 Carey had produced back @-@ to @-@ back commercially and critically unsuccessful albums , Glitter ( 2001 ) and Charmbracelet ( 2002 ) . Though fueled by strong media attention regarding Carey 's return to music , as well as her new deal with Island Records , the albums 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 . " We Belong Together " became a song that critics considered Carey 's " return to form " and " the return of The Voice " , after several questioned her vocal abilities following the release of Charmbracelet . 
