MTV Unplugged

Mariah Carey's MTV Unplugged concert was taped at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York on March 16, 1992, and premiered on May 20 on MTV. “Unplugged is an artists' show and Mariah goes well with its concept,” said Joel Gallen, the program's executive producer. “I can safely say she's the best singer we've ever had on it — she just shines.” After its massive success, Sony decided to release it as an EP on June 2, 1992. MTV Unplugged debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 after selling 67,000 copies and peaked at number three during its third week. It was certified 4x Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 13, 1994.

After having released two studio albums, Mariah had never been on tour and had only performed on TV shows like Arsenio Hall or Saturday Night Live. “I should have been doing clubs when I was coming up, but I was really afraid,” she explained. “I had to learn about performing by doing Arsenio Hall and The Tonight Show, which was very frightening. I don't think many people learn about performing by going in front of millions of people like that. Doing Unplugged really helped me get more confident. I've learned that I don't have to be anything but who I am. And the people who are my fans, that's all they want from me. Anybody else who's not into me, they're never going to really be into me. I can't focus on them. I have to focus on giving something back to the people who have supported me since the beginning.”

Mariah performed two of her number-one hits from her debut album (“Vision Of Love” and “Someday”), four songs from Emotions (“Emotions”, “If It's Over,” “Make It Happen” and “Can't Let Go”) as well as a rendition of The Jackson 5's Classic “I'll Be There,” with backup singer Trey Lorenz. “I didn't have any plans to do a remake and the people who do the show really really wanted me to do a remake,” Mariah told Entertainment Tonight in 1992. “So I thought about it and I decided on ‘I'll Be There.’ While we were rehearsing it I said, ‘This really needs another person to sing it’ so I asked Trey Lorenz to sing it and it just worked. We had never planned to put the Unplugged show out as an album or a video or anything and it just happened to be that ‘I'll Be There’ came out as a single, so it worked out great for me.”

Mariah's cover of “I'll Be There” entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number thirteen, the highest-debuting song since The Beatles' “Let It Be” in 1970, and became Mariah's sixth number-one single three weeks later. On March 27, 2022, “I'll Be There” was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association Of America. Internationally, the song became Mariah's biggest hit at the time in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number two, and her first Top 10 in Australia, where it peaked at number nine.

MTV Unplugged was also released on VHS on June 2, 1992, under the title MTV Unplugged +3. The home video includes the whole concert, three music videos (“Make It Happen,” “Can't Let Go” and the 12" Club Mix of “Emotions”), an exclusive interview, behind-the-scenes footage and Mariah's home movies. MTV Unplugged +3 topped Billboard's Video Chart and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America on November 1, 1996. The home video was released on DVD on September 12, 2006, and digitally on December 7, 2021.

Tracklist

Video

Releases

Original Release

MTV Unplugged was originally issued on CD, Cassette, 12" Vinyl and MiniDisc. The home video, MTV Unplugged +3, was available on VHS and LaserDisc and later re-released on DVD. In 2007, Legacy Recordings released a CD + DVD combo.

Vinyl Reissues

In 2020, MTV Unplugged was re-released on vinyl, including a limited edition red marbled vinyl sold exclusively by Target.

Singles

Lyrics

Emotions

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.

If It's Over

Won't you talk to me
This is so out of hand
Something's gone wrong
With the life that we planned

Won't you look at me
You're avoiding my gaze
And it seems like you've changed
In so many ways

It isn't fair
It isn't right
If it's really gone
Then tell me tonight
If it's over
If it's over
Let me go

Won't you speak to me
I'm just here holding on
'Cause baby I really don't need to wait around
If the feeling is gone

It isn't fair
It isn't right
If it's really gone
Then tell me tonight
If it's over
If it's over
Let me go

I don't need no apologies
I'm not looking for sympathy
All I'm asking for
Is your honesty
Won't you give it to me
Give it to me now

It isn't fair
It just isn't right
'Cause if is't really gone
You've got to say the word tonight
If it's over
If it's over
Won't you let me know
Baby if it's over
If it's over
Over — let me go


Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Carole King, Mariah Carey.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.

Someday

You were so blind to let me go
You had it all but didn't 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
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
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

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 your down
In your time of need
And you're thinking that you
Might be coming back to own me
Just think again 'cause
I won't need your love anymore!

Someday Oo Someday
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


Written by Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies.
Produced by Ric Wake for Wake Productions.

Vision Of Love

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 I'll be eternally grateful
Holding you so close to me
Prayed through the nights
So faithfully
Knowing 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
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.

Make It Happen

Not more than three short years ago
I was abandoned and alone
Without a penny to my name
So very young and so afraid
No proper shoes upon my feet
Sometimes I couldn't even eat
I often cried myself to sleep
But still I had to keep on going
Never knowing if I could take it
If I would make it through the night
I held on to my faith
I struggled and I prayed
And now I've found my way

If you believe in yourself enough
And know what you want
You're gonna make it happen
(Make it happen)
And if you get down on your knees at night
And pray to the Lord
He's gonna make it happen
(Make it happen)

I know life can be so tough
And you feel like giving up
But you must be strong
Baby just hold on
You'll never find the answers
If you throw your life away
I used to feel the way you do
Still I have to keep going
Never knowing if I could take it
If I would make it through the night
I held on to my faith
I struggled and I prayed
And now I've finally found my way

If you believe in yourself enough
And know what you want
You're gonna make it happen
(Make it happen)
And if you get down on your knees at night
And pray to the Lord
He's gonna make it happen
(Make it happen)

I once was lost
But now I'm found
I got my feet on solid ground
Thank you Lord
If you believe within your soul
Just hold on tight
And don't let go
You can make it happen
(Make it happen)

If you believe in yourself enough
And know what you want
You're gonna make it happen
(Make it happen)
And if you get down on your knees at night
And pray to the Lord
He's gonna make it happen
(Make it happen)


Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, David Cole, Robert Clivillés.
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés and Mariah Carey.

I'll Be There

You and I must make a pact
We must bring salvation back
Where there is love
I'll be there

I'll reach out my hand to you
I'll have faith in all you do
Just call my name
And I'll be there

I'll be there to comfort you
I'll build my world of dreams around you
I'm so glad I found you

I'll be there with a love so strong I'll be your strength
You know I'll keep holding on

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
Togetherness well it's all I'm after
Just call my name
And I'll be there

I'll be there to protect you
With an unselfish love that respects you
Just call my name
And I'll be there

I'll be there to comfort you
Build my world of dreams around you
You know I'm so glad I found you

I'll be there with a love so strong
I'll be your strength
You know I'll keep holding on

If you should ever find someone new
I know she'd better be good to you
'Cause if she doesn't
Then I'll be there

Don't you know baby, yeah, yeah
I'll be there
I'll be there
Just call my name
And I'll be there

I'll be there baby
You know I'll be there
Just call my name
And I'll be there

Just look over your shoulder
Just call my name
And I'll be there


Written by Hal Davis, Berry Gordy, Willie Hutch, Bob West.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.

Can't Let Go

There you are holding her hand
I am lost
Dying to understand
Didn't I cherish you right
Don't you know you were my life

Even though I try I can't let go
Something in your eyes
Captured my soul
And every night I see you in my dreams
You're all I know
I can't let go

Just cast aside
You don't even know I'm alive
You just walk on by
Don't care to see me cry
And here I am
Still holding on
I can't accept
My world is gone

Even though I try I can't let go
Something in your eyes
Captured my soul
And every night I see you in my dreams
You're all I know
I can't let go

Do you even realize the sorrow I have inside
Everyday of my life
Do you know the way it feels
When all you have just dies
I try and try to deny that I need you
But still you remain on my mind

No I just can't get you out of my mind
I never can say goodbye
'Cause every night
I see you in my dreams
You're all I know
I can't let you go
Even though I try
I can't let go of something I need so badly
You're all I know
I can't let go


Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.