Okay, guys. Be ready! because we’re about to get into something that’ll make you wonder, "What the f**ck, America?"

Let’s talk about a gem that’s been chilling in plain sight, but y’all decided to sleep on it like it’s a Monday morning snooze button. I’m talking about “With You” by the one and only Mariah Carey, from her album *Caution* (2018). And before you start, no, this ain’t about dragging the whole album—though don’t tempt me because I could go off. This is about that one damn song that deserved better. Let’s get into it.

So, October 4, 2018. Epic Records drops “With You” as the lead single from *Caution*. Mariah, the queen she is, wrote it alongside Charles Hinshaw, Dijon McFarlane, and Greg Lawary, with DJ Mustard jumping in on production. And what did we get?

A “velvety” ballad with finger-snapping beats and this warm piano vibe that just wraps around you like a cozy blanket on a cold night. The lyrics? Pure fucking poetry. It’s about a woman looking for that safe haven in love, and her man promising to be that security she’s craving. But let me tell you, it’s not just about that—it’s a whole experience.

From the moment that soft-ass intro hits, you’re like, "Damn, Mariah, you really did that." It’s thoughtful. It’s soulful. And for some reason, it gives you this flicker of hope. It’s like Mariah is whispering in your ear, "You got this, babe. Love is out there, but it ain’t gonna be easy." Because let’s be real—love isn’t free. And before you bring up that other lady singing about how "Love Don’t Cost a Thing," yeah, I don’t know her either. Love costs everything—your time, your energy, sometimes your sanity. But when you find that person, it’s worth every damn second.

Now, this song? It’s got layers. Let me explain it to you. First off, it’s telling you to buckle up because love is a wild ride. You’re gonna fight, you’re gonna fuck, you’re gonna have those moments where you wonder if it’s all worth it. But at the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, it’s beautiful. The second layer? It’s about loving yourself. Yeah, you heard me—self-love. Because sometimes the hardest battle is learning to love yourself through the mess, the drama, and all the shit life throws at you. And Mariah is right there, reminding you that it’s okay to be a mess, as long as you love yourself at the end of it all.

Here’s the thing, though: With You should’ve been a fucking classic. I’m talking Adele’s "Easy On Me" type of classic. But what happened? It didn’t even crack the US Hot 100. Not. A. Single. Chart. It’s Mariah Carey, for fuck’s sake! How did we let this masterpiece slide under the radar? This song is so good it could bring peace to a warzone, and y’all just… ignored it? What kind of disrespect is that?

The music video? Yeah, it’s black and white—real classy, real simple. Directed by Sarah McColgan, it’s got Mariah posing all over Los Angeles, looking like a whole snack, but it’s more than that. It’s like a visual representation of the song’s vibe—timeless, effortless, but still packing a punch. She performed it at the 2018 American Music Awards and Good Morning America, and let me tell you, she fucking killed it. But still, it was like nobody cared. The song took the music video game to another level, but it wasn’t enough to save it from the abyss of underappreciation.

Now, let’s talk criticism. "With You" actually got some love from the critics. Spencer Kornhaber from *The Atlantic* was all about it, saying he couldn’t stop playing it. He even mentioned how Mariah handled the romance theme with this open-eyed, cautious approach—no bullshit, just real talk. Brittany Spanos from *Rolling Stone* called it a "schmaltzy slow jam," and even though that sounds like a dig, she also pointed out how Mariah’s whistle register hit different. Chris DeVille from *Stereogum* was feeling it too, describing it as this warm, organic ballad with gospel piano and booming 808s. Critics from *Jezebel* even said, “she will have you know that she is Mariah the star.” But did it chart? Hell no.

And the album *Caution*? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t Mariah’s best-selling project. It moved about 80,000 copies globally. Yeah, 80k. Let that sink in. It was like America just turned its back on her, and for what? I can’t even. After that, Epic Records and Mariah parted ways, and honestly, we should be ashamed.

Here’s the thing, though. If you haven’t listened to “With You” yet, you need to fix that. Grab your AirPods, fire up Apple Music, and let that Spatial Audio hit differently. When Mariah’s voice follows you as you turn your head, you’re gonna realize what you’ve been missing. It’s like she’s right there, singing just for you, and for a moment, all’s right with the world.

So yeah, America, why the hell did you sleep on this masterpiece? It’s time to wake up and give Mariah the flowers she deserves. Because “With You” is more than just a song—it’s a reminder that love, in all its messy, complicated glory, is worth fighting for. And if you can’t see that, well, that’s on you.

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