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Don't Forget About Us

"Don't Forget About Us" is a song by American singer Mariah Carey. It was written by Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox and Johntá Austin, and produced by Carey and Dupri. On October 10, 2005, it was released as the lead single from the reissue of her tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi: Ultra Platinum Edition (2005). The song is influenced by R&B and hip-hop soul music genres, and lyrically chronicles the emotions felt by the protagonist after the loss of their relationship. Carey explained that the true meaning of the song is to be interpreted by the listener, therefore not disclosing its entire meaning publicly.

Background and release
After being branded Carey's "comeback album" by music critics, and becoming the highest selling album of her career post-Glitter (2001), The Emancipation of Mimi inspired Carey to return to the studio, in hopes of writing and producing new material for her next studio album. During a writing session with Jermaine Dupri, Carey wrote "Don't Forget About Us" as a possible single for her next album, reminiscent of the material on The Emancipation of Mimi. After completing the song, Carey announced on October 13, 2005, via her official website, that she would be re-releasing The Emancipation of Mimi. Additionally, she explained how the album would contain four new songs, and would be promoted internationally by the new single, "Don't Forget About Us". In Australia, a CD single was issued on December 5, 2005. The following Monday, on December 12, a CD single was issued in the United Kingdom. On January 27, 2006, a CD was released in Austria and Germany. A release in Italy followed on February 6 and in Taiwan on February 17. On January 29, 2021, an EP was issued. ==Composition==
Composition
"Don't Forget About Us" is a mid-tempo song lasting three minutes and fifty-three seconds, while drawing influence from pop and R&B with downtempo beats music genres. Written by Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox and Johntá Austin, and produced by the former two, the song drew comparisons to Carey's "We Belong Together". Carey's vocal range spans three octaves and six semitones from the low-note of D3 to the high-note of A6. Lyrically, the song describes the potency of a "first love", and features a protagonist pleading to her lover to "not forget about them". Critics noted that the song's lyrics both let go of a lover, as well as cherishing their memory. Carey sings, "You just let it die / With no goodbyes", indicating a relationship that has long decayed, and how she has let it drift away, while also adding, "There's only one me and you / And how we used to shine / No matter what you go through / We are one, that's a fact that you can't deny", indicating that while they are no longer together, she will continue to cherish the memory of them and how strong their love was. According to Carey, she refrained from giving away too much of the song's lyrical meaning, in order to allow fans to possibly interpret the song in their own way: I try not to get too specific so that people can apply the lyrics to their own lives. When I was growing up and listening to the radio and I would hear a song that reminded me of a certain person or a situation or whatever, I would want to be able to completely connect it to that moment. And then if I heard someone explaining it and making it into something totally different, it ruined it for me. So I kind of like to keep it open for people's imaginations. It evokes something different depending on who listens to it and at what time. "Don't Forget About Us" could give you a good, happy memory, or you could be miserable, crying, listening to it over and over. All in all, I think it's good to have music you can live vicariously through, and that's what a lot of people have told me this record has been for them. ==Critical reception==
Critical reception
"Don't Forget About Us" garnered generally positive reviews from music critics, though many compared it to, and felt it shared several similarities with Carey's previous single, "We Belong Together". Bill Lamb from About.com rated the song four out of five stars, who while noting the song's careful formula, complimented Carey's more mature and lower range vocals: "Mariah is clearly settling into a more mature style and lower range vocals than in her early career." Additionally, Lamb commented that although not as "strong" as "We Belong Together", the song was marginally better than another single from The Emancipation of Mimi, "Shake It Off". Reviewers from The New Yorker and Music Week were both taken aback by the single, calling it "beautiful" and "gentle", respectively. Todd Martens from the Los Angeles Times compared it heavily to Carey's 2008 single "Bye Bye", describing their piano melody as "a close match". In 2007, "Don't Forget About Us" was nominated for two Grammy Awards, in the "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance" and "Best R&B Song" categories, although not winning either. ==Chart performance==
Chart performance
"Don't Forget About Us" was released as the fourth international single from The Emancipation of Mimi (2005), and the first from its re-release, the Ultra Platinum Edition. "Don't Forget About Us" became Carey's 17th chart-topping single in the United States, tying the record set by Elvis Presley for most number-one singles by a solo artist (Carey has since surpassed this record with "Touch My Body" in 2008 and "All I Want for Christmas is You" in 2019.) Currently, the only act to hold more US number-one singles than Carey are The Beatles, who gained twenty throughout their career while Carey has accumulated 19 to date. "Don't Forget About Us" stayed in the top forty for eighteen weeks and reached number one on other Billboard component charts, including the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Outside the United States, the song achieved moderate international charting. In Australia, "Don't Forget About Us" debuted at its peak position of number twelve on the singles chart, during the week of December 18, 2005. In its second week, the song stalled at number twelve, before beginning its eleven-week descent on the chart. On the Italian singles charts, the song charted for only one week, peaking at number eleven. In both the Wallonian and Flemish territories in Belgium, the song peaked at numbers two and one, although plummeting outside the top-fifty the following week. On the Dutch Top 40 chart, "Don't Forget About Us" debuted at number ninety-two during the week dated February 2, 2006. Spending one week at its peak position of number four, the song dropped to thirty-two the following week. Similarly on February 26, 2006, the song debuted and peaked at number nineteen on the Swiss Singles Chart, and spent a total of five weeks on the chart. On the UK Singles Chart week dated December 12, 2005, "Don't Forget About Us" began its seven-week run at its peak of number eleven. ==Music video==
Music video
Background Filmed in Los Angeles, the music video reunited Carey with Paul Hunter, director of the video for her 1997 single, "Honey". Since its release, Carey claimed it to be one of her favorite videos, due to its complex scenery and fun nature. Additionally, Carey and Hunter placed several secrets within the video's scenery, that would be intended for the "die-hard fans". ==Remixes==
Remixes
The main remix of "Don't Forget About Us" was produced by Jermaine Dupri and is known as the Mr. Dupri mix. It features guest appearances from rappers Juelz Santana, Krayzie Bone and Layzie Bone. The Mr. Dupri mix was added to iTunes Music Store for download, while several dance remixes (by Ralphi Rosario & Craig J., Quentin Harris and Tony Moran & Warren Rigg) were produced and made available for sale at other download retailers. ==Live performances==
Live performances
Carey performed "Don't Forget About Us" on several televised appearances, as well on all of her tours following its release. On November 15, 2005, the Chicago Tribune announced that Carey would perform during the half-time on the Thanksgiving game between the Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons. Airing on the 24th, Carey performed "Shake It Off", as well as her newly released single from the album's re-release, "Don't Forget About Us". On November 22, 2005, Carey opened the 33rd annual American Music Awards with a performance of "Don't Forget About Us", held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Appearing on stage in a "sequined, silver, spaghetti-strap gown slit to the waist", Carey completed the song before accepting the first award of the evening. Dave West from Digital Spy described it as a "blistering performance", and claimed Carey "wowed" the crowd with her live rendition of the song. The special, titled Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, aired on ABC at 10 pm on December 31, and featured Carey on stage wearing a short sparkling dress, and performing a selection of the album's singles. On Carey's 2006 The Adventures of Mimi Tour stop at Madison Square Garden, she sang "Don't Forget About Us" while wearing a sparkling bikini top and black leggings. She introduced the song as a "thank you" to fans for "making this my 17th number one single". At the show in Phoenix, she told the crowd that she had forgotten the song until that night: "I had forgotten about this song the whole tour and I don't know why. Funny I should forget it, considering the title." Dressed in a "form-fitting short dress with a flared, tutu-like bottom" for the first portion of the night, Carey completed the song as the fourth on the set-list. ==Formats and track listings==
Formats and track listings
Digital download • "Don't Forget About Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:53 Digital download - remix • "Don't Forget About Us" (Remix feat. Juelz Santana & Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) – 3:32 Digital download - Quentin Shelter Anthem • "Don't Forget About Us" (Quentin Shelter Anthem Mix) – 12:29 Digital download - Ralphi Rosario and Craig Martini Vocal • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi Rosario and Craig Martini Vocal) – 7:41 Digital download - Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Dance Floor Anthem • "Don't Forget About Us" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Dance Floor Anthem) – 9:32 Digital download - Ralphi and Jody DB Anthomic Dub • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi and Jody DB Anthomic Dub) – 11:43 European CD single • "Don't Forget About Us" – 3:53 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Remix feat. Juelz Santana & Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) – 3:33 European enhanced CD single • "Don't Forget About Us" – 3:53 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi & Craig J. Anthomic Vocal Mix) – 9:50 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Tony Moran Mix) – 4:18 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Video) UK CD single 1 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:56 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi Rosario & Craig J. Martini At XO Vocal Edit) – 3:40 UK CD single 2 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:55 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Dance Floor Anthem Mix) – 9:32 • "Shake It Off" (Remix feat. JAY-Z & Young Jeezy) – 5:05 UK 12-inch vinyl :A1. "Don't Forget About Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:53 :A2. "Don't Forget About Us" (Raphi Rosario & Craig J. Anthomic Vocal Edit) – 9:50 :B. "Don't Forget About Us" (Quentin Harris Re-Production Shelter Anthem Mix) – 12:29 Australasian enhanced CD single • "Don't Forget About Us" (Album Version) – 3:53 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Dance Floor Anthem) [Tony Moran & Warren Rigg] – 9:32 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi & Craig Martini Vocal) – 7:41 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Quentin Shelter Anthem Mix) – 12:29 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Video) US double 12-inch vinyl (The Emancipation Remixes) :A. "Don't Forget About Us" (Dance Floor Anthem) – 9:32 :B. "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi And Craig Martini Vocal) – 7:41 :C. "Don't Forget About Us" (Quentin Shelter Anthem Mix) – 12:29 :D. "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi And Jody Anthomic Dub) – 11:43 '''Don't Forget About Us EP''' • "Don't Forget About Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:53 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Desert Storm Remix feat. Fabolous & Styles P.) – 4:48 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Remix feat. Juelz Santana & Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) – 3:32 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Instrumental) – 3:38 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Dance Floor Anthem) – 9:32 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Radio Mix) – 4:16 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Quentin Shelter Anthem Mix) – 12:30 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Quentin Radio Mix) – 4:41 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi Rosario & Craig J. Martini At XO Vocal Mix) – 7:42 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi Rosario & Craig J. Martini At XO Vocal Edit) – 3:40 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi Rosario & Craig J. Martini Anthomic Vocal Remix) – 9:51 • "Don't Forget About Us" (Ralphi Rosario & Jody DB Anthomic Dub) – 11:43 ==Credits and personnel==
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from The Emancipation of Mimi liner notes. • Mariah Careysongwriter, producer, vocalsJermaine Dupri – songwriter, producer • Bryan-Michael Cox – songwriter • Johntá Austin – songwriter • Brian Garten – recording ==Charts==
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