Someday (Mariah Carey song)

"Someday"
Single by Mariah Carey
from the album Mariah Carey
B-side	"Alone In Love" "Vision of Love" "Love Takes Time"
Released	December 13, 1990 (1990-12-13)
Format	CD single, cassette single, 7" single, 12" single
Recorded	December 1988—October 1990
Genre	R&B, new jack swing, funk, soul
Length	4:07
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies
Producer	Ric Wake
Certification	Gold (U.S.)
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"Love Takes Time" (1990) "Someday" (1991) "I Don't Wanna Cry" (1991)

"Someday" is a song written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies, and produced by Ric Wake for Carey's debut album, Mariah Carey (1990). It was released as the album's third single in 1990 and is a jackswing-influenced track. It topped the U.S. charts, becoming Carey's third consecutive number one. As did previous singles from Mariah Carey, "Someday" received a BMI Pop Award.

Recording

"Someday" was one of the five songs on the demo tape, handed by Brenda K. Starr to record executive Tommy Mottola, that led to Carey being given a recording contract. Sony made alterations to the version on the demo tape because they thought it was too rough—the horn melodies were taken out and replaced with electric guitar melodies, and the ending was shortened by about eight seconds. Carey and Margulies were forced to accept the changes that were made because neither had been allowed to co-produce. Reportedly, Carey was unhappy with the final version of "Someday" produced, because both she and Margulies thought it had been too "polished." Carey's husband Nick Cannon subsequently confirmed in a 2011 interview with Perez Hilton that Carey is not fond of the track.

Chart performance

"Someday" continued Carey's streak of number 1 hits in the U.S., becoming her third consecutive number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached number 1 in its eighth week on the Hot 100 and spent two weeks at the top of the chart, from March 3 to March 16, 1991. It replaced "All the Man That I Need" by Whitney Houston, and was replaced by Timmy T's "One More Try". "Someday" spent 15 weeks in the top 40 and was ranked 13 on the Hot 100 year-end chart of 1991, making it one of the year's biggest hits. The RIAA certified it gold.

Remixes and music videos

A large number of remixes were produced by Shep Pettibone, in particular the main remix of the song known as "Someday" (new 7" jackswing) and a slightly alternative and extended version of it known as "Someday" (new 12" jackswing). There is also a house mix known as "Someday" (new 12" house), a slightly extended album version known as "Someday" (new 7" straight), and an a cappella, "Someday" (pianoapercapella).

The single's video, directed by Larry Jordan, was filmed on location at Bayonne High School in Bayonne, New Jersey and depicts a boy who treated a girl badly now wanting her back in his life. A group of hip-hop dancers appear, and at one point in the video, Carey joins them. It also featured Larry Wright drumming on plastic buckets. The main version of the video was based on "Someday" (new 7" jackswing), but there is an extended video with the music from "Someday" (new 12" jackswing). The new 12" jackswing version of the video was replaced by the 1992 MTV Unplugged live performance of the song on the DVD/home video #1's (1999).

Track listings

Worldwide CD single

1. "Someday" (new 7" jackswing)
2. "Alone in Love"

Worldwide CD maxi-single // Japan Only Maxi-Single Picture Disc

1. "Someday" (new 7" jackswing)
2. "Someday" (new 7" straight)
3. "Someday" (new 12" jackswing)
4. "Someday" (pianoapercapella)
5. "Alone in Love"

UK CD maxi-single #1

1. "Someday" (7" jackswing)
2. "Someday" (12" jackswing)
3. "Someday" (12" house)

UK CD maxi-single #2

1. "Someday" (7" jackswing)
2. "Vision of Love"
3. "Love Takes Time"
4. "Alone in Love"

Spain 7" Promo Single

1. "Someday"

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	44
Canadian Singles Chart	1
Dutch Singles Chart	21
Finnish Singles Chart	17
French Singles Chart	38
Japanese Albums Chart	481
UK Singles Chart	38
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	5
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	13

¹ In Japan, EPs are only eligible to chart on the albums chart.

Sales and certifications

Provider	Certification
United States (RIAA)	Gold

Preceded by "All the Man That I Need" by Whitney Houston	Billboard Hot 100 number-one single March 9–16, 1991	Succeeded by "One More Try" by Timmy T
Preceded by "Sadeness (Part I)" by Enigma	Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single March 16, 1991	Succeeded by "Touch Me (All Night Long)" by Cathy Dennis

See also

• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1991 (U.S.)