One hit of your love addicted me
Now I'm strung out on you darlin'
Don't you see every night and day
I can hardly wait for another taste of honey
Honey I can't describe
How good it feels inside
Honey I can't describe
How good it feels inside
I can't be elusive
With you honey
'Cause it's blatant
That I'm feeling you
And it's too hard for me
To leave abruptly
'Cause you're the only thing
I wanna do
And it's just like honey
When your love comes over me
Oh baby I've got a dependency
Always strung out for another
Taste of your honey
It's like honey when it washes over me
You know sugar never ever was so sweet
And I'm dying for you, cryin' for you I adore you
One hit of your love addicted me
Now I'm strung out on you darlin'
Don't you see every night and day
I can hardly wait for another taste of honey
Lyrics: M. Carey. Music: M. Carey, S. Combs, K. Fareed, S. Jordan, S. Hague, B. Robinson, R. Larkins, L. Price, M. McLaren, M. Dewese.
Produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs, The Ummah, Stevie J., 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.
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
One sweet day
Darling I never showed you
Assumed you'd always be there
I took your presence for granted
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
And I know eventually we'll be together
One sweet day
Although the sun will never shine the same
I'll always look to a brighter day
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
And I know eventually we'll be together
One sweet day
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
One sweet day
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.
When you walk by every night
Talking sweet and looking fine
I get kind of hectic inside
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
When I close my eyes
You come and you take me
On and on and on
It's so deep in my daydreams
But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby
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
When I close my eyes
You come and you take me
On and on and on
It's so deep in my daydreams
But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby
I'm in heaven
With my boyfriend
My laughing boyfriend
There's no beginning and there is no end
Feels like I'm dreaming but I'm not sleeping
It's just a
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
But it's just a sweet sweet fantasy baby
Lyrics: Mariah Carey, Russell Jones, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth. Music: Mariah Carey, Dave Hall, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Adrian Belew, Steven Stanley.
Produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs.
There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away
Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time
You'll find the way
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
I need a lover to give me
The kind of love
That will last always
I need somebody uplifting
To take me away
I want a lover who knows me
Who understands how I feel inside
Someone to comfort and hold me
Through the long lonely nights
Till the dawn
Why don't you take me away
Dreamlover come rescue me
Take me up take me down
Take me anywhere you want to baby now
I need you so desperately
Won't you please come around
'Cause I wanna share forever with you baby
I don't want another pretender
To disillusion me one more time
Whispering words of forever
Playing with my mind
I need someone to hold on to
The kind of love that won't fly away
I just want someone to belong to
Everyday
Of my live
Always
So come and take me away
Dreamlover come rescue me
Take me up take me down
Take me anywhere you want to baby now
I need you so desperately
Won't you please come around
'Cause I wanna share forever with you baby
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, Dave Hall.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Dave Hall and Walter Afanasieff.
You've got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I've ever dreamed of
You've got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above
I feel good
I feel nice
I've never felt so
Satisfied
I'm in love
I'm alive
Intoxicated
Flying high
It feels like a dream
When you touch me tenderly
I don't know if it's real
But I like the way I feel
Inside
You've got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I've ever dreamed of
You've got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above
In the morning
When I rise
You are the first thing
On my mind
And in the middle
Of the night
I feel your heartbeat
Next to mine
It feels like a dream
When you love me tenderly
I don't know if you're for real
But I like the way I feel
Inside
You've got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I've ever dreamed of
You've got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above
You know the way to make me lose control
When you're looking into my eyes
You make me feel so
High
You've got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I've ever dreamed of
You've got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, David Cole, Robert Clivillés.
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés and Mariah Carey.
Once again we sit in silence
After all is said and done
Only emptiness inside us
Baby, look what we've become
We can make a million promises
But we still won't change
It isn't right to stay together
When you only bring each other pain
I don't wanna cry
Don't wanna cry
Nothing in the world
Could take us back
To where we used to be
Though I've given you my heart and soul (Given you my heart and soul)
I must find a way of letting go
Cause baby, I don't wanna cry
I don't wanna cry
Too far apart to bridge the distance
But something keeps us hanging on and on
Pretending not to know the difference
Denying what we had is gone
Every moment we're together
It's just breaking me down
I know we swore it was forever
But it hurts too much to stay around
I don't wanna cry
Don't wanna cry
Nothing in the world
Could take us back
To where we used to be
Though I've given you my heart and soul (Given you my heart and soul)
I must find a way of letting go
Cause baby, I don't wanna cry
I don't wanna cry
All the magic's gone
There's just a shadow of a memory
Something just went wrong
We can't go on make-believing
On make-believing
Cause I don't wanna cry
Don't wanna cry
Nothing in the world
Could take us back
To where we used to be
Though I've given you my heart and soul, ooh yeah (Given you my heart and soul)
Said I've given you my heart and soul, ooh baby (Given you my heart and soul)
I must find a way of letting go
Cause baby, I don't wanna cry
Cry
I don't wanna cry
I don't wanna cry
Written by Mariah Carey, Narada Michael Walden.
Produced by Narada Michael Walden.
You were so blind to let me go
You had it all but did not know
No one you'll find will ever be
Closer to all your dreams than me
Believing the grass would be greener
You told yourself “I just don't need her now”
But I know you'll soon discover
You're never satisfied with any other
Someday Oo Someday
The one you gave away will be the only one you're wishing for
Someday hey hey
Boy you're gonna pay cause baby I'm the one who's keeping score
You'll change your mind and call my name
Soon as you find they're all the same
And when you find yourself alone
Don't come back crying
You should have known
Believe me I'm not pretending
It's not hard to predict this ending now
Cause I know you'll soon discover
You're needing me in spite of all the others
Someday Oo Someday
The one you gave away will be the only one you're wishing for
Someday hey hey
Boy you're gonna pay cause baby I'm the one who's keeping score
Someday Oo Someday
The one you gave away will be the only one you're wishing for (I'm gonna be the one, boy)
Someday hey hey
Boy you're gonna pay cause baby I'm the one who's keeping score
Maybe now you just can't conceive
That there'll ever come a time when you're cold and lonely
Baby, how could you ever believe
That another could replace me, the one and only
But when you're down in your time of need
And you're thinking how you might be coming back to own me
Just think again cause I won't need your love anymore!
Someday Oo Someday
The one you gave away will be the only one you're wishing for
Someday hey hey
Boy you're gonna pay cause baby I'm the one who's keeping score
Someday Oo Someday (You're gonna be wishing for me)
The one you gave away will be the only one you're wishing for (For me, for me, for me, for me, for me yeah)
Someday hey hey (Hey baby)
Boy you're gonna pay cause baby I'm the one who's keeping score
Someday Oo Someday (Someday, someday, some, some, someday yeah)
The one you gave away will be the only one you're wishing for (The one you gave away will be the only one)
Someday hey hey
Boy you're gonna pay cause baby I'm the one who's keeping score
Written by Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies.
Produced by Ric Wake.
I had it all
But I let it slip away
Couldn't see I treated you wrong
Now I wander around
Feeling down and cold
Trying to believe that you're gone
Love takes time
To heal when you're hurting so much
Couldn't see that I was blind
To let you go
I can't escape the pain
Inside
Cause love takes time
I don't wanna be here
I don't wanna be here alone
Losing my mind
From this hollow in my heart
Suddenly I'm so incomplete
Lord I'm needing you now
Tell me how to stop the rain
Tears are falling down endlessly
Love takes time
To heal when you're hurting so much
Couldn't see that I was blind
To let you go
I can't escape the pain
Inside
Cause love takes time
And I don't wanna be here
I don't wanna be here alone
You might say that it's over
You might say that you don't care
You might say you don't miss me
You don't need me
But I know that you do
And I feel that you do
Inside
Love takes time
To heal when you're hurting so much
Couldn't see that I, I was so blind
To let you go
I can't escape the pain
Inside
Cause love takes time
And I don't wanna be there
I don't wanna be there alone
Written by Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff.
Treated me kind
Sweet destiny
Carried me through desperation
To the one that was waiting for me
It took so long
Still I believed
Somehow the one that I needed
Would find me eventually
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
Prayed through the nights
Felt so alone
Suffered from alienation
Carried the weight on my own
Had to be strong
So I believed
And now I know I've succeeded
In finding the place I conceived
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given me
I've realized a dream
And I visualized
The love that came to be
Feel so alive
I'm so thankful that I've received
The answer that heaven has sent down to me
You treated me kind
Sweet destiny (And you know that you did)
And I'll be eternally grateful
Holding you so close to me (Prayed through the nights)
Prayed through the nights (So faithfully)
So faithfully (Faithfully)
Knowing the one that I needed (Knowing)
Would find me eventually (He would find me)
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you turned out to be
Written by Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies.
Produced by Rhett Lawrence. Additional production: Narada Michael Walden.
You look in my eyes
And I get emotional inside
I know it's crazy
But you still can touch my heart
And after all this time
You'd think that I
I wouldn't feel the same
But time melts into nothing
And nothing's changed
I still believe, someday you and me
Will find ourselves in love again
I had a dream, someday you and me
Will find ourselves in love again
Each day of my life
I'm filled with all the joy I could find
You know that I am not the desperate type
If there's one spark of hope left in my grasp
I'll hold it with both hands
It's worth the risk of burning to have a second chance
No, no, no, no, no, no I need you baby
I still believe that we can be together
If we believe that true love never has to end
Then we must know that we will love again
I still believe, someday you and me
Will find ourselves in love again
I had a dream, someday you and me
Will find ourselves in love again
Written by A. Armato, V. Canterlli.
Produced by Steven “Stevie J.” Jordan, Mike Mason and Mariah Carey.
Do you know where you're going to
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to
Do you know
Do you get what you're hoping for
When you look behind you, there's no open door
What are you hoping for
Do you know
Once we were standing still in time
Chasing the fantasies that filled our minds
You knew how I loved you but my spirit was free
Laughin' at the questions that you once asked of me
Do you know where you're going to
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to
Do you know
Now looking back at all we've planned
We let so many dreams slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long before we'll see
How sad the answer to those questions can be
Do you know where you're going to
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to
Do you know
Do you get what you're hoping for
When you look behind you, there's no open door
What are you hoping for
Do you know
Written by Michael Masser, Gerry Goffin.
Produced by Steven “Stevie J.” Jordan and Mariah Carey.
