Studio Album · No. 2
Emotions
Produced by Walter Afanasieff, Mariah Carey, Narada Michael Walden, Clivilles & Cole
Mariah Carey wrote 9 of 10 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Mariah Carey carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Emotions is where Mariah Carey took fuller control of her music, co-writing and co-producing all of the album's songs. She worked closely with Robert Clivilles and David Cole of C+C Music Factory on the dance and gospel influenced material and continued her partnership with Walter Afanasieff. The high level of self-authorship that defined her debut carried straight through to her second album.
Emotions, released in September 1991, solidified Mariah Carey's position as both a hitmaker and a genuine songwriter, with Carey co-writing all ten tracks on the album, most alongside her now-primary collaborator Walter Afanasieff. The title track, co-written with Robert Clivilles and David Cole of C+C Music Factory, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and showcased Carey's whistle register in its infamous bridge section. The album represented a natural evolution from her debut, with Carey and Afanasieff developing the glossy R&B ballad sound they would refine across several subsequent records. Lyrically, the album covers familiar Carey territory, romantic longing, emotional vulnerability, and introspection, delivered with the compositional confidence of someone who had found a reliable creative partnership. Emotions debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and was certified four times platinum in the US.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Emotions
#1
|
Mariah CareyDavid ColeRobert Clivillés | Mariah CareyDavid ColeRobert Clivillés | David ColeRobert ClivillésMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
And You Don't Remember
|
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff | Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff | Walter AfanasieffMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Can't Let Go
#2
|
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff | Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff | Walter AfanasieffMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Make It Happen
#5
|
Mariah CareyDavid ColeRobert Clivillés | Mariah CareyDavid ColeRobert Clivillés | David ColeRobert ClivillésMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
If It's Over
|
Carole KingMariah Carey | Carole KingMariah Carey | Walter AfanasieffMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
You're So Cold
|
Mariah CareyDavid Cole | Mariah CareyDavid Cole | David ColeRobert ClivillésMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
So Blessed
|
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff | Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff | Walter AfanasieffMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
To Be Around You
|
Mariah CareyDavid Cole | Mariah CareyDavid Cole | David ColeRobert ClivillésMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Till the End of Time
|
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff | Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff | Walter AfanasieffMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
The Wind
|
Russell Freeman | Russell Freeman | Walter AfanasieffMariah Carey | Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals) |