 " We Belong Together " is a R & B ballad . Rolling Stone called it " soulful . " The song is propelled by a programmed Roland TR @-@ 808 @-@ styled kick and hi @-@ hat , which is prominently utilized in hip hop music . Reviewer Jennifer Vineyard from MTV News commented that Carey 's spare and understated singing approach gave the song more power , which would not have been achieved if she had belted . The song also incorporates 1980s retro @-@ soul music by " cleverly " referencing Bobby Womack 's " If You Think You 're Lonely Now " ( 1981 ) and the Deele 's " Two Occasions " ( 1987 ) , with Babyface . In the second verse of " We Belong Together " , Carey sings : " Bobby Womack 's on the radio / Singing to me , ' If you think you 're lonely now ' . " She then flips across a radio dial : " So I turn the dial , tryin ’ to catch a break / And then I hear Babyface / ' I only think of you ... ' . " The line " If you think you 're lonely now " is from the song of the same name and " I only think of you " is from the chorus of " Two Occasions . " In the remix she also says " I only think of you / On two occasions / That 's day and night ... " Due to the inclusion of the lyrics from both songs , the songwriters were given co @-@ writing credits on the song . " We Belong Together " follows the common verse @-@ chorus form and is structured into three distinct sections , with each section presenting the protagonist in different emotions . The first section chronicles the break @-@ up of the couple , and a sorrowful tone is established as she laments her former mistakes . In the second section , the narrative switches to the present , and the protagonist becomes increasingly agitated and feels " all out of her element " when she attempts to distract herself by listening to the radio , but fails . " We Belong Together " does not have a bridge ; instead , Carey transitions into the third section by raising the pitch an octave , which emphasizes the sheer frustration and desperation of the protagonist . Metro Times writer Johnny Loftus described the song 's production , lyrics and vocals in detail : 
