Carey mourns a loss of innocence on “Close My Eyes.” “Breakdown” and “Butterfly” depict a woman’s internal struggles as she emotionally jockeys for position in romantic relationships. “Whenever You Call” pledges lasting devotion to the man in her life.
More than usual for this artist. She longs to get “between the sheets” with an unattainable man, choosing to drown her sorrows in alcohol (“Babydoll”). While more subtle, “Honey” and “My All” crave sexual intimacy. Carey recalls a night of champagne and forbidden desire during which she “threw caution to the wind” (“The Roof”), and an Independence Day highlighted by casual sexual fireworks (“Fourth of July”).
Entertainment Weekly [9/19/97] said this project “aims to present its maker as a fully grown woman dipping into a new, sexually liberated lifestyle.” It succeeds. And Carey is taking millions of young fans along for the romp. Avoid the moth-eaten morals of Butterfly.
