Bye Bye (Mariah Carey Song) - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

"Bye Bye" received generally positive reviews from music critics, and was heavily speculated to have become Carey's 19th number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. Many reviewers complimented its simple and understated musical arrangement and personalized lyrics, while some felt the song was too simple for an artist of Carey's stature. Jeffrey Mitchell from The Hollywood Reporter described it as a "high point" on the album, and wrote "Mariah softly and sweetly lamenting the loss of any kind of loved one on the truly touching 'Bye Bye'. Mitchell concluded his review put stock in the song's success, and ended with "Thankfully, it looks like we won’t be saying “bye” to Mariah for a long time." An anonymous journalist writing in for MTV UK called "Bye Bye" a "tear jerking ode to people who have passed away", and assumed it would "have reality pop contestants singing away for decades to come!" The Houston Chronicle's Goey Guerra highlighted the song as "truly trademark Mimi", and described it as "a lighters-and-hands-in-the-air tribute to deceased loved ones". Dan Hinkley of Daily News branded it "the album's most potentially personal song", and assured it would become Carey's 19th chart-topping single in the United States. The song received positive response from both Rolling Stone's Christian Hoard and Yahoo! Music writer Dann Gennoe, who describes the track as a "piano-based big-voiced" and "lighter-friendly" ballad. In his review of E=MC², a writer from the Los Angeles Times described the song's lyrics and production in detail:

When Carey tries to open up a bit more, her sentiments are the equivalent of a Hallmark Precious Moments figurine. In a ballad 'Bye Bye', Carey isn't taking chances, designing the lyrics for mass appeal by dedicating them to anyone who ever lost somebody, be it 'your best friend, your baby, your man or your lady'. But Carey gracefully pulls off the universality of the lyrics, and the tune will likely be a massive hit.

A columnist from the British newspaper New! described "Bye Bye" as their "favorite track", and wrote "the delicious 'Bye Bye' is a classic slushy Mariah ballad, with a swoonsome chorus." Jonathan Reyes from Rap-Up felt the track would get listeners "teary eyed", and due to it being a "song everyone can relate too", assure it would become Carey's next number-one single. While ABC News writer, Steve Jones, described how "Bye Bye" packed the bum with "an emotional wallop", The Washington Post's Freedom De Luc compared it heavily to "Don't Forget About Us", Carey's 2005 single. De Luc wrote how both shared similar piano instrumentation, however different lyrical settings; "Don't Forget About Us" finds Carey playing a "broken-hearted lover", while "Bye Bye" an "inspirational song that comes with its own set of suggested demographics and instructions." Bill Lamb from About.com lauded the song, assuring its chart success with "Nothing is ever a sure bet to be a #1 hit, but it seems like Mariah Carey's new single 'Bye Bye', is about as close as it gets. He described it as a track that "has a universal lyrical appeal and the instant feel of a Mariah Carey classic." Some reviewers felt the song was a sub-par effort from an artist of Carey's stature, with many describing it as unoriginal and not a good follow-up single to "Touch My Body". Entertainment Weekly's Margeaux Watsman felt "Bye Bye" was an "odd choice" for a second single, and called it "somber edgy". Nick Levine from Digital Spy described the track as a "shmaltzy ballad", while an anonymous VH1 critic wrote "with the “We Belong Together” sonic template and lyrics tailored appeal to everyone on such a basic level seems like too easy of a combination for someone as established as Mimi. This one’s like insurance – in case nothing else is a hit, here’s a sure-shot. But ultimately, it turns out that the album is too good for that."