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"I Wish You Knew" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, from her tenth studio album The Emancipation of Mimi (2005).

Background
In 2001, Carey suffered a physical and emotional breakdown, causing her to abandon promotion of her then-released studio album Glitter (2001), and its accompanying film. Since she was hospitalized for exhaustion, the film project received strongly negative critical feedback, with the album faring slightly better. Following Carey's absence from the public eye, as well as her abandonment of promotional appearances for the film and soundtrack, her unprecedented $100 million five-album record deal with Virgin Records (EMI Records) was bought out for $50 million. After recovering and completing her contractual agreement with Virgin Records, Carey began recording her intended "comeback" and follow-up album, Charmbracelet (2002). Although the album focused on incorporating several inspirational and adult contemporary ballads and re-capturing Carey's audience from throughout the 1990s, critics took notice of Carey's different vocals.

As Glitter had been a mixture of 1980s covers and more dance-oriented material, Charmbracelet was void of up-tempo numbers, and harbored on slower, more contemporary melodies. In his review of the album, Stephen Thomas Erlewine harshly criticized the album's content, but also Carey's voice, which he described as "in tatters". He wrote "Whenever she sings, there's a raspy whistle behind her thin voice and she strains to make notes throughout the record. She cannot coo or softly croon, nor can she perform her trademark gravity-defying vocal runs. Her voice is damaged, and there's not a moment where it sounds strong or inviting." Though fueled by strong media attention regarding Carey's return to music, as well as her new deal with Island Records, the album failed to deliver the type of success she had been accustomed to throughout the 1990s, and only managed sales of five million copies globally. After the album's release, and its succeeding tour, Carey began conceptualizing and working on a new project, eventually titled The Emancipation of Mimi, her tenth studio effort. By November 2004, Carey had already recorded several songs for her newly titled tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi.

Production and recording
"I Wish You Knew" was co-written and co-produced by Carey and James "Big Jim" Wright. The song was recorded at MSR Studios and Honeywest Studios, both located in New York City, as well as Capri Studios, located in Capri, Italy. The engineers were Dana Jon Chappelle and Brian Garten, and they were assisted by Jason Finkel and Michael Leedy. "I WIsh You Knew" was mixed by Phil Tan at MSR Studios, while the song was mastered by Herb Powers at the now closed The Hit Factory in New York City. The instrumental musicians were Chops Horns playing the horn, Darryl Dixon playing the alto saxophone, Joe Ramano playing the trumpet and flugelhorn, Jeff Dieterie playing the trombone and bass trombone, Rick Brunermer playing the tenor saxophone and flute, Randy Jackson on the bass, "Big Jim" Wright on the keyboard, Poyser on the keyboards, Jeffrey Lee Johnson on the guitars, Charles Drayton on the drums and Lorris Holland provided additional keyboards. The background vocals were performed by Carey, Trey Lorenz, Mary-Ann Tatum and Sherry Tatum.

Composition
"I Wish You Knew" is an "old-school '70s smooth soul" song The lyrics revolve around the protagonist yearning for a second chance at their failed relationship.

Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine for Allmusic wrote that the "Big Jim" Wright assisted songs, "I Wish You Knew" and "Fly Like a Bird", were "especially welcome" on The Emancipation of Mimi. Jone Pareles for The New York Times wrote that "I Wish You Knew", along with "Mine Again", keep things "as general as possible" with regard to their lyrical content and themes. Sal Cinquemani for Slant Magazine wrote that "I Wish You Knew", along with "Mine Again", were over sung and "would blow the 7th grade talent show competition away."

Live performances
"I Wish You Knew" was included on the set list of Carey's 2006 tour, The Adventures of Mimi, in support of The Emancipation of Mimi. Carey performed the song inbetween "Honey" from her sixth studio album Butterfly (1997) and "Can't Let Go" from her second studio album Emotions (1991). It was later included on the tour's DVD release, The Adventures of Mimi, in November 2007.

Format

 * Album version
 * 1) "I Wish You Knew" -

Credits

 * Recording
 * Recorded at Right Track Studios, New York City; Capri Studios, Capri, Italy and Honeywest Studios, New York City.
 * Mixed at Right Track Studios, New York City.
 * Mastering at The Hit Factory, New York City.


 * Personnel
 * Songwriting – Mariah Carey, James Wright
 * Production – Mariah Carey, James "Big Jim" Wright
 * Engineers – Dana Jon Chappelle, Brian Garten
 * Assistant engineers – Jason Finkel, Michael Leedy
 * Mixing – Phil Tan
 * Mastering – Herb Powers
 * Background vocals – Mariah Carey, Trey Lorenz, Mary-Ann Tatum, Sherry Tatum


 * Musicians
 * Horns – Chops Horns
 * Alto saxophone – Darryl Dixon
 * Trumpet/Flugelhorn – Joe Ramano
 * Trombone/Bass trombone – Jeff Dieterie
 * Tenor saxophone/Flute – Rick Brunermer
 * Bass – Randy Jackson
 * Keyboard – James Wright
 * Guitars – Jeffrey Lee Johnson
 * Drums – Charles Drayton
 * Additional keyboard – Loris Holland

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Emancipation of Mimi.