Anytime You Need A Friend

“Anytime You Need A Friend” was released as the fourth single from Mariah's Music Box album on May 31, 1994. “The song ‘Anytime You Need A Friend’ definitely has a gospel influence. I love the vocal arrangements in gospel music and I love background vocals, so it was a really fun song to do in the studio,” Mariah said. “Actually, It sounds like a huge choir singing on it on the record, but it's mostly these three girls that have been working with me: the Price sisters and Melonie Daniels. It was a great experience to work with them and to do these gospel arrangements because they're really from the church and they're really really authentic, so it's definitely one of my favorite songs on the album.”

The song peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining in the Top 40 for eighteen weeks, and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 31, 2023. In the United Kingdom, it became Mariah's sixth Top 10 single, peaking at number eight on the Official Singles Charts during the week of June 25, 1994. “Anytime You Need A Friend” was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association on September 16, 2019.

Remixes

Mariah recorded new vocals for the “Anytime You Need A Friend” dance mixes, which topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart on August 27, 1994. Cory Rooney and Mark Morales produced both the Stringapella and the Soul Convention remixes of the song. An extended mix of the song became available as a bonus track on the 30th Anniversary Digital Expanded Edition of the Music Box album.

Music Video

Unreleased Version

A music video for “Anytime You Need A Friend” was filmed in February 1994, directed by Diane Martel. The video was never released and not much was known about it until Entertainment Tonight unearthed behind the scenes footage of the video shoot in 2020.

Original Version

Daniela Federici directed the video for the album version of “Anytime You Need A Friend.” Filmed in black and white, the clip shows Mariah with straight hair for the first time.

C&C Remix

The music video for the C&C remix of “Anytime You Need A Friend” shows behind the scenes footage of Mariah and her crew enjoying themselves during the original video shoot. “We did the ‘Anytime You Need A Friend’ remix video on the set of the regular video,” Mariah told VH1. “We were waiting around for a long time to do a lot of shots, so a guy named Michael Burlingame came with his Super 8 camera and I asked him to just film us behind the scenes, being freaks and acting very silly. I think it shows a different side of me. We were just being ourselves. A lot of my friends came down to shoot and we were just having a good time.”

Soul Convention Remix

The music video for the Soul Convention remix of “Anytime You Need A Friend” features footage from the song's other clips as well as home video footage from Mariah's promotional visits to Europe and at the Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park. It wasn't released until August 2020, after being found on Mariah's vault. “I always loved this Soul Convention remix for ‘Anytime You Need A Friend!’ ” Mariah wrote on Twitter. “We shot this video during the Music Box era. It is one of the first videos I edited behind the scenes and I'm so glad it's getting to see the light of day now!”

Lyric Video

Live Performances

Releases

United States

In the United States, the “Anytime You Need A Friend” Single was released on Cassette with two different covers, and includes the song “Music Box” as the B-side. The Cassette Maxi Single contains the Album Version of “Anytime You Need A Friend” and three remixes: C&C Extended Mix, C&C Radio Edit and Soul Convention Remix. There were two CD Maxi Singles available: CD 1 contains two remixes by Soul Convention (Soul Convention Remix and Stringapella), and the Album Version of “Anytime You Need A Friend” and “Music Box.” CD 2 includes four remixes by David Cole and Robert Clivillés: C&C Club Version, Ministry Of Sound Mix, Daves' Empty Pass and 7" Mix. “Anytime You Need A Friend” received a double 12" Vinyl release, including the album version of the song and four C&C remixes: All That And More Mix, Ministry Of Sound Mix, Boriqua Tribe Mix and C&C Dub.

Europe

The European “Anytime You Need A Friend” Single, containing “Music Box” as the B-side, was available on CD, Cassette and 7" Vinyl. The CD Maxi Single includes the Album Version of “Anytime You Need A Friend” and four remixes (C&C Radio Mix, Soul Convention Remix, C&C Club Mix and Dave's Empty Pass). A 12" Vinyl was also released, including four remixes: C&C Club Mix, Ministry Of Sound Mix, All That And More Mix and C&C Extended Mix.

United Kingdom

“Anytime You Need A Friend” became commercially available in the United Kingdom on June 4, 1994. The Single, including “Music Box” as the B-Side, was released on Cassette. The Maxi Single was released on CD and contains the Album Version of “Anytime You Need A Friend” and four remixes: C&C Radio Mix, Soul Convention Remix, C&C Club Mix and Dave's Empty Pass.

Australia

In Australia, “Anytime You Need A Friend” was released on CD and cassette, both including the Album Version, the Celebratory Mix and the Make It Last Remix Edit of “Anytime You Need A Friend” as well as the “Heartbreaker” remix with Da Brat & Missy Elliott.

Japan

Sony Music Japan issued two “Anytime You Need A Friend” CDs. The 3" CD Single, released on July 21, 1994, includes “Music Box” as the B-side. A 5" CD Maxi Single became available on August 21, containing five versions of “Anytime You Need A Friend” (Album Version, C&C Radio Mix, Soul Convention Remix, C&C Club Mix and Dave's Empty Pass).

Available on

Lyrics

Album Version

If you're lonely
And need a friend
And troubles seem like
They never end
Just remember to keep the faith
And love will be there to light the way

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright

When the shadows are closing in
And your spirit diminishing
Just remember you're not alone
And love will be there
To guide you home

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright

If you just believe in me
I will love you endlessly
Take my hand
Take me into your heart
I'll be there forever baby
I won't let go
I'll never let go

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
It's alright
It's alright


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

C&C Club Mix

Anytime, anytime, anytime
Anytime you need a friend
I will, I will, I will, I will
I will be here
Every day, every hour
Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
Never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright

Anytime, anytime, anytime, anytime, anytime (Anytime you need me, anytime you want me)
Anytime, anytime, anytime

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
Don't you ever be lonely
It's alright

Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright

If you're lonely and you feel you need a friend
And troubles seem like they never end
Just remember you got to keep the faith
And love will be there to lighten up the way

Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
Don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright

And when the shadows are closing in
And you feel like your spirit's diminishing
Well just remember, remember, you know that you're never alone
And forever the strength of my love will be guiding you home

Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright

When you need a friend
I will be here
You're never alone
So don't you fear
Though you're miles away
I'm by your side
You're never alone
It's alright

When you need a friend
I will be here
You're never alone
So don't you fear
Though you're miles away
I'm by your side
You're never alone
It's alright

When you need a friend
I will be here
You're never alone
So don't you fear
Though you're miles away
I'm by your side
You're never alone
It's alright

Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, it's alright

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
Don't you ever be lonely
It's alright

Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Don't ever be lonely, don't ever be lonely (Even if you're miles away)
Don't ever be lonely, don't ever be lonely
Don't ever be, don't ever be
Don't ever be, don't ever be lonely
(Don't you ever be lonely)
(It's alright)

Anytime you need a friend (Anytime you're alone, anytime you're in need)
I will be here (When you're miles away, I'll be right by your side)
You'll never be alone again (Though you're losing your way, just hold on to your faith)
So don't you fear (I'll be right by your side anytime, anytime, anytime)
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side (Anytime)
Don't you ever be lonely
It's alright

Anytime you need me, anytime you want me
Anytime you need me
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me (Don't ever be lonely, don't ever be lonely)
Anytime you need me (Don't ever be lonely, don't ever be lonely)
Anytime you need me, anytime you want me (Don't ever be lonely, don't ever be lonely)
Anytime you need me (Don't ever be lonely, don't ever be lonely)
Don't you ever be lonely, don't you ever be lonely
Don't you ever be lonely, don't ever be lonely
Don't you ever be lonely, don't you ever be lonely
Don't you ever be lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely
Don't you ever be lonely, don't you ever be lonely
Don't ever be, don't ever be

Don't you ever be lonely, don't you ever be lonely
Don't you ever be lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely

Wherever you are
I'm right by your side
Don't ever be, don't ever be

Don't ever be, don't ever be
Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely
Don't ever
Don't you ever, ever, ever…
Be lonely


Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés and Mariah Carey.

Soul Convention Remix

Anytime you feel that you need a friend
And your troubles seem like they never end
Though you're miles away I'm here by your side
Don't you be afraid cause it's alright

If you're lonely and need a friend
And troubles seem like they never end
Just remember to keep the faith
And love will be there to light the way

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright

And when the shadows are closing in
And your spirit diminishing
Just remember (You're not alone)
And love will be there, yeah
To guide you home

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
Don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright

Anytime you feel that you need a friend
And your troubles seem like they never end
Though you're miles away I'm here by your side
Don't you be afraid cause it's alright

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
It's alright

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't worry, don't ever be lonely
It's alright

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
It's alright

Repeat


Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Mark C. Rooney and Mark Morales.