Your Girl
"Your Girl" | |
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![]() "#MC30" EP artwork | |
Song by Mariah Carey | |
from the album The Emancipation of Mimi | |
Studio | Honeywest (New York City) |
Length | 2:46 |
Label | Island |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) |
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"Your Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi (2005). She wrote the track with Marc Shemer and the latter produced it with her as Scram Jones. Lyrically, "Your Girl" is about Carey approaching a potential lover in a confident manner. She uses belting as part of her vocal performance. Critics described the music as containing pop, soul, gospel, jazz, and disco influences; some compared it to works by rapper Kanye West. It samples vocals and an acoustic guitar from the 2003 Adeaze song "A Life with You".
In music reviews, critics compared Carey's vocals to their state in the 1990s. The song's short length and her demeanor on it also received commentary. Some viewed "Your Girl" as one of the best tracks on The Emancipation of Mimi. Island Records did not issue it as a single from the album. Carey later released two remixes featuring rappers as part of a digital extended play. She performed the song live during the 2006 Adventures of Mimi concert tour and the 2024 Celebration of Mimi concert residency.
Background and release
Following the album Glitter (2001), American singer Mariah Carey opted to join Island Records and released Charmbracelet (2002).[1] For its follow-up, The Emancipation of Mimi (2005), she intended to create a more lighthearted record.[2] "Your Girl" is the tenth track on the album, which was released on March 30, 2005.[3] The label did not release it as a single.[4] In April 2020, Carey said this was planned from the beginning despite it being one of her favorite tracks on the album.[5] She wrote that the song "should have been a single" in her memoir later that year.[6] Retrospectively, Entertainment Weekly writer Michael Slezak attributed its lack of radio airplay to the number of other worthy tracks on The Emancipation of Mimi.[7] Chris Gardner of The Hollywood Reporter described the song as a deep cut.[8]
"Your Girl" was later promoted as part of the #MC30 campaign marking three decades of Carey's career.[9] On January 29, 2021, she issued an extended play to digital outlets containing a version featuring Diplomats members Cam'ron and Juelz Santana and a second remix featuring the rapper N.O.R.E.[10]
Composition
Two minutes and forty-six seconds in length, "Your Girl" is the shortest song on The Emancipation of Mimi.[11] Critics labeled it a slow jam[12] and a power ballad.[13] Carey wrote the song with Marc Shemer and the latter produced it with her under the stage name Scram Jones. All work occurred at various locations in New York City. Dana Jon Chapelle and Brian Garten engineered the song with assistance from Rufus Morgen at Honeywest Studios. After Pat "Pat 'Em Down" Viala mixed it at Right Track Studios, Herb Powers mastered "Your Girl" at The Hit Factory. It features background vocals from Carey and Mary Ann Tatum.[14]
"Your Girl" contains a sample from the 2003 Adeaze song "A Life with You", written and performed by New Zealanders Feagaigafou and Logovi'i Tupa'i.[15] It incorporates the same acoustic guitar and speeds up a few lines of the duo's voices in the chorus.[16] Scram Jones obtained clearance after performing at a party for the group's record label Dawn Raid Entertainment.[17] The arranger and guitarist of "A Life with You", Dominique Leauga, alleged he was not credited for his contributions.[18]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg/50px-Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg.png)
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Carey's singing incorporates belting early on in "Your Girl".[19] The lyrics are about her confidently addressing a prospective lover.[20] She says "I'm gonna make you want to get with me tonight"[19] and assures him she will "put naughty thoughts into your mind".[21] For Pitchfork's Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, the focus is on Carey's assertiveness rather than a relationship.[20] In The New York Times, Jon Pareles said she uses an impersonal delivery.[22] The song is "innocent, yet still a bit grimy" according to Carey.[6]
Critics interpreted the composition differently. According to Clayton Smales of the Townsville Bulletin, "Your Girl" is a pop-leaning song.[23] Guy Blackman of the Sunday Age felt it has a "down-tempo disco feel"[24] and Sal Cinequemani of Slant Magazine said it is a derivative of the Motown sound.[25] Slezak stated the chorus contains gospel influences;[7] The Jakarta Post's Tony Hotland thought jazz and soul elements were present.[13] Joey Guerra likened "Your Girl" to a retro soul record in the Houston Chronicle[26] and Nick Marino called it "a simple old-school jam" in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.[27] Escobedo Shepherd said it was "based on the Kanye [West]-style, sped-up soul record trend that was aflame at the time" of recording.[20] Todd Burns of Stylus Magazine also thought the production was influenced by West,[28] while BBC Music writer Adam Webb viewed it as a revision of the "classic soul sound" common in Carey's previous work.[29]
Critical reception
The song's composition was a subject of critical commentary. Blackman and Slezak called the chorus catchy.[30] The Sunday Herald Sun said the song was too brief and Marino thought its length encouraged replays.[31] Billboard's Nolan Feeney wrote: "Anticipation and longing are hallmarks of many a great pop song, but sometimes you just have to cut to the point".[19]
Carey's performance received mixed reviews. Andy Gill of The Independent said her vocals were so histrionic she is "almost as bad as all the Pop Idol wannabes that reflect her disastrous influence".[32] In comparing her voice to its state in the 1990s, Burns thought Carey sounded weaker,[28] Milwaukee Journal Sentinel critic Dave Tianen said she used the same excessive style to bad effect,[33] and Orlando Sentinel writer Jim Abbott argued it was better because she exercised more restraint.[34] According to the Sunday Herald Sun, the song serves as an effective showcase for Carey's vocal range.[35] Her presence received positive feedback from critics who viewed her as exuding confidence.[36]
Some critics called "Your Girl" the best[37] or one of the best tracks on The Emancipation of Mimi.[38] It has appeared on rankings of Carey's music. In 2005, Slezak listed it among her 10 best songs.[7] Billboard ranked it at number 38 on their 2020 list of Carey's 100 greatest songs.[19]
Live performances
Carey has performed "Your Girl" infrequently since its release.[39] She sang it during her 2006 concert tour, The Adventures of Mimi.[40] In 2020, she uploaded an a capella version to her social media accounts for the fifteenth anniversary of The Emancipation of Mimi.[41] This formed part of a series of at-home performances by Carey during the COVID-19 pandemic.[42] It received a positive review from Billboard's Glenn Rowley, who said she "delivers vocals fit for the gods".[41] In 2024, Carey gave her first live performance of the song since 2006 for her Las Vegas concert residency, The Celebration of Mimi.[43]
Credits and personnel
Recording
- Recorded at Honeywest Studios, New York City
- Mixed at Right Track Studios, New York City
- Mastered at The Hit Factory, New York City[14]
Personnel
- Mariah Carey – songwriting, production, background vocals
- Marc Shemer/Scram Jones – songwriting, production
- Mary Ann Tatum – background vocals
- Dana Jon Chappelle, Brian Garten – engineering
- Rufus Morgen – assistant engineering
- Pat "Pat 'Em Down" Viala – mixing
- Herb Powers – mastering[14]
References
Citations
- ^ Chan 2023, p. 107.
- ^ Chan 2023, p. 111.
- ^ Universal Music Japan.
- ^ Guerra 2020.
- ^ Gabbara 2020.
- ^ a b Carey & Davis 2020, p. 189.
- ^ a b c Slezak 2005.
- ^ Gardner 2024.
- ^ Tuccillo 2021.
- ^ Kaufman 2021.
- ^ Jaxsta.
- ^ Blackman 2005, p. 27.
- ^ a b Hotland 2005, p. 17.
- ^ a b c Carey 2005.
- ^ Carey 2005; Hume 2006, p. A3.
- ^ Barry Hill 2005; Escobdo Shepherd 2024 sfnm error: no target: CITEREFEscobdo_Shepherd2024 (help).
- ^ Barry Hill 2005.
- ^ Hume 2006, p. A3.
- ^ a b c d e Feeney 2020.
- ^ a b c Escobedo Shepherd 2024.
- ^ Smales 2005; Escobedo Shepherd 2024.
- ^ Pareles 2005.
- ^ Smales 2005.
- ^ Blackman 2005.
- ^ Cinquemani 2005.
- ^ Guerra 2005, p. 8; Guerra 2020.
- ^ Marino 2005, p. E10.
- ^ a b Burns 2005.
- ^ Webb 2005.
- ^ Blackman 2005, p. 27; Slezak 2005.
- ^ Sunday Herald Sun 2005, p. F7; Marino 2005, p. E10.
- ^ Gill 2005, p. 22.
- ^ Tianen 2005, p. 8B.
- ^ Abbott 2005, p. 38.
- ^ Sunday Herald Sun 2005, p. F7.
- ^ Johnson 2005, p. F3; Marino 2005, p. E10.
- ^ Escobedo Shepherd 2024; Marino 2005, p. E10.
- ^ Cinquemani 2020; Smales 2005, p. 32.
- ^ Paul 2024.
- ^ Marino 2006.
- ^ a b Rowley 2020a.
- ^ Rowley 2020b.
- ^ Taylor 2024.
Sources
- Abbott, Jim (April 22, 2005). "Carey Might Need a Break but This Album Isn't It". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 38. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- Barry Hill, Rebecca (April 9, 2005). "Diva in Tune with Kiwi Harmonies". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024.
- Blackman, Guy (April 17, 2005). "CD Reviews". Sunday Age. p. 27. ProQuest 367300336.
- Burns, Todd (April 14, 2005). "Mariah Carey". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011.
- Carey, Mariah (2005). The Emancipation of Mimi (liner notes). Island Records.
- Carey, Mariah; Davis, Michaela Angela (2020). The Meaning of Mariah Carey. New York: Andy Cohen Books. ISBN 978-1-250-16468-1.
- Chan, Andrew (2023). Why Mariah Carey Matters. Music Matters. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-2507-0.
- Cinquemani, Sal (April 5, 2005). "Review: Mariah Carey, The Emancipation of Mimi". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023.
- Cinquemani, Sal; et al. (May 15, 2020). "Every Mariah Carey Album Ranked". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 24, 2024.
- "The Emancipation of Mimi – Album by Mariah Carey". Jaxsta. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024.
- Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (February 18, 2024). "The Emancipation of Mimi". Pitchfork. Additional research by Deirdre McCabe Nolan. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024.
- Feeney, Nolan; et al. (October 5, 2020). "The 100 Greatest Mariah Carey Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022.
- Gabbara, Princess (April 10, 2020). "Mariah Carey on Why 2005's Iconic The Emancipation of Mimi LP Was 'More Than a Comeback Album'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024.
- Gardner, Chris (April 15, 2024). "The Celebration of Mimi: Inside Sold-Out Opening Night of Mariah Carey's Las Vegas Residency". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024.
- Gill, Andy (April 8, 2005). "New Releases". Arts & Book Review. The Independent. p. 22. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- Guerra, Joey (May 29, 2005). "Mini Review". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024 – via GenealogyBank.
- Guerra, Joey (April 12, 2020) [First published April 10, 2020]. "Mariah Carey's Epic Emancipation Happened 15 Years Ago". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024.
- "Hear Me". Sunday Herald Sun. May 8, 2005. p. F7. ProQuest 360696435.
- Hotland, Tony (May 1, 2005). "On the Record". The Jakarta Post. p. 17.
- Hume, Tim (April 30, 2006). "Mariah's Song Owes Me – Kiwi". Sunday Star-Times. p. A3. ProQuest 314097558.
- Johnson, Kevin C. (April 21, 2005). "Forget Mimi, Mariah is Emancipated". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. F3. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- Kaufman, Gil (January 29, 2021). "Mariah Carey Drops The Emancipation of Mimi Remix EPs". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023.
- Marino, Nick (April 12, 2005). "One Seeks a New Direction, the Other Looks Back". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. E1, E10. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- Marino, Nick (August 10, 2006). "A Grateful Mariah Carey Plays Philips Arena". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 12, 2006.
- "Mimi" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on December 24, 2005.
- Pareles, Jon (April 11, 2005). "Reaching for Stratosphere in a Diminished World". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024.
- Paul, Larisha (April 13, 2024). "The Celebration of Mimi: Inside Mariah Carey's Career-Spanning Las Vegas Comeback". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024.
- Rowley, Glenn (April 9, 2020a). "Watch Mariah Carey Belt Out Fan Favorite Emancipation of Mimi Track for Album's 15th Anniversary". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021.
- Rowley, Glenn (April 14, 2020b). "From 'Always Be My Baby' to 'Fly Like a Bird', Here Are All of Mariah Carey's Quarantine Performances". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024.
- Slezak, Michael (December 16, 2005). "The 10 Best Mariah Carey Songs ... Agree?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023.
- Smales, Clayton (May 13, 2005). "CDs". Townsville Bulletin. p. 32. ProQuest 376613888.
- Taylor, John (April 19, 2024). "Forget About the Glitz and Glamour; All Mariah Carey Needs to Do Is to Sing Her Songs". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024.
- Tianen, Dave (April 13, 2005). "Carey Sounds Like Her Old, Shrill Self on Emancipation". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 8B. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024 – via GenealogyBank.
- Tuccillo, Andrea (January 29, 2021). "Mariah Carey Releases Remix EPs and HD Videos for 2005's The Emancipation of Mimi". KQMV. ABC Audio. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023.
- Webb, Adam (March 14, 2005). "Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi Review". BBC Music. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.
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