"Somewhat Loved (There You Go Breakin' My Heart)" is a song by American production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis featuring American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, for the duo's debut studio album Jam & Lewis: Volume One (2021). It was released as the album's third single on June 10, 2021.[1][2] The song peaked at number nine on the US Adult R&B Songs chart, and number 30 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.
| "Somewhat Loved (There You Go Breakin' My Heart)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Jam & Lewis featuring Mariah Carey | ||||
| from the album Jam & Lewis: Volume One | ||||
| Released | June 10, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2021 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 3:53 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Jam & Lewis singles chronology | ||||
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| Mariah Carey singles chronology | ||||
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Background
edit
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis first began working with Mariah Carey in 1999 on her seventh studio album Rainbow, which spawned the US number-one single "Thank God I Found You", a song written and produced by the trio (becoming Carey's 15th number-one song and Jam and Lewis' 13th as a producer).[3][4] They also produced "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" from the same album, which reached the top-ten on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[5] This was followed by their collaborations on Carey's following albums Glitter (2001) and Charmbracelet (2002) on songs such as "Through the Rain" and "Yours".[6]
Two decades later in April 2019, Jam and Lewis announced their debut studio album as recording artists, which tapped an array of R&B hitmakers who they've penned hits for over the years for the record including Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton and Carey.[7][8] Carey stated that,
"Working with [Jam and Lewis] through the years has been one of the greatest creative journeys I have ever taken. It's a great honor for me to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime album".[1]
Composition
editJam stated, "With Mariah, we sent her something we thought would be cool for her. She liked it, but also had an idea that she wanted to sing for us – an a capella with a piano part. Great! It was an idea that she had for a song from before she had kids. We put it together with intricate arrangements, and of course, a beat. Two days later she sent something back, we mixed it, and it became ["Somewhat Loved"].[9] According to Carey, she wrote the song when her twins were babies at the time.[10] In a press statement, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis noted that,
"When we started Jam & Lewis: Volume 1, we put a wishlist together of all our favorite artists. The chance to reunite with our friend and fellow Songwriters Hall of Fame partner Mariah was wishlist fulfillment at its finest."[1]
Billboard noted that the song featured "endless layers of overlapping vocals from Carey as well as some of her signature sky-high whistle notes".[11]
Critical reception
editUpon release, the song received positive reviews. Ethan Shafield from Variety stated that the song "opens with Carey’s silky vocals laid over softly plucked strings before simmering into an upbeat, piano and bass-driven chorus. Of course, Carey’s signature sky-high whistle notes are layered throughout the bridge".[12] You Know I Got Soul stated that the song "is a fun and nostalgic song that features all three tapping into what they do best. The beat change from slow burn to up-tempo jam during the chorus is epic as well".[13]
Ludovic Hunter-Tilney from Financial Times described the track as "a luxuriant throwback featuring harp, lightly splashy keyboards, finger clicks and a tidy hip-hop soul beat. It finds the singer responding to heartbreak in inimitable fashion, with honeyed vocals and extravagant outbreaks of background whistle singing".[14]
Commercial performance
edit"Somewhat Loved" became Jam and Lewis' third consecutive entry on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, peaking at number nine, and giving Jam and Lewis their second consecutive top-ten hit on the chart. It also gave Carey her 15th top-ten hit on the chart, and her first since "With You" (2018).[15][16] Additionally, the song peaked at number 30 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[17]
Charts
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Mamo, Heran. "Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Are Reuniting With Mariah Carey for a New Single". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ "Mariah Carey reunites with Jam & Lewis for new single 'Somewhat Loved'". retro pop. 10 June 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ Lamb, Bill. "Top 100 Pop Songs of 2000". About.com. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
- ^ Philbrook, Erik. "Powerhouse: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Celebrate 30 Years as ASCAP Members". Ascap.com. Retrieved 2015-02-08.
- ^ "Allmusic - Mariah Carey > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Rovi Corporation. Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Mariah Carey Joins Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for New Song "Somewhat Loved": Listen". Pitchfork. 10 June 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ "Mariah Carey Gets Her Groove On With Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis On 'Somewhat Loved': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ "Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis announce new album coming". Soul Tracks. October 19, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ Amorosi, A.D. (July 9, 2021). "Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Talk Prince, Working With Mariah Carey and Usher, and Why Their Debut Album Took 35 Years". Variety. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ^ "Mariah Carey on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ "Mariah Carey Gets Her Groove On With Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis On 'Somewhat Loved': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Shafield, Ethan (June 10, 2021). "Mariah Carey Teams Up With Jam & Lewis for New Single, 'Somewhat Loved (There You Go Breakin' My Heart)'". Variety. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ "Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Tap Mariah Carey for New Single "Somewhat Loved (There You Go Breakin My Heart)"". You Know I Got Soul. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (July 9, 2021). "Jam and Lewis's belated debut is a freshly minted trip down memory lane". Financial Times. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ^ "Jam & Lewis, Mariah Carey's 'Somewhat Loved' Enters Top 10 on R&B Radio". RatedRNB. 23 August 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Adult R&B Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ "Adult R&B Songs - Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.