I Stay in Love
Encyclopedia
"I Stay in Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter
Mariah Carey
, taken from her eleventh studio album, E=MC²
(2008). It was written by Carey, Bryan-Michael Cox, Adonis Shropshire
and Kendrick Dean, and produced by the former two. "I Stay in Love" was released through Island Records
on October 28, 2008, as the fourth and final single from the album. Drawing influence from pop
and R&B
music genres, the song features a piano and keyboard-driven melody, and a strong accompanying drum-beat. Lyrically, the song finds Carey getting "her cry on with the connect-the-dots break-up track." She describes the old time she shared with her love interest. She narrates that even though they said let go, and that she is aware that there is nothing left in their relationship, she still "stays in love with him".
"I Stay in Love" received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many considering the song a strong ballad and a highlight from the album, while complimenting its production and piano-driven melody, despite criticizing the similarities to Carey's previous single, "We Belong Together
" (2005). The song performed weakly commercially, becoming Carey's first single from the album to not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100
, although peaking at number eighty-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart, and becoming Carey's fourteenth number one on the Hot Dance Club Play component chart. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number ninety-five, and spent only one week on the UK Singles Chart
.
Carey performed "I Stay in Love" live on two high profile televised events. First, on November 8, 2008, she was featured as a guest judge and musical performer of the fifth season
of the popular British talent competition, The X Factor
. Additionally, Carey performed it live at the American Music Awards, held on November 23, 2008. The song's accompanying music video was filmed by Carey's husband, Nick Cannon
, and features Carey as a dancer in a Las Vegas show at the The Bellagio Hotel and Casino Resort
. Additionally, during the show and its preparations, Carey realizes that her ex-lover has found love with one of her fellow dancers, leading her to blow up the car her gave her, as well as its accompaniments in the Mojave Desert
.
, Kendrick Dean and produced by Carey alongside Cox. The vocals were recorded by Brian Garten at Stone Groove Studios in New York City and the final mixing
was completed by Phil Tan. In an interview with Ed Lover
of the radio station Power 105 in New York City
, Carey said that the song was one of her favorites from the album and that its vocals were recorded within a day. Following the under-performance of the third single "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time
", the song was chosen as the fourth single from Carey's eleventh studio album, E=MC²
. It was sent to mainstream
, rhythmic
and urban
radios on October 28, 2008. A remix single was issued on December 16, 2008. "I Stay in Love" is a mid-tempo "beat-driven" and "piano-laced" ballad, that draws influence from pop
and R&B
music genres.
The song's instrumentation is derived from a piano melody, and is backed by a strong computerized drum-beat. It is composed in the key
of D Major
, with Carey's vocals spanning from the low note of D3 to the high note of B4. The song features a "double voice" effect during its final chorus, where Carey's normal singing tone throughout the rest of the song is combined with her highered pitch. She raises the pitch one octave, and layers it over her normal tone. Additionally, at the song's crescendo
, Carey closes it with a F5, which is unusually high in the female chest range
. Lyrically, the song finds Carey getting "her cry on with the connect-the-dots break-up track." She describes the old time she shared with her lover. She also admits that even though they did attempt to save their relationship, and that she knows that it is definitely over, she still "stays in love with him".
" (2005). In his review of E=MC², Kevin O'Hare of The Republican wrote that Carey "shines" on the song, while Fox News
' Roger Friedman described it as "a killer ballad." People
s Chuck Arnold named it the best ballad on the album, calling it "pretty". The Houston Chronicle
s writer Joey Guerra described the single as a "gently grooving ballad that Janet Jackson should be recording instead of wasting her time on tired sex clichés", while commenting, "It's doubtful, however, that Jackson could reach the notes Carey effortlessly hits at the end of the song". Richard Cromelin from the Los Angeles Times
highlighted Carey's raw form of singing on the track, writing, "its unadorned, and her voice is almost leathery in the lower notes. It's not flattering, but it rings true emotionally."
Michael Slezak from Entertainment Weekly
wrote that the song is "a slower, less addictive variation" of "We Belong Together". Newsday
critic, Glenn Gamboa, also called it a "We Belong Together-sh ballad". In separate reviews of the song, both David Balls and Nick Levine of Digital Spy
also compared the song to Carey's "We Belong Together"; the former rated "I Stay in Love" three out of five stars, and wrote, "It may not be the most original of songs, but Carey's emotion-packed vocals make this a pleasant treat after some vacuous recent offerings." Freedom De Luc from The Washington Post
described the song as an "emotive ballad", while Nekesa Mumbi Moody from Foster's Daily Democrat
noted "it could have been recorded in her early '90s heyday — except it's not as saccharine as some of her early work". However, Evan Sawdey of PopMatters
described it as one of the album's "worst songs".
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
, issue dated November 15, 2008, and later peaked at number 81. The song remained on the chart for a total of ten weeks. "I Stay in Love" debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Pop 100
and peaked at number 94. The track was the hot shot debut on Billboards Hot Dance Club Play on December 27, 2008, opening at number 45. It reached the summit of the chart for the week ending February 14, 2009, and hence became Carey's 14th number one song on that chart. "I Stay in Love" remained on the chart for fourteen weeks. The song debuted and peaked at number 95 on the UK Singles Chart
for the week ending November 22, 2008, and spent only one week on the chart.
, the music video for "I Stay in Love" was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada
, using a story line that Cannon and Carey co-wrote. Carey filmed the video on October 5, at The Bank Nightclub of The Bellagio Hotel and Casino Resort
, and in the Mojave Desert
on October 6, 2008. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest
, Cannon spoke about the video and said that there is a scene where Carey is in bed with a man (played by Andrew Karelis), and that "Mariah plays the showgirl and there's a guy who cheated and there's flashbacks......". The music video for "I Stay In Love" was featured on BET
's Access Granted
for a behind-the-scenes look and a world premiere on October 27, 2008. The entire video was shown every hour on BET until October 28, 2008.
. As Carey finishes getting ready, scenery of Las Vegas is shown, before shifting to Carey, now dressed as a Vegas performer. As she walks down a runway dressed in white garments ad feathers, she catches the attention of a man. He turns out to be Carey's ex-lover, who in turn came to the show to meet with one of Carey's fellow dancers. As he caresses the female in the dressing room, Carey sees them, and walks by them, bumping into him purposely. Additional scenes are shown of Carey laying alone on the dark runway, apparently after the show has finished, as well as preparing herself for the show. During the second verse, the video then shows Carey driving down a highway in the desert, and as she drives, past memories of the pair are shown, holding each other intimately in a bed. She then pushes old gifts he had given her into the passengers seat, and pulls over the car, continuing the scene from the beginning of the video. After the car explodes, Carey tears off her necklace in despair, and begins to flail her arms in desperation. The video ends with Carey back at the show in Vegas during the finale, as glitter drops from the top of the stage. Carey, now back in the desert, looks for another ride, and get into a black Cadillac
Escalade
driven by Cannon.
2.0 ain’t hard on the eyes, either (in reference to the man who played her love interest in "We Belong Together").
The commercial for Carey's Luscious Pink
fragrance uses part of the "I Stay in Love" music video, with a clip of the song used as audio. The short clip shows Carey getting ready for the Vegas show, by applying her make-up and lipstick, and also applying the fragrance on her neck and cleavage. The release published on Carey's official website described the concept of the commercial as "a combination of Mariah's two passions - music and fragrance."
of the popular British talent competition, The X Factor
. During that week, all the contestants would have to sing songs from Carey's catalog. Prior to her arrival, one of the show's judges Dannii Minogue
said "Could it get any more nerve-wracking for the contestants?", due to the general strenuous nature of Carey's songs. After several performances by the finalists, Carey performed "I Stay in Love", accompanied by three background vocalists. She received a standing ovation from the audience and judges, and continued backstage for a taped session with the contestants. At the end of the program, she performed her classic "Hero
" (1993), and was eventually joined by the finalists for the finale of the song. "Hero" was re-recorded by the 2008 UK X Factor finalists and released as a single, becoming the second best-selling single of 2008 in the United Kingdom. According to reports, the episode gained a large increase in viewers due to Carey's presence, and was able to surpass its long-time rival program, Strictly Come Dancing
, in the ratings. Carey also made an appearance at the American Music Awards
of 2008 on November 23, at the Nokia Theatre. Wearing a long black gown, she performed the song after receiving an honorary award for her achievements in music. Chris Harris from MTV News described it as a "riveting performance".
Switzerland Promo Single
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, taken from her eleventh studio album, E=MC²
E=MC² (Mariah Carey album)
E=MC² is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, first released in the United States on April 15, 2008, by Island Records. Carey began recording the album in late-2007 in Anguilla, after writing and composing most of its material during and after her 2006 Adventures...
(2008). It was written by Carey, Bryan-Michael Cox, Adonis Shropshire
Adonis Shropshire
Adonis Shropshire or Adonis for short, is an award-winning American songwriter and record producer.He has written and or produced singles including: Mariah Carey's "I Stay In Love", Usher Raymond's "My Boo", P...
and Kendrick Dean, and produced by the former two. "I Stay in Love" was released through Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
on October 28, 2008, as the fourth and final single from the album. Drawing influence from pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
music genres, the song features a piano and keyboard-driven melody, and a strong accompanying drum-beat. Lyrically, the song finds Carey getting "her cry on with the connect-the-dots break-up track." She describes the old time she shared with her love interest. She narrates that even though they said let go, and that she is aware that there is nothing left in their relationship, she still "stays in love with him".
"I Stay in Love" received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many considering the song a strong ballad and a highlight from the album, while complimenting its production and piano-driven melody, despite criticizing the similarities to Carey's previous single, "We Belong Together
We Belong Together
"We Belong Together" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi . The song was released on March 29, 2005, through Island Records as the second single from the album. "We Belong Together" was written by Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel...
" (2005). The song performed weakly commercially, becoming Carey's first single from the album to not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, although peaking at number eighty-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart, and becoming Carey's fourteenth number one on the Hot Dance Club Play component chart. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number ninety-five, and spent only one week on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Carey performed "I Stay in Love" live on two high profile televised events. First, on November 8, 2008, she was featured as a guest judge and musical performer of the fifth season
The X Factor (UK series 5)
The fifth UK series of The X Factor was broadcast on ITV in 2008. The series started on 16 August and was won by Alexandra Burke on 13 December, with new judge Cheryl Cole emerging as the winning mentor. Auditions in front of producers were held in April/May, with callbacks in front of the judges...
of the popular British talent competition, The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
. Additionally, Carey performed it live at the American Music Awards, held on November 23, 2008. The song's accompanying music video was filmed by Carey's husband, Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon
Nicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon is an American actor, comedian, rapper, entrepreneur, record producer, radio, and television personality. On television, Cannon began as a teenage sketch comedian on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'N Out, and America's Got Talent...
, and features Carey as a dancer in a Las Vegas show at the The Bellagio Hotel and Casino Resort
Bellagio (hotel and casino)
Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
. Additionally, during the show and its preparations, Carey realizes that her ex-lover has found love with one of her fellow dancers, leading her to blow up the car her gave her, as well as its accompaniments in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
.
Background and composition
"I Stay in Love" was written by Carey, Bryan-Michael Cox, Adonis ShropshireAdonis Shropshire
Adonis Shropshire or Adonis for short, is an award-winning American songwriter and record producer.He has written and or produced singles including: Mariah Carey's "I Stay In Love", Usher Raymond's "My Boo", P...
, Kendrick Dean and produced by Carey alongside Cox. The vocals were recorded by Brian Garten at Stone Groove Studios in New York City and the final mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
was completed by Phil Tan. In an interview with Ed Lover
Ed Lover
James Roberts , better known as Ed Lover, is an African-American rapper, actor, musician, radio personality, and former MTV VJ.-Biography:...
of the radio station Power 105 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Carey said that the song was one of her favorites from the album and that its vocals were recorded within a day. Following the under-performance of the third single "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time
I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time
"I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her eleventh studio album, E=MC² . It was written by Carey, Aldrin Davis, Crystal Johnson and Clifford Harris, and produced by the former two...
", the song was chosen as the fourth single from Carey's eleventh studio album, E=MC²
E=MC² (Mariah Carey album)
E=MC² is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, first released in the United States on April 15, 2008, by Island Records. Carey began recording the album in late-2007 in Anguilla, after writing and composing most of its material during and after her 2006 Adventures...
. It was sent to mainstream
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
, rhythmic
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
and urban
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
radios on October 28, 2008. A remix single was issued on December 16, 2008. "I Stay in Love" is a mid-tempo "beat-driven" and "piano-laced" ballad, that draws influence from pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
music genres.
The song's instrumentation is derived from a piano melody, and is backed by a strong computerized drum-beat. It is composed in the key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of D Major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
, with Carey's vocals spanning from the low note of D3 to the high note of B4. The song features a "double voice" effect during its final chorus, where Carey's normal singing tone throughout the rest of the song is combined with her highered pitch. She raises the pitch one octave, and layers it over her normal tone. Additionally, at the song's crescendo
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
, Carey closes it with a F5, which is unusually high in the female chest range
Chest voice
Chest voice is a term used within vocal music. The use of this term varies widely within vocal pedagogical circles and there is currently no one consistent opinion among vocal music professionals in regards to this term...
. Lyrically, the song finds Carey getting "her cry on with the connect-the-dots break-up track." She describes the old time she shared with her lover. She also admits that even though they did attempt to save their relationship, and that she knows that it is definitely over, she still "stays in love with him".
Critical reception
"I Stay in Love" garnered generally positive reviews from music critics. Many complimented the song's piano-driven melody, as well as Carey's vocals, while some felt it was too similar to her previous single, "We Belong TogetherWe Belong Together
"We Belong Together" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi . The song was released on March 29, 2005, through Island Records as the second single from the album. "We Belong Together" was written by Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel...
" (2005). In his review of E=MC², Kevin O'Hare of The Republican wrote that Carey "shines" on the song, while Fox News
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
' Roger Friedman described it as "a killer ballad." People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
s Chuck Arnold named it the best ballad on the album, calling it "pretty". The Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
s writer Joey Guerra described the single as a "gently grooving ballad that Janet Jackson should be recording instead of wasting her time on tired sex clichés", while commenting, "It's doubtful, however, that Jackson could reach the notes Carey effortlessly hits at the end of the song". Richard Cromelin from the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
highlighted Carey's raw form of singing on the track, writing, "its unadorned, and her voice is almost leathery in the lower notes. It's not flattering, but it rings true emotionally."
Michael Slezak from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
wrote that the song is "a slower, less addictive variation" of "We Belong Together". Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
critic, Glenn Gamboa, also called it a "We Belong Together-sh ballad". In separate reviews of the song, both David Balls and Nick Levine of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
also compared the song to Carey's "We Belong Together"; the former rated "I Stay in Love" three out of five stars, and wrote, "It may not be the most original of songs, but Carey's emotion-packed vocals make this a pleasant treat after some vacuous recent offerings." Freedom De Luc from The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
described the song as an "emotive ballad", while Nekesa Mumbi Moody from Foster's Daily Democrat
Foster's Daily Democrat
Foster's Daily Democrat is a six-day morning broadsheet newspaper published in Dover, New Hampshire, USA, covering southeast New Hampshire and southwest Maine...
noted "it could have been recorded in her early '90s heyday — except it's not as saccharine as some of her early work". However, Evan Sawdey of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
described it as one of the album's "worst songs".
Chart performance
"I Stay in Love" debuted at number 97 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, issue dated November 15, 2008, and later peaked at number 81. The song remained on the chart for a total of ten weeks. "I Stay in Love" debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
and peaked at number 94. The track was the hot shot debut on Billboards Hot Dance Club Play on December 27, 2008, opening at number 45. It reached the summit of the chart for the week ending February 14, 2009, and hence became Carey's 14th number one song on that chart. "I Stay in Love" remained on the chart for fourteen weeks. The song debuted and peaked at number 95 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
for the week ending November 22, 2008, and spent only one week on the chart.
Background
Directed by Carey's husband Nick CannonNick Cannon
Nicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon is an American actor, comedian, rapper, entrepreneur, record producer, radio, and television personality. On television, Cannon began as a teenage sketch comedian on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'N Out, and America's Got Talent...
, the music video for "I Stay in Love" was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, using a story line that Cannon and Carey co-wrote. Carey filmed the video on October 5, at The Bank Nightclub of The Bellagio Hotel and Casino Resort
Bellagio (hotel and casino)
Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
, and in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
on October 6, 2008. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
, Cannon spoke about the video and said that there is a scene where Carey is in bed with a man (played by Andrew Karelis), and that "Mariah plays the showgirl and there's a guy who cheated and there's flashbacks......". The music video for "I Stay In Love" was featured on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
's Access Granted
Access Granted
Access Granted is an American television series that features an in depth look at the planning and production of R&B and hip hop music videos. Each week, a different artist and their new music video are featured, with the video premiering at the end of the episode. The series began airing in 2001...
for a behind-the-scenes look and a world premiere on October 27, 2008. The entire video was shown every hour on BET until October 28, 2008.
Synopsis
The video begins with Carey parking her antique automobile in desert. She gets out, with customized black boots with an 'M' on them, and as, she walks towards the camera, the vehicle explodes. As the music begins and the scene shifts to black-and-white, Carey is shown applying her eye make-up and earrings. As a form of product placement, her fragrance is shown on a dresser in her BoudoirBoudoir
A boudoir is a lady's private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room. The term derives from the French verb bouder, meaning "to be sulky" or boudeur, meaning "sulky".- In architecture :...
. As Carey finishes getting ready, scenery of Las Vegas is shown, before shifting to Carey, now dressed as a Vegas performer. As she walks down a runway dressed in white garments ad feathers, she catches the attention of a man. He turns out to be Carey's ex-lover, who in turn came to the show to meet with one of Carey's fellow dancers. As he caresses the female in the dressing room, Carey sees them, and walks by them, bumping into him purposely. Additional scenes are shown of Carey laying alone on the dark runway, apparently after the show has finished, as well as preparing herself for the show. During the second verse, the video then shows Carey driving down a highway in the desert, and as she drives, past memories of the pair are shown, holding each other intimately in a bed. She then pushes old gifts he had given her into the passengers seat, and pulls over the car, continuing the scene from the beginning of the video. After the car explodes, Carey tears off her necklace in despair, and begins to flail her arms in desperation. The video ends with Carey back at the show in Vegas during the finale, as glitter drops from the top of the stage. Carey, now back in the desert, looks for another ride, and get into a black Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
Escalade
Escalade
Escalade is the act of scaling defensive walls or ramparts with the aid of ladders, and was a prominent feature of siege warfare in medieval times...
driven by Cannon.
Reception and Luscious Pink commercial
Nick Levine from Digital Spy complimented the video, commenting that it managed "to be both ridiculous and a little bit moving - quite an achievement." Entertainment Weekly writer Michael Slezak described Carey's boots as "hot", and considered the cinematography of the music video "gorgeous". He also complimented several aspects of the video, saying, "Mariah’s bod looks totally smokin’, even if her entire wardrobe should be donated to a charity benefiting teenage strumpets and/or truck-stop hookers. Also: That Wentworth MillerWentworth Miller
Wentworth Earl Miller III is an English-born American actor; model and screenwriter who rose to stardom following his role as Michael Scofield in the Fox Network television series Prison Break.-Early life:...
2.0 ain’t hard on the eyes, either (in reference to the man who played her love interest in "We Belong Together").
The commercial for Carey's Luscious Pink
Luscious Pink
-Ultra Pink:A version of Luscious Pink was released only at Wal-Mart. "Soft accents of cherry blossoms and wild berries, combined with signature dewy Tiare Petals and a creamy blend of Sun-Kissed woods create a radiant and vibrant fragrance." The bottle is a deeper pink color and the only bottle...
fragrance uses part of the "I Stay in Love" music video, with a clip of the song used as audio. The short clip shows Carey getting ready for the Vegas show, by applying her make-up and lipstick, and also applying the fragrance on her neck and cleavage. The release published on Carey's official website described the concept of the commercial as "a combination of Mariah's two passions - music and fragrance."
Live performances
Due to promotion for E=MC² and the single, Carey was featured as a guest judge and musical act on the fifth seasonThe X Factor (UK series 5)
The fifth UK series of The X Factor was broadcast on ITV in 2008. The series started on 16 August and was won by Alexandra Burke on 13 December, with new judge Cheryl Cole emerging as the winning mentor. Auditions in front of producers were held in April/May, with callbacks in front of the judges...
of the popular British talent competition, The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
. During that week, all the contestants would have to sing songs from Carey's catalog. Prior to her arrival, one of the show's judges Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
said "Could it get any more nerve-wracking for the contestants?", due to the general strenuous nature of Carey's songs. After several performances by the finalists, Carey performed "I Stay in Love", accompanied by three background vocalists. She received a standing ovation from the audience and judges, and continued backstage for a taped session with the contestants. At the end of the program, she performed her classic "Hero
Hero (Mariah Carey song)
"Hero" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on October 19, 1993 by Columbia Records as the second single from Carey's third studio album, Music Box . Originally intended for Gloria Estefan, the song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff...
" (1993), and was eventually joined by the finalists for the finale of the song. "Hero" was re-recorded by the 2008 UK X Factor finalists and released as a single, becoming the second best-selling single of 2008 in the United Kingdom. According to reports, the episode gained a large increase in viewers due to Carey's presence, and was able to surpass its long-time rival program, Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
, in the ratings. Carey also made an appearance at the American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
of 2008 on November 23, at the Nokia Theatre. Wearing a long black gown, she performed the song after receiving an honorary award for her achievements in music. Chris Harris from MTV News described it as a "riveting performance".
Track listings and formats
Japanese 12" Vinyl Single- "I Stay In Love" (Album Version) – 3:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder Club Mix) – 8:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder House mix) – 8:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Ralph Rosario Big Vocal Mix) – 8:15
- "I Stay In Love" (Ralph's Melodic Mixshow) – 3:52
- "I Stay In Love" (Instrumental) – 3:32
Switzerland Promo Single
- "I Stay In Love" (Album Version) – 3:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder Club Mix) – 8:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder House mix) – 8:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Ralph Rosario Big Vocal Mix) – 8:15
- UK CD single
- "I Stay in Love" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
- US CD maxi-single (Remixes)
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder Radio Edit) – 4:11
- "I Stay In Love" (Ralphi Rosario Melodic Radio Edit) – 3:52
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder Club Mix) – 8:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Ralphi Rosario Big Vocal Mix) – 8:15
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder House Mix) – 8:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Ralphi's Bar Dub Mix) – 8:16
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder Dub) – 7:32
- "I Stay In Love" (Jody Den Broeder House Dub) – 8:31
Credits and personnel
Credits for "I Stay in Love" adapted from the E=MC² liner notes.- Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
– songwriting, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Bryan-Michael Cox – songwriting, producer, instruments
- Adonis ShropshireAdonis ShropshireAdonis Shropshire or Adonis for short, is an award-winning American songwriter and record producer.He has written and or produced singles including: Mariah Carey's "I Stay In Love", Usher Raymond's "My Boo", P...
– songwriting - Kendrick Dean – songwriting
- Brian Garten – audio recording
- Phil Tan – audio mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Bernie Grundman – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
Charts
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
95 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
81 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |