Daydream (30th Anniversary Edition): “DAYDREAM IS SUCH A SPECIAL ALBUM TO ME. AT THE TIME, I WAS VERY MUCH LIVING INSIDE A DAYDREAM, PLAYING THE ROLE OF THE HAPPIEST, MOST CAREFREE, HOPELESSLY ROMANTIC GIRL IN THE WORLD. BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, MY LIFE WAS A ROLLERCOASTER. DAYDREAM WAS NOT ONLY AN EXPRESSION OF WHO I WAS, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHO I WANTED TO BE. THIS ALBUM ALSO GAVE ME MORE CREATIVE FREEDOM THAN I HAD EVER HAD BEFORE. IT WAS AN ALBUM OF MANY FIRSTS: THE FIRST TIME I WORKED WITH A RAPPER, CREATING SOMETHING TIMELESS WITH O.D.B. ON THE "FANTASY" REMIX. THE FIRST TIME I GOT TO BE IN THE STUDIO WITH JERMAINE DUPRI, WHO BECAME A DEAR FRIEND AND LONGTIME COLLABORATOR. THE FIRST TIME I GOT TO DIRECT MY OWN MUSIC VIDEOS. I ALSO HAVE SUCH WARM MEMORIES OF BEING IN THE STUDIO WITH BABYFACE, WRITING AND SINGING "MELT AWAY" TOGETHER. THE WRITING SESSION FOR "ONE SWEET DAY" WITH BOYZ II MEN IS ONE I'LL NEVER FORGET; NEITHER OF US COULD HAVE IMAGINED HOW THAT SONG WOULD AFFECT PEOPLE. IT STILL MEANS SO MUCH TO ME TO THIS DAY. I REMEMBER FIGHTING FOR "UNDERNEATH THE STARS,” WHICH WAS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE SONG, TO BE A SINGLE, AND BEING DISAPPOINTED WHEN THE VIDEO WAS SCRAPPED. YEARS LATER WE FOUND THE FOOTAGE IN THE VAULT AND WERE FINALLY ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH THE FANS. "SLIPPING AWAY," A FAN FAVORITE B-SIDE, IS FINALLY BEING INCLUDED ON THIS RE-RELEASE - LONG PAST ITS DUE! THIS WAS ALSO THE FIRST TIME I WENT ON A WORLD TOUR. ONE OF MY MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THIS ERA WAS PERFORMING AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. AS A NEW YORKER, THAT NIGHT MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME. IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE IN THE MOST LITERAL SENSE. I AM SO PROUD TO SHARE THAT FULL CONCERT WITH YOU ON VINYL HERE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. THE FANS WHO WERE THERE THAT NIGHT, AND THE FANS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME THROUGH EVERY ERA SINCE ARE THE REASON THIS MUSIC HAS A LIFE BEYOND ME. THAT CONNECTION WE SHARE IS SOMETHING I DO NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED. NOT THEN, NOT NOW, NOT EVER. THIRTY-SOMETHING YEARS LATER, I AM STILL IN AWE OF IT. THIS ONE IS DEDICATED TO MY BABIES, MOROCCAN AND MONROE. "ALWAYS BE MY BABY" HAS A SPECIAL NEW MEANING THANKS TO THEM. LOVE FOREVER, MARIAH”