Composition and Critical Reception
"Always Be My Baby" is a ballad, which incorporates pop and contemporary R&B genres. It has a moderate tempo of 76 beats per minute. The song features a "double voice" which is an effect Carey created in the studio, where her lower vocal notes are used as backup, and her higher chest notes are used as the song's main focal point. The song's instrumentation is written in the key of F major, with basic chord progression of F–B♭–C–C♯m–Dm. It is set in signature common time. Carey's vocals in the song are sung in the key of E major and span from the note of E3 to F5. The song garnered positive reviews by the critics. Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly complimented the song's "relaxed swing" and felt its instrumentation helped make it a standout from the album. Stephen Holden, editor of The New York Times, complimented "Always Be My Baby", calling it one of "the best on the album." At the 38th Grammy Awards the song received a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
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