Critical Reception
"One Sweet Day" has been lauded by contemporary music critics. In his review for Daydream, Bill Lamb from About.com gave the song praise, calling Carey and Boyz II Men a "perfect vocal match" and wrote "together they turn what could be a rather morose ballad into a truly inspiring and hopeful performance." Allmusic's senior editor, Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the song for its craft and writing, commenting that " "One Sweet Day," a duet with Boyz II Men, Carey appeals to both audiences equally because of the sheer amount of craft and hard work she puts into her albums.
Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly felt the song truly highlighted the album, " radiates a breezy sexiness that Carey, for all the brazen hussiness of her public persona, rarely permits herself to reveal in song. Stephen Holden from The New York Times shared similar sentiments and wrote "On 'One Sweet Day,' the singer joins forces with Boyz II Men, those masters of pleading post-doo-wop vocal harmonies, for a tender eulogy that suggests that the singers have been personally touched by the AIDS crisis." People felt the song was a "stand-out track" and called Carey's vocal performance "bravura belting".
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