“Loverboy” is the lead single of Mariah Carey’s first soundtrack and eighth studio album Glitter (2001).

The song was written and produced by Carey, Larry Blackmon, Thomas Jenkins and Clark Kent and uses a sample from “Candy” by Cameo, also featured on the track.

At first, Mariah intended to sample Yellow Magic Orchestra’s “Firecracker” for “Loverboy”. Although, the track was subject to controversy, following reports that Jennifer Lopez and Tommy Mottola (Carey’s ex-husband) stole the idea of sampling the singer’s original planned sample over a month after Carey had signed for it. Since Carey’s Glitter was to be released over a month after Lopez’s album, she changed the song’s melody to sample from “Candy” instead.

Loverboy received mixed critical reactions, with many not impressed with its prominent sample, and others claiming that it was ‘creatively stunted’. Chuck Taylor from Billboard wrote off the song as ‘self-sabotage’.

Mariah also released a remixed version of the song, titled “Loverboy (Remix)”, featuring guest artists Ludacris, Da Brat, Shawnna and Twenty II.

Despite receiving poor radio airplay in the US, and failing to take off internationally, Loverboy became the best-selling single of 2001 and peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100.