text: don 't forget about us " don 't forget about us " is a song by american singer and songwriter mariah carey . it was written by carey , jermaine dupri , bryan - michael cox and johntá austin , and released as the fifth single on december 12 , 2005 , for the re - issue of her tenth studio album , the emancipation of mimi ( 2005 ) . co - produced by the former three , the song is influenced by r & b and hip hop soul music genres , and lyrically chronicles the emotions felt by the protagonist after the loss of their relationship . carey explained that the true meaning of the song is to be interpreted by the listener , therefore not disclosing its entire meaning publicly . the song received generally positive reviews from music critics , with many heavily comparing it to carey 's previous single " we belong together " . several reviewers felt the song 's similarity marked carey 's lack of creativity with it , while others embraced its radio - friendly formula . " don 't forget about us " became carey 's seventeenth chart topping single on the us billboard hot 100 , tying the record for most number - one singles by a solo artist set by elvis presley 36 years before . internationally , the song topped the singles chart in belgium and finland , and reached the top - ten in hungary and the netherlands . carey performed the song at the 33rd annual american music awards , and during the half - time of the thanksgiving game between the detroit lions and the atlanta falcons . additionally , the song was included on the set - lists of carey 's the adventures of mimi and angels advocate tours . the song 's music video chronicles the two time frames , carey in the present , as well as the past memories she shared with her ex - lover that continue to haunt her . at the 49th annual grammy awards , " don 't forget about us " was nominated for two awards during the ceremony held on february 11 , 2007 . background and recording after being branded carey 's " comeback album " by music critics , and becoming the highest selling album of her career post - glitter ( 2001 ) , the emancipation of mimi inspired carey to return to the studio , in hopes of writing and producing new material for her next studio album . during a writing session with jermaine dupri , carey wrote " don 't forget about us " as a possible single for her next album , reminiscent of the material on the emancipation of mimi . after hearing the unfinished version of the song , l.a. reid , ceo at the time of carey 's label island records , was very satisfied with the song . he convinced carey to continue writing and producing new songs , and suggested on re - releasing the album , which had already sold over four million units in the united states alone . carey agreed to the idea of re - releasing the emancipation of mimi , feeling eager to release the song , as well as other material to her fans , instead of making them wait for a brand new album . in an interview with mtv news , carey discussed the decision of releasing the song immediately , as well as the re - release of the album : 't forget about us ' was a song that jermaine [ dupri ] and i started writing and didn 't finish , and l.a. reid heard it . he was excited about it and he was like , ' we should re - release the album . i agreed because were trying to figure out what to do with the song because we loved it so much , and we didn 't want to wait until the next album to send it to radio . after completing the song , carey announced on october 13 , 2005 via her official website , that she would be re - releasing the emancipation of mimi . additionally , she explained how the album would contain four new songs , and would be promoted internationally by the new single , " don 't forget about us " . the song was released throughout the globe as the fifth official single from the emancipation of mimi , and the first from the re - release , tentatively titled , ultra platinum edition . composition " don 't forget about us " is a mid - tempo song lasting three minutes and fifty - three seconds , while drawing influence from pop and r & b with downtempo beats music genres . written by carey , jermaine dupri , bryan - michael cox and johntá austin , and produced by the former three , the song drew comparisons to carey 's " we belong together " . according to michael paoletta from billboard , the song features a similar tempo , lyrical style , instrumentation and production as the latter song , and incorporates a reminiscent vocal performance from carey . according to the sheet music published at musicnotes.com by alfred music publishing , the song is set in common time with a moderate tempo of 72 beats per minute . the song is composed in the key of g minor , with carey 's vocal range spanning from the low - note of d3 to the high - note of f6 . lyrically , the song describes the potency of a " first love " , and features a protagonist pleading to her lover to " not forget about them " . critics noted that the song 's lyrics both let go of a lover , as well as cherishing their memory . carey sings " just let it die / with no goodbyes " , indicating a relationship that has long decayed , and how she has let it drift away , while also adding " here 's only one me and you / and how we used to shine / no matter what you go through / we are one , that 's a fact / that you can 't deny " , indicating that while they are no longer together , she will continue to cherish the memory of them , and how strong their love was . according to carey , she refrained from giving away too much of the song 's lyrical meaning , in order to allow fans to possibly interpret the song in their own way : i try not to get too specific so that people can apply the lyrics to their own lives . when i was growing up and listening to the radio and i would hear a song that reminded me of a certain person or a situation or whatever , i would want to be able to completely connect it to that moment . and then if i heard someone explaining it and making it into something totally different , it ruined it for me . so i kind of like to keep it open for people 's imaginations . it evokes something different depending on who listens to it and at what time . " don 't forget about us " could give you a good , happy memory , or you could be miserable , crying , listening to it over and over . all in all , i think it 's good to have music you can live vicariously through , and that 's what a lot of people have told me this record has been for them . critical reception " don 't forget about us " garnered generally positive reviews from music critics , though many compared it to , and felt it shared several similarities with carey 's previous single , " we belong together " . bill lamb from about.com rated the song four out of five stars , who while noting the song 's careful formula , complimented carey 's more mature and lower range vocals : " mariah is clearly settling into a more mature style and lower range vocals than in her early career . " additionally , lamb commented that although not as " strong " as " we belong together " , the song was marginally better than another single from the emancipation of mimi , " shake it off " . billboard 's michael paoletta drew heavy comparisons to " we belong together " , noting the song 's similar tempo , lyrical style , instrumentation and vocal stamp . he commented that although " don 't forget about us " was " satisfying " on its own , it suggested that carey had hit a creative wall . andre meyer from cbc news described the song as " stronger " than anything carey released from 2001 – 2005 , and wrote " [ it ] cops the jittery r & b vibe that made destiny ’ s child so potent . " reviewers from the new yorker and music week were both taken aback by the single , calling it " beautiful " and " gentle " , respectively . todd martens from the los angeles times compared it heavily to carey 's 2008 single " bye bye " , describing their piano melody as " a close match " . in 2007 , " don 't forget about us " was nominated for two grammy awards , in the " best female r & b vocal performance " and " best r & b song " categories , although not winning either . chart performance " don 't forget about us " was released as the fourth international single from the emancipation of mimi ( 2005 ) , and the first from its re - release , the ultra platinum edition . the song reached the top of the billboard hot 100 in its eleventh week , spending two consecutive weeks at the position . " don 't forget about us " became carey 's 17th chart - topping single in the united states , tying the record set by elvis presley for most number - one singles by a solo artist ( carey has since surpassed this record with " touch my body " in 2008 ) . currently , the only act to hold more us number - one singles than carey are the beatles , who gained twenty throughout their career . " don 't forget about us " stayed in the top forty for eighteen weeks and reached number one on other billboard component charts , including the hot r & b / hip - hop songs . the song was certified gold by the recording industry association of america ( riaa ) , denoting shipments of over 500 , 000 units . outside the united states , the song achieved moderate international charting . in australia , " don 't forget about us " debuted at its peak position of number twelve on the singles chart , during the week of december 18 , 2005 . in its second week , the song stalled at number twelve , before beginning its eleven - week decent on the chart . on both the finnish and italian singles charts , " don 't forget about us " charted for only one week , placing at number one and eleven , respectively . in both the wallonian and flemish territories in belgium , the song peaked at numbers two and one , although plummeting outside the top - fifty the following week . on the dutch top 40 chart , " don 't forget about us " debuted at number ninety - two during the week dated february 2 , 2006 . spending one week at its peak position of number four , the song dropped to thirty - two the following week . in new zealand , it peaked at number twelve , and spent a total of four weeks fluctuating in the singles chart . similarly on february 26 , 2006 , the song debuted and peaked at number nineteen on the swiss singles chart , and spent a total of five weeks on the chart . on the uk singles chart week dated december 12 , 2005 , " don 't forget about us " began its seven - week run at its peak of number eleven . music video background filmed in los angeles , the music video reunited carey with paul hunter , director of the video for her 1997 single , " honey " . since its release , carey claimed it to be one of her favorite videos , due to its complex scenery and fun nature . she explained that she had wanted to work with hunter again for some time , and was happy to be able to film another music video alongside him . in an interview with mtv news , carey described her feelings regarding the video , as well as sentiments towards the video 's director , hunter : " but i was so happy to work with him again ' cause ever since ' honey ' i 've been trying to relive the splendor of that moment . it 's more of just a plain beauty piece with sentimental overtones , but it was great to work with paul again . " following a tale of love and separation , the video alternates between two different time frames . the first of these involves a tearful carey in the present , while the second invokes memories of a relationship with a former lover ( played by dolce & gabbana model christian ) . when questioned regarding a possible relationship with , carey said " erm , how do we play this ? ok , he ’ s a very nice guy , he ’ s been in a fabulous dolce & gabbana advert - did you see it ? and we ’ ve had some nice conversations and , um , a nice time . ok , i ’ ll say he definitely did a very good job in the video . " additionally , carey and hunter placed several secrets within the video 's scenery , that would be intended for the " die - hard fans " . following the video 's completion , it premiered on mtv and several other music video channels on november 1 , 2005 . aside from the video 's script , carey channeled marilyn monroe , one of her icons growing up . during a pool scene , carey re - enacts a part from monroe 's film something 's got to give ( 1962 ) . in an interview with mtv news , carey spoke of the re - enactment : that shot was totally and completely inspired by ' something 's got to give , ' marilyn monroe 's last movie that never got finished . it 's an homage to her , because i 've never seen anyone re - create it . so many people have emulated so many of marilyn 's classic moments , but it 's just that i 'm a big fan of hers , and i thought it was really pretty at night with the pool . no one could ever be as fabulous as marilyn was , but it 's in honor and homage to her . synopsis the music video chronicles two alternative time frames , with the first of carey in the present , tearful and remorseful their separation , while the other of several different past memories in which she shared with her lover . the video begins with carey wearing a long brown blouse , laying on a sofa in an elegantly furnished home . as the song begins , she stands up and walks around the living room , while remembering and lamenting her failed relationship . as the first memory of carey and her lover together on a soccer field is shown , she is once again shown in the present , however clothed in a large white sweater while tears trickle down her cheek . as the memory continues of that night on the soccer field , they are seen together , caressing each other and holding each other in a tight embrace . carey , in the present , makes her way into a heated pool , where she lays her leg on the deck , re - enacting a famed scene from marilyn monroe 's unreleased film , something 's got to give ( 1962 ) . the next memory is of the pair together in the same pool , however in happier times . during the song 's bridge , the scenes alternate from carey at her home in the present , to the duo holding each other intimately in a car . the video ends with carey alone in the car , while wearing her lover 's jacket . chart performance " don 't forget about us " music video peaked at # 1 on billboard 's hot videoclip tracks chart . remixes the main remix of " don 't forget about us " was produced by jermaine dupri and is known as the mr. dupri mix . it features guest appearances from rappers juelz santana , krayzie bone and bone . the mr. dupri mix was added to itunes music store for download , while several dance remixes ( by ralphi rosario & craig j. , quentin harris and tony moran & warren rigg ) were produced and made available for sale at other download retailers . in january 2007 , a new remix titled the desert storm remix , produced by dj clue ( who also remixed " we belong together " and " shake it off " ) featuring styles p and fabolous , was released to u.s. radio . this remix appeared on dj clue 's album fidel 2006 . a video was also helmed for the desert storm mix and can be found on clue 's official myspace page ; it has shots of carey , styles p , dj clue and fabolous in the studio and enjoying themselves . live performances carey performed " don 't forget about us " on several televised appearances , as well on all of her tours following its release . on november 15 , 2005 , the chicago tribune announced that carey would perform during the half - time on the thanksgiving game between the detroit lions and the atlanta falcons . airing on the 24th , carey performed " shake it off " , as well as her newly released single from the album 's re - release , " don 't forget about us " . on november 22 , 2005 , carey opened the 33rd annual american music awards with a performance of " don 't forget about us " , held at the shrine auditorium in los angeles . appearing on stage in a " sequined , silver , spaghetti - strap gown slit to the waist " , carey completed the song before accepting the first award of the evening . dave west from digital spy described it as a " blistering performance " , and claimed carey " wowed " the crowd with her live rendition of the song . two months later , she celebrated the new year on television , placing as the featured performer at the times square ball drop on new year 's eve in new york . the special , titled dick clark 's new year 's rockin ' eve with ryan seacrest , aired on abc at 10 pm on december 31 , and featured carey on stage wearing a short sparkling dress , and performing a selection of the album 's singles . on carey 's 2006 the adventures of mimi tour stop at madison square garden , she sang " don 't forget about us " while wearing a sparkling bikini top and black leggings . she introduced the song as a " thank you " to fans for " making this my 17th number one single " . four years later during carey 's angels advocate tour in 2010 , she had not performed the song on the first few runs of the tour . at the show in phoenix , she told the crowd that she had forgotten the song until that night : " i had forgotten about this song the whole tour and i don 't know why . funny i should forget it , considering the title . " dressed in a " form - fitting short dress with a flared , tutu - like bottom " for the first portion of the night , carey completed the song as the fourth on the set - list . formats and track listings credits and personnel credits adapted from the emancipation of mimi liner notes . mariah carey – songwriter , producer , vocalist jermaine dupri – songwriter , producer bryan - michael cox – songwriter , producer johntá austin – songwriter brian garten – recording charts and certifications