Released on August 13, 1991, as the lead single from her sophomore album, Mariah wrote “Emotions” with David Cole and Robert Clivillés of C&C Music Factory, a suggestion by CBS president Tommy Mottola. “I didn't really see the parallels between what they were doing and what I was doing because their stuff was really hard,” Mariah said about their collaboration. “But I did like what they were doing, so we got together. I heard David on piano. He's a really gifted piano player, and that really drew me towards him as a collaborator. So we just sat down together to see which direction we wanted to go in, and just let it flow. I really did enjoy working with them.”
The song was inspired by “Best Of My Love,” a song released in 1977 by The Emotions. “What was funny was both Robert and Mariah came up with The Emotions groove separately. She had an idea for it and so did Robert. They both had mentioned doing something similar to The Emotions,” he explained. “I mean, The Emotions were an inspiration for the song ‘Emotions’ — there's no way to deny that or get around it. It definitely has the feeling from The Emotions, but we're not dumb enough to go and steal the damn record.”
“Emotions” became Mariah's highest-debuting single after entering the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number thirty-five. It reached the top spot on October 12, 1991, making Mariah the first — and to date only — act to have their first five singles reach the top of the chart, breaking the record of four established twenty-one years earlier by the Jackson Five. “Emotions” was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on October 9, 2019. In the United Kingdom, it became Mariah's second Top 20 hit, peaking at number seventeen on November 9, 1991.
Cole and Clivillés were also in charge of the “Emotions” remixes, which took the song to the top of the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart — back then called Hot Dance Music — during the week of November 30, 1991.
| Song | Remix | Run time |
|---|---|---|
| Emotions | C&C Club Mix
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés. |
5:48 |
| Emotions | C&C 12" Club #1 Mix
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés. |
7:42 |
| Emotions | C&C Dub-Dub Mix
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés. |
5:47 |
| Emotions | 12" Instrumental
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés. |
5:03 |
| Emotions | Special Motion Edit
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés. |
4:45 |
The music video for “Emotions” was directed by Jeff Preiss and filmed in August 1991. “This new video that I just did was fun because there were a lot of people and a lot of my friends in it and I had a really good time,” Mariah told Entertainment Tonight. “In the beginning it was a little bit — like anything — it took getting used to, and I feel a little bit more confident now and a little more comfortable with that aspect of my career.” An extended version of the music video was also produced and included as a bonus on the MTV Unplugged home video release.
The “Emotions” Single was Released on Cassette in the United States, including the song “Vanishing,” from Mariah's debut album, as the B-side. The Maxi Single, available on Cassette and 12" Vinyl, contains three versions of “Emotions” (12" Club Mix, 12" Instrumental and Album Version) and the 12" Mix of “There's Got To Be A Way.” The CD Maxi Single contains the Vocal Dub Mix of “There's Got To Be A Way” as a bonus track.
The European Single was issued on 3" CD, Cassette and 7" Vinyl, including “Emotions” and “Vanishing.” There were two European “Emotions” Maxi Singles, the first one, issued on both CD and 12" vinyl, includes the two songs from the single and “Vision Of Love” as the third track. The second Maxi Single, issued on CD, includes three remixes of the song: C&C Club Mix, C&C 12" Club No. 1 Mix and C&C Dub-Dub Mix.
“Emotions” became available in the United Kingdom on September 23, 1991. The Single was available on 7" Vinyl and Cassette including the song “Vanishing,” from Mariah's debut album, as the B-Side. The Maxi Single was issued on CD, including “Vision Of Love” as track number three. A week later, “Emotions” was also released on 12" Vinyl, including three remixes: C&C Club Mix, C&C Club No. 1 Mix and C&C Dub-Dub Mix.
The “Emotions” Single was released in Australia on September 16, 1991. Available on CD and Cassette, it includes “Emotions” and “Vanishing.” The Maxi Single, including 3 versions of “Emotions” (12" Club Mix, Instrumental and Album Version) and the 12" Mix of “There's Got To Be A Way,” became available on CD and Cassette on November 18.
The Japanese “Emotions” 3" CD Single became available on September 12, 1991, including “Vanishing” as the B-side.
The “Emotions” CD Single was re-released by Sony Music in March 2002 as part of their Platinum Hits collection, including the songs “Emotions” and “Vanishing.”
You've got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I've ever dreamed of
You've got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above
I feel good
I feel nice
I've never felt so
Satisfied
I'm in love
I'm alive
Intoxicated
Flying high
It feels like a dream
When you touch me tenderly
I don't know if it's real
But I like the way I feel
Inside
You've got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I've ever dreamed of
You've got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above
In the morning
When I rise
You are the first thing
On my mind
And in the middle
Of the night
I feel your heartbeat
Next to mine
It feels like a dream
When you love me tenderly
I don't know if you're for real
But I like the way I feel
Inside
You've got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I've ever dreamed of
You've got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above
You know the way to make me lose control
When you're looking into my eyes
You make me feel so
High
You've got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I've ever dreamed of
You've got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above
Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Mariah Carey, David Cole, Robert Clivillés.
Produced by David Cole, Robert Clivillés and Mariah Carey.
