Background and composition In 2002, the song was covered by American singer-songwriter
Mariah Carey for her album
Charmbracelet (2002). The reaction from Def Leppard's Joe Elliott was positive. Carey co-produced her cover of the song with
Randy Jackson. The single version also featured a newly recorded solo and extra guitar overdubs performed by
Dave Navarro. One of Carey's few songs with a heavy rock influence, it was released as the album's third and final single on June 2, 2003, by
Island Def Jam and her own label,
MonarC. It was also the final single from MonarC before she shut it down in 2004.
Critical reception The cover was met with positive reviews from a variety of critics.
Rolling Stone described the song as "the catchiest cut [on
Charmbracelet]...a fascinatingly overblown orchestral remake." Phil Collen praised Carey's cover as a "genuine version of our song" and defended it from Def Leppard's more critical fans: "The fans really get it wrong sometimes. She's on our side and it's an honour she's done it. Really, that's the only way we're getting played." Carey's version was number 24 on VH1's "Least Metal Moments"—in a segment subtitled "Bringin' On the Headache"—because many metal fans and musicians did not like the remake. At the same time, Mark Edward Nero of
About.com ranked it at number 2 on his list of "Top 5 R&B/Pop Crossover Cover Songs" and said Carey's version is "superior to the original." Asked about Carey's cover version, Joe Elliott told the Las Vegas Sun, "I think she's done a very good job. It's faithful to the arrangement, but not done like a rock song." Referring to Carey's whistle register vocals at the end, Elliott commented that her "astonishing vocal gymnastics toward the end...make Minnie Riperton sound like Tom Waits."
Billboard was favourable by naming it "set's crowning glory."
The New York Times also reviewed this song favourably: "Another high point is her version of the Def Leppard song ''Bringin' On the Heartbreak.'' It starts out as a piano-driven slow jam; then the chorus is interrupted by a dramatic chord progression, and soon Ms. Carey's precise, fluttery voice is turning a power ballad into something more delicate." Sal Cinquemani from
Slant Magazine called this cover "daring" and praised its "surprising amount of live instrumentation, which contributes to an overall sense of warmth that's been otherwise missing from Carey's recent work." Rich Juzwiak of Stylus called Mariah's version of the song "epic." In the exception of AllMusic, who gave mixed reviews, stated that its best song on album but also noting that it "isn't even covered all that well."
Chart performance Similar to the commercial performance of "
Boy (I Need You)", the album's second single, "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" failed to enter the US
Billboard Hot 100, or the
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. It reached the top-thirty in Switzerland, and the top-forty in Belgium; but peaked outside the top-forty in Austria.
Junior Vasquez,
Mike Rizzo and Ruanne produced club remixes of the song, which received a wider release on promotional singles than commercial singles and received spins in nightclubs worldwide—the song reached the top five on the US
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play.
Promotion The song's video, set to the RJ Janman remix, was shot in
Los Angeles on 8 March 2003 by director
Sanaa Hamri, and features cameo appearances by Randy Jackson, Dave Navarro, Evan Marriott (as a helicopter pilot/bodyguard) and model Damon Willis. The single's video is based on the 1979 film
The Rose, which featured a rock star (played by
Bette Midler) who struggles to find happiness as she goes from her rough "
rock and roll" lifestyle to her final high-profile concert. On 7 December 2002, Carey performed the song along with "
Through the Rain" and "
My All" in front of a crowd of 50,000 people, at the closing concert of the
Mexican Teletón, which took place in the country's
Azteca Stadium. Announced as the concert's "star", she performed in a black dress.
Track listing and formats •
European CD single • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Mainstream Version) – 4:13 • "Miss You" (feat.
Jadakiss) – 5:09 •
European enhanced CD single • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Mainstream Version) – 4:13 • "Miss You" (feat. Jadakiss) – 5:09 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Live) – 4:52 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Video) • '''Bringin' On the Heartbreak EP''' • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Mainstream Version) – 4:11 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Mainstream AC Version) – 4:11 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Live) – 4:49 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Global Soul Club Mix) – 8:35 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Global Soul Dub) – 7:33 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Global Soul Mix Show) – 7:44 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Global Soul Radio Edit) – 4:27 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Junior Vasquez Club Mix) – 7:14 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Junior Vasquez Extended Mix) – 9:45 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Junior Vasquez Radio Edit) – 3:56 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Junior Vasquez Mix Show) – 6:28 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Ruanne Emmenes Coffee Dub) – 6:11 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Ruanne Emmenes Vocal Capture Mix) – 8:47
Remixes ;Global Soul Mixes • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Global Soul Club Mix) – 8:30 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Global Soul Mix Show) – 7:38 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Global Soul Dub) – 7:30 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Global Soul Radio Edit) – 4:53 ;
Junior Vasquez Mixes • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Junior Vasquez Club Mix) – 7:11 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Junior Vasquez Extended Mix) – 9:45 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Junior Vasquez Radio Edit) – 3:54 ;Ruanne Emmenes Mixes • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Ruanne Emmenes Vocal Capture Mix) – 8:45 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Ruanne's Roasted Coffee Dub) – 6:11 ;Deep Influence Mixes • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Deep Influence Anthem) – 11:29 • "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Deep Influence Radio) – 4:23
Charts Release history ==References==