Can't Let Go
| "Can't Let Go" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Include Image Of Single Here | ||
| Single by Mariah Carey | ||
| From the album Emotions | ||
| Single Released | ?? December 1991 | |
| Single Format | CD Single Cassette Single 7" Single | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Song Length | 4:26 | |
| Record label | Sony | |
| Writers | Mariah Carey Walter Afanasieff | |
| Producers | Mariah Carey Walter Afanasieff | |
| Chart positions | #2 (US) #20 (UK) | |
| Mariah Carey single chronology | ||
| "Emotions" 1991 | "Can't Let Go" 1991 | "Make It Happen" 1992 |
"Can't Let Go" was the second single released from Mariah Carey's 2nd album, Emotions, in late 1991 in the US and January 1992 in the UK.
Table of contents |
The Song
The single was co-written and co-produced by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff. The synthesizer heavy ballad recalls Mariah lamenting over an ex lover who has moved on, as even though Mariah tries she "can't let go".
Chart Success
Up to this point in her career, Mariah had attained a flawless record of #1 singles in the USA on the Hot 100. The five singles she had released in her career up to this point, "Vision Of Love", "Love Takes Time", "Someday", "I Don't Wanna Cry", and "Emotions", had all reached #1. Although Mariah had achieved a notable record of having her first five singles each #1, she had not equalled or surpassed other records at the time, such as having the most singles hit #1 in a row, which Whitney Houston had achieved with 7 consecutive #1 singles. Although faced with pressures from her bosses at Sony, "Can't Let Go" (after debuting at #41) failed to achieve the peak position and peaked at #2. Many critics and her bosses at Sony were disappointed and felt that something had to be done in the future, but it should be noted that overall, for most artists, a single peaking at #2 is, nevertheless, usually considered a major hit. The song had hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary Singles chart though, became her 4th #1 on that chart. The single also went on to achieve Gold certification.
Music Video
In comparsion to the hoopla over the chart records of the song, the music video of the song is among one of Mariah's simplest and most low key videos. In this video, Mariah, wearing an elegant evening gown and her hair in a bun, laments about not being able to let go of her ex lover, who has moved onto other women. The video, filmed in black and white, makes motif of a rose, as the video starts and closes with a shot of a rose being open and closed respectively.
Remixes
Although a radio edit of this song was later released for commercial and radio purposes, there are no known remixes of this song to date.
Comprehensive Charts
"Can't Let Go" Debuted at #41 on The Billboard Hot 100
"Can't Let Go" Was Ranked #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 Year End Charts (1992)
"Can't Let Go" Remained in The Billboard Hot 100 for 20 weeks
"Can't Let Go" was Mariah's 4th #1 single on The Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Cant Let Go | Billboard Hot 100 | #2 |
| 1991 | "Cant Let Go" | Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales | #8 |
| 1991 | "Cant Let Go" | Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | #2 |
| 1991 | "Cant Let Go" | Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | #2 |
| 1991 | "Cant Let Go" | Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales | #2 |
| 1991 | "Cant Let Go" | Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Airplay | #2 |
| 1991 | "Cant Let Go" | Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles | #1 (3 Weeks) |
Official Remixes/Versions List
Can't Let Go (Album Version)
Can't Let Go (Radio Edit)
Categories: Mariah Carey Singles