Written by David Foster, hit-maker Diane Warren and superstar Mariah Carey, “There For Me” is a sweet ballad recorded in 1999 during the sessions for Carey’s album, “Rainbow.” Another collaboration between Foster, Warren and the singer entitled “After Tonight” became one of the stronger tunes included on “Rainbow” while “There For Me” didn’t make the final cut. Finally released in 2001, this brilliant song was the b-side of Carey’s September 11th charity single “Never Too Far/Hero.” It was a gift from Carey to her fans to whom the song was dedicated. The intense atmosphere, standout vocal performance and hi-tech production gained “There For Me” a lot more attention from radio programmers than the single’s a-side, a mix of two older Carey’s songs, “Never Too Far” and “Hero,” that was performed on many occasions by the superstar and didn’t go anywhere commercially. “There For Me” is another classy trademark Foster/Warren power ballad that dominated the charts in the nineties. Carey’s vocal performance is mostly tender and subdued yet builds towards the end as she belts out some of her typical powerful lines. Foster’s arrangement and production are, as always, absolute ear-candy.

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[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/there_for_me.mp3|titles=There for me|artists=Mariah Carey]

Lead Vocals: Mariah Carey
Keyboards: David Foster
Drums: John Robinson
Guitar: Michael Thompson
Synthesizer Programming: Felipe Elgueta
Additional Synthesizer Programming: Neil Devor
Produced by David Foster & Mariah Carey
Orchestra Arranged by William Ross

Lyrics

I’d never have known
The way it feels to love
Without the love you showered
Down upon me
Warm as the sun
Melting away the rain
Giving me the strength
To face another morning

So many times I felt afraid
And turned to you
To find my way
I reach inside
And find you there
You are with me everywhere

Chorus:
All
It would take all of my life
To find someone more there for me
There for me
And I’m never alone
Cause in my heart I know
You’re always there for me
There for me

I won’t let go
Of precious memories
They are the light of hope
That burns inside me
And every time I lose my way
You shine for me
And I’m okay
You lead me way beyond it all
And you never let me fall

Chorus

You always catch me when I fall

Chorus

You’re always there for me

Mariah Carey is the best selling female singer of the nineties. She dominated the charts with a string of phenomenal hits like “Vision Of Love,” “Dream Lover,” and “Hero.” David Foster was the hit machine behind Celine Dion and Whitney Houston, two of Carey’s biggest competitors. At the end of the decade Carey and Focter decided to collaborate for Mariah’s new record entitled “Rainbow”. “After Tonight” was initially intended as a duet between Carey and her then-boyfriend, Latin superstar Luis Miguel. Here’s how Foster remembers it: “The song was written just for Mariah. I had Luis and Mariah record it several different times, but it never sounded right. So she ended up doing it by herself.”
The song is an intense pop ballad beautifully sung by the singer who greatly benefits from Foster’s grand production. The Canadian producer surrounded Carey’s voice with lush strings, the trademark acoustic guitar of Dean Parks, and a delicate arrangement that builds up to the chorus where the song reaches its climax.
Foster co-wrote the tune with the singer and also with hit-maker Diane Warren. “After Tonight” is arguably the only pure pop song on “Rainbow.” It takes the listener back to the days when Walter Afanasieff was producing his gems for Carey and the singer wasn’t that influenced by hip-hop and dance stuff.
Foster, Carey and Warren also collaborated on another song for this project; a tender ballad entitled “There For Me” that didn’t make the final cut and only resurfaced on a cd single in 2001. The producer added these words about his work with the superstar: “Working with Mariah was an extraordinary opportunity for me. It goes without saying that she’s one of the world’s greatest singers, but it was her musicianship that really stunned me. She thinks like a record producer and lays her vocals down like a virtuoso guitarist. Singer, writer, producer…Mariah is a triple threat. Working on this album with her was a wonderful experience from beginning to end.”

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[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/after_tonight.mp3|titles=After tonigh|artists=Mariah Carey]

All Vocals: Mariah Carey
Keyboards: David Foster
Drums: John Robinson
Guitars: Dean Parks
Programming: Felipe Elgueta
Produced and Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

I look at you looking at me
Feels like a feeling meant to be
And as your body moves with mine
It’s like I’m lifted out of time

And time again
Patiently I’ve waited
For this moment to arrive

Chorus 1:
After tonight
Will you rmemeber
How sweet and tenderly
You reached for me
And pulled me closer
After you go
Will you return to love me
After tonight begins to fade

I feel your touch caressing me
This feeling’s all I’ll ever need
With every kiss from your sweet lips
It’s like I’m drifting out of time

Alone will tell
If you feel the way I feel
When I look in your eyes

Chorus 2:
After tonight
Will you remember
How sweet and tenderly
You reached for me
And pulled me closer
After you go
Will you return to love me
After the night becomes the day

Time
And time and time again
So patiently I’ve waited
For this moment to arrive

Chorus 3:

After tonight
Will you remember
How sweet and tenderly
You reached for me
And pulled me closer
After you go
Baby will you return to love me
After the night becomes the day
After tonight begins to fade