One Sweet Day

{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|style=padding:8px|quote="When I found out she had AIDS I cried for days. She really could never care for her son again, he now lives with my mother. This sad story made me care more about other children in need. To give them advice and see that they get a better life."|source=—Carey, on her sister being diagnosed with HIV{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|pp=140–141}}

}}

"One Sweet Day" was a song that Carey wrote with the R&B group Boyz II Men. After Carey's friend and past collaborator David Cole (of C&C Music Factory) died, she began writing and developing a song that would pay homage to him and all the friends and family her fans had lost along life's journey.{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|pp=144}} Carey had the idea and chorus composed, and after meeting with Boyz II Men, they realized they too had a similar idea in development. Together, using Carey's chorus and idea, as well as the melody they had produced, they wrote and composed the song. The song was produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, who built on the song's melody and added various grooves and beats. Carey expressed how the song was "meant to be" and how all the pieces fit into place:

I wrote the initial idea for 'One Sweet Day' with Walter, and I had the chorus...and I stopped and said, 'I really wanna do this with Boyz II Men,' because...obviously I'm a big fan of theirs and I just thought that the work was crying out for them, the vocals that they do, so I put it away and said, 'Who knows if this could ever happen, but I just don't wanna finish this song because I want it to be our song if we ever do it together. [The] whole idea of when you lose people that are close to you, it changes your life and changes your perspective. When they came into the studio, I played them the idea for the song and when [it] was finished, they looked at each other, a bit stunned, and told me that Nathan "Nate" Morris had written a song for his road manager who had passed away. It had basically the same lyrics and fitted over the same chord changes. It was really, really weird, we finished the song right then and there. We were all kinda flipped about it ourselves. Fate had a lot to do with that. I know some people won't believe it, but we wouldn't make up such a crazy story.

After they began working on the song, Carey began to incorporate other lyrics into the chorus, trying to make the song relatable to the AIDS epidemic that was in full force in the mid-1990s.{{harvnb|Shapiro|2001|pp=93–94}} Additionally, Mariah's sister Alison Carey had been diagnosed with HIV in 1988 when she was 27, an event that ruined their relationship and tore them apart.{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|pp=137–138}} Carey has stated that she wrote the song hoping that all her fans that have lost someone could relate to "One Sweet Day" and maybe help ease the pain of the loss.

{{listen

| filename = Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day (Album Version).ogg

| title = 'One Sweet Day'

| description = A sample of "One Sweet Day," which features organ instrumentation.

| format1 = Ogg

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"One Sweet Day" is a "big" R&B ballad.{{cite magazine|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/12/how-rb-lost-its-grip-on-the-billboard-hot-100/|title=How R&B Lost Its Grip on the Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Consequence of Sound|last=Okoth-Obbo|first=Vanessa|date=December 30, 2016|access-date=October 16, 2016|quote=For three seconds at the beginning of "One Sweet Day", you can briefly acknowledge what song you're about to listen to before the percussion kicks in and it's officially on. [...] it's a big R&B ballad with all the flourishes and harmonies|archive-date=August 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828051022/http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/12/how-rb-lost-its-grip-on-the-billboard-hot-100/|url-status=live}} It incorporates organ instrumentation and different contemporary grooves and beats into its primary arrangement, adding percussion and synthesizers as well,{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0040302|title=Mariah Carey – One Sweet Day – Digital Sheet Music|work=Musicnotes.com|date=August 21, 2001 |publisher=Alfred Publishing|access-date=May 5, 2009|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402194834/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0040302|url-status=live}} while incorporating "flourishes and harmonies" from both Carey and Boyz II Men. The song is set in the time signature common time and moves at a slow tempo of 64 beats per minute. It is written in the key of A-flat major and features a basic chord progression of A{{music|flat}}–D{{music|flat}}maj9–A{{music|flat}}–D{{music|flat}}maj9–G{{flat}}add9, while the basic melodic line spans roughly an octave and a half from E{{music|flat}}₄ to A{{Flat}}₅; the piano in the piece ranges from D{{music|flat}}₂ to A{{music|flat}}₅. The song contains choral lyrics written by Carey, who also arranged and co-produced the song alongside Walter Afanasieff. Author Chris Nickson complimented the song's instrumentation and arrangement, calling its use of synthesizers "wise" and "efficient." Additionally, he claimed Afanasieff's production and Carey's vocal and production arrangement helped the song's vocals and lyrical content flow together. The song finishes with the last chorus and coda in the key of B major.

{{Music ratings

| title = Professional ratings

| rev1 = Music Week

| rev1score = 3/5{{cite magazine|title=Reviews – Records Out on November 27, 1995|magazine=Music Week|page=12|date=November 18, 1995}}

| rev2 = Smash Hits

| rev2score = 2/5{{cite magazine|first=Gina|last=Morris|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/34988036051/in/album-72157684604938996/|title=Singles|magazine=Smash Hits|date=November 22, 1995|page=57|access-date=December 1, 2024}}

| rev3 = Stereogum

| rev3score = 3/10{{cite magazine|last=Breihan|first=Tom|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2182519/the-number-ones-mariah-carey-boyz-ii-mens-one-sweet-day/columns/the-number-ones/|title=The Number Ones: Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men's 'One Sweet Day'|date=April 8, 2022|magazine=Stereogum|access-date=May 11, 2024}}

}}

"One Sweet Day" has been met with universal acclaim from contemporary music critics. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the song for its craft and writing, commenting that "[in] 'One Sweet Day', a duet with Boyz II Men, Carey appeals to both audiences equally because of the sheer amount of craft and hard work she puts into her albums.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r224030|pure_url=yes}}|title=Mariah Carey: Daydream|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=October 20, 2010|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}} Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "This single could be thrown at the bottom of the 99 cents bin, buried under the Partridge Family and Starlite Vocal Band, and it would still find its way into the hands of fans. This is as big a guaranteed hit as anything that's come out in some time". He added, "You will never find a surer bet than whether this song will make number one."{{cite magazine|first=Steve|last=Baltin|title=Pop Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1995/CB-1995-11-18.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|date=November 18, 1995|page=7|accessdate=November 10, 2022|archive-date=November 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110082436/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1995/CB-1995-11-18.pdf|url-status=live}} James Masterton for Dotmusic deemed it "a saccharine piece of American soul slush."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending December 9th 1995|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1995/week-ending-december-9th-1995|website=Chart Watch UK|date=December 3, 1995|access-date=October 4, 2021|author-link=James Masterton|archive-date=October 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004080657/https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1995/week-ending-december-9th-1995|url-status=live}}

Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly felt the song truly highlighted the album, "['One Sweet Day'] radiates a breezy sexiness that Carey, for all the brazen hussiness of her public persona, rarely permits herself to reveal in song.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1995/10/13/daydream/|title=Daydream (1995)|last=Tucker|first=Ken|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 13, 1995|access-date=October 20, 2010|archive-date=October 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031195513/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C299059%2C00.html|url-status=live}} In 2018, the magazine noted, "Goosebumps, every time. Carey's heavenly vocals, combined with the song's universal message and the sweet harmonies of Boyz II Men."{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/music/2018/03/27/ranking-mariah-carey-no-1-hits/|title=Celebrate Mariah Carey's birthday with the ultimate ranking of her No. 1 hits|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 27, 2018|page=94|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120221250/https://ew.com/music/2018/03/27/ranking-mariah-carey-no-1-hits/|url-status=live}} Music & Media named it a "skillful ballad", complimenting Boyz II Men, "who add a soulful touch to Carey's perfectionist vocals."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-12-02.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=48|date=December 2, 1995|page=7|access-date=March 19, 2025}} Stephen Holden from The New York Times shared similar sentiments and wrote, "On 'One Sweet Day', the singer joins forces with Boyz II Men, those masters of pleading post-doo-wop vocal harmonies, for a tender eulogy that suggests that the singers have been personally touched by the AIDS crisis."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/08/arts/pop-music-mariah-carey-glides-into-new-territory.html|title=Pop Music; Mariah Carey Glides into New Territory|last=Holden|first=Stephen|work=The New York Times|date=October 8, 1995|access-date=October 20, 2010|author-link=Stephen Holden|archive-date=January 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123151641/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/08/arts/pop-music-mariah-carey-glides-into-new-territory.html|url-status=live}} A reviewer from People magazine named the song a "stand-out track" and called Carey's vocal performance "bravura belting."{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20101804,00.html|title=Picks and Pans Main: Song|work=People|date=October 16, 1995|access-date=October 20, 2010|archive-date=January 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110104950/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20101804,00.html|url-status=dead}} Gina Morris from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, naming it a "soulful, purer-than-pure twee little number".

"One Sweet Day" won many prestigious awards throughout 1996. At the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, the song won the award for "Favorite Adult Contemporary Single Female 'One Sweet Day'".{{cite web|title=Mariah Carey Career Achievement Awards |publisher=Mariahcarey.com |url=http://www.mariahcarey.com/news/awards.php |access-date=April 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321080734/http://mariahcarey.com/news/awards.php |archive-date=March 21, 2009 }} "One Sweet Day" also won the award for "Song of the Year" at the BMI Awards and a "Special Award for 16 weeks at #1" at the Billboard Music Awards. Together, Daydream and "One Sweet Day" were nominated for six Grammy Awards at the 38th annual ceremony, however, to Carey's surprise, also to the surprise of many critics, they lost all of the nominations.{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|pp=152}}{{harvnb|Shapiro|2001|pp=98}} In a readers' poll conducted by Rolling Stone, the song was ranked first for the category of the Best Collaboration of All Time.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/readers-poll-best-collaborations-of-all-time-20110810/1-boyz-ii-men-and-mariah-carey-one-sweet-day-0906424|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929124619/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/readers-poll-best-collaborations-of-all-time-20110810/1-boyz-ii-men-and-mariah-carey-one-sweet-day-0906424|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2011|title=1. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey, 'One Sweet Day' Photo – Readers Poll: Best Collaborations of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=February 26, 2015}}

{{awards table}}

|-

|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="7"|1996

|rowspan="2"|Billboard Music Awards{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1996/bbyearend.htm |title=1996 Billboard Year End |access-date=October 14, 2011 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Rock on the Net}}{{dead link|date=December 2015}}

|Top Hot 100 Singles

| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|Nominated

|-

|Special Award – 16 weeks at number one

| style="text-align:center; background:#9f9;"|Won

|-

|Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

|Single Favorite Adult Contemporary Female Singer

| style="text-align:center; background:#9f9;"|Won

|-

|rowspan="2"|Grammy Awards{{cite web |url=http://www.metrolyrics.com/1996-grammy-awards.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714080720/http://www.metrolyrics.com/1996-grammy-awards.html|archive-date=2011-07-14|url-status=unfit |title=1996 Grammy Awards |access-date=October 14, 2011 |publisher=Metro Lyrics. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences}}

|Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|Nominated

|-

|Record of the Year

| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|Nominated

|-

|MTV Video Music Awards{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1996/ |title=1996 MTV Video Music Awards |access-date=October 14, 2011 |publisher=MTV (MTV Networks) |archive-date=January 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109090229/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1996/ |url-status=dead }}

|Best R&B Video

| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|Nominated

|-

|NAACP Image Awards{{cite web |url=http://www.indiepixfilms.com/festival/539/1996 |title=1996 NAACP Image Awards |access-date=October 14, 2011 |publisher=NAACP Image Awards |archive-date=March 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301221220/http://www.indiepixfilms.com/festival/539/1996 |url-status=dead }}

|Best Live performance at Madison Square

| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|Nominated

|-

|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|1997

|ASCAP Awards

|Compositor de Rhythm & SoulA nomeação vai para os compositores da canção: Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff, Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris.

| style="text-align:center; background:#9f9;"|Won

|-

|rowspan="2"|BMI Pop Music Awards{{cite web |url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=2062840&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111053310/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=2062840&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 11, 2016 |title=One Sweet Day (Legal Title) |access-date=October 14, 2011 |publisher=British Phonographic Industry }}

|Best Pop Composer

| style="text-align:center; background:#9f9;"|Won

|-

|Song of the Year

| style="text-align:center; background:#9f9;"|Won

|}

"One Sweet Day" debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated December 2, 1995, with sales of 204,000 units.{{cite magazine|last=McKenna|first=Jerry|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|magazine=Billboard|date=December 2, 1995|page=97|id={{ProQuest|1506019205}}}} Columbia distributed free copies to stores, where it was sold for as low as 49 cents.{{cite news|date=January 25, 1996|title=Are Pop Charts Manipulated?|last=Strauss|first=Neil|author-link=Neil Strauss|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/25/arts/are-pop-charts-manipulated.html|url-access=limited|newspaper=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821055451/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/25/arts/are-pop-charts-manipulated.html|archive-date=August 21, 2022}} It became Carey's tenth chart topping single on the Hot 100 and Boyz II Men's fourth, debuting at the top spot. "One Sweet Day" became the fourth song to debut at number one after Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone", Carey's own "Fantasy", and Whitney Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)". The song remained at the peak for a record-breaking 16 consecutive weeks, from December 2, 1995, to March 16, 1996.{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|pp=145}} It remained the only song to stay at number one on the chart for 16 weeks until 2017, when the record was tied by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito", featuring Justin Bieber.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7942306/despacito-hot-100-number-one-ties-record-luis-fonsi-daddy-yankee-justin-bieber|title=Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber's 'Despacito' Ties for Longest Run at No. 1 in Hot 100's History|last=Trust|first=Gary|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|date=August 28, 2017|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=August 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829042711/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7942306/despacito-hot-100-number-one-ties-record-luis-fonsi-daddy-yankee-justin-bieber|url-status=live}} The record would remain until Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road", featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, broke the record in 2019, spending nineteen weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. It still remains the only number one debut to spend sixteen consecutive weeks at number one.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8524235/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-longest-number-one-hot-100|title=Winner's Circle: Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Breaks Record With 17th Week Atop Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=July 29, 2019|access-date=July 30, 2019|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824150947/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8524235/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-longest-number-one-hot-100|url-status=live}}

Boyz II Men had previously held this record twice, with "End of the Road" (1992) spending 13 weeks at the top and "I'll Make Love to You" (1994) spending 14. The former song shares this record with Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine", and the latter song shared its record with Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". Carey's 2005 song "We Belong Together", The Black Eyed Peas's 2009 "I Gotta Feeling" and Mark Ronson's 2014 track, "Uptown Funk", managed to stay at number one for 14 weeks as well.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267218/chart-beat-thursday-black-eyed-peas-pearl-jam-frank-sinatra|title=Chart Beat Thursday: Black Eyed Peas, Pearl Jam, Frank Sinatra|last=Trust|first=Gary|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|date=October 1, 2009|access-date=October 23, 2010|archive-date=September 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910133008/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267218/chart-beat-thursday-black-eyed-peas-pearl-jam-frank-sinatra|url-status=live}} Being the fourth single in history to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, "One Sweet Day" also made Boyz II Men the first group to have a single debut at number one.

"One Sweet Day" unseated "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" by Whitney Houston at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and was knocked off by Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me". With the single's debut at number one, it made Carey the first artist to have more than one number-one debut, and one of the four artists ever to have two consecutive singles debut at the top of the chart, along with Britney Spears, with "3" (2009) and "Hold It Against Me" (2011), and Drake, with "God's Plan" (2018) and "Nice for What" (2018) and Ariana Grande, with "Thank U, Next" (2018) and "7 Rings" (2019).{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473574/britney-spears-hold-it-against-me-debuts-atop-hot-100|title=Britney Spears' 'Hold It Against Me' Debuts Atop Hot 100|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=January 19, 2011|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 25, 2011|archive-date=November 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121164940/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473574/britney-spears-hold-it-against-me-debuts-atop-hot-100|url-status=live}} "One Sweet Day" was the third best-selling single of 1995 in the US, with sales of over 1,300,000, with the second best-selling single being Carey's "Fantasy".{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3g4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56|title=Best-Selling Records of 1995|last=Christman|first=Ed|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|date=January 20, 1996|access-date=October 23, 2010|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111164923/https://books.google.com/books?id=3g4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56|url-status=live}} The song spent 26 weeks in the top 40, was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and was ranked number nine on Billboard{{'}}s Hot 100-decade retrospective.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboards-top-songs-90s|title=Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s|magazine=Billboard|date=April 24, 2019|access-date=June 27, 2019|archive-date=June 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607061611/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboards-top-songs-90s|url-status=live}}

The song also achieved strong success around the world, topping the charts in Canada and New Zealand, and reaching the top-ten in sixteen countries including Australia, Belgium, France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In Canada, the song debuted on the RPM Singles Chart at number 89 on the RPM issue dated December 4, 1995,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2827&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 62, No. 18, December 04 1995|magazine=RPM|date=December 18, 1995|access-date=September 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104003605/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2827&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|archive-date=November 4, 2013|url-status=dead}} and reached the top of the chart on January 22, 1996.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2864&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 62, No. 23, January 22, 1996|magazine=RPM|date=January 22, 1996|access-date=September 13, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309160304/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2864&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|archive-date=March 9, 2012}} It was present on the chart for a total of 24 weeks,{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2976&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 14, May 20, 1996|date=May 20, 1996|work=RPM|access-date=January 8, 2010|archive-date=November 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104003652/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2976&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|url-status=live}} and ranked 12th on the RPM Year-end chart for 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9730&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1996|date=December 15, 1996|work=RPM|access-date=February 2, 2010|archive-date=March 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322095545/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9730&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|url-status=live}} It reached the top-two in Australia (3x platinum) and the Netherlands; the top-five in France (silver) and Ireland and the top-ten in Belgium, Norway (platinum), Sweden and the United Kingdom (gold). In the UK, it is one of Carey's best-selling singles, with estimated sales of over 400,000.

The song's accompanying music video was directed by American independent filmmaker Larry Jordan. When Carey and Boyz II Men got together to record "One Sweet Day", they did not have enough time to re-unite and film a video. Instead, a filming crew was present during the song's recording, and filmed bits of Carey and Boyz recording the song. Walter Afanasieff later told Fred Bronson that shooting the video was "crazy", stating, "They had film crews and video guys, while I'm at the board trying to produce. And these guys were running around having a ball, because Mariah and them are laughing and screaming and they're being interviewed. And I'm tapping people on the shoulder. 'We've got to get to the microphone!' They're gone in a couple of hours, so I recorded everything they did, praying that it was enough." After the song's release, Carey expressed her contentment with the video, that she was happy a real music video was never filmed, fearing that no video could truly capture the song's "precious message." Critics agreed, feeling that the song was a perfect match for the video and its message. Aside from the recording sessions, the video also shared bits of Carey and Boyz bonding and sharing their ideas in the studio, where Carey felt they "bonded." On August 13, 2020, the music video of "One Sweet Day" reached 200 million views on YouTube.

File:Mariah Carey One Sweet Day Madison Square 1995.jpg

"One Sweet Day" was performed at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 28, 1996. During the performance, Carey wore a long black dress and matching sleeveless blouse, while the group wore white jackets and black pants. After the song's bridge, a choir of male and female vocalists took place on the rafters placed over the stage, all wearing white gowns.{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|pp=142}} The song was also performed at the memorial service for Princess Diana in September 1997, where other performers included Elton John. During the service and song recital, Carey wore a conservative long black sheer gown, with long golden curls. Boyz II Men all wore similar matching dark suit and garments. The song became part of Carey's BET Christmas special in 2001, where she sang the song alongside Boyz II Men. During the special, Carey wore a red gown in honor of the show's holiday theme, and featured a long golden hairstyle. One of the male vocalists had already been switched, as one of the group members had already resigned.

Aside from live television appearances, the song was performed on many of Carey's tours.{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|pp=155}} "One Sweet Day" was performed at every show on her Daydream World Tour (1996), where Boyz II Men were featured on a large projection screen.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} The footage was taken from Carey's filmed concert at Madison Square Garden in late 1995, and was played in sync with Carey's verses. A similar concept was used for her Butterfly World Tour (1998), with the addition of several live back up vocalists joining on stage. Additionally, the song was performed on select dates on her The Adventures of Mimi tour (2006). During the tour's filmed show in Anaheim California, the group joined Carey live on stage and performed the song together.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} For the segment of the show, Carey wore a long turquoise gown, with several slits and cuts fashioned into the sides. During the Angels Advocate Tour in 2010, Carey performed a snippet of the song in Singapore, with Trey Lorenz filling in for the group's verses.{{cite web|url=http://www.mariahcarey.com/news/news.php?uid=2954 |title=Mariah Performs at Formula 1 in Singapore |publisher=Mariahcarey.com |date=September 27, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001235010/http://mariahcarey.com/news/news.php?uid=2954 |archive-date=October 1, 2010 }}

Carey also performed the song as a part of her 2015 Las Vegas residency, Mariah Carey Number 1's, with Lorenz reprising his role as well as Daniel Moore. She also performed the song as a part of her 2018–20 Las Vegas residency, The Butterfly Returns alongside Lorenz and Moore.

It was also performed on selected dates of her 2019 Caution World Tour.

"One Sweet Day" was performed by the seven finalists on the seventh season of American Idol.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanidol.com/archive/photos/?set=645&seq=6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927184626/http://www.americanidol.com/archive/photos/?set=645&seq=6|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2012|title=Season 7 Top 12 : Live Episodes : Top 7 Results|work=American Idol|publisher=Fox Broadcasting Company|access-date=October 23, 2010}} The performance was taped due to the "Mariah Carey" themed week, where all the competitors sang songs from Carey's repertoire. The song was additionally sung on the fifth season of the UK TV show The X Factor, by the British boy-band JLS.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s103/the-x-factor/news/a137051/x-factor-obituary-jls.html|title='X Factor' obituary: JLS|last=Fletcher|first=Alex|work=Digital Spy|date=December 13, 2008|access-date=October 23, 2010|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115120451/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a137051/x-factor-obituary-jls/|url-status=live}} Their performance received praise from all four judges, who commented how it was an "impossibly hard song to sing" because it was a "Mariah song." The song was also performed by John Adeleye during the seventh season The X Factor. The theme of the night was "#1 songs."{{cite web|url=http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/x-factor/x-factor-2010-john-adeleye-sings-one-sweet-day-video/|title=X Factor 2010: John Adeleye sings One Sweet Day (Video)|last=McGarry|first=Lisa|publisher=Unreality Tv|date=October 9, 2010|access-date=October 23, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102190633/http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/x-factor/x-factor-2010-john-adeleye-sings-one-sweet-day-video/|archive-date=November 2, 2013}} Shannon Magrane performed the song on the eleventh season of American Idol the week the contestants performed songs from their birth years. Andy Williams released a version in 2007 on his album, I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up.

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• Worldwide Cassette CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=One Sweet Day|others=Mariah Carey|year=1995|type=US Cassette CD Single liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=38T 78074}}

1. "One Sweet Day" (Album Version) – 4:41
2. "One Sweet Day" (Live Version form Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) – 5:08

• Japanese CD maxi-single{{cite AV media notes|title=One Sweet Day|others=Mariah Carey|year=1995|type=Japan CD Single liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=SRCS 7821}}

1. "One Sweet Day" (Album Version) – 4:42
2. "One Sweet Day" (Live Version from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) – 5:10
3. "Open Arms" – 3:30

• UK CD maxi-single #1{{cite AV media notes|title=One Sweet Day|others=Mariah Carey|year=1995|type=UK CD Single 1 liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=662603 2}}

1. "One Sweet Day" (Album Version) – 4:41
2. "One Sweet Day" (Sweet A Cappella) – 4:52
3. "One Sweet Day" (A Cappella) – 4:48
4. "One Sweet Day" (Chucky's Remix) – 4:51
5. "One Sweet Day" (Live Version from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) – 5:08

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• UK CD maxi-single #2{{cite AV media notes|title=One Sweet Day|others=Mariah Carey|year=1995|type=UK CD Single liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=662603 5}}

1. "One Sweet Day" (Album Version) – 4:44
2. "Fantasy" (Def Drums Mix) – 4:01
3. "Joy to the World" (Celebration Mix) – 7:58
4. "Joy to the World" (Club Mix) – 7:35

• US CD maxi-single{{cite AV media notes|title=One Sweet Day|others=Mariah Carey|year=1995|type=US CD Single 2 liner notes|publisher=Columbia Records|id=44 78075}}

1. "One Sweet Day" (Album Version) – 4:41
2. "One Sweet Day" (Sweet A Cappella) – 4:52
3. "One Sweet Day" (A Cappella) – 4:48
4. "One Sweet Day" (Chucky's Remix) – 4:51
5. "One Sweet Day" (Live Version) – 5:08
6. "Fantasy" (Def Drums Mix) – 4:00

• One Sweet Day EP{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-sweet-day-ep/1526896842|title=One Sweet Day EP by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men|website=iTunes|access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119081559/https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-sweet-day-ep/1526896842|url-status=live}}

1. "One Sweet Day" (Chucky's Remix) – 4:51
2. "One Sweet Day" (Sweet A Cappella) – 4:52
3. "One Sweet Day" (A Cappella) – 4:49
4. "One Sweet Day" (Live at Madison Square Garden - October 1995) – 5:09

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Credits adapted from the Daydream liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Daydream (Liner Notes) |title-link=Daydream (Mariah Carey album) |others=Mariah Carey |year=1995 |first=Mariah |last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Columbia Records |location=New York City }}

• Mariah Carey – co-production, songwriting (music and lyrics), vocals
• Walter Afanasieff – co-production, songwriting (music)
• Nathan Morris – songwriting (lyrics), vocals
• Wanya Morris – songwriting (lyrics), vocals
• Shawn Stockman – songwriting (lyrics), vocals
• Michael McCary – songwriting (lyrics), vocals

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{{certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=One Sweet Day|artist=Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2020|relyear=1995|access-date=April 25, 2021}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=France|artist=Mariah Carey|title=One Sweet Day|award=Gold|source=SNEP|certyear=1996|relyear=1995|refname="fracert"|access-date=November 9, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=One Sweet Day|artist=Mariah Carey|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1995|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=December 17, 2024}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Norway|artist=Mariah Carey|title=One Sweet Day|award=Gold|certyear=1996|relyear=1995|nosales=true|access-date=November 9, 2021}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men|title=One Sweet Day|award=Gold|certyear=2021|relyear=1995|id=4891-5477-1|access-date=January 8, 2021|refname="bpi"|salesamount=400,000|salesref=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110606035449/http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/mtv-official-countdowns/episode/mariah-carey-official-top-20 Mariah Carey official top 20 biggest-selling songs in the UK] MTV. Retrieved May 3, 2010.}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Mariah Carey|title=One Sweet Day|award=Platinum|number=4|salesamount=|certyear=2023|relyear=1995}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

• List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1995
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1996
• List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1995 and 1996 (U.S.)

{{Reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Citation

| last = Nickson

| first = Chris

| title = Mariah Carey revisited: her story

| year = 1998

| publisher = St. Martin's Press

| isbn = 978-0-312-19512-0

}}

• {{Citation

| last = Shapiro

| first = Marc

| title = Mariah Carey: The Unauthorized Biography

| publisher = ECW Press

| year = 2001

| isbn = 978-1-55022-444-3

}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Discogs master|master = 77926|name = One Sweet Day|type = single}}

{{Mariah Carey singles}}

{{Boyz II Men}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990s ballads

Category:1995 singles

Category:Songs written by Mariah Carey

Category:Songs written by Walter Afanasieff

Category:Boyz II Men songs

Category:Mariah Carey songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Walter Afanasieff

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Commemoration songs

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Songs written by Nathan Morris

Category:1995 songs

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Songs written by Wanya Morris

Category:Sony Music singles

Category:Songs written by Shawn Stockman

Category:Vocal collaborations