Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse

Released on May 27, 2014, Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse made its debut at number three on the Billboard 200 after selling 58,000 copies. The album features guest appearances by rappers Nas, Wale and Fabolous; and collaborations with producers James “Big Jim” Wright, Mike WiLL Made-It, Hitboy, Darkchild and Jermaine Dupri, among others.

The first taste of the album came on May 6, 2013, when “#Beautiful,” a duet with R&B singer Miguel, was released as the first single. “Miguel is one of my favorite new artists, he's just the truth.” Mariah told Grammy.com in 2013. “The best part of making music for me is collaborating and working with new people and fresh sounds. Miguel had a track that was amazing. [I told him] ‘We can get together, I can write a chorus that doesn't have to incorporate that and a verse that's very me and we can merge and come together and get that song to a place that's something totally different, fresh, unique and back to basics.’ ” “#Beautiful” peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the highest position since 2009's “Obsessed,” which peaked at number seven.

With “#Beautiful” climbing the charts, the still-untitled album was announced for a July 23, 2013, release date. Shortly after retailer Walmart leaked the album's original title (The Art Of Letting Go), Mariah decided to postpone its release. “While making this album, I got so immersed in the creative process that I just don't feel I would be doing it justice to release it on July 23,” she posted on Twitter. “I'd rather not exclude meaningful songs. I want to give you this album as it's meant to be heard. When I'm ready, you'll be the first to know!”

The next bump in the road came when Mariah suffered an accident while filming the music video for a remix of “#Beautiful,” which left her hospitalized with a shoulder injury and nerve damage. “The last three months of my life have not been easy,” she posted on Facebook in October. “Getting through this injury has been the toughest experience of my life. It took me three months to get to this point but thank God I was able to recover and get my arm back. I've been working day and night, and it took a lot of rest — though I did sneak in to the studio a couple o' times! — but I can finally say that I am on my way to a full recovery. There's a lot of excitement that I'm going to reveal to you very soon, and you're going to feel what I've been feeling for the past — not three months — but three years. This is, to me, one of the most important albums I've ever made in my life.”

A month later, and with the album still on hold, Mariah announced the release of the song “The Art Of Letting Go,” which she premiered on Facebook on November 11, 2013. “I wrote and produced ‘The Art of Letting Go’ with my friend, the über-talented Rodney Jerkins,” Mariah wrote on Facebook. “We had worked together before, but this time around, I feel we went down a more organic path in terms of our approach to the songwriting process. ‘The Art of Letting Go’ was the second of two beloved songs I wrote with Rodney for this album. As we were writing, we both got goosebumps and a feeling of nostalgia. It might sound over the top but when I was singing this song, I felt like I had touched upon certain emotions within myself that I haven't put on a record in a very long time. I truly can't wait for all of you to hear and share these feelings with me.”

On February 10, 2014, Mariah announced the February 12 release of “You're Mine (Eternal)” as the official first single from the album, which was due out on May 6. “This is one of the first songs I wrote for the album. It was always one of my favorites but it evolved, and then there's the remix with Trey Songz which is now steadily becoming my favorite version,” Mariah explained. “I wrote the song with Rodney Jerkins, we got together and we were both in the same page musically. We just decided, ‘Let's go with what we're feeling.’ It's a very simplistic track yet if you muted the vocals, a rapper could be on top of it.”

The album would get pushed back one last time. “I've worked so hard on this project. This album is about reclaiming myself and showing that, since I became a mother, I've become a stronger person,” Mariah explained. “There isn't necessarily one theme and that's why I want people to hear this album as a whole, as an entity, as something that I put every bit of myself into. Each song is a different side of who I am and, in some of them, there's a lot of truths I am talking about. Some of them are kind of sad or almost too sad. I call it the misery. We love it and we have to have it but I added three new songs that I felt were necessary to complete the journey of this album.”

On May 1, 2014, both the title of the album and its final release date were announced: Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse was being released on May 27. The album's title was inspired by a self-portrait that Mariah drew when she was three, that was also featured on the back cover. “On the back cover of this album is a personal treasure,” she explained. “This is my first and only self-portrait. I drew it when I was three and a half and entitled it ‘Me I am Mariah.’ Please don't judge me for such a simplistic title — I was only three and a half! It was a creative visualization of how I saw myself with the purity of a child's heart before it was ever broken.”

Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Cover Art
Cover Art
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Publicity Photos
Publicity Photos
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Publicity Material
Publicity Material
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Booklet
Booklet
Standard Edition
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Booklet - Deluxe Edition
Booklet
Deluxe Edition
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Booklet - Target Exclusive Edition
Booklet
Target Exclusive Edition

Tracklist

Original Release

Track # Song Run time
1
Cry.
Written by Mariah Carey, James Wright.
Produced by Mariah Carey and James “Big Jim” Wright.
4:48
2
Faded
Written by Mariah Carey, Michael Williams, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Mike WiLL Made-It.
3:39
3
Dedicated (feat. Nas)
Written by Mariah Carey, Chauncey Hollis, James Fauntleroy, Nasir Jones, Dennis Coles, Robert Diggs, Gary Grice, Lamont Hawkins, Jason Hunter, Russell Jones, Clifford Smith, Corey Woods.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Hit-Boy and Darhyl “Hey DJ” Camper. Additional Production by Hazebanga.
4:13
4
#Beautiful (feat. Miguel)
Written by Miguel Pimentel, Mariah Carey, Nathan Perez, Brook Davis, Maclean Robinson, Brian Warfield.
Produced by Miguel and Mariah Carey. Co-produced by Happy Perez. Additional Production by Brook “D'Leau” Davis.
3:19
5
Thirsty
Written by Mariah Carey, Chauncey Hollis, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews, Mary Ann Tatum.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Hit-Boy. Co-produced by Rey Reel.
3:25
6
Make It Look Good
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Bunny Sigler, Allan Felder.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
3:23
7
You're Mine (Eternal)
Written by Mariah Carey, Rodney Jerkins.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.
3:44
8
You Don't Know What To Do (feat. Wale)
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Olubowale Akintimehin, Patrick Adams, Terri Gonzalez.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
4:47
9
Supernatural (w/ Special Guest Stars “DemBabies” A.K.A. Ms. Monroe & Mr. Moroccan Scott Cannon A.K.A. Roc N' Roe)
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
4:37
10
Meteorite
Written by Mariah Carey, Kamaal Fareed, Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Ron Tyson.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Q-Tip.
3:50
11
Camouflage
Written by Mariah Carey, James Wright.
Produced by Mariah Carey and James “Big Jim” Wright.
4:48
12
Money ($ * / …) (feat. Fabolous)
Written by Mariah Carey, Chauncey Hollis, John Jackson, Dan Satch, Edwin Birdsong.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Hit-Boy.
4:54
13
One More Try
Written by George Michael.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
6:17
14
Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can't Give Up Now)
Written by Mariah Carey, Curtis Burrell, George Clinton, Jr.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
5:39

Bonus Tracks

The deluxe version of Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse includes three bonus tracks: “The Art Of Letting Go,” and duet versions of two songs from Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel: “Betcha Gon' Know,” with R. Kelly and “It's A Wrap” with Mary J. Blige. The additional bonus track “America The Beautiful” was included on the Japanese edition of the album as well as on the Target-exclusive release.

Track # Song Run time
Bonus
It's A Wrap (feat. Mary J. Blige)
Written by Mariah Carey, Barry White.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Heatmyzer, C. “Tricky” Stewart and James “Big Jim” Wright.
4:07
Bonus
Betcha Gon' Know (feat. R. Kelly)
Written by Mariah Carey, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart, James Wright, Robert Kelly.
Produced by Mariah Carey, C. “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash and James “Big Jim” Wright.
3:53
Bonus
The Art Of Letting Go
Written by Mariah Carey, Rodney Jerkins.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.
3:44
Bonus
America The Beautiful
Written by Katharine Lee Bates, Samuel A. Ward.
Produced by Mariah Carey and James “Big Jim” Wright.
1:56

Releases

Original Release

In the United States, the standard edition of Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse, was available on CD including fourteen tracks. The deluxe version, issued with different artwork, includes three additional bonus tracks: “The Art Of Letting Go” and duet versions of two songs from Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel: “Betcha Gon' Know,” with R. Kelly and “It's A Wrap” with Mary J. Blige. The Japanese edition of Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse includes the exclusive bonus track “America The Beautiful.”

Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - CD (United States)
CD
Standard Edition
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - CD (Deluxe Edition)
CD
Deluxe Edition
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - CD (Japan)
CD
Japan Edition

Special Editions

A fourth variant of Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse, with alternate album art, was available in the United States exclusively through retailer Target including the bonus track “America The Beautiful.”

Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - CD (Target Exclusive Edition)
CD
Target Exclusive Edition

Vinyl Editions

In January 2021, Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse was issued on vinyl for the first time: a standard black vinyl and a limited edition orange pressing. A new variant became available in 2024, when Amazon Music issued the album on translucent clear vinyl.

Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Black Vinyl
Black Vinyl
2021
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Orange Vinyl
Orange Vinyl
2021
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse - Clear Vinyl
Clear Vinyl
2024

Singles

Mariah Carey & Miguel- #Beautiful
#Beautiful
Mariah Carey - The Art Of Letting Go
The Art Of Letting Go
Mariah Carey - You're Mine (Eternal)
You're Mine
(Eternal)
Mariah Carey - Thirsty
Thirsty
Mariah Carey - You Don't Know What To Do
You Don't Know What To Do

Lyrics

Cry.

Faded

Dedicated

#Beautiful

Thirsty

Make It Look Good

You're Mine (Eternal)

You Don't Know What To Do

Supernatural

Meteorite

Camouflage

Money ($*/…)

One More Try

Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can't Give Up Now)

It's A Wrap

Betcha Gon' Know

The Art Of Letting Go

America The Beautiful