news | messageboard | discography

OBSESSED

"Obsessed" is the lead single from Mariah's 12th studio album, "Memoirs of an imperfect angel". The song is produced and co-written by Mariah Carey, The-Dream and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. On June 9, 2009, Mariah announced via Twitter that the first single from "Memoirs of an imperfect angel" would be "Obsessed" and that it would be released to radio the following Tuesday, June 16. She also stated that "this is one of [her] favorite songs ever". She also stated that the song was an "uptempo fun summer record", and even though she wanted to release a Butterfly-era ballad, "Obsessed" had to come out first. She wrote on Twitter, "It's different for me, but clearly, it's so me!" The song was transmitted digitally to radio stations on June 16, 2009 for immediate airplay and made its debut on Chicago radio station B96 at 2:00 pm. A remix of the song, featuring rapper Gucci Mane, premiered on the same day.

The music video was directed by Brett Ratner. It was shot on June 28, 2009 and June 29, 2009. Additionally, Mariah plays both the roles of the stalked celebrity as well as her stalker - a male, thus, her dressing up as a man. The male alter-ego is called Michael Caligiuri (initials M.C.). On July 2nd, Mariah Carey announced via Twitter that she finished shooting the music video to "Obsessed".

Initial reviews of the track were generally positive. Daniel Kreps from Rolling Stone stated that "the biting mid-tempo track is already more musically and lyrically engrossing than E=MC2's singles", while a reviewer from Hitfix stated that the song "is a rhythmically-driven, mid-tempo slice of summer delight, full of insults delivered in an innocent, sugary sweet questioning way by Carey, which only adds to its appeal," adding that Carey "pulls it off". Newsday writer Glenn Gamboa wrote on the paper's music blog that Carey "coos confidently, riding the laid-back beat, probably holding back the laughs as she insults again". MTV called the song "glossy, flossy, and decidedly 'urban' ". FMQB's Bob Burke said that "There's no doubt that Mariah can sing like no one else, but sometimes less is best, as is the case on this hypnotic track that is sure to keep MC fans totally 'Obsessed'." The Boston Herald gave the song a B+ review, calling it "the soon-to-be-hot song of the season", adding that Mariah "still got it". Billboard gave "Obsessed" a good review, saying that "Carey has crafted a gem of a diss record" and stated it could possibly be her 19th chart-topper. The song also became a "single of the week" in People, calling it "a summery midtempo bouncer". Nicole Frehsee from Rolling Stone said that "The cut doesn't show off Mariah's fab pipes - Auto-Tuned coos are subdued in for those high C's - but it's the catchiest anti-stalking anthem of the summer".

In contrast, "Obsessed" received a mixed review from the Los Angeles Times, with a writer stating that although this was "a feistier Mimi than [they]'re used to", she ultimately "has been molded to fit current trends" and that the single "again sells out the songbird to her producers". Bill Lamb from About.com was also critical of "Obsessed", saying that Mariah should have put out a stronger lead single from "Memoirs of an imperfect angel", and ultimately called it "forgettable".

In an interview with HipHopDX, The-Dream stated that Mariah had a song that everyone would be talking about and that it would "light up the blogs", also calling it a "fire record". The producer noted that due to the content of the song, "somebody's going to be very upset". Within hours after the song's release, various outlets speculated that its target was rapper Eminem, in response to his song "Bagpipes from Baghdad", in which he taunted Mariah's husband, Nick Cannon by telling Nick Cannon to back off and that Mariah is his. According to MTV, Mariah alludes to drug problems in "Obsessed", which Eminem opened up about on his latest album, Relapse.

However, in an interview with MTV News, Nick stated, "To be completely honest, she did the record 'cause she's a huge fan of this movie Mean Girls, and there's a line in the movie where one of the girls is like, 'Why are you so obsessed with me?' She says that at the beginning of the song, and that's where the concept came from. But you know, art imitates life." He also stated that Mariah "doesn't beef".

CD-SINGLES
5" CD-single from Brazil (3257)
no catalogue number
promo, picture disc
collection Stefano Veneziani

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed

5" CD-single from Brazil (3300)
no catalogue number
promo, picture disc
collection Jon Chisholm and Leon Chee

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Jump Smokers Radio Edit)

This promo was sent by Universal Music Brazil to radios stations and some Mariah release parties in Brazil.

5" CD-single from Brazil (3359)
87516612-82
promo
collection Anja-Tatjana Wiese

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Radio Edit)
2. Obsessed (Call Out #1)
3. Obsessed (Call Out #2)
4. Obsessed (Jump Smokers Alternate Radio Edit)
5. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Edit)
6. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Radio Mix)
7. Obsessed (Cajjmere Wray's Radio Up)
8. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Dub Radio)
9. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Radio)
10. Obsessed (Chartbusters Radio Edit)
11. Obsessed (Burning Anthem Edit)
12. Obsessed (Remix feat Gucci Mane)

5" CD-single from Brazil (3358)
87516612-83
promo
collection Anja-Tatjana Wiese

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Cajjmere Wray's Club Mix - Vocals Down)
2. Obsessed (Cajjmere Wray's Club Mix - Vocals Up)
3. Obsessed (Cajjmere Wray's Dub Mix)
4. Obsessed (Cahill Club Mix)
5. Obsessed (Cahill Dub)
6. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Club Mix)
7. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Piano Dub)
8. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix)
9. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Dub)
10. Obsessed (Chartbusters Mix)
11. Obsessed (Burning Anthem Mix)

5" CD-single from Colombia (3295)
no catalogue number
promo, picture disc
collection Raïd Zaraket

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed

5" CD-single from Denmark (3284)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Thomas K.

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Radio)
2. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix)
3. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Dub)
4. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Mix)
5. Obsessed (Cahill Club Mix)
6. Obsessed (Cahill Dub)
7. Obsessed (Jump Smokers Radio Edit)
8. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Radio Mix)
9. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Club Mix)
10. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Piano Dub)
11. Obsessed (Remix ft. Gucci Mane)
12. Obsessed (Original)

5" CD-single from Europe (3276)
MCOBSECDP1
promo
collection Gustavo Veloso

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Superclean)

5" CD-single from Europe (3291)
0602527179230
collection Anita Braaksma

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Edit)

5" CD-single from Europe (3301)
271 625 0
collection Yoann Leclerc

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Edit)

5" CD-single from France (3278)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Andy Hermawan Tjondrodihardjo

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed

5" CD-single from Hong Kong (3332)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Leon Chee

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed

5" CD-single from Japan (3514)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Andy Hermawan Tjondrodihardjo

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed

5" CD-single from Japan (3348)
ISLW39654
promo
collection Andy Hermawan Tjondrodihardjo

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Superclean)

5" CD-single from South-Korea (3344)
DP6311/271 792-3
collection SangWook Park and YoungTaek Lim

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Edit)

5" CD-single from Thailand (3297)
271 792-3
collection Bhubesh Punyasawangchitra

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Edit)

5" CD-single from the UK (3265)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Alison Wheeler and David Hinz

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed

5" CD-single from the UK (3263)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Alison Wheeler

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Original Version)
2. Obsessed (Remix feat Gucci Mane)

5" CD-single from the UK (3294)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Raïd Zaraket

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Edit)
2. Obsessed (Cahill Club Mix)
3. Obsessed (Cahill Dub Mix)
4. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Radio Edit)
5. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Club Mix)
6. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Piano Dub)
7. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Radio Edit)
8. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix)
9. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Dub Mix)

5" CD-single from the UK (3417)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Wojciech Sichniewicz

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix)
2. Obsessed (Cahill Club Mix)
3. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Dub)
4. Obsessed (Cahill Dub)
5. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Radio Edit)
6. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Edit)
7. Obsessed (Jump Smokers Radio Edit)
8. Obsessed (Remix Featuring Gucci Mane)
9. Obsessed (Original)

5" CD-single from the UK (3268)
OBSESSEDCJ1
promo
collection Cleyton Bento

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Superclean)

5" CD-single from the UK (3277)
OBSESSEDCJ1
promo
collection Andy Hermawan Tjondrodihardjo

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Superclean)

This CD-Single is exactly the same as item 3268, but this CD-Single comes with a two-page press release.

5" CD-single from the USA (3298)
no catalogue number
promo, called "Obsessed (dance remixes)"
probably a bootleg
collection Andy Hermawan Tjondrodihardjo and Corey Pattinson

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Mix)
2. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Radio Edit)
3. Obsessed (Friscia and Lamboy Radio Mix)
4. Obsessed (Jump Smokers Radio Edit)
5. Obsessed (Cahill Club Mix)
6. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix)
7. Obsessed (Friscia and Lamboy Club Mix)
8. Obsessed (Cahill Dub)
9. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Dub)
10. Obsessed (Friscia and Lamboy Piano Dub)

5" CD-single from the USA (3334)
no catalogue number
promo
collection Leon Chee

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Cahill Radio Mix)
2. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Radio Edit)
3. Obsessed (Friscia and Lamboy Radio Mix)
4. Obsessed (Jump Smokers Radio Edit)
5. Obsessed (Cahill Club Mix)
6. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix)
7. Obsessed (Friscia and Lamboy Club Mix)
8. Obsessed (Cahill Dub)
9. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Dub)
10. Obsessed (Friscia and Lamboy Piano Dub)

There are only about 150 of these promos pressed by the label for the U.S. club DJs. Could be a bootleg.

5" CD-single from the USA (3299)
no catalogue number
promo, called "Obsessed (remixes)"
probably a bootleg
collection Andy Hermawan Tjondrodihardjo

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main Version)
2. Obsessed (Instrumental Mix)
3. Obsessed (Super Clean Mix)
4. Obsessed (Remix feat. Gucci Mane)
5. Obsessed (Jump Smokers Remix)
6. Obsessed (Cahill's Radio Edit)
7. Obsessed (Cahill's Club Mix)
8. Obsessed (Cahill's Dub Mix)
9. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Edit)
10. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Mix)
11. Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Dub)
12. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Radio Edit)
13. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Club Mix)
14. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy Piano Dub)

5" CD-single from the USA (3258)
ISLR 16897-2
promo
collection Cleyton Bento

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Superclean)
3. Obsessed (Remix feat. Gucci Main)

5" CD-single from the USA (3269)
ISLR 16988-2
promo
collection Alison Wheeler

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main Version)
2. Obsessed (Remix featuring Gucci Mane)
3. Obsessed (Burning Anthem Edit)
4. Obsessed (Burning Anthem Mix)

5" CD-single from the USA (3279)
B0013290-32

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Remix feat. Gucci Mane)
3. Obsessed (video)

This CD-Single is exclusively available at Walmart.

VINYL SINGLES
12" vinyl maxi-single from the UK (3380)
OBSESSED001
promo
collection Wojciech Sichniewicz

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Jump Smokers Remix)
2. Obsessed (Main Version)
3. Obsessed (Instrumental)
4. Obsessed (Haji & Emanuel Dub)
5. Obsessed (Friscia & Lamboy - Radio Edit)

12" vinyl maxi-single from the USA (3280)
B001327211
collection Mario Callegari

Tracklisting:
1. Obsessed (Main)
2. Obsessed (Remix feat. Gucci Mane)

SHEET MUSIC
sheet music from the USA (3331)
HL 353982
Hal Leonard Corporation
piano - vocal - guitar
8 pages
collection Jose Gallardo

© The Mariah Carey Archives 1998 - 2024 | visitors online