Vision of Love#Charts

Throughout 1986, Carey had already begun writing music while in high school.{{harvnb|Bronson|2003|p=762}} After composing a song with her friend Gavin Christopher (of "Once You Get Started" fame), Carey met drummer and songwriter Ben Margulies. After initially meeting and becoming friends, the pair began spending time in his father's old studio, writing material and composing new songs. The first song they compiled together was titled "Here We Go Around Again." As the year wore on, they had composed seven songs for Carey's demo tape; among them was the rough and unfinished version of "Vision of Love". In an interview with Fred Bronson, Carey described how she met and came to work with Margulies:

"We needed someone to play keyboards for a song I did with Gavin Christopher. We called someone and he couldn't come, so by accident we stumbled on Ben. Ben came to the session, and he can't really play keyboards very well—he's really more of a drummer—but after that day, we kept in touch, and we just sort of clicked as writers.

After meeting Brenda K. Starr and being introduced to Tommy Mottola, the future head of Sony Music Entertainment (as well as Carey's future husband), the song was re-done in a professional studio, with the assistance of two producers. Carey flew to Los Angeles to work with Rhett Lawrence, one of the album's main producers. After hearing the original version of the song, Lawrence described it as having a "'50s sort of shuffle." After Carey agreed to alter the song, Lawrence contemporized its tempo.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/t845926|title=Vision of Love: Song Review|last=Hogan|first=Ed|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=January 1, 2011}} "Vision of Love" was recorded at the Skyline Studios in New York, and featured Lawrence at the keyboard, Margulies on the drums, bassist Marcus Miller, drum programmer Ren Klyce and guitarist Jimmy Ripp. Lawrence took Carey's vocals from the original demo version, and used them as background vocals for the song's final version. After adding different instrumentation to the song, Lawrence and Narada Michael Walden produced "Vision of Love."

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"Vision of Love" is a pop and R&B love song with gospel and soul influences. It incorporates heavy backup vocals during the song's bridge and features usage of Carey's whistle register and melisma.{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|p=37}} Author Chris Nickson described the song and its vocals:

"['Vision of Love'] was the perfect introduction to her voice. With an ideal slow-dancing tempo, it still managed to swing, with Mariah's background vocals (herself multi-tracked) answering her lead. On the final chorus, her voice flew towards those trademark high notes before the instruments drop out, leaving Mariah to sing her way out to the tune's climax alone."

Sheet music for "Vision of Love" shows the key of C major (C mixolydian) in common time.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0055082|title=Mariah Carey – Vision of Love – Digital Sheet Music|work=Musicnotes.com|date=November 7, 2006|publisher=Alfred Publishing|access-date=May 5, 2009}} Carey's vocal range spans from the low-note of E{{music|flat}}₃ to the high whistle note of C₇. The song's lyrics and melody were written and composed by Carey, with Margulies, Miller, Klyce and Rip on the instrumentals. Lawrence and Walden produced the song, which heavily deviated from its original version on Carey's demo. Michael Slezak from Entertainment Weekly wrote regarding the song's instrumentation and vocals "From those opening sci-fi-esque synths to that signature dog-whistle high note, Mariah's very first single is inspired: Even folks who object to her trademark vocal excesses are hard-pressed to fault this rousing, gospel-tinged song about finding 'the one that I needed.'"

The lyrics of "Vision of Love" have been subject to various interpretations and suggested relationships by critics. Some have noted the relationship between Carey and God, while others point out one with a lover. Carey has yielded to both, while connecting them to her childhood and to obstacles encountered while growing up. Michael Slezak wrote: "Though it's not clear if she's celebrating a secular love or her relationship with a higher power, this exuberant ballad is a near-religious listening experience." In an interview with Ebony in 1991, Carey spoke of the song's lyrics and success:

Consider the lyrics: Prayed through the nights / Felt so alone / Suffered from alienation / Carried the weight on my own / Had to be strong / So I believed / And now I know I've succeeded / In finding the place I conceived. Well, just because you are young doesn't mean that you haven't had a hard life. It's been difficult for me, moving around so much, having to grow up by myself, basically on my own, my parents divorced. And I always felt kind of different from everyone else in my neighborhoods. I was a different person – ethnically. And sometimes that can be a problem. If you look a certain way everybody goes, "White girl", and I'd go, "No, that's not what I am."{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcwDAAAAMBAJ|title=Not Another White Girl Trying to Sing Black|last=Norment|first=Lynn|journal=Ebony|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|page =58|date=March 1991|access-date=September 28, 2010}}

According to Nickson, Carey chose to express her innermost feelings in her songs rather than becoming depressed and bitter throughout the hardships in her life. "You really have to look inside yourself and find your own inner strength, and say, "I'm proud of what I am and who I am, and I'm just going to be myself."

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| rev1 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev1score = A{{cite magazine|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|title=1990 Chart Flashback|date=August 4, 2017|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|page=60|id={{EBSCOhost|124334563}}}}

| rev2 = Stereogum

| rev2score = 8/10{{cite magazine|last=Breihan|first=Tom|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2161924/the-number-ones-mariah-careys-vision-of-love/columns/the-number-ones/|title=The Number Ones: Mariah Carey's "Vision of Love"|date=September 29, 2021|magazine=Stereogum|access-date=February 23, 2023}}

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File:Whitney Houston (cropped3).JPEG.]]

"Vision of Love" received universal acclaim from music critics, who complimented its lyrical content as well as Carey's vocals and use of melisma. In 2019, Bill Lamb from About.com stated that "echoes of Whitney Houston's influence are evident, but the sheer power and swooping highs are all Mariah's own."{{cite web|author=Lamb, Bill|url=https://www.liveabout.com/top-songs-from-the-90s-3245307|title=The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s|publisher=Dotdash Meredith|date=September 7, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2020}} He also named "Vision of Love" "one of the best songs" of the singer's recording career, and "simply one of the most stunning debut releases ever by a pop recording artist."{{cite web|last=Lamb|first=Bill| title=Mariah Carey|work =Dotdash Meredith|publisher=The New York Times Company|url=https://www.liveabout.com/mariah-careys-eighteen-number-one-hit-songs-3243851|access-date=August 30, 2008}} Ashley S. Battel from AllMusic said that it is "memorable".{{cite web|first= Ashley S. |last= Battel |title= Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= November 4, 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/mariah-carey-mw0000204553}} Upon the release, J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun remarked the "stratospheric high notes" of the song.Considine, J.D. (1990). "Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey". Baltimore Sun – via Milwaukee Journal. (July 22, 1990). Billboard magazine described it as a "velvety stunner"{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-06-09.pdf|title=Album Reviews: New & Noteworthy|magazine=Billboard magazine|date=June 9, 1990|access-date=February 15, 2020|page=78A}} and a "retro-flavored pop/R&B ballad". An editor, Bill Coleman, noted further that it "has all the elements necessary to propel newcomer to diva status: infectious melodies, lush instrumentation, and a vocal performance brimming with unbridled power and confidence."{{cite magazine|first=Bill|last=Coleman|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-05-26.pdf|title=Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy|magazine=Billboard magazine|date=May 26, 1990|access-date=February 15, 2020|page=83|quote=Retro-flavored pop/R&B ballad}} In a retrospective review on the album in 2005, Michael Slezak from Entertainment Weekly called the song "inspired" and complimented Carey's use of the whistle register.{{citation|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1048283_4_0_,00.html |last=Slezak |first=Michael |title=Gem Carey |magazine=EW.com |publisher= Time Inc. |date=December 15, 2005 |access-date=August 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207220803/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1048283_4_0_,00.html |archive-date=December 7, 2006 }} Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as "a smouldering 'blue-eyed' soul ballad from a new artist with a strong voice."{{cite magazine|title= Previews: Singles |magazine= Music & Media |date= July 7, 1990 |page= 14 |access-date= November 3, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-07-07.pdf}} A reviewer from The Network Forty commented, "When this one comes on the air, you better stand clear of your speakers. Her voice will blow you away!"{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Network-40/90/Network-40-1990-05-25.pdf|title=Top 40: The Next 40|magazine=The Network Forty|date=May 25, 1990|page=28|access-date=March 21, 2020}}

In 2006, Sasha Frere-Jones from The New Yorker named the song "the Magna Carta of melisma" for both the song's and Carey's influence on pop and R&B singers and American Idol contestants.{{cite magazine|last=Frere-Jones|first=Sasha|title=On Top: Mariah Carey's record-breaking career|magazine=The New Yorker|publisher=CondéNet|date=April 3, 2006|url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/04/03/060403crmu_music|access-date=August 15, 2010}} The Orlando Sentinel described it as a "1950s-styled ballad"."HER 7-OCTAVE VOICE FINALLY GETS NOTICED". Orlando Sentinel. August 28, 1990. Retrieved March 26, 2020. People noted that Carey's "tone and clarity" makes it a "mesmerizing" song.{{cite magazine|url= https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-mariah-carey-vol-34-no-2/ |title= Picks and Pans Review: Mariah Carey |magazine= People |date= July 16, 1990 |access-date= November 15, 2020}} Rolling Stone said that "the fluttering strings of notes that decorate songs like "Vision of Love", inspired the entire American Idol vocal school, for better or worse, and virtually every other female R&B singer since the nineties."{{cite magazine|title=The 100 Greatest Singer of All Time : Rolling Stone|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Jann Wenner|date=November 12, 2008|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/mariah-carey-19691231|access-date=August 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027102514/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/mariah-carey-19691231|archive-date=October 27, 2011|url-status=dead}} Slant Magazine critic Rich Juzwiak wrote, "I think ["Vision of Love"] was a vision of the future world of American Idol."{{cite magazine|last=Juzwiak|first=Rich|title= Behind the Caterwaul: A Mariah Carey Retrospective|magazine=Slant Magazine|date=April 15, 2005|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/behind-the-caterwaul-a-mariah-carey-retrospective/189|access-date=December 20, 2010}} In a separate review from Slant, he wrote, "The last half of 'Vision Of Love' (starting with the belted bridge) is a series of crescendos that get so intense that another Mariah has to step in to keep up the momentum." Also Juzwiak complimented the usage of the whistle register in the song, "And then there's the whistle note. And then there's the final vocal run that's more like a roller-coaster track. If you think these aren't climaxes, she proves you wrong with her denouement, the way the last word, "be", sort of wanes into an "mm hmm hmm." Jonathan Bernstein from Spin declared it as a "remarkable" debut single, and "a song so unsingable that aspiring chanteuses the world over have respirators ready in case they fail to make it through to the other side of the bridge."{{cite magazine|first=Jonathan|last=Bernstein|title=Spins|magazine=Spin|date=September 1992|page=105|accessdate=January 25, 2023|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tAU7_ejzzoYC}}

{{Award table|5|caption=Awards and nominations for "Vision of Love"}}

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 1991

| rowspan="3"| Grammy Award

| Record of the Year

| rowspan="5"| "Vision of Love"

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?year=1990|title=The 33rd Grammy Awards}}

|-

| Song of the Year

| {{nom}}

|-

| Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

| {{won}}

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 1991

| rowspan="2"| Soul Train Music Award

| Best R&B/Soul Song of the Year

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001014/awards|title=Mariah Carey Awards and Nominations|website=IMDb|access-date=April 6, 2021}}

|-

| Best Female R&B/Soul Single

| {{won}}

|-

! scope="row"| 1991

| BMI Pop Award

| Best Songwriter

| Mariah Carey

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=1589509&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID |title=Vision of Love (Legal Title)|publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc.|access-date=May 19, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718012623/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=1589509&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|archive-date=July 18, 2012|url-status=dead}}

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In the United States, "Vision of Love" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 73 during the week of June 2, 1990, and reached the chart's summit nine weeks later. The song remained atop the chart for four consecutive weeks, and was ranked sixth on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart. After four weeks at number one, it fell to number eight, and spent seven weeks lingering within the top ten. It also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for two weeks and Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks for three weeks. In October 2019, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the song platinum, denoting shipments of one million units. In Canada, "Vision of Love" entered the Canadian RPM Singles Chart at number 75, during the week of July 7, 1990.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1268&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 8, July 07 1990|magazine=RPM|date=July 7, 1990|access-date=September 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921110714/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1268&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|archive-date=September 21, 2011|url-status=dead}} In its eighth week on the chart, the song reached number one,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1321&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 15, August 25, 1990|magazine=RPM|date=August 25, 1990|access-date=September 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018133223/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1321&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|archive-date=October 18, 2012|url-status=dead}} and remained on the chart for a total of 17 weeks.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1361&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 24, October 27, 1990|magazine=RPM|date=October 27, 1990|access-date=September 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021074036/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1361&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|archive-date=October 21, 2012|url-status=dead}} It finished eighth on the RPM year-end chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9139&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9139.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9139|title=Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990|magazine=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|date=December 22, 1990|access-date=September 15, 2020}}

"Vision of Love" entered the Australian Singles Chart at number 67 during the week of August 5, 1990.{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/Ka8U8Fq.png|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 05 Aug 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 30)|publisher=Imgur.com|access-date=May 19, 2016}} It peaked at number nine, and spent a total of 19 weeks within the top 100. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) certified the single gold, denoting shipments of over 35,000 units. In New Zealand, the song spent two consecutive weeks atop the singles chart. After fluctuating within the chart for 24 weeks, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), denoting shipments of over 7,500 units.{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Mariah+Carey&titel=Vision+Of+Love&cat=s|title=Mariah Carey – Vision of Love|work=charts.nz|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=January 25, 2011}}{{cite book |last= Scapolo |first= Dean |title= Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |year= 2003 |publisher= Australian Chart Book |isbn= 0-646-11917-6}}

In the Netherlands, "Vision of Love" entered the Dutch Single Top 100 at number 99, during the week of July 14. It spent a total of 17 weeks on the chart, spending two weeks at its peak position of number eight.{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Mariah+Carey&titel=Vision+Of+Love&cat=s|title=Mariah Carey – Vision of Love|work=Dutchcharts.nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=January 25, 2011}} The song entered the French Singles Chart at number 39 on November 11. It peaked at number 25, spending two weeks at the position and a total of 14 on the chart.{{cite web|url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Mariah+Carey&titel=Vision+Of+Love&cat=s|title=Mariah Carey – Vision of Love|work=Lescharts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=January 25, 2011}} In Ireland, the song peaked at number ten, and spent six weeks charting.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=6|title=Search the Charts|work=Fireball Media|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|access-date=January 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125434/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=6|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=dead}} In the United Kingdom, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 74, during the week of August 4, 1990.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Vision%20Of%20Love|title=Mariah Carey – Vision of Love|work=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 25, 2011}} It peaked at number nine in its seventh week, and spent a total of 12 weeks on the chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19900909/7501/|title=Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive|work=Official Charts Company|date=September 15, 1990|access-date=January 25, 2011}} According to the Official Charts Company (OCC), the single has sold over 198,000 units in the UK.{{cite web|first= Rob |last= Copsey |title= Mariah Carey's Top 40 biggest singles on the Official Chart|publisher= Official Charts Company |date= November 14, 2018 |access-date= November 14, 2018 |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/mariah-careys-top-40-biggest-singles-on-the-official-chart__24715//}}

After completing the album, Sony hired Bojan Bazelli to direct the song's music video.{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|p=36}} After filming the video's first version, record label executives felt the result was sub-par in comparison to the quality of the music. They scrapped the first video and re-filmed it with director Andy Morahan,{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/video/mariah-carey/806241/vision-of-love.jhtml|title="Vision Of Love" by Mariah Carey {{!}} Music Video {{!}} VH1.com|work=VH1|publisher=Viacom International|date=May 28, 2002|access-date=March 28, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111045950/http://www.vh1.com/video/mariah-carey/806241/vision-of-love.jhtml |archive-date=January 11, 2016 }} changing the plot, scenery and imagery. After word got out of the two videos, a Sony employee spoke to the press about Carey, saying how "the special treatment really upset" him. He felt they treated Carey differently from how they would another artist signed to the label, and that they viewed her as a higher priority. He also claimed that Carey was the reason they re-filmed, "they spend $200,000 on a video and Mariah doesn't like it. No big deal." Another employee estimated the figure of both videos at over $450,000. After the reports were made, Don Ienner, the president of Sony, refuted the claims, calling them "total bullshit" although admitting, "If we're going to take the time and effort that we did with Mariah, on every level, then we're going to image her the right way. If it costs a few extra dollars to make a splash in terms of the right imaging, you go ahead and do it."

The video takes place in a large cathedral-like room, with large winding staircases on each side. Throughout the video, the scenery changes several times from a cloudy and sunny day, to a glowing sunset. These time shifts are seen through a large carved window in the cathedral. The video begins with Carey's hair in long golden curls, and her wearing a skin-tight black jumper. She sits on the large ledge by the window, staring into the different colors in the sky. As the video progresses, Carey is joined by a small black cat, which accompanies her as she meditates on the large stairwell. After the song's second verse, a large microphone is seen in the middle of the room, where scenes of Carey singing and standing on the window's ledge interchange. The last scenes show Carey staring out into the meadow, smiling. According to author Chris Nickson, during the scenes of Carey by the large window, it is "obvious" that she is praying to God and connecting to her creator. He felt that alongside the song's lyrics of faith and prayer, the video's moments of meditation truly went "hand in hand."

File:Mariah Carey in August 2006 2.jpg]]

Serving as her debut single, Carey performed "Vision of Love" on several live television and award show appearances, both stateside and throughout Europe. Carey's first live performance of the song was on The Arsenio Hall Show, where she was joined on stage by the Billie T. Scott Ensemble, a trio of male background vocalists. Additionally, she sang it during a televised appearance at New York City's TATU Club, where she also gave a live rendition of Ben E. King's "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)". As part of a live segment and interview, Carey appeared on Good Morning America in July 1990, where she gave a live performance of the song. In the further months, Carey performed the song live on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Oprah Winfrey Show, the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards, and "Saturday Night Live". In Europe, Carey performed "Vision of Love" on Wogan in the United Kingdom, and Sacrée Soirée and Le Monde Est A Vous in France. In 1992, Carey performed the song on MTV Unplugged. It was released on her EP and home video that same year, as MTV Unplugged and MTV Unplugged +3 respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/mtv-unplugged-mw0000076849|title=MTV Unplugged|author=Shawn M. Haney|work=AllMusic|access-date=March 28, 2016}} In July 1993, Carey recorded a live concert performance at Proctor's Theatre which included "Vision of Love". It was taped and released as Here Is Mariah Carey in December 1993. Additionally, the song was part of a four-song set-list on BET's Blueprint, where Carey performed in July 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.bet.com/Music/photos/msc_bestalbumsofthedecade_12.24.09.htm?i=3|title=Best Albums of 2005|work=Black Entertainment Television|publisher=Viacom|access-date=January 26, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229103904/http://www.bet.com/Music/photos/msc_bestalbumsofthedecade_12.24.09.htm?i=3|archive-date=December 29, 2009}}

"Vision of Love" was performed on several of Carey's tours and concert shows. It was first featured on her Music Box Tour, her first full-length stateside tour. For the song's performances, Carey donned a large black trench coat, with matching pants and leather boots.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} She featured her signature curly locks, and was joined by Trey Lorenz, Melonie Daniels and Kelly Price.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} On her 1996 Daydream World Tour, Carey once again included the song on the tour's set-list. During her shows at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Carey donned a long black gown, with teased up straightened hair and a matching head-band.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} For the European leg on the tour, Carey wore a long white gown, and was joined by additional background vocalists.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Carey included the song on her set-list for her Butterfly World Tour (1998), where she once again featured the same trio of supporting singers.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} For the show's performances, she donned a sheer and beige mini-dress, with long and wavy golden hair. Additionally, she wore a cream-colored long-sleeve sheer sweater with matching high-heeled sandals.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} "Vision of Love" was included on Carey's Rainbow World Tour in 2000, as well as the Charmbracelet World Tour: An Intimate Evening with Mariah Carey (2002–03), The Elusive Chanteuse Show (2014) and Caution World Tour (2019).{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} During The Adventures of Mimi Tour in 2006, Carey performed the song at select shows. For the performances of the song, she donned a long yellow cocktail gown and black Christian Louboutin pumps.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Once again Lorenz was featured on stage, however with the addition of two different female back-up singers, MaryAnn and Sherry Tatum. Carey also performed the song at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards along with Infinity to promote her number 1 To Infinity album.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Carey also included the song in her Las Vegas residency, Mariah Carey Number 1's, a chronicle of her 18 US number 1 hits. The song was first in the chronological setlist, and for the performance Carey donned a black sequined gown, and her signature curls. Carey also included the song during the first two legs of her Las Vegas residency, The Butterfly Returns (2018).

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| footer = "Vision of Love" influenced many vocalists such as Kelly Clarkson (left), Christina Aguilera (middle) and Beyoncé (right)

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"Vision of Love" was nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 33rd annual ceremony, held on February 20, 1991: Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, winning the latter. Additionally, the song received the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Female and a Song of the Year Award at the BMI Pop Awards.{{cite web|url=http://mariahcarey.com/news/awards.php|title=Mariah Carey Career Achievement Awards|publisher=Mariahcarey.com|access-date=January 11, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916080043/http://mariahcarey.com/news/awards.php|archive-date=September 16, 2010}} Devon Powers from Popmatters has stated during the release of Carey's Greatest Hits album that "Mariah's Greatest Hits moves chronologically through that remarkable career, beginning with "Vision of Love", the 1990 single that introduced the singer to instant stardom. Still, after so many years and songs, it's by far among her best, if not the best—a simple testament to the incredible pipes that gave her a permanent place in pop cultural memory." Powers added that "From its first moments, the song demands to be legendary—a gong crash smolders low as Mariah's gospel-inspired vocals hum confidently, grandly."{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/careymariah-greatest|title=Mariah Carey|work=PopMatters|access-date=March 28, 2016}}

VH1 named "Vision of Love" the 14th greatest song of the 1990s.{{cite web|title=100 greatest songs of the 90s (hour 4)|work=VH1|publisher=MTV Networks|url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/127762/episode_featured_copy.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222121154/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/127762/episode_featured_copy.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 22, 2007|access-date= August 30, 2008}} About.com ranked it fourth on its top ten pop hits of 1990 list{{cite web|last=Lamb|first=Bill|title=Top 10 Pop Hits 1990|work=Dotdash Meredith|publisher=The New York Times Company|url=https://www.liveabout.com/top-pop-songs-of-1990-4054069|access-date = September 2, 2008}} and 28th on its top 100 pop songs of the 1990s list.{{cite web|last=Lamb|first=Bill|title=Top 100 Pop Songs of the 1990s – 30-21|work=Dotdash Meredith|publisher=The New York Times Company|url=https://www.liveabout.com/top-songs-from-the-90s-3245307 |access-date=September 2, 2008 }} Entertainment Weekly included it on their "10 Great (and 10 Grating) Karaoke Songs" list as a grating karaoke song, saying: "You cannot do this song. Seriously. Tackling this lung-crusher might seem like a fun challenge, but three minutes, five octaves, and one 10-second note later, you will realize that you did not conquer "Vision of Love." "Vision of Love" conquered you."{{cite magazine |title=10 Great (and 10 Grating) Karaoke Songs – Grating – "Vision of Love" – Mariah Carey |magazine=EW.com |publisher=Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20208037_12,00.html |access-date=August 30, 2008 |archive-date=August 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830053625/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20208037_12,00.html |url-status=dead }} USA Today critic Elysa Gardner picked "Vision of Love" as one of the most intriguing tracks, saying that it is still Mariah's best song.{{cite news|last=Gardner|first=Elysa|title=Pick of the Week: Womack's 'New Again' is a standout|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|date=January 19, 2009|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-01-12-pick-of-the-week-womack_N.htm |access-date=January 13, 2009}} Stereogum writer Tom Breihan noted that the song, "pretty much set the stage for a whole decade of showy, pyrotechnic '90s R&B vocals. It also set the stage for the American Idol-style pageantry that followed more than a decade later. Carey created an environment where her disciples could flourish, and she did it by constructing "Vision Of Love" as a showcase for her voice".{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2161924/the-number-ones-mariah-careys-vision-of-love/columns/the-number-ones/|title=The Number Ones: Mariah Carey's "Vision Of Love"|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=Stereogum|date=September 29, 2021 }}

R&B singer Beyoncé said that she began doing vocal "runs" after listening to "Vision of Love" for the first time. Similarly, pop singers Rihanna and Christina Aguilera cited the song and Carey as big influences on their singing careers.{{cite web |last=Bergeron |first=Elena |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/07/best-r-and-b-albums-of-the-90s/mariah-carey |title=The 50 Best R&B Albums of the '90s |work=Complex |date=July 2014 |access-date=February 25, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218205049/http://www.complex.com/music/2014/07/best-r-and-b-albums-of-the-90s/mariah-carey |archive-date=December 18, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/59339487.html?dids=59339487%3A59339487&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Aug+31%2C+2000&author=ROGER+CATLIN%3B+Courant+Rock+Critic&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=A+MATTER+OF+TIME+CHRISTIANA+AGUILERA+SAYS+SHE%27LL+LEAVE+THE+PACK%2C+INCLUDING+BRITNEY+SPEARS+IN+THE+DUST&pqatl=google|title=A Matter of Time Christina Aguilera Says She'll Leave The Pack|last=Catlin|first=Roger|work=Hartford Courant|publisher=Tribune Company|date=August 31, 2000|access-date=July 21, 2011|archive-date=July 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725040413/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/59339487.html?dids=59339487%3A59339487&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Aug+31%2C+2000&author=ROGER+CATLIN%3B+Courant+Rock+Critic&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=A+MATTER+OF+TIME+CHRISTIANA+AGUILERA+SAYS+SHE%27LL+LEAVE+THE+PACK%2C+INCLUDING+BRITNEY+SPEARS+IN+THE+DUST&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}} In an interview during the early stages of her career, Aguilera said "I've totally looked up to Mariah since 'Vision of Love' came out." Kelly Clarkson also cited "Vision of Love" as an influence on her singing career after performing the song on her first choir solo performance as a kid.[https://books.google.com/books?id=YhgxDO3T0_QC&dq=%22Vision+of+Love%22+%22Kelly+Clarkson%22&pg=PA11 Kelly Clarkson]

The song was featured in a late 1990 episode of the daytime soap opera All My Children as well as 1991 episodes of Santa Barbara and The Young and the Restless.{{Cn|date=February 2023}}

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• Worldwide cassette, 7-inch vinyl, CD and CD3 singles{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/950947-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/819331-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6026853-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1760073-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}

1. "Vision of Love"
2. Special excerpts from the debut release "Prisoner / All in Your Mind / Someday"

• UK 12-inch vinyl and CD singles{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1220889-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/597020-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}

1. "Vision of Love"
2. "Sent from Up Above"
3. Medley (featuring excerpts from "Prisoner / All in Your Mind / Someday")

• European 12-inch vinyl and maxi-CD singles{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1277900-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1567338-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}

1. "Vision of Love"
2. "Prisoner / All in Your Mind / Someday"
3. "Sent from Up Above"

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• Filipino 7-inch vinyl single{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15564088-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}

1. "Vision of Love"
2. "Someday"

• UK 7-inch vinyl and cassette singles{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/755906-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1793810-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}

1. "Vision of Love"
2. "Sent from Up Above"

• Costa Rican 7-inch vinyl single{{Citation |title=Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/13183232-Mariah-Carey-Vision-Of-Love |language=en |access-date=2022-05-20}}

1. "Vision of Love"
2. "Love Takes Time"

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Credits adapted from the Mariah Carey liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Mariah Carey (Liner Notes) |title-link=Mariah Carey (album) |others=Mariah Carey |year=1990 |first=Mariah |last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Columbia Records |location=New York City, New York }}

• Songwriting – Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies
• Production – Rhett Lawrence, Narada Michael Walden
• Instruments and programming – Rhett Lawrence, Jimmy Ripp
• Recording – Rhett Lawrence
• Audio engineering – Narada Michael Walden
• All vocals – Mariah Carey
• Programming – Ben Margulies, Marcus Miller, Ren Klyce
• Mixing – Rhett Lawrence, Narada Michael Walden

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Vision of Love"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Vision of Love|artist=Mariah Carey|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=1990|relyear=1990|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Vision of Love|artist=Mariah Carey|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=1990|id=1991-02-15|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=1990}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Vision of Love|artist=Mariah Carey|relyear=1990|salesamount=198,000|salesref={{cite web|first= Rob |last= Copsey |title= Mariah Carey's Top 40 biggest singles on the Official Chart|publisher= Official Charts Company |date= November 14, 2018 |access-date= November 14, 2018 |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/mariah-careys-top-40-biggest-singles-on-the-official-chart__24715//}}|nocert=true}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Vision of Love|artist=Mariah Carey|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2019|relyear=1990|access-date=October 18, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

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• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1990
• List of number-one R&B singles of 1990 (U.S.)
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1990 (U.S.)
• List of number-one singles of 1990 (Canada)
• List of number-one singles in 1990 (New Zealand)

{{Div col end}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite book

| last = Bronson

| first = Fred

| title = The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits

| publisher = Billboard Books

| year = 2003

| isbn = 0-8230-7677-6

| author-link = Fred Bronson

}}

• {{Cite book

| last = Nickson

| first = Chris

| title = Mariah Carey revisited: her story

| year = 1998

| publisher = St. Martin's Press

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

}}

{{refend}}

• {{YouTube|tov22NtCMC4|Official music video}}

{{Mariah Carey singles}}

{{Authority control}}

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vision Of Love}}

Category:1990s ballads

Category:1990 songs

Category:1990 debut singles

Category:Mariah Carey songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Rhett Lawrence

Category:Song recordings produced by Narada Michael Walden

Category:Songs written by Mariah Carey

Category:Songs written by Ben Margulies

Category:Music videos directed by Andy Morahan

Category:CBS Records singles

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance