“Honey” made its radio premiere on July 29, 1997, as the lead single from Mariah's Butterfly album. “Q-Tip, from A Tribe Called Quest, came up with the idea to use the ‘Body Rock’ loop. He played it to me over the phone and I knew immediately that this was the happy, light summer vibe I needed,” Mariah told Blues & Soul in 1997. “Then we thought it out and put ‘Hey DJ’ on top of it and Puffy came in with all his ideas so it was a collaborative effort. That's what I'm about. I don't just get a producer to come in and invent or reinvent me.”
After the release of the single on August 26, 1997, “Honey” became Mariah's third single to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and only the sixth to do so in the history of the chart. “Honey,” which sold over 135,000 units in its first week, was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 27, 2022.
“Honey” became Mariah's thirteenth Top 10 single in the United Kingdom, peaking at number three on the Official Singles Chart dated September 6. In Australia, the song peaked at number eight and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association on September 16, 2019.
Mariah reworked “Honey” for the So So Def remix of the song, which incorporates a sample from the Jackson 5's “It's Great To Be Here.” The remix was produced by Jermaine Dupri and features Da Brat and himself. The Bad Boy Remix, which features guest verses by Mase and The LOX, was originally planned to feature The Notorious B.I.G, as Mariah first revealed in 2018. After being fatally shot, the collaboration never took place. Mariah also recorded new vocals for the dance remixes of “Honey,” which she co-produced with David Morales. In 2022, to commemorate the Butterfly album's 25th anniversary, David Morales produced a new “Honey” remix.
| Song | Remix | Run time |
|---|---|---|
| Honey | Bad Boy Remix feat. Mase and The Lox
Produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs, The Ummah, Stevie J., Mariah Carey. |
5:32 |
| Honey | Smooth Version With Intro
Produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs, The Ummah, Stevie J., Mariah Carey. |
4:47 |
| Honey | Smooth Version No Intro
Produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs, The Ummah, Stevie J., Mariah Carey. |
4:25 |
| Honey | So So Def Mix feat. Da Brat and JD
Produced by Jermaine Dupri. Co-produced by Manuel Seal. |
5:11 |
| Honey | So So Def Radio Mix feat. Da Brat and JD
Produced by Jermaine Dupri. Co-produced by Manuel Seal. |
3:59 |
| Honey | Def Club Mix
Co-produced by Mariah Carey, David Morales. Additional production by Satoshi Tomiie. |
6:17 |
| Honey | Classic Mix
Co-produced by Mariah Carey, David Morales. Additional production by Satoshi Tomiie. |
8:05 |
| Honey | Classic Instrumental
Co-produced by Mariah Carey, David Morales. Additional production by Satoshi Tomiie. |
7:32 |
| Honey | Morales Dub
Co-produced by Mariah Carey, David Morales. Additional production by Satoshi Tomiie. |
7:34 |
| Honey | Morales Club Dub
Co-produced by Mariah Carey, David Morales. Additional production by Satoshi Tomiie. |
10:59 |
| Honey | Mo' Honey Dub
Co-produced by Mariah Carey, David Morales. Additional production by Satoshi Tomiie. |
7:23 |
| Honey | Def Rascal Anthem
Co-produced by Mariah Carey, David Morales. Additional production by Satoshi Tomiie. |
10:46 |
| Honey | Rascal Dub
Co-produced by Mariah Carey, David Morales. Additional production by Satoshi Tomiie. |
5:15 |
| Honey | Another Taste Of Honey David Morales Remix
Produced by David Morales. |
7:55 |
The music video for “Honey,” which premiered on MTV on July 30, 1997, was directed by Paul Hunter and filmed at the Conquistador resort and Palominito island in Puerto Rico. Mariah plays Agent M, who, after being abducted by a counter-intelligence organization (D.U.N.C.E.), pretends not to speak English to avoid being interrogated. She manages to escape her captors, jumps off a balcony into a pool, and shreds her black dress to emerge in a bikini — modeled after Ursula Andress' character, Honey Ryder, in the James Bond Film Dr No. After being chased in jet-skis, Agent M manages to lose her pursuers by hiding on a boat and ends up on a beach with her lover, played by actor David Fumero.
“The video was my whole concept,” Mariah explained. “Paul [Hunter] and I talked about it for a while, and I collaborated on it. I got up at 3 am everyday, and worked until like 9 in the morning the next day — for four days in a row. But I loved being down in Puerto Rico. And that is really me swimming in my Gucci pumps! I can't say that I really jumped off the roof, but I did dive into the pool.”
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of her Butterfly album, Mariah released a mini-documentary titled Another Taste of Honey on September 19, 2022. The documentary features never-before-seen behind the scenes footage of the making of the “Honey,” music video, with commentary by Mariah herself, director of photography Daniel Pearl, stylist Joe Zee and hair stylist Serge Normant.
Co-directed by Paul Hunter and Mariah, the music video for the Bad Boy Remix of “Honey” features both footage from the original video and new scenes with guest appearances by Puff Daddy, Stevie J., Mase and The Lox. This time, Agent M is rescued from her jet ski by a helicopter. “I'm doing my own stunts,” Mariah told MTV. “I am the only one up on the rope, and when you see it you are going to think I'm out of my mind, because they actually pulled me up in the air, like 50 feet in the air and rigged it, and Mase pulled me into the helicopter and stuff.”
The American “Honey” Single, released on August 26, 1997, on CD, Cassette and 7" vinyl, includes both the Album Version and the Bad Boy Remix of the song. The Maxi Single was released on CD and Cassette adding three additional remixes: Classic Mix, So So Def Mix and Classic Instrumental. “Honey” was also released on a double 12" Vinyl including the Album Version, the Bad Boy Remix, the main and radio versions of the So So Def Mix and five remixes co-produced by Mariah and David Morales: Morales Club Dub, Classic Mix, Morales Dub, Mo' Honey Dub and Classic Instrumental.
“Honey” was released in three formats in Europe. The CD Single, containing the Album Version and the Bad Boy Remix, was released on CD. A CD Maxi Single contains three additional remixes: Classic Mix, So So Def Mix and Classic Instrumental. Europe also saw the release of the same double 12" Vinyl that was available in the United States.
The “Honey” Single, including the Album Version and the Bad Boy Remix, was issued on Cassette in the United Kingdom. Two Maxi Singles were also released, with CD 1 including the Album Version, the Bad Boy Remix, the Smooth Version with Intro and the So So Def Mix; and CD 2 containing the Album Version and four remixes co-produced by Mariah and David Morales: Classic Mix, Morales Club Dub, Mo' Honey Dub and Classic Instrumental.
The Australian “Honey” Maxi Single was issued on CD and Cassette, both including five versions of the song: Album Version, Bad Boy Remix, Classic Mix, So So Def Mix and Classic Instrumental. Australia also saw the release of a “Honey” Video Single, including the music videos for the Album Version and Bad Boy Remix of the song.
In Japan, “Honey” was released on 3" CD, including the Album Version and the Bad Boy Remix featuring Mase and The Lox.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of “Honey,” American retailer Urban Outfitters released a double 12" Vinyl titled “Honey: The Remixes” on February 17, 2023. This special limited edition, pressed on a Honey-colored vinyl, contains 12 remixes of the song: Bad Boy Remix, two versions of the So So Def Mix (Main and Radio), Smooth Version with Intro; and eight remixes co-produced by Mariah and David Morales: Classic Mix, Def Club Mix, Morales Club Dub, Mo' Honey Dub, Morales Dub, Def Rascal Anthem, Def Rascal Dub and Classic Instrumental.
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.
The Lox:
All the money in the world couldn't even amount
To a teaspoon of honey that will melt in your mouth
It's The Lox and Mariah you know you check'n this out
You know they deal a few mill every time she come out
With her blowin' and us flowin'
There ain't nothin' left for us to talk about
But a whole lot of dough
And every current affair, we there
Keepin' your hands in the air
Like we just don't care
Don't be a liar, would you change your attire
Get a bomb like Hillshire
Wit a honey like Mariah
Scape to the ranch and ride a horse
Then come back to the city pushin' a Rolls Royce
Mariah:
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
Mase:
You know Mase huff, we Puff
We blow your house down
Bringin' Harlem World sound directly to your town
In fact, this is why I act like that
I ain't dropped one single and made this money back
I rock so swell, I gotta prevail
First rap superstar dominating pop sales
You never wish me well cause it start to sell
And it land me with pretty women in the Swiss hotel
And girls that mean a lot I get 'em from the shop
Buy 'em everything they got, from the jeans to the watch
You wanna be my misses
You gotta meet me wanna spoil you with my bitches
And you could tell that Mase is real cause he do real things
And I make things that's average look real mean
When it comes to sex I got the real thing
So when you cover your mouth they hear you still scream
Mariah:
Honey I can't describe
How good it feels inside
Honey I can't describe
How good it feels inside
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, M.Betha, S. Jacobs, D. Styles, J. Phillips. 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.
If Jermaine likes it…
Jermaine Dupri / Da Brat:
You know what? y'all ain't ready for this
You still scramblin' from the damage of the last remix
Most of your stories bore me, I love to lie
To my royalties be the glory
Mariah, Honey B. Fly
Me and B.R., we are
Usually seen in hot spots jumpin' outta two seaters
We got money to make and many records to break
We not similar to any so make no mistake
This is So So Def
Mariah:
Oh, 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 runnin'
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, crying for you, I adore you
One hit your love addicted me
Now I'm strung out on you darling, 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
Oh, I can't be elusive with you honey
Because 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
Jermaine Dupri:
Y'all be saying this and that
But dumb y'all don't wanna see the new phenomenon
This Don Chi Chi
Cause I'm nasty
Word to B.I.G
I'm in it for life
Dead president for life
And by the minute I gets more nice
I'm the J-E-R
The M-A-I
N don't forget the E
And she goes by the unforgettable name
Of the B
To the R
To the A
To the T
Da Brat:
I like colossal size pieces of rocks
And getting pushed in the Bentley drop top
Undefeated indefinitely, don't stop
We rock in all kinds of spots
Calling all the shots
And y'all knows how wes get down
My beliefs is being dolla bill seeker
And a Benjamin keeper
Don't mind popping if y'all
Or slow wind with some clown with
Seven digit accounts
JD 2x:
They say 'Hey, JD won't you play that song?
Keep 'em dancing (dancing) all night long' (all night long)
Hey, JD won't you play that song and keep 'em dancin' all night long' (all night long)
Lyrics: M. Carey. Music: M. Carey, S. Combs, K. Fareed, S. Jordan, S. Hague, B. Robinson, R. Larkins, L. Price, M. McLaren, M. Dewese, F. Perren, A. Mizell, B. Gordy, D. Lussier.
Produced by Jermaine Dupri. Co-produced by Manuel Seal.
Honey you can have me when you want me
If you simply ask me to be there
Every time you call me I 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
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
Baby I can't hardly wait
Gotta have another taste
Baby I can't hardly wait
Gotta have another taste
I need you, I want you, gotta have you, my baby
I need you, I want you, gotta have you, my baby
Baby I can't hardly wait
Gotta have another taste
I can't hardly wait
Gotta have another taste
It's like honey
It's like honey
It's like honey
It's like honey
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
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
It's like honey…
It's like honey…
It's like honey
It's like honey
It's like honey
It's like honey
It's like honey
It's like honey
It's like honey…
Lyrics: M. Carey. Music: D. Morales, B. Robinson, M. Dewese.
Co-produced by Mariah Carey and David Morales.
