Bye Bye (Mariah Carey Song)

Bye Bye (Mariah Carey Song)

"Bye Bye" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her eleventh studio album, E=MC² (2008). It was written by Carey, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Johntá Austin, and produced by the former three. It was released as the album's second single on April 15, 2008, in the United States, Australasia and select European countries. The song draws influence from pop and R&B music genres, and features a piano and keyboard-driven melody. Lyrically, the song features a dialogue in between Carey and her deceased father throughout the verses, and a universal salute to departed loved ones on the chorus, where she sings "This is for everybody, just lift your hands to the sky, cause we won't ever say bye bye".

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many considering it a highlight from the album. Many reviewers complimented its simple production, as well as its very personal and inspirational lyrics, while some criticized it for being too simple for an artist of Carey's caliber. Though expected by critics to have surely become Carey's nineteenth chart-topping single in the United States, following the success of "Touch My Body", the track only managed to reach a peak position of number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100. Throughout other countries where it found release, the song achieved relatively weak charting, peaking within the top ten in New Zealand, and in the top-fifty in Canada, Ireland, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom.

"Bye Bye" was performed on few live televised appearances, in comparison to the large promotional boost given to "Touch My Body". Carey first performed the song on T4, followed by Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Carey performed "Bye Bye" for the final time on the seventh season of American Idol, where she was featured as a mentor for the top-seven week. Titled "Mariah Carey Week" and airing live on April 14, 2008, the contestants were to perform a song from Carey's catalog. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Justin Francis on the island of Antigua in the Caribbean. Notably, Carey and Cannon began dating during their trip to the island, and later wed on April 30, 2008. The video features behind-the-scenes footage of the couple, Carey promoting the album in the United Kingdom, as well as photos of several of Carey's close friends, family and past collaborators.