"Anytime You Need a Friend" is a gospel-inspired power ballad by Mariah Carey, released in May 1994 as the fourth and final single from her diamond-certified third studio album, Music Box (1993). Written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, the song is widely celebrated for its spiritual depth and Carey's extensive vocal range, which spans from her deep lower register to her signature whistle notes.
: Carey has revealed that she wrote the song from the perspective of what God might say to someone in times of fear. At the time, she felt "desperately alone" and "like a prisoner" due to her controlling marriage to Tommy Mottola. Mariah Carey - Anytime You Need A Friend
Experience the different versions and live performances of this vocal masterpiece: Mariah Carey - Anytime You Need A Friend YouTube · MariahCareyVEVO "Anytime You Need a Friend" is a gospel-inspired
: In 2020, to celebrate 30 years of her career, Carey released a 13-track Anytime You Need a Friend EP containing various remixes from the original vault. At the time, she felt "desperately alone" and
: The song reached number one in Finland and hit the top ten in several countries, including Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.