With You (Mariah Carey song)

"With You"
Mariah Carey poses in a black gown, surrounded by several posters, one of which reads "With You"
Single by Mariah Carey
from the album Caution
ReleasedOctober 4, 2018 (2018-10-04)
Genre
Length3:47
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Carey
  • DJ Mustard
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"I Don't"
(2017)
"With You"
(2018)
"A No No"
(2019)
Music video
"With You" on YouTube

"With You" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her fifteenth studio album, Caution (2018). On October 4, 2018, Epic Records released it as the album's lead single. The song was written by Carey, Charles Hinshaw, Dijon McFarlane and Greg Lawary, with Carey and DJ Mustard also producing it. The song was announced on October 2, along with its single artwork. A "velvety" ballad with a finger-snap beat and warm piano, its lyrics center around a woman seeking safety and security and her partner promising his love.

"With You" found success in Hungary, charting at number 8 there. It also peaked at number seven on the US Adult Contemporary chart, becoming her highest-charting song on the latter in several years. Elsewhere, the song reached at number 30 on the Physical/Digital component chart in Spain and number 38 on Belgium's Urban chart.

An accompanying music video, directed by Sarah McColgan, was released on October 10, 2018. Its black and white visuals feature Carey posing in different locations around Los Angeles. Carey performed the song at the 2018 American Music Awards and on Good Morning America

Background and composition

[edit]
DJ Mustard in a silver jacket
DJ Mustard contributed to both the production and writing of "With You".

DJ Mustard and Mariah Carey produced "With You" and co-wrote it with Charles Hinshaw and Greg Lawary over a two day period at Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles.[2] In reference to working with the singer, Lawary stated "When I saw my name among Mariah Carey and DJ Mustard, I teared up. She's such a legend. It's like working with Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. She's done so much for music".[3] The song was announced on October 2, 2018, along with its single artwork.[4] It was released two days later.[5] "With You" served as the second single from Carey's fifteenth studio album Caution, and was preceded by the promotional single "GTFO".[6][7]

The song is a "velvety" ballad with a finger-snap beat and warm piano. It features lyrics about a woman seeking safety and security and her partner promising his love. The song's outro features one of Carey's signature high-tone whistle notes.[8] "With You" is centered around Carey telling someone she “fucks with" them in a romantic capacity. It includes a reference to her 1998 single "Breakdown" featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, with her singing "Ever since that Bone Thugs song, you ain't gotta break down, you're too strong".[6] Some critics viewed the song as reminiscent of Carey's earlier work, including the songs: "I Stay in Love", "Bye Bye", and "Angels Cry".[9]

Critical reception

[edit]

"With You" received positive reviews from critics. The Atlantic's Spencer Kornhaber praised "With You", stating that he "can’t stop playing" it, and opined that Carey "regards romance with open-eyed caginess".[10] Writing for Rolling Stone, Brittany Spanos called the song a "shchmaltzy slow jam", and made note of the singer's use of the whistle register.[11] Chris DeVille of Stereogum described it as "a different sort of ballad: warm, organic, built from little more than gospel piano and booming 808s", adding "When she leans into the hook, [...], you feel that too".[12] Critics for Jezebel wrote "she will have you know that she is Mariah the star", but added that it is "not super exciting stuff".[9] The song, and its follow-up single " A No No", failed to chart on the US Hot 100 or any major music chart internationally. Its parent album Caution would become Carey's lowest selling studio album, selling approximately 80,000 copies globally. Epic Records would depart ways with Carey after the release of this album.

Lists

[edit]
Critical rankings for "With You"
Year Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
2023 Teen Vogue 51 Best Love Songs of All Time
47

Commercial performance

[edit]

"With You" failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number seven on the Adult Contemporary chart.[14][15] It peaked at number three on the Adult R&B Songs chart.[16][15] It obtained number 33 on the Adult Top 40 chart,[17] and number 21 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[18] Outside the US, the song reached number 125 on the France Downloads chart and number 30 on Spain's Physical/Digital chart, respectively.[19][20] It reached number eight on Hungary's Single Top 40 chart.[21]

Music video

[edit]

The accompanying music video for "With You" was directed by Sarah McColgan. Its release was announced by Carey a day prior to the premiere via her YouTube channel on October 10, 2018.[22][23] The video is set in black and white and features Carey posing in different spots across Los Angeles.[24] The outfit worn by Carey consists of a fur coat and sunglasses.[25]

Live performances

[edit]

Carey performed "With You" for the first time at the American Music Awards of 2018.[26] During the performance, she wore a hot pink gown, and was surrounded by shirtless male dancers who performed intricate choreography.[27] While performing, Carey was raised on a pink platform which appeared to be part of her gown. The singer stood in one place throughout the entire performance while dancers mimicking a flower executed choreography around her, and she concluded it by blowing a kiss to the audience.[28] Carey later performed the song on selected dates of her Live in Concert tour.[29] On November 19, 2018, Carey performed "With You" on Good Morning America.[30] It was included in the setlist for her Caution World Tour (2019), serving as part of the encore.[31][32]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are referenced from the album's liner notes.[2]

Track listings and formats

[edit]

Digital download[33]

  1. "With You" – 3:47

Promotional CD single[34]

  1. "With You" (Radio Edit) – 3:47
  2. "With You" (Clean) – 3:47
  3. "With You" (Main) – 3:47
  4. "With You" (Instrumental) – 3:47

Charts

[edit]

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various October 4, 2018 Digital download Epic [5]
United States October 15, 2018 Hot adult contemporary [39]
October 16, 2018 Contemporary hit radio [40]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "While You Were Laughing At Mariah Carey She Was Making Yet Another Dope Album". Stereogum. November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Butterfly MC Records, Epic Records (2018). Caution (Media notes). Mariah Carey.
  3. ^ Johnson, Kevin C. (October 13, 2018). "That new Mariah Carey song? It was co-written by East St. Louis' Fresco Kane". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  4. ^ Pedrosa, Marina (October 2, 2018). "Mariah Carey Teases New Single 'With You' Prior to AMAs Performance". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Citations regarding the digital release of "With You":
  6. ^ a b William Cowen, Trace (October 4, 2018). "Mariah Carey Drops Mustard-Produced New Single 'With You'". Complex. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  7. ^ "Watch Mariah Carey's video for 'With You'". Malay Mail. October 12, 2018. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  8. ^ Kaufman, Gil (October 4, 2018). "Mariah Carey Drops Sultry Slow Jam 'With You'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Clover Hope, Maria Sherman, Rich Juzwiak, Frida Garza, and Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo (October 5, 2018). "Mariah Is 100 Percent Mariah, and Halsey Drops a Forgettable Breakup Anthem". Jezebel. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (November 16, 2018). "Mariah Carey on the Warpath". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  11. ^ Spanos, Brittany (November 16, 2018). "Review: Mariah Carey Stays Current Without Losing Her Charm on 'Caution'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  12. ^ DeVille, Chris (November 15, 2018). "While You Were Laughing At Mariah Carey She Was Making Yet Another Dope Album". Stereogum. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  13. ^ Owen, Erika (February 13, 2023). "51 Best Love Songs of All Time". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  15. ^ a b Trust, Gary (February 4, 2019). "Mariah Carey's 'With You' Becomes Her 23rd Top 10 on Adult Contemporary Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  18. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Physical/Digital Single Top 50". PROMUSICAE. October 7, 2018. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  22. ^ Pedrosa, Marina (October 9, 2018). "Mariah Carey Teases 'With You' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  23. ^ "Mariah Carey – With You". YouTube. October 10, 2018. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  24. ^ Renshaw, David (October 11, 2018). "Watch Mariah Carey's 'With You' video". The Fader. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  25. ^ Pedrosa, Marina (October 11, 2018). "Mariah Carey is the Queen of Her L.A. Castle in Sultry 'With You' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  26. ^ "Mariah Carey Performs New Single 'With You' for the First on TV at 2018 AMAs". Billboard. October 9, 2018. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  27. ^ Pasquini, Maria (October 9, 2018). "Mariah Carey Performs Sultry New Single 'With You' for the Very First Time at the 2018 AMAs". People. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  28. ^ Schaffstall, Katherine (October 9, 2018). "American Music Awards: Mariah Carey Performs 'With You'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  29. ^ Drillsma, Ryan (October 19, 2018). "Mariah Carey captivates fans at concert in northern Taiwan". Taiwan News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  30. ^ Engelman, Nicole (November 19, 2018). "Mariah Carey Performs 'With You,' Discusses the 'Glitter' Revival On 'Good Morning America'". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  31. ^ Wass, Mike (February 27, 2019). "Mariah Carey Kicks Off The 'Caution World Tour': Opening Night Setlist". Idolator. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  32. ^ Kelly, Tetris (March 1, 2019). "Mariah Carey Kicks Off Caution World Tour With Resplendent Dallas Show". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  33. ^ With You - Single by Mariah Carey, October 4, 2018, archived from the original on June 24, 2022, retrieved June 24, 2022
  34. ^ Mariah Carey - With You, archived from the original on June 24, 2022, retrieved June 24, 2022
  35. ^ "Ultratop.be - Mariah Carey - With You". Ultratop 50. December 1, 2018. Archived from the original on March 15, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  36. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  37. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  38. ^ "Adult R&B Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  39. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  40. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.