"I Don't" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey featuring American rapper YG. It was released digitally as a standalone single on February 3, 2017 through Epic Records, after being previewed a few days before on Carey's docuseries, Mariah's World. The song managed to peak at #89 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Background and release[]
"I Don't" was first previewed on the Mariah's World series finale, "We Belong Together," on January 29, 2017, in which footage of Carey recording a snippet of the song in a studio booth was broadcast.[1] Two days later, on January 31, 2017, the cover art was revealed by Carey via her official Twitter account. Epic Records subsequently released the track for download on February 3, 2017.
Composition[]
"I Don't" is a trap-leaning R&B song written by Carey and YG, alongside Crystal Nicole, whom Carey worked with during the E=MC² and Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel writing sessions, and produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. As the song samples and interpolates "Where I Wanna Be" by R&B singer Donell Jones, both Jones and co-writer Kyle West received songwriting credit. It's written in the key of F minor and set in common time with a tempo of 102 bpm.
Lyrically, the song was described as "an anthem for women overcoming harsh breakups."[2]
Cover art[]
The track's cover art shows Carey in the backseat of a white Rolls-Royce with red leathers and accompanied by the track's featured rapper, YG, riding shotgun.
Promotion[]
Following the song's release, Carey premiered "I Don't" on The Cruz Show on Power 106 on February 3, 2017. A release party for the song was held the following day at Catch LA.
On February 8, 2017, Carey was interviewed on several radio stations nation-wide about the song.[3]
Carey was also interviewed about the song and Mariah's World by multiple entertainment news outlets the week following the song's release.
On February 15, 2017, Carey was the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and performed the song live for the first time.
Music video[]
Live performances[]
Carey debuted the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 15, 2017. The song was also performed at the 2017 Dubai Jazz Festival on February 23, 2017.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- It's believed that "I Don't" was written about the break up of Carey's engagement to James Packer in late 2016.
- Both the song and its music video were recorded and filmed in 36 hours.[4]
- Crystal Nicole is not officially credited as a songwriter of the song, despite being mentioned by Carey during an interview with Billboard following the song's release.[5]
- The version of the song that was previewed on Mariah's World featured an alternate intro, in which YG's opening verse is replaced by vocalizations sung by Carey not included in the released mix.
Remix[]
On March 24, 2017, a remix featuring American rapper Remy Ma was released.
Other remixes[]
Four official dance mixes by Flipside (1/3 of Jump Smokers) and Jay Mac were commissioned, however, these are rather rare and weren't commercially released. Instead, they were only released via DJ promo subscription services.
.jpg "I Don't (Flipside Remix).jpg (100 KB)")
Lyrics[]
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You don't understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You need to understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
Somewhere in another life
We stole a moment in time
Gave you everything that you needed
I was even down to repeat
Said you would always be mine
Feeding me nothing but lies
I was so gone, I admit it
Had me messed up for a minute
But I'm tired of crying
No more tears
Pity party of the year
Cold at night cause you're not here
Leaving you was my worst fear
I was caught up, I was blind
You kept playing with my mind
Told you I'm finished
Gassed up the whip and
Rear view, bye
Cause when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
You messed up all we had
Probably think I'm coming back
But I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
See I used to love you
But I don't, I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
But you don't mean a thing
Cause I don't, I don't
I tried to make it work
No matter how much it hurt
You had to make it all about you
Tell me why you go and do me like you do?
I went from me and you
To walking right out on you
I know you want love, in your feelings
Fronting on me like your love was the realest
And I'm tired of crying
No more tears
Pity party of the year
Cold at night cause you're not here
Leaving you was my worst fear
I was caught up, I was blind
You kept playing with my mind
Told you I'm finished
Gassed up the whip and
Rear view, bye
Cause when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
You messed up all we had
Probably think I'm coming back
But I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
See I used to love you
But I don't, I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
But you don't mean a thing
Cause I don't, I don't
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You don't understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You need to understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
Hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up
Hold up, I just got you ring, for what?
I put you in the game, now it's game over
Every time you went to the Louis store you got chauffeured
Hold up, how you gon' leave that?
Hold up, give me my ring back
Never mind, you can keep that
'Cause every time you look at your ring, me, you gon' dream that
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You don't understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You need to understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
Cause when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
You messed up all we had
Probably think I'm coming back
But I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
See I used to love you
But I don't, I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
But you don't mean a thing
Cause I don't, I don't
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You don't understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You need to understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
Somewhere in another life
We stole a moment in time
Gave you everything that you needed
I was even down to repeat
Said you would always be mine
Feeding me nothing but lies
I was so gone, I admit it
Had me messed up for a minute
But I'm tired of crying
No more tears
Pity party of the year
Cold at night cause you're not here
Leaving you was my worst fear
I was caught up, I was blind
You kept playing with my mind
Told you I'm finished
Gassed up the whip and
Rear view, bye
Cause when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
You messed up all we had
Probably think I'm coming back
But I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
See I used to love you
But I don't, I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
But you don't mean a thing
Cause I don't, I don't
You go hard for them
You don't ever ever want to be apart from them
It's like y'all one and you become a part of them
You hold them soft and still go hard for them
But instead of looking at how far we've come
I'm regretting it, damn, are you dumb?
Wanted kids and thought you'd father them
Now? I wouldn't even bother, hon
You see I never had a clue that harm would come
And I really loved you and now I'm done
See I got my car and it's started up
And I'll be long gone when your karma come
Had me believe I was wife
I really thought this was life
But now I'm finished, it's back to business
Remy Ma
Cause when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
You messed up all we had
Probably think I'm coming back
But I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
See I used to love you
But I don't, I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
But you don't mean a thing
Cause I don't, I don't
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You don't understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You need to understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
Hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up
Hold up, I just got you ring, for what?
I put you in the game, now it's game over
Every time you went to the Louis store you got chauffeured
Hold up, how you gon' leave that?
Hold up, give me my ring back
Never mind, you can keep that
'Cause every time you look at your ring, me, you gon' dream that
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You don't understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
I know you love me
You just don't trust me
You need to understand me
But you love it when I call you Ms. Carey
Cause when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
You messed up all we had
Probably think I'm coming back
But I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
See I used to love you
But I don't, I don't
Boy I was bugging
Thinking somehow I could trust you
But you don't mean a thing
Cause I don't, I don't
References[]
- ↑ Kaufman, Gil. (January 30, 2017). Mariah Carey Premieres Break-Up Ballad 'I Don't'. Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ↑ Bowe, Miles. (2017, January 24). Mariah Carey and YG rumored to release “an anthem for women” this weekend. Fact Magazine. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ↑ Mariah Carey [@MariahCarey]. (2017, February 8). Up early doing radio. 🎙Calling a few radio stations this morning. Call your local radio stations and request #IDONT! 🔥💍🎶 [Post]. X. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ↑ Davis, Adrianna. (2017, February 8). Mariah Carey Talks To R29 About “I Don’t” & Her Best Breakup Advice. Refinery29. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ↑ Platon, Adelle. (2017, February 7). Mariah Carey Talks Collaborating With YG on ‘I Don’t’ & Wanting to Burn a Wedding Dress in the Video. Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2024.