April 12, 2015 marks the 10 year anniversary of Mariah Carey's comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi. After a slew of career lows, Mariah Carey came back on top, debuting at #1 with 404,000 copies sold during the first week, becoming Mariah's highest first-week sales debut (her follow-up album E=MC² would top Emancipation's first week sales).
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Emancipation was Mariah's first #1 album since 1997's Butterfly, and it would go on to be 2005's best selling album, selling 5 million copies that year. Let's take a look back at what is undoubtedly the best comeback ever.
The VideosIt's Like That (Billboard Hot 100 peak = #16)It's Like That was the first single from The Emancipation of Mimi. It's Like That was Mariah's most successful single since 2001's Loverboy. The music video was filmed by Brett Ratner and featured actors Eric Roberts and Wentworth Miller.
We Belong Together (Billboard Hot 100 peak = #1)We Belong Together, the second single from The Emancipation of Mimi, was the number one song of 2005, as well as the decade. It stayed at number one for fourteen consecutive weeks, placing second to Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men's One Sweet Day, which achieved sixteen consecutive weeks at number one. The video, also shot by Brett Ratner, was a continuation from It's Like That. We Belong Together won Mariah two GRAMMYs.
Shake It Off (Billboard Hot 100 peak = #2)Shake It Off was the third single from Emancipation. The song peaked at #2, and it didn't reach the top spot because it was held off by Carey's We Belong Together. Mariah Carey became the first lead female artist to hold both top spots on the Billboard Hot 100.
Get Your Number (International single, never released in the U.S.)Get Your Number was released internationally as the third single in Europe and the fifth in Australia, while Shake It Off was the third single off of Emancipation in the United States. The song samples Imagination's Just an Illusion. It wasn't as big of a hit as her previous offerings, although it was a top ten hit in the United Kingdom.
Don't Forget About Us (Billboard Hot 100 peak = #1)Following the success of The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey decided to re-release her album. The Emancipation of Mimi (Ultra Platinum Edition) was released seven months after Emancipation came out, and the lead single was Don't Forget About Us. Don't Forget About Us became Mariah Carey's seventeenth chart-topping single, tying her with Elvis Presley as having the most number one singles by a solo artist.
Say Somethin' (Billboard Hot 100 peak = #79)The final single off of The Emancipation of Mimi was The Neptunes-produced Say Somethin'. The single featured Snoop Dogg, and the video was filmed in Paris, France. The single wasn't a considerable hit for Mariah, only peaking at number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Sources:
Wikipedia +
YouTube
