I Don't Wanna Cry
Encyclopedia
"I Don't Wanna Cry" is a song written by Mariah Carey
and Narada Michael Walden
, and produced by Walden for Carey's debut album, Mariah Carey
(1990). The ballad was released as the album's fourth single in the second quarter of 1991. It became another U.S. number 1 single for Carey. Like the previous singles released from Mariah Carey, the song received a BMI
Pop Award.
. When she and Walden first wrote the song, she was excited because it sounded like something that would be played on the radio. Because of bad experiences during its production and because she feels it "doesn't have a message," Carey stated in a MTV
interview that she dislikes the song and tries to sing it as rarely as possible. Carey had lobbied to co-produce the song, but was denied permission by Columbia Records
. She often fought with Walden in the studio concerning the song's production, and as a result Walden became her least favorite among the producers who worked on her debut album. Walden's protégé at the time, Walter Afanasieff
, later said that he co-wrote and produced the song, and that in return for giving Afanasieff the work, Walden took the credit.
, making her only the second act (and first female and first solo artist) after The Jackson 5
to have their first four singles reach number 1 on the Hot 100. It also made Mariah Carey
a record-breaking album: every single released from it was a chart-topper in the U.S. "I Don't Wanna Cry" reached number 1 in its eighth week and spent two weeks at the top, from May 19 to June 1, 1991. It replaced "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)
" by Hi-Five
, and was replaced by Extreme
's "More Than Words
". The single became Carey's third number 1 single on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
chart. It remained in the top 40 on the Hot 100 for 13 weeks and was one of four Carey singles on the chart's 1991 year-end chart, ranking 26. The song also hit number 7 in Canada and number 49 in Australia but failed to chart elsewhere.
, features Carey in a dark Midwest
home and in maize
, brooding over her tainted relationship.
Part of an alternative version of the music video was released on the DVD/home video The First Vision
(1991), and the original, more familiar version was included on the DVD/home video #1's (1999) as a director's cut. The 1991 version had a few sepia
-toned sequences that were eliminated and replaced for the DVD release. It was the only video from Carey's debut album to be included on #1's, because she was ashamed of the three previous music videos.
from Jason Castro on American Idol
, for which he performed the song on the show's seventh season
.
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...
and Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...
, and produced by Walden for Carey's debut album, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (album)
Mariah Carey is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on June 12, 1990 by Columbia Records. The album contains a range of contemporary genres, and the songs are a mix of slow ballads and dance tracks. Originally, Carey wrote four songs with...
(1990). The ballad was released as the album's fourth single in the second quarter of 1991. It became another U.S. number 1 single for Carey. Like the previous singles released from Mariah Carey, the song received a BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Pop Award.
Composition and recording
"I Don't Wanna Cry" was Carey's first single that she did not co-write with Ben MarguliesBen Margulies
Ben Margulies is a songwriter and record producer. Together, he and Mariah Carey lobbied record companies with their 5 song demo tape with songs they had co-written and co-produced until Mariah got signed to Sony in 1988....
. When she and Walden first wrote the song, she was excited because it sounded like something that would be played on the radio. Because of bad experiences during its production and because she feels it "doesn't have a message," Carey stated in a MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
interview that she dislikes the song and tries to sing it as rarely as possible. Carey had lobbied to co-produce the song, but was denied permission by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. She often fought with Walden in the studio concerning the song's production, and as a result Walden became her least favorite among the producers who worked on her debut album. Walden's protégé at the time, Walter Afanasieff
Walter Afanasieff
Walter Afanasieff is a multiple Grammy-award-winning record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his long association with Mariah Carey, for whom he was producer and co-writer for several years, beginning in 1990...
, later said that he co-wrote and produced the song, and that in return for giving Afanasieff the work, Walden took the credit.
Chart performance
"I Don't Wanna Cry" became Carey's fourth number 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100Billboard 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...
, making her only the second act (and first female and first solo artist) after The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
to have their first four singles reach number 1 on the Hot 100. It also made Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (album)
Mariah Carey is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on June 12, 1990 by Columbia Records. The album contains a range of contemporary genres, and the songs are a mix of slow ballads and dance tracks. Originally, Carey wrote four songs with...
a record-breaking album: every single released from it was a chart-topper in the U.S. "I Don't Wanna Cry" reached number 1 in its eighth week and spent two weeks at the top, from May 19 to June 1, 1991. It replaced "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)
I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)
"I Like the Way " is the title of a number-one pop and R&B single by Hi-Five from the group's debut self-titled album, Hi-Five. The hit song spent two weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart and one week at number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100.-Charts:-Track listings:CD single# Radio Edit #...
" by Hi-Five
Hi-Five
Hi-Five is an American R&B quintet based out of Waco, Texas, who had a #1 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 in the early 1990s with "I Like the Way ". Hi-Five was formed in 1990, and consisted of the late Tony Thompson, Roderick "Pooh" Clark, Marcus Sanders, Russell Neal, and Toriano Easley...
, and was replaced by Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
's "More Than Words
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
". The single became Carey's third number 1 single on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart. It remained in the top 40 on the Hot 100 for 13 weeks and was one of four Carey singles on the chart's 1991 year-end chart, ranking 26. The song also hit number 7 in Canada and number 49 in Australia but failed to chart elsewhere.
Music video
The single's music video, directed by Larry JordanLarry Jordan
Larry Jordan is an independent filmmaker who has been working in the Bay Area in California since 1955, and making films since 1952. He has produced some 40 experimental and animation films, and three feature-length dramatic films. He is most widely known for his animated collage films. In 1970 he...
, features Carey in a dark Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
home and in maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, brooding over her tainted relationship.
Part of an alternative version of the music video was released on the DVD/home video The First Vision
The First Vision
The First Vision is Mariah Carey's first video release. It is a collection of music videos, live performances, and behind-the-scenes footage detailing the creation of Carey's debut album Mariah Carey...
(1991), and the original, more familiar version was included on the DVD/home video #1's (1999) as a director's cut. The 1991 version had a few sepia
Sepia (color)
Sepia is a dark brown-grey color, named after the rich brown pigment derived from the ink sac of the common cuttlefish Sepia.The word sepia is the Latinized form of the Greek σηπία, sēpía, cuttlefish.-Sepia in human culture:...
-toned sequences that were eliminated and replaced for the DVD release. It was the only video from Carey's debut album to be included on #1's, because she was ashamed of the three previous music videos.
Cover versions
"I Don't Wanna Cry" was released as a single on iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
from Jason Castro on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, for which he performed the song on the show's seventh season
American Idol (season 7)
The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
.
Peak positions
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 49 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 2 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1991) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 25 |