View source for Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)

{{Short description|2000 single by Mariah Carey}}
{{About||the mixtape by JoJo|Can't Take That Away From Me|the [[George Gershwin]] song|They Can't Take That Away from Me}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)
| cover         = Mariahcareysingle ctta.jpg
| alt           = 
| border        = yes
| caption       = North American and Japanese single cover
| type          = single
| artist        = [[Mariah Carey]]
| album         = [[Rainbow (Mariah Carey album)|Rainbow]]
| released      = {{Start date|2000|4|17}}
| recorded      = 1999
| studio        = 
* Capri Digital Studios (Capri, Italy)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Rainbow (Liner Notes) |title-link=Rainbow (Mariah Carey album) |others=Mariah Carey |year=1999 |first=Mariah |last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Columbia Records |location=New York City, New York }}</ref>
* Flyte Tyme Studios (Edina, MN)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Rainbow (Liner Notes) |title-link=Rainbow (Mariah Carey album) |others=Mariah Carey |year=1999 |first=Mariah |last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Columbia Records |location=New York City, New York }}</ref>
* [[Record Plant|The Record Plant]] (Los Angeles, CA)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Rainbow (Liner Notes) |title-link=Rainbow (Mariah Carey album) |others=Mariah Carey |year=1999 |first=Mariah |last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Columbia Records |location=New York City, New York }}</ref>
| genre         = *[[Pop music|Pop]]
*[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
| length        = 4:32 (album version)
4:01 (radio edit)
| label         = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| writer        = *[[Mariah Carey]]
*[[Diane Warren]]
| producer      = *Mariah Carey
*[[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]]
| prev_title    = [[Things That U Do]]
| prev_year     = 2000
| next_title    = [[Crybaby (Mariah Carey song)|Crybaby]]
| next_year     = 2000
| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|ygO9-_lHsuw|"Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)"}}}}
}}
"'''Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)'''" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter [[Mariah Carey]] for her seventh studio album ''[[Rainbow (Mariah Carey album)|Rainbow]]'' (1999). The song was written by Carey and [[Diane Warren]], and produced by Carey and [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]]. It was released as the third single from ''Rainbow'' and a [[A-side and B-side#Double A-side|double A-side]] with "[[Crybaby (Mariah Carey song)|Crybaby]]" on April 17, 2000, by [[Columbia Records]]. The song is a [[ballad]], blending pop and R&B beats while incorporating its sound from several instruments including the violin, piano and organ. Lyrically, the song speaks of finding inner strength, and not allowing others to tear away your dreams.

The song was well received by critics, many of whom complimented the lyrics, as well as Carey's vocals. Despite of its positive reception, the song failed to be commercially successful due to its limited release and other factors. It was the center of a very public controversy between Carey and her label [[Sony Music]], based on what she perceived to be weak promotion of the single. It peaked at number 40 in Belgium (Wallonia), number 45 in Italy and number 65 in the Netherlands. Stateside, due to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' rules at the time, it was not eligible to chart on the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]], though it managed to reach number six on the [[Dance Club Songs]].

Two music videos were filmed for "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)". Both feature personal videos left by five fans, re-telling their stories of pain and emotional abuse and how the song had inspired them. Additionally, a large screen is shown next to Carey throughout the video, playing other inspirational stories from famous athletes. The ending alternates in both videos, with one climaxing on the balcony overlooking the city, while the other by a large indoor window. The song was performed on ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]'' and ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'', as well as Carey's [[Rainbow World Tour]] (2000) and [[Charmbracelet World Tour]] (2002–2003).

== Background ==
According to Carey, writing "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" helped her get through rough emotional moments with her label's management, and even times when she felt overwhelmed by others.<ref name="shapiro6">{{harvnb|Shapiro|2001|pp=122}}</ref> During the early stages of the album, Carey said she felt pressured to complete the ''Rainbow'' album as quickly as possible, due to the fact that it was the last album under her contract with [[Columbia Records|Columbia]].<ref name="shapiro6" /> During troubled times for the singer, as well as her divorce from record executive [[Tommy Mottola]], she claimed writing and singing the song helped her get through troubled times and hoped her listeners would get the same message out of it.<ref name="shapiro6" /> Carey wrote it to become an anthem for fans and listeners who were going through difficult times in their life and could relate to the song.<ref name="shapiro6" /> Additionally, during the taping of the ''Mariah Carey Homecoming Special'', Carey told audience members that after the [[Columbine High School massacre]] in 1999, she felt the song would help family members and friends of the victims during the tragedy, and hoped it would give them strength to get by the tragic event. For that reason, Carey included the song on the album, and campaigned for its radio release in mid-2000.<ref name="shapiro6" />

== Composition and lyrical content ==
{{listen
 | filename     = MC Takethataway.ogg
 | title="Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)"
 | description  = A 27-second sample of the song's chorus, featuring Carey's personal message left in the lyrics, including the melody composed with Warren.
 | format       = [[Ogg]]
}}
"Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" is a [[Tempo|slow tempo]] song that blends [[Pop music|pop]] and [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] beats. Additionally, it incorporates its sound from several instruments including the [[violin]], [[piano]] and [[Organ (music)|organ]].<ref name=alfred>{{cite web|title=Mariah Carey – Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) – Digital Sheet Music|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0036935|work=Musicnotes| date=August 3, 2000 |publisher=[[Alfred Music Publishing|Alfred Publishing]]|access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209082413/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0036935|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[ballad]] is set in the signature of [[Time signature|common time]], with a slowly [[tempo]] of 51 [[tempo|beats per minute]].<ref name=alfred /> It is written in the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[A major]], with Carey's vocals spanning almost three octaves, from the low note of [[A (musical note)|A<sub>2</sub>]] to the high note of F#<sub>5</sub>.<ref name=alfred /> The song was written by Carey and [[Diane Warren]].<ref name=alfred /> Although there were no conflicts during the recording process, the pair had minor disagreements during the songwriting stages: Carey said that Warren liked to repeat lyrical phrases often. The second song that Carey and Warren wrote together was "There for Me" which was released as a [[A-side and B-side#Double A-side|B-side]] to the "[[Never Too Far/Hero Medley]]" charity single Carey recorded in late 2001. The song's protagonist details the struggles of dealing with people who put you down, and how to overcome these struggles through faith, courage, and the power of God. Carey explains in the song's lyrics how although people can try to make her feel down and depressed, no matter what happens, she can't let them win: "There's a light in me that shines brightly. They can try but they can't take that away from me."<ref name="shapiro6" />

== Label dispute ==
As with ''Butterfly'' two years prior, ''Rainbow'' became the center of a conflict in between Carey and her label.<ref name="shapiro10">{{harvnb|Shapiro|2001|pp=133–134}}</ref> After Carey's divorce with Sony record official and Columbia CEO [[Tommy Mottola]], the working relationship with Carey and her label deteriorated. After the first two singles from ''Rainbow'' were released, Carey was gearing up for a third single to be released.<ref name="shapiro10" /> She intended for "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" to be the next single, as it held very personal lyrical content. However, after getting wind of her plan, Sony made it clear that the album needed a more up-beat and urban track to warm airwaves.<ref name="shapiro10" /> These different opinions led to a very public feud in between them, as Carey began posting messages on her webpage during early and mid-2000, telling fans inside information on the scandal, as well as instructing them to request "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" on radio stations.<ref name="shapiro10" /> One of the messages Carey left on her page read:
<blockquote>
"Basically, a lot of you know the political situation in my professional career is not positive. It's been really, really hard. I don't even know if this message is going to get to you because I don't know if they want you to hear this. I'm getting a lot of negative feedback from certain  corporate people. But I am not willing to give up."<ref name="shapiro10" />
</blockquote>
Carey's actions were given mixed reception, with critics and executives both commending her bold actions towards a song she felt needed to be heard, while others criticized her for publicizing the scandal further.<ref name="shapiro10" /> Soon after, Sony involved themselves further, stripping Carey's webpage of any messages and began trying to reach an agreement with her. Fearing the loss of their label's highest seller, and the best-selling artist of the decade, Sony chose to release the song.<ref name="shapiro10" /> Carey, initially content with the agreement, soon found out that the song had only been allowed a very limited and low-promotion release, not allowing the song to chart on the official US chart, and making international charting extremely difficult and unlikely.<ref name="shapiro10" />

== Critical reception ==
"Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" was generally commended by contemporary music critics. In his review for ''Rainbow'', [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] from [[Allmusic]] named the song one of the album's top three picks.<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rainbow-r443455|title=Rainbow – Mariah Carey|last=Erlewine Thomas|first=Stephen|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]. [[All Media Guide]]|access-date=March 6, 2011|archive-date=November 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112024140/http://www.allmusic.com/album/rainbow-r443455|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Danyel Smith]] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called the song the "emotional center of the album" and wrote "''There's a light in me/That shines brightly'', she sings. The song (co-written with Diane Warren and co-produced with Jam and Lewis) resonates with new life experience—a kind of truth and uplift."<ref name=ew>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/11/12/rainbow/|title=Mariah Carey – Rainbow|last=Smith|first=Danyel|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=November 12, 1999|access-date=March 8, 2011|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011015739/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,271534,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Elysa Gardner, editor from the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', called the song "earnestly passionate" and felt Carey sounded her "most impressive" on the song.<ref name=la>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-31-ca-28099-story.html|title=Record Rack|last=Gardner|first=Elysa|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=October 31, 1999|access-date=March 10, 2011|archive-date=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315141405/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/31/entertainment/ca-28099|url-status=live}}</ref> Amy Linden from ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' also reviewed the song positively, calling Carey's vocal performance in the song "emotional" and "graceful."<ref name=vibe>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCgEAAAAMBAJ&q=mariah+carey+rainbow&pg=PA260-IA6|title=Mariah Carey 'Rainbow'|last=Linden|first=Amy|work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=December 12, 1999|access-date=March 6, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Additionally, Linden wrote "It could very well be Carey's version of [[Nas]]' "[[Hate Me Now]]"; she makes it through all the trials and tribulations undaunted."<ref name=vibe />

== Chart performance ==
The release of the song as a single was surrounded by conflict between Carey and [[Sony Music Entertainment]]. Due to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' rules at the time of the song's release, charting credit was not given to "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" but to "[[Crybaby (Mariah Carey song)|Crybaby]]", the song it shared a double A-side with. The song managed to chart on the dance single in the United States, reaching the top ten on the [[Hot Dance Club Songs|Hot Dance Club Play]] chart.<ref name=all>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p62404|title=Allmusic ((( Mariah Carey > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Guide]]. [[Rovi Corporation]]. [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=October 2, 2010|archive-date=October 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014022044/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p62404|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the song's weak promotional release, it was not released together with "Crybaby" outside the United States, where it performed poorly due to its radio-only premiere. It charted for one week in Belgium (Wallonia), where it peaked at number forty on the official singles chart.<ref name=bel>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/1f1da/Mariah-Carey-Can%27t-Take-That-Away-%28Mariah%27s-Theme%29|title=Mariah Carey – Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|work=[[Ultratop]]. Ultratop.be|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=March 10, 2011|archive-date=June 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610092403/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/1f1da/Mariah-Carey-Can%27t-Take-That-Away-%28Mariah%27s-Theme%29|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly in the Netherlands, "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" peaked at number sixty-five on the [[Dutch Top 40|Dutch Singles Chart]], however spending nine weeks fluctuating in the chart.<ref name=dutch>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Mariah+Carey&titel=Can%27t+Take+That+Away+%28Mariah%27s+Theme%29&cat=s|title=Mariah Carey – Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|work=Dutchcharts.nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=March 10, 2011|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115120119/https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Mariah+Carey&titel=Can%27t+Take+That+Away+%28Mariah%27s+Theme%29&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Music videos and remixes ==
[[File:Rainbowww.jpg|thumb|right|The second take of the video, featuring the alternate ending with Carey by the window, as the rainbow resolves her pain and hardship]]
Two music videos were shot for "Can't Take That Away," both directed by [[Sanaa Hamri]] in New York City.<ref name="shapiro8">{{harvnb|Shapiro|2001|pp=126–127}}</ref> The creation of the video involved some of Carey's fans: two weeks prior to filming, they were invited via her website to send in video clips of themselves, telling her of the hardships in their lives and how the song had inspired them to look at life differently, and had given them strength.<ref name="shapiro8" /> A contest was held, and video clips from five fans were chosen for inclusion in the video. The clips were featured in the video's introduction, where Carey reacts to her fan's struggles which included personal insecurities, the problems of being part of a racial or social minority, and being victimized by verbal harassment.

The original edit of the music video begins with a message to those fans that sent in their videos; "Thank you to all those who chose to share their stories with the world." Subsequently, a personal message left by Carey is shown, reading "After every storm, if you look hard enough, a rainbow appears..." Five testimonials from fans are shown, each telling of their own personal problems and hardships. In her testimonial, the third girl says "I am fourteen years old, I'm a high school student, there is not one day that goes by that people don't make fun of me about my race. It is about self-confidence, don't be afraid to dream." After the last girl reads her message, Carey is shown lying on pillows on the floor of her sparse living room, watching television. As she tearfully sings, she watches as different empowering messages and events are shown on the screen.  Towards the end of the musical bridge, Carey stands up from the floor and exits onto a large balcony overlooking the city.  Rain begins to fall as Carey waves her arms and cries out singing the song's climax.  Her depression is resolved when the rain stops and a rainbow forms, prompting her to smile.

The video was quickly pulled after its release because it contained technical errors.  The clips of the people on Carey's television had their struggles captioned in dark text on a dark background, making it difficult to read.<ref name="shapiro8" /> There were also continuity errors during the rainy balcony scene, as Carey's shirt would alternate between being soaking wet and dry. Consequently, a new music video was completed, which retained the clips of Carey's fans at the beginning but fixed the captions and replaced most of the interior shots of Carey with new footage.<ref name="shapiro8" /> Carey, now in a new and more furnished apartment, does not go out into the rain but instead stays in her living room.  She walks over to a large pair of windows aside a mural of large throw pillows and candles, singing and flailing her arms as she completes the song. As with the previous filming of the video, Carey's pain and sadness is resolved with a rainbow, shown at the end of the video.

Most remixes of "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" were released in the US only, although few were found in certain territories. [[David Morales]] produced the Morales club mix, which uses the song's original vocals with similar chord progressions to those of the original, and the Morales Triumphant mix, which contains re-recorded vocals and new lyrics which transform the song into a [[jazz]]-like mix with harmonica sections.<ref name="shapiro8" /> A spoken introduction was also added, featuring Carey's spoken voice before the first verse.<ref name="shapiro8" />

== Live performances ==
Although "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" was never fully released as a single, Carey felt very strongly about the song and therefore promoted it through several live television and award show appearances. Carey's first live performance of the song was on [[Today (NBC program)|''The Today Show'']] as part of a mini-concert which aired live on November 2, 1999, from [[Rockefeller Center]] in New York.<ref name=dn>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1999/11/02/1999-11-02__rainbow__everywhere_you_loo.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120426191444/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1999/11/02/1999-11-02__rainbow__everywhere_you_loo.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 26, 2012|title='Rainbow' Everywhere You Look From N.Y. To L.A., Pop Diva Mariah Is Carey-ing On To Promote New LP|last=Givens|first=Ron|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|date=November 2, 1999|access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> Following the concert on ''The Today Show'', Carey performed the song live at the 2000 [[Blockbuster Inc.|Blockbuster Entertainment Awards]], where she was presented as a featured performer.<ref name="shapiro10" /> Carey further promoted "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" with a performance on ''[[VH1 Divas#VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross|VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross]]'', where she also performed a mashup of "Heartbreaker" with Ross's "[[Love Hangover]]" which was added as a track on the single release.<ref name="Billboard.com">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/mariah-carey-performances-vh1-divas-live-7565729/|title=All of Mariah Carey's VH1 'Divas Live' Performances Over the Years|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 15, 2023}}</ref> After the release of "[[Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)]]", the album's final single, Carey sang them both live on ''[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]'' in mid-2000.<ref name="shapiro10" /> On October 30, 1999, Carey filmed a private concert held at her old high school in Huntington, Long Island, where she taped a special for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] titled ''Mariah Carey Homecoming Special'', which aired in December of that year.<ref name=dn /> Aside from television performances, the song was part of the set-list on both the [[Rainbow World Tour]], which coincided with the release and promotion of ''Rainbow'', as well as the [[Charmbracelet World Tour: An Intimate Evening with Mariah Carey|Charmbracelet World Tour]] in 2002–03.<ref name="shapiro10" /> She has performed the song recently in her last two concerts in Marrakech, Morocco, and at the Mawazine Festival, and Monaco. The remix version was the opening number for her concerts in Australia during January 2013. Carey started performing the single for the first time after 5 years on her second [[concert residency]] placed in [[Las Vegas]], [[The Butterfly Returns]] in 2018. She also performed it at her [[Caution World Tour]] in 2019, in its remixed version.

== Formats and track listings ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* '''European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|others=[[Mariah Carey]]|date=2000|type=7-inch Single liner notes|publisher=[[Columbia Records]]|id=38-73348}}</ref>
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (radio edit) - 4:01
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales club mix edit) - 3:57

* '''European CD maxi-single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|others=[[Mariah Carey]]|date=2000|type=European CD Maxi-Single liner notes|publisher=[[Columbia Records]]|id=234932 2}}</ref>
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (album version)
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales club mix)
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales Revival Triumphant mix)
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales instrumental)

* '''US and Japanese CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|others=[[Mariah Carey]]|date=2000|type=US CD Single liner notes|publisher=[[Columbia Records]]|id=38K 79348}}</ref><ref name="jpcd">{{cite AV media notes|title=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|others=[[Mariah Carey]]|date=2000|type=Japanese CD Single liner notes|publisher=[[Columbia Records]]|id=SRCS 2262}}</ref>
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)"
# "[[Crybaby (Mariah Carey song)|Crybaby]]"
# "[[Heartbreaker (Mariah Carey song)|Heartbreaker]]/[[Love Hangover]]"
{{col-2}}
* '''US CD maxi-single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|others=[[Mariah Carey]]|date=2000|type=US CD Maxi-Single liner notes|publisher=[[Columbia Records]]|id=655932 2}}</ref>
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales club mix)
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales Revival Triumphant mix)
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales instrumental)
# "Crybaby" (album version)
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (album version)

* '''Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) EP'''<ref name="ep">{{Citation|title=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) EP|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/296UXUMM4R8K0m7h0UKegl|language=en|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122003457/https://open.spotify.com/album/296UXUMM4R8K0m7h0UKegl|url-status=live}}</ref>
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (radio edit) – 4:03
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales club mix edit) – 3:58
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales club mix) – 7:37
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales Revival Triumphant mix) – 10:27
# "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Morales instrumental) – 7:39
{{col-end}}

== Credits and personnel ==
Credits adapted from the ''Rainbow'' liner notes.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Rainbow (Liner Notes) |title-link=Rainbow (Mariah Carey album) |others=Mariah Carey |year=1999 |first=Mariah |last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Columbia Records |location=New York City, New York }}</ref>

{{div col}}
* [[Mariah Carey]] – [[record producer|co-production]], [[songwriter|songwriting]], [[singing|vocals]]
* [[Diane Warren]] – songwriting
* [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]] – co-production
* Shockley – drums
* Merilee Klemp – [[oboe]]
* Mike Scott – guitar
* Daryl Skobba – cello
* Joshua Koestenbaum – cello
* Alice Preves – viola
* Tamas Strasser – viola
* Brenda Mickens – violin
* David Mickens – violin
* Elizabeth Sobieski – violin
* Elsa Nilsson – violin
* James Riccardo – violin
* John Kennedy – violin
* Michal Sobieski – violin
* Thomas Kornacker – violin
* Steve Hodge – mixing
* Dana Jon Chappelle – engineer
* Bob Ludwig – mastering
{{div col end}}

== Charts ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

=== Weekly charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)"
!Chart (2000)
!Peak <br />position
|-
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|7|artist=Mariah Carey|song=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|access-date=May 27, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|40|artist=Mariah Carey|song=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|access-date=May 27, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Italy|45|artist=Mariah Carey|song=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|access-date=May 27, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| Netherlands ([[Dutch Charts|Dutch Top 40 Tipparade]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2001/week-1|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 1, 2001|language=nl|trans-title=Tip parade list from week 1, 2001|publisher=[[Dutch Top 40]]|access-date=April 17, 2021|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417223244/https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2001/week-1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align="center"|5
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|65|artist=Mariah Carey|song=Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)|access-date=May 27, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|UK Club (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Club Chart Top 40|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=17|date=July 8, 2000}}</ref><br />{{small|''with "Crybaby"''}}
|align="center"|40
|-
!scope="row"|UK Urban Club (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Urban Top 20|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=17|date=July 8, 2000}}</ref><br />{{small|''with "Crybaby"''}}
|align="center"|19
|-
!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (''[[Radio & Records]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=AC Top 30|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=83|date=May 19, 2000|id={{ProQuest|1017347753}}}}</ref>
|align="center"|29
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|6|artist=Mariah Carey|access-date=May 27, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|3|artist=Mariah Carey|access-date=April 23, 2022|rowheader=true}}
|}
{{col-2}}

=== Year-end charts ===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)"
!Chart (2000)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (''Radio & Records'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 of 2000|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=96|date=December 15, 2000|id={{ProQuest|1017361522}}}}</ref>
|93
|}
{{col-end}}

== Release history ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)"
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format(s)
! scope="col"| Label(s)
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row"| Canada
| April 17, 2000
| [[CD maxi single]] (with "Crybaby")
| rowspan="3"| [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.ca/artists/MariahCarey/index.cgi?nav=discography|title=Mariah Carey|publisher=[[Sony Music Canada]]|access-date=February 11, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031127112953/http://www.sonymusic.ca/artists/MariahCarey/index.cgi?nav=discography|archive-date=November 27, 2003}}</ref>}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| April 17, 2000
| {{hlist|[[Adult contemporary radio]]|[[hot adult contemporary radio]]}}
| {{center|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=AC Going for Adds 4/17/2000|date=April 14, 2000|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=76|id={{ProQuest|1017352033}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hot AC Going for Adds 4/17/2000|date=April 14, 2000|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=80|id={{ProQuest|1017354044}}}}</ref>}}
|-
| June 6, 2000
| {{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|cassette single|CD single|CD maxi single<br />(with "Crybaby")}}
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/catalog/MerchandiseDetails.jsp?merchId=4440|title=Mariah Carey: "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Single) |publisher=[[Sony Music]] Store|access-date=February 13, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030929060556/http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/catalog/MerchandiseDetails.jsp?merchId=4440|archive-date=September 29, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The ''Billboard'' Hot 100|date=June 24, 2000|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=124|id={{ProQuest|1506058596}}}}</ref>}}
|-
! scope="row"| Japan
| June 26, 2000
| CD single
| [[Sony Music Japan]]
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oricon.co.jp/release/release-sg.asp|title=新譜情報|trans-title=New Information|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000411091637/http://oricon.co.jp/release/release-sg.asp|archive-date=April 11, 2000|access-date=August 23, 2023}}</ref>}}
|-
! scope="row"| Various
| October 9, 2020
| {{hlist|[[Music download|Digital download]]|[[Streaming media|streaming]] {{small|(EP)}}}}
| [[Legacy Recordings|Legacy]]
| {{center|<ref name="ep" />}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book| last = Shapiro
 | first = Marc
 | title = Mariah Carey: The Unauthorized Biography
 | publisher = [[ECW Press]]
 | year = 2001
 | isbn = 978-1-55022-444-3
 }}
{{Refend}}

{{Mariah Carey singles}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}

[[Category:1990s ballads]]
[[Category:2000 singles]]
[[Category:Mariah Carey songs]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Sanaa Hamri]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Contemporary R&B ballads]]
[[Category:Songs written by Diane Warren]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mariah Carey]]
[[Category:1999 songs]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[Category:Sony Music singles]]