"Vision of Love" received universal acclaim from the music critics. While the song's production was typical of late 1980s pop, the vocals were not, being much more showy and expressing a wider range than artists popular at the time such as Paula Abdul and Debbie Gibson. It has been credited with popularizing the use of melisma in contemporary popular music and for inspiring several artists to pursue a music career. The New Yorker named "Vision of Love" the "Magna Carta of melisma" for its and Carey's influence on pop and R&B singers and American Idol contestants. Additionally, Rolling Stone said that "the fluttering strings of notes that decorate songs like "Vision of Love," inspired the entire American Idol vocal school, for better or worse, and virtually every other female R&B singer since the nineties." The song topped the singles charts in Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, where it spent four weeks atop the chart.
The accompanying music video for "Vision of Love" was filmed in April 1990. It features Carey in a large cathedral, where she meditates and sings by a large picture window. "Vision of Love" was performed on several television and award show ceremonies, such as The Arsenio Hall Show, Good Morning America, and the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards. It has been performed at almost every one of Carey's concerts and tours, and is featured on Carey's live album MTV Unplugged (1992) and on many of her compilation albums including #1's (1998), Greatest Hits (2001) and The Ballads (2008).
Vision of Love
Mariah Carey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet destiny
Carried me through desperation
To the one that was waiting for me
It took so long
Still I believed
Somehow, the one that I needed
Would find me eventually
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
Prayed through the nights
Felt so alone
Suffered from alienation
Carried the weight on my own
Had to be strong
So I believed
And now I know I've succeeded
In finding the place I conceived
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given me
I've realized a dream
And I visualized
The love that came to be
Feel so alive
I'm so thankful that I've received
The answer that heaven has sent down to me
You treated me kind (yeah)
Sweet destiny (and you know that you did)
And I'll be eternally grateful
Holding you so close to me (prayed through the nights)
Prayed through the nights (so faithfully)
So faithfully (faithfully)
Knowing the one that I needed
Would find me eventually (he would find me)
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you turned out to be, yeah, mmm
The lyrics to Mariah Carey's song "Vision of Love" speak to a journey of perseverance through difficult times in hopes of finding true love. Carey begins by acknowledging that destiny has been kind to her, guiding her through despair until she finally found the person meant for her. She admits that it took a long time to find this person, but she never stopped believing that they would eventually cross paths. Carey had a "vision of love" that was fulfilled by this partner whom she considers to be her destiny.
Throughout her journey, Carey faced feelings of loneliness and isolation which she coped with by praying during the night. She had to be strong and believe that eventually, she would find the love she sought. Carey credits this mindset for her ultimate success in finding love, something that she had imagined for herself for a long time. She now feels alive, grateful for the love she has received, and considers it a gift from heaven.
Overall, Carey's "Vision of Love" is both an anthem of perseverance and a romantic ballad expressing gratitude for having found true love after a difficult journey of loneliness and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Treated me kind
You showed me kindness and love
Sweet destiny
It was fate that brought us together
Carried me through desperation
During my tough times, you were my support
To the one that was waiting for me
I finally found the one I was destined to be with
It took so long
I waited patiently for my true love
Still I believed
I never lost faith in finding true love
Somehow the one that I needed
I knew I would find the person I needed in my life, somehow
Would find me eventually
I knew that destiny would bring us together eventually
I had a vision of love
I had a clear idea of what true love should be
And it was all that you've given to me
You have given me everything I ever wanted in love
Prayed through the nights
I prayed for a loving partner all night long
Felt so alone
I felt lonely and lost without my true love
Suffered from alienation
I felt like an outsider without my soulmate
Carried the weight on my own
I shouldered the burden of finding true love alone
Had to be strong
I had to remain strong and resilient
And now I know I've succeeded
I have finally found true love
In finding the place I conceived
I have found the place I've longed for in my heart
I've realized a dream
I am fulfilling a long-held dream of finding true love
And I visualized
I always imagined finding someone like you
The love that came to be
The love we share is beyond my wildest dreams
Feel so alive
I feel alive and happy with you by my side
I'm so thankful that I've received
I am grateful for having you in my life
The answer that heaven has sent down to me
You are the love that I believe was sent down to me from heaven
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amelia-rh3vr
LYRICS TO SING ALONG:
Treated me kind
Sweet destiny
Carried me through desperation
To the one that was waiting for me
It took so long
Still I believed
Somehow the one that I needed
Would find me eventually
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
Prayed through the nights
Felt so alone
Suffered from alienation
Carried the weight on my own
Had to be strong
So I believed
And now I know I've succeeded
In finding the place I conceived
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given me
I've realized a dream
And I visualized
The love that came to be
Feel so alive
I'm so thankful that I've received
The answer that heaven has sent down to me
You treated me kind (yeah)
Sweet destiny (and you know that you did)
And I'll be eternally grateful
Holding you so close to me (prayed through the night)
Prayed through the nights (so faithfully)
So faithfully (faithfully)
Knowing the one that I needed
Would find me eventually (he would find me)
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you turned out to be, yeah, mmm
@andreluizlouradasilva2373
Treated me kind
Sweet destiny
Carried me through desperation
To the one that was waiting for me
It took so long
Still I believed
Somehow the one that I needed
Would find me eventually
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
Prayed through the nights
Felt so alone
Suffered from alienation
Carried the weight on my own
Had to be strong
So I believed
And now I know I've succeeded
In finding the place I conceived
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given me
I've realized the dream
And I visualized
The love that came to be
Feel so alive
I'm so thankful that I've received
The answer that heaven has sent down to me
You treated me kind
Sweet destiny
And I'll be eternally grateful
Holding you so close to me
Prayed through the nights
So faithfully
Knowing the one that I needed
Would find me eventually
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you've given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you turned out to be
@BMohr4260
1991, my boyfriend asked me to marry him while dancing to Vision of Love. Still happily married in 2020 ❤
@reese8453
girl omg this is beautiful 😭
@aliana8483
Omg 😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@sisterlee2428
Congratulations! That’s beautiful!
@desra753
Awww I love you guys!💕
@YABANIRA
Now that's what I'm talking about 😃
@cruisinnewcollection-tw3ln
My dad passed away yesterday and now I'm making a playlist with all the songs he loved and I remember him by. This is one of them. Thank you dad for showing me the greatest artists of all times. Loved, missed and never forgotten 🤘🔥❤🙏
@Stomache2006
🙏🏼🙏🏼
@Emy_Watson
🫂 🫂 🫂 hugs❤
@emilyfoster5180
I'm sorry for your loss.