Daydream is the fifth studio album by American singer and songwriter , released on October 3, 1995, by . The follow-up to her internationally successful album (1993) and holiday album (1994), Daydream differed from the two by leaning increasingly towards and . Throughout the project, Carey collaborated with , with whom she wrote and produced most of her two previous albums. With Daydream, Carey took more control over the musical direction as well as the album's composition. Carey said she considered Daydream the beginning of her musical and vocal transformation, a change that became more apparent in her sixth album (1997). During the album's production, Carey endured many creative differences with her label and husband .

On Daydream, Carey collaborated with for the first time, and co-wrote and produced a song with , with whom she had collaborated on Music Box. It was also the first time she had worked with , an R&B group consisting of four male vocalists. Together, they wrote the concept and lyrics for "", a song that Carey co-produced with Afanasieff. With his assistance and the addition of a few contemporary producers, she was able to make a subtle transition into the R&B market. Daydream was nominated for six at the , during which Carey performed live. Due to the album's critical and commercial success, critics believed Carey would be one of the night's big winners. However, to her dismay, she was completely shut out, causing the subject to become very public and controversial. She left the annual ceremony empty-handed.

Six singles were released from the album. Its lead single "" became the first single by a female artist to debut at number one on the US and went on to top the chart for eight weeks, and became the second best-selling single of 1995 in the country. The song topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, and became a top-five hit in Finland, France, and the United Kingdom. The second single "" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for sixteen weeks, and became the in American history, a record it still holds. It also topped the charts in Canada and New Zealand, and peaked within the top five in Australia, France, Ireland and the Netherlands. Jointly, the singles from Daydream spent a combined six months at the top of the Hot 100. To promote Daydream, Carey embarked on the short but successful, , visiting Japan and Europe.

Daydream became Carey's best-reviewed album up to that point and an international commercial success, debuting at number one in nine different countries, and in the top five in almost every major music market. It was Carey's second album to be certified by the (RIAA).

No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length1."" Mariah Carey Carey, Carey, Hall4:042.""Carey Carey Carey Afanasieff 3:333."" (with ) Carey Carey Afanasieff Carey Afanasieff 4:424."" Perry Cain Carey Afanasieff 3:305.""Carey Carey Carey Dupri Seal 4:186."I Am Free"Carey Carey Afanasieff Carey Afanasieff 3:097."When I Saw You"Carey Carey Afanasieff Carey Afanasieff 4:248."Long Ago"Carey Carey Dupri Seal Carey Dupri Seal 4:339."Melt Away" Carey Carey Babyface Carey3:4210.""Carey Carey Afanasieff Carey Afanasieff 4:0011."" (Fantasy Sweet Dub Mix) Carey Frantz Weymouth Belew Stanley Carey Hall Carey, 3:0412."Looking In"Carey Carey Afanasieff Carey Afanasieff 3:35