“Loverboy” made its radio premiere as the lead single from the Glitter movie soundtrack on June 1, 2001. The song, produced by Mariah and Clark Kent, is based on a loop from funk group Cameo's 1986 hit “Candy.” “‘Candy’ is one of my favorite all-time songs,” Mariah told Top Of The Pops in 2001. “Cameo actually came back into the studio and re-laid their vocals which I couldn't believe. So it is sort of like the girls' version of that song.”
For the original version of “Loverboy,” Mariah and Clark Kent had chosen to use The Yellow Magic Orchestra's “Firecracker” as a sample but, when a song using the same sample was released before “Loverboy,” they were forced to redo the song from scratch, using “Candy” in its place. The original version of “Loverboy” with the “Firecracker” sample was included on Mariah's 2020 compilation, The Rarities.
“Loverboy” made its debut at number seventy-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two on the chart dated August 4, 2001, following its commercial release. With 570,000 copies sold, “Loverboy” became the best-selling single of 2001 in the United States and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 14, 2001. In Australia, “Loverboy” became Mariah's highest-charting single since 1997's “Honey,” peaking at number seven on the ARIA chart dated July 29.
The urban remix of “Loverboy” features rappers Da Brat, Twenty II, Ludacris and Shawnna. “I feel extraordinary about being on the Mariah Carey record,” Ludacris explained. “Because she only works with selective rappers from what I've seen, and this is way before I got signed. You can just tell that she tries to pick out the ones that are in the streets heavy, or the ones that are really popular, or a combination of both. She picked [Shawnna and I] because of the ‘What's Your Fantasy?’ song. She's a real down-to-earth person, and I really hope to work with her again.” Mariah also re-recorded the track for the David Morales remixes and worked with MJ Cole for the first time.
| Song | Remix | Run time |
|---|---|---|
| Loverboy | Instrumental
|
3:38 |
| Loverboy | Remix feat. Da Brat, Twenty II, Ludacris and Shawnna
|
4:32 |
| Loverboy | Remix Instrumental
|
4:32 |
| Loverboy | Club Of Love Remix
Produced by David Morales. |
9:05 |
| Loverboy | Club Of Love Radio Edit
Produced by David Morales. |
3:42 |
| Loverboy | Dreamy Club Of Love Radio Edit
Produced by David Morales. |
4:12 |
| Loverboy | Dub Love Remix
Produced by David Morales. |
8:13 |
| Loverboy | Drums Of Love
Produced by David Morales. |
6:36 |
| Loverboy | MJ Cole Remix
Produced by MJ Cole. |
5:50 |
| Loverboy | MJ Cole Radio Edit
Produced by MJ Cole. |
4:19 |
| Loverboy | MJ Cole Instrumental
Produced by MJ Cole. |
5:53 |
| Loverboy | MJ Cole London Dub Mix
Produced by MJ Cole. |
6:04 |
| Loverboy | Firecracker — Original Version
Produced by Mariah Carey. Co-produced by Clark Kent. |
3:14 |
Both the music video for the original version and the remix were directed by David LaChapelle and filmed at the LA County Raceway in May 2001, featuring guest appearances by Cameo's Tomi Jenkins and Larry Blackmon. “I guess the loose concept is just David LaChapelle's fantasy of making me into a hubcap sales girl,” Mariah joked. The filming process was documented on MTV's Making The Video, which premiered the clip on June 8, 2001.
In the United States, the “Loverboy” Single was released on July 17 on CD and Cassette, including the Album Version and the Remix featuring Da Brat, Ludacris, Shawnna and Twenty II. The Maxi Single, released on CD, contains six additional remixes: three produced by MJ Cole (Main, Instrumental and London Dub) and three produced by David Morales (Club Of Love, Dub Love and Drums Of Love). The first 12" Vinyl issue includes both the Main and Instrumental versions of “Loverboy” and the Remix. A double 12" Vinyl was also available, including four remixes by MJ Cole (Main, Instrumental, London Dub and Radio Edit) and three by David Morales (Club Of Love, Dub Love and Drums Of Love).
“Loverboy” became available on July 9 in Europe. The CD single includes the Album Version and Remix while the Maxi Single, issued on CD, 12" Vinyl and Cassette, includes the Album Version, the MJ Cole Remix and the Club of Love Remix. An Enhanced CD Maxi Single was also available, containing the Album Version, four additional remixes and the song's music video. An additional 12" Vinyl includes three remixes of the song: Drums Of Love, Dub Love and MJ Cole London Dub.
In Australia, “Loverboy” was released on July 16. The Enhanced CD Single includes the Album Version of the song, four additional remixes and the song's music video.
The Japanese “Loverboy” CD single, manufactured by Sony Music, became available on July 18 including the Album Version and the Remix.
I got myself a lover
Who knows what I like
When he invites me over
I come every time
And when my sugar daddy
Takes me for a ride
Whatever way we go it's
Delirium time
He's all mine
And his lovin' makes me high
Like a taste of ecstasy
All I need is him to be my loverboy
Loverboy c'mon and love me
Give me more, touch me and touch me
I enjoy the way you rock me
All night long
Loverboy c'mon and take me
Only you know how to make me
Shudder with anticipation
All night long
I got myself a lover
And he's so sublime
It's quite a bit of heaven
To feel him inside
'Cause when my sugar daddy
Takes me for a ride
Whatever way we go it's
Delirium time
I get weak
When his candy kisses sweetly
Caress my whole body
All I need is him to be my loverboy
Loverboy c'mon and love me
Give me more, touch me and touch me
I enjoy the way you rock me
All night long
Loverboy c'mon and take me
Only you know how to make me
Shudder with anticipation
All night long
This stuff is starting now
This stuff is starting now
It's the same feeling
I always seem to get around you
'Cause you affect me
Fascinate me
I thank heaven for the things that you do
This stuff is starting now
This stuff is starting now
This stuff is starting now
My eyes roll in my head
I toss and turn in my bed
In the morning when I think about you
It's like candy (candy)
Simply put
You're the reason why
Even though I'm real shy
I attempt to look my best for you
Indeed i do, just for you
Loverboy c'mon and love me
Give me more, touch me and touch me
I enjoy the way you rock me
All night long
Loverboy c'mon and take me
Only you know how to make me
Shudder with anticipation
All night long
Written by Mariah Carey, Larry Blackmon, Thomas Jenkins.
Produced by Clark Kent and Mariah Carey.
Ludacris:
Man, is it the glitter on the breast
Or the gloss on the lips
Hickeys on the chest
Or the toss of the hips
I'm lost in the mix
So I floss in the seat
Turning out them hits
So I'm exhausted as shit
Shawnna:
Now baby it's the mo' paper, dough chaser
Now get it right, would ya, heartbreaker
I keep it tight but I'm no faker
You can laugh now but you'll cry later
Ludacris:
I think I like you in ya freak clothes
Freak those in my specialized peep shows
And then I'll make you touch ya knees to ya elbows
Toes curl from P Street of Melrose
Shawnna:
It's cool to see I like it when we smoke that
All choked out with e freak shit
You kind of got me like a fiend when you roll out
Now get your boys, with my girls we can roll out
I got myself a lover
Who knows what I like
When he invites me over
I come every time
And when my sugar daddy
Takes me for a ride
Whatever way we go it's
Delirium time
He's all mine
And his lovin' makes me high
Like a taste of ecstasy
All I need is him to be my loverboy
Loverboy c'mon and love me
Give me more, touch me and touch me
I enjoy the way you rock me
All night long
Loverboy c'mon and take me
Only you know how to make me
Shudder with anticipation
All night long
I got myself a lover
And he's so sublime
It's quite a bit of heaven
To feel him inside
'Cause when my sugar daddy
Takes me for a ride
Whatever way we go it's
Delirium time
I get weak
When his candy kisses sweetly
Caress my whole body
All I need is him to be my loverboy
Loverboy c'mon and love me
Give me more, touch me and touch me
I enjoy the way you rock me
All night long
Loverboy c'mon and take me
Only you know how to make me
Shudder with anticipation
All night long
Twenty II:
Part of me kinda innocent
A vision of love
You adore me, even though my image is thug
Da Brat:
What I see in you is for my eyes only to see
I bring out the freak in you
Up and down on me
I'm your lovergirl
Twenty II:
Me your loverboy
And when we home alone
Become each others' toys
Makin' noise
Can't avoid
Da Brat:
The way I throw that
Can't pop backdrop
Stop, watch, Brat-tat
Get ya more rock hard up
All of the things you wanna do to me
You oughtta
We can get obscene
My purina and your ding-a-ling mingle
Bother me not when the sensation come out
Twenty II:
Well girl I'mma make you scream
Uh-huh, uh-huh, baby
Feel me, when I pump, p-pump lady
Behind me we can be close like family
So sweet you taste like all types of candy
From Starburst to jellybeans
Da Brat:
Banana split my Dairy Queen
Butterfinger my tangerines
Chickens only taste my loverboy in their dreams
Yeah all my ladies let me hear you scream
Hate on me much as you want to
You can't do what the fuck I do
Bitches be emulating me daily
Hate on me much as you want to
You can't be who the fuck I be
Bitches be imitating me lately
Loverboy c'mon and love me
Give me more, touch me and touch me
I enjoy the way you rock me
All night long
Loverboy c'mon and take me
Only you know how to make me
Shudder with anticipation
All night long
Written by Mariah Carey, Larry Blackmon, Thomas Jenkins, Da Brat, Ludacris, Twenty II, Shawnna.
Produced by Clark Kent and Mariah Carey.
Lover
Loverboy
I enjoy
The way you rock me
The way you hold me
All night long
This stuff is starting now
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
I got myself a lover
Who knows what I like
When he invites me over
I come every time
And when my sugar daddy
Takes me for a ride
Whatever way we go it's
Delirium time
He's all mine
And his lovin' makes me high
Like a taste of ecstasy
All I need is him to be my loverboy
Lover, loverboy
Come on and love me
Give me, give me more
Touch me and touch me
I, I enjoy
The way you rock me
All night long
I got myself a lover
And he's so sublime
It's quite a bit of heaven
To feel him inside
'Cause when my sugar daddy
Takes me for a ride
Whatever way we go it's
Delirium time
I get weak
When his candy kisses sweetly
Caress my whole body
All I need is him to be my loverboy
Lover, loverboy
Come on and love me
Give me, give me more
Touch me and touch me
I, I enjoy
The way you rock me
All night long
Lover, loverboy
Come on and take me
Only, only you
Know how to make me
Shudder, shudder with
Anticipation
All night long
All night long
Hold me
Touch me
Rock me
Hug me
Oh baby, touch me
Lover, loverboy
Come on and love me
Give me, give me more
Touch me and touch me
I, I enjoy
The way you rock me
All night long
Lover, loverboy
Come on and take me
Only, only you
Know how to make me
Shudder, shudder with
Anticipation
All night long
You're like
You're sweet
I love him
Cause you're
You're so dandy
Oh baby
You're like woo…
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
This stuff is starting now (Hey loverboy)
Lover, loverboy (Tastes like candy)
Come on and love me
Give me, give me more (Boy you're so dandy)
Touch me and touch me
I, I enjoy
The way you rock me
All night long (What you do, what you do)
Lover, loverboy (So good)
Come on and take me
Only, only you
Know how to make me (Tastes like candy)
Shudder, shudder with
Anticipation (You're so dandy)
All night long
Lover, loverboy (You're like, you're sweet)
Come on and love me
Give me, give me more (You're like, you're sweet)
Touch me and touch me
I, I enjoy
The way you rock me
All night long (You're like candy)
Baby, baby
I like the way you
Rock me, hold me, touch me, squeeze me
Tease me, give me
Everything you want
Tastes like candy
Boy you're so dandy
You are to me
What you do, what you do
So good
So good
Tastes like candy
You're so dandy
Oh baby
You're like
You're sweet
You're sweet… (Repeat)
Written by Mariah Carey, Larry Blackmon, Thomas Jenkins.
Produced by David Morales.
