Billboard
September 23, 1997
"Honey" may still be lingering in the hearts of many, but Columbia is wisely beginning to stoke the flames of early interest in the title cut from La C's fine new collection. While "Honey" had a natural edge of adventure, the lovely "Butterfly" is classic Carey, from its gospel-kissed ballad instrumentation and choir chants to the diva's soaring, glass-shattering performance. This should not imply, however, that she is covering crusty old ground. The notable maturity in her lyrics and worldly warmth of her vocal reflect the growth that she has continually strived to attain. The fact that it's placed in a mildly familiar package that Carey's faithful followers will be quick to embrace is only a bonus.
Hitmakers Magazine
September 26,1997
Early Reactions to "Butterfly" single
STRONG response from radio in ALL formats...New at: HOT97, WAKS, KKRZ, B97, WBBO, KBOS, KGOT, KYLZ, WABB, and more....THIS WILL BE HUGE!!!
MARK SHANDS, PD, ALLRADIO.COM, Worldwide
"What a grabber!"
MARCUS D., MD, KBOS, Fresno
"Pretty song!"
MIKE TIERNEY, PD, KUBE, Seattle
"Pulling real strong early phones. No surprise there."
JEFF DAVIS, PD, KWNZ, Reno
"Getting phones already!"
MARK ALLEN, PD, KYLZ, Albuquerque
"Great ballad!"
MICKEY JOHNSON, PD, WBHJ, Birmingham
"I like it. It's a great second single!"
JEFF 'HITMAN' DeWITT, PD/MD, KBFM, McAllen-Brownsville
"It is an automatic!"
CHET BUCHANAN, APD/MD, KBKS, Seattle
"Hey, Oprah doesn't do an entire show with some schlep who's not going to ever have any more hits! Mariah looks great, and this is going to be a huge smash!"
MR. ED LAMBERT, PD, KHKS, Dallas
"Will be huge!"
KEN BENSON, PD, KKRZ, Portland
"In Rotation and destined to be a smash!"
JON ZELLNER, PD, KMXV, Kansas City
"Very mass-appeal - sounds like a top 5 record!"
JAY MICHAELS, Co-MD, WERZ, Portsmouth
"Another Mariah smash!"
JEFF MOREAU, MD, WWDE, Norfolk
"This will be big! She is a megastar, and was mega-sexy at the New York premiere party for this album!"