"Obsessed" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Mariah Carey | ||||
from the album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel | ||||
Released | June 16, 2009 | |||
Format | ||||
Recorded | 2009 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:02 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Writer(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
|
|||
Mariah Carey singles chronology | ||||
|
"Obsessed" is a song by American singer Mariah Carey from her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009). The song was written and produced by Carey, Terius "The-Dream" Nash and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, and was released as the album's lead single on June 16, 2009 by Island Records. The song draws musical influences from R&B and hip hop music, and is built around a thumping bass line. Additionally, the song is accentuated by hand claps, while Carey's voice is processed with Auto-Tune. Lyrically, the song describes Mariah's dilemma regarding constant claims of a prior relationship from rapper Eminem, although he is not specifically mentioned.
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics who highlighted it as a stand-out track from Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. Many reviewers complimented its clever lyrics and strong beat, while others criticized the song's usage of auto-tune on Carey's vocals. At the time of the song's release, "Obsessed" was the center of controversy, as critics and the media suggested Carey was aiming it at American rapper Eminem, who had negatively referenced her several times in songs. Eminem released a song called "The Warning" in response.
"Obsessed" peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Carey's 27th top-ten hit on the chart. In terms of total top-ten chart entries among all artists in the chart's history, Carey tied for fifth place after the song's peak, with Janet Jackson and Elton John. Internationally, the song was not released throughout parts of Europe, as Island Records decided to give priority to the album's second single, Carey's cover of Foreigner's classic "I Want to Know What Love Is". "Obsessed" peaked within the top 10 in France and Italy, and in the top 20 in Australia, Belgium, Canada and Japan.