Loverboy (Mariah Carey Song) - Chart Performance

Chart Performance

Prior to Virgin's release of "Loverboy", Carey halted all promotional appearances corresponding to the song. Citing an emotional breakdown and a subsequent hospitalization, Carey remained out of the public eye for several weeks. After its release, "Loverboy" failed to garner strong charting on prominent international markets, and received poor radio airplay throughout the United States. After "languishing" on stateside radio, Virgin reduced the price of the single to 49 cents, hoping to induce a surge in sales. Following the song's price cut, "Loverboy" peaked atop the Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart for four consecutive weeks, though due to weak airplay, only managed to reach number two on the Hot 100. "Loverboy" finished as the best-selling single of 2001 in the United States, with sales of over 570,000 units, falling short of the previous years best-seller, which accumulated sales upwards of one million copies. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the song Gold, denoting shipments of over 500,000 units. In Canada, "Loverboy" peaked at number three on the singles chart, and charted for a total of thirteen weeks.

Throughout Australasia and Europe, the song peaked outside the top-twenty in most countries. "Loverboy" debuted at its peak position of number seven on the Australian Singles Chart, during the week of July 29, 2001. The following week, the song began its decline, and experienced a total chart trajectory of seven weeks. The song was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of over 35,000 units. On July 29, 2001, "Loverboy" debuted at number 65 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 chart, spending a total of three weeks in the chart. The song achieved relatively weak charting in both the Flemmish and Wallonian territories in Belgium, peaking at numbers 49 and 34, respectively. Making its debut at its peak position of number 54, "Loverboy" charted for a total of nine weeks in France, before falling out on November 3, 2001. On the Dutch Top 40 chart, the song made its debut at number 68. The following week the song peaked at number 34, before dropping outside the top 40 three weeks later, ending its five week run. On July 26, 2001, "Loverboy" debuted at number 49 on the Swedish Singles Chart, and reached a peak of number 44. Similarly in Switzerland, the song peaked at number 66, and spent only four weeks fluctuating inside the chart. On the UK Singles Chart, the song debuted at its peak of number 12. The following week, the song dropped to number 29 on the chart, before dropping outside the top-forty two weeks later.