Butterfly was co-written and co-produced by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff, released in September 16, 1997. It was one of the first few songs I was able to appreciate when I first got this album.
I remembered running to my bedroom right after I got my copy and played each track, and then skipped tracks that I did not feel repeating on second listen. Then Butterfly came into play. The melancholy in Mariah's vocal runs cannot be missed. The pain in her soaring vocals and constant whispers even took me inside her soul. I forgot the lyrics. I forgot what Mariah implied in her songwriting. It did not matter. The song was just ecstatically beautifully produced and sung. It was enough. I just let her voice consume me, my existence.
Around five years later, I came across the Classic Bossa Nova mix and Sambatterfly/Meme remixes and saved it for posterity. It served its purpose last year. I went back to this catalogue and appreciated this mix existed. Then I turned to the original album track to find this lingering bass line thugs that kicks you out in punches. Then the lyrics synced what I was going through at that time. It was a perfect song. Those sentimental piano runs over carefully programmed percussion and scattered finger snaps/drum beats. Ah, simply irresistible. HaHa
It was a love song. "When you love someone so deeply / They become your life." A sad love song about unrequited love. "I have learned that beauty / Has to flourish in the light / Wild horses run unbridled / Or their spirit dies." It was about pain you have to go through betting your best foot forward to love and seeking to be loved in return. "I can't pretend these tears / Aren't overflowing steadily / I can't prevent this hurt from / Almost overtaking me." It was also a song about hope. Hope that no matter what happens you have to "spread your wings and fly." And it's about giving yourself a push, "You have given me the courage / To be all that I can / And I truly feel your heart will / Lead you back to me when you're / Ready to land."
I remembered running to my bedroom right after I got my copy and played each track, and then skipped tracks that I did not feel repeating on second listen. Then Butterfly came into play. The melancholy in Mariah's vocal runs cannot be missed. The pain in her soaring vocals and constant whispers even took me inside her soul. I forgot the lyrics. I forgot what Mariah implied in her songwriting. It did not matter. The song was just ecstatically beautifully produced and sung. It was enough. I just let her voice consume me, my existence.
Around five years later, I came across the Classic Bossa Nova mix and Sambatterfly/Meme remixes and saved it for posterity. It served its purpose last year. I went back to this catalogue and appreciated this mix existed. Then I turned to the original album track to find this lingering bass line thugs that kicks you out in punches. Then the lyrics synced what I was going through at that time. It was a perfect song. Those sentimental piano runs over carefully programmed percussion and scattered finger snaps/drum beats. Ah, simply irresistible. HaHa
It was a love song. "When you love someone so deeply / They become your life." A sad love song about unrequited love. "I have learned that beauty / Has to flourish in the light / Wild horses run unbridled / Or their spirit dies." It was about pain you have to go through betting your best foot forward to love and seeking to be loved in return. "I can't pretend these tears / Aren't overflowing steadily / I can't prevent this hurt from / Almost overtaking me." It was also a song about hope. Hope that no matter what happens you have to "spread your wings and fly." And it's about giving yourself a push, "You have given me the courage / To be all that I can / And I truly feel your heart will / Lead you back to me when you're / Ready to land."
One can really appreciate life and its beauty when you give yourself a chance to love and be hurt. Well, to be hurt would really be subjective and should not always be the case. But hey, it's what, imho, would give you this ultimate pleasure of appreciating love and its core context when you were able to overcome the pain and be able to "fly again abandonedly into the sun." Afterall, love without hurting is too bland and boring. Excite your self once in a while. Life is all about the adventure that you are willing to take. Pikon talo. To be hurt is human and is also a beautiful experience.
