themes for Mariah, of course) and radio-driven pop." In 2003, The Daily Record named it one of the "World's Greatest First Dance Songs." While calling it "undeniably strong", David Browne from Entertainment Weekly gave the song a mixed review, writing "'Anytime You Need a Friend' feature gospel-inflected choirs seemingly intended to demonstrate that Carey has soul — which she doesn't — but they're beautifully arranged, and they serve as a nice counterpoint to Carey's own lapses into show-offy vocal gymnastics." In an article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a writer commented that her vocal range in the song sounds as if it is from a "glass-shattering dimension" and complimented the singer's incorporation of the gospel genre and church choir into the song's climax. Gavin Report stated that "with its serious gospel overtones", it is Carey's "most powerful track to-date." People Magazine noted that she "shines on the gospel-tinged testimonial". Pop Rescue said the gospel choir "works perfectly in contrast to Mariah’s vocals, allowing her to focus on hitting some incredibly high notes with the strength of the choir behind her." A writer from Portland Press Herald called the song one of Carey's "original classics", and felt it earned a place on her compilation album #1's, even though it did not top the Billboard Hot 100. Suraya Attas from The Straits Times described the singer's voice as husky, and felt it "exploited her vocal range to the fullest." Christopher John Farley from Time noted the song as "gospel flavored" and wrote that it "demonstrates Carey's vocal power, although too fleetingly." USA Today critic John T. Jones called it "inspirational", while "Anytime You Need A Friend" won a BMI Pop Award and an ASCAP Pop Music Award for the Songwriter Award in 1995. Chart performance "Anytime You Need a Friend" became the first of Carey's singles to not reach the top-ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song debuted at number 45 on the chart and eventually peaked at number 12, remaining in the top-40 for 18 weeks and on the chart for 21. Despite this, it was popular on US radio and was ranked number forty-seven on the 1994 Year-End Charts, giving Carey three singles in the top half of the chart. On the Year-End Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks, "Anytime You Need a Friend" finished at number 21 and number 39 on the Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles Year-End