We Belong Together

Released on March 22, 2005, this track served as the second single from Mariah Carey's tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi. The song marked a pivotal moment in Carey's career following a period of commercial decline. It blends contemporary R&B with soul elements, driven by a mid-tempo groove and a prominent piano arrangement that underscores the emotional weight of the lyrics.

Carey co-wrote the composition with Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, and Johntá Austin. The production team also included Bryan-Michael Cox, while the track interpolates Bobby Womack's "If You Have Love," crediting Womack, Darnell Bristol, Babyface, Patrick Moten, and Sandra Sully for their contributions to the original material. Producer Manuel Seal passed away at age 66 in September 2026, shortly before the current reporting date.

The single achieved unprecedented chart dominance, spending 14 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. This run made it the second-longest-running number-one single in the chart's history at the time, trailing only Carey's 1995 duet "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men. Billboard later named it the "Song of the Decade" (2000–2009) and ranked it as the 15th most popular song in the chart's history. In 2026, Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" tied this record of 14 weeks at the summit, joining Carey's hit alongside Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" as the songs with the longest runs at number one. [edit]