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Some artists struggle for years to get one #1 single. @MariahCarey's debut single and 18 others hit the pole position. However, did you know she's also had 4 songs almost make it, peaking at #2?
1. “Can’t Let Go” would have been a #1 if her label Columbia Records hadn’t deleted the single in favor of selling more copies of its parent album, Emotions.
2. A duet with Luther Vandross, their cover of “Endless Love” reached #2 in 1994, blocked by Boyz II Men smash, “I’ll Make Love to You.”
3. While widely regarded as the lowest point in her career, #Glitter almost yielded a #1: “Loverboy.” It was blocked by Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious,” after a vengeful discounting of the trio’s single by Mariah’s ex-husband and Sony boss Tommy Mottola
4. Finally, Mariah was the villain in her own story for this one: “Shake It Off” was blocked by her own smash hit, the song of the decade, “We Belong Together” and later Kanye West’s “Gold a Digger.” SIO perched at #2 for 7 weeks!
In theory, 3 of these #2 peaks could’ve been avoided had different choices been made by some of the key players, and Mariah would have a record breaking 21 #1’s under her belt.
Well since y'all seemed to REALLY enjoy that tea, here is some more. @MariahCarey has 28 top 10 hits. As you know, 19 of those are #1's, and 4 of them are #2's. Let's take a look at the other 5:
1. "Make It Happen" peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 in 1992. She performed a medley of it last night in support of NYC and #COVID19:
2. Her cover of "Without You" peaked at #3 in 1994, but did hit #1 in the UK!
3. Her cover of "I Still Believe" was included on her 1998 #1's collection, and almoooost became one itself! It peaked at #4. The original song by Brenda K. Starr (for whom Mariah sang back-up before getting signed) only peaked at #13!
4. Mariah's 2003 collaboration with Busta Rhymes, "I Know What You Want," was a huge hit, peaking at #3 on the Hot 100. The song helped her get back in radio's good graces after a few disappointing singles.
5. In 2009, "MC the Emcee" made her debut with the infamous diss track, "Obsessed." Proving she still had hitmaker potential at 39, "Obsessed" peaked at #7 and, in 2019, started charting again thanks to a viral TikTok challenge using the song:
