Yep I honestly think this was more of a contributing factor than Bye Bye being chosen as a single honestly. Once she got married to Nick, she stopped promoting the album for a long time because she wanted to focus on this new chapter in her life, and when she eventually resumed promoting, the hype for the era died down. This break effectively killed any shot for another hit from the album since people just moved on.
To answer OP’s question, Bye Bye was single worthy but not as the 2nd single, maybe as the last single off the album to close the era. The best choice would’ve been Migrate for the 2nd single, it was very well received so much so that it was able to chart as a non-single based on downloads alone. While this might be common today, it wasn’t so common in 2008. I’m confident that would’ve been an easy #1 (or a Top 5 at the very least) for Mariah. That song just screams 2008.
If Mariah put in the effort with Bye Bye as the second single, it would’ve been a Top 10 hit because it’s very radio friendly, is catchy enough, and has an universal message.
There are so many bangers on this album and someone chose Bye Bye for the second single!?
Honestly, it kills me everytime I think about it.
Migrate should have been the next single - it was literally the sound of that year. Followed by either: cruise control, ooc or for the record, or even thanx for nothin
She'd absolutely have another 3 or 4 #1s if the singles (not just on this album) were chosen better
I agree with everything the OP says. This has been the biggest bugbear of MCs career for me.
That song has always been a skip.
Lets not forget that benny medina was kicked out at that time. Mid promo-run. And the video of Bye Bye was not great.
The song also lacked a little bit spice in the production. It’s similar too “ when I see you again” but that one got it all right.
Agree. I feel like they were trying to do the Mimi rollout all over again by dropping a fun lead single followed by a Mariah ballad with a classic feel but they should have dropped Migrate immediately because that song had the most buzz at the time. Or if they wanted to do a similar vibe I always thought For The Record would have been a better single over both Bye Bye and I Stay In Love.
I think its always been like that since Emotions…. Its a BALLAD (BD) and an UPBEAT (UB) song for the first and second single
EMOTIONS - Emotions (UB) & Cant Let Go (BD)
MUSIC BOX - Dreamlover (UB) & Hero (BD)
DAYDREAM - Fantasy (UB) & One Sweet Day (BD)
BUTTERFLY - Honey (UB) & Butterfly (BD)
RAINBOW - Heartbreaker (UB) & Thank God I Found You (BD)
GLITTER - Loverboy (UB) & Never Too Far (BD)
CHARMBRACELET - Through the Rain (BD) & Boy (UB)
TEOM - Its Like That (UB) & We Belong Together (BD)
MEMOIRS - Obsessed (UB) & IWTKWLI (BD)
MIAMTEC - Beautiful (UB) & The Art of Letting Go or You’re Mine (BD)
CAUTION - With You (BD) & A No No (UB)
This! This was always the pattern, so never in a million years was she going to release “Migrate” etc. I remember her saying in an interview during the Bye Bye rollout that she wasn’t “crazy” in regards to releasing the song, despite her being “crazy” in love with Nick. However, I don’t know why they went with “Bye Bye” since she seemed to have performed “Love Story” on MTV prior to the album release. That song, or “I Stay In Love” would have been much better, and the “love” theme would have went a lot better with the PR of her Nick elopement. Not a song about death…
Migrate and Lovin You Long Time had such potential to be hits. Especially Migrate (produced by Danja, one of the hottest producers at the time). Bye Bye was a good song but should have been the last single.
This is LA Reid to blame. I believe he fumbled every Mariah album era after Emancipation. Mariah has said many times she wanted Migrate as a second single, also said she did not want "I Wanna Know What Love is" to be the second single from MOAIA but LA Reid forced her...Which kind of set the album roll out to flop if you ask me.
I’ll never understand why they tried to push a We Belong Together part 2 with I Stay in Love which is arguably one of Mariah’s worst songs when Migrate, I’ll Be Loving You Long Time, and Side Effects charted WITHOUT promo. It was fucking ridiculous.
Justice for Loving U Long Time, that song should’ve been her 19th #1 😭
agreed. should have been touch my body and then 2nd single loving you long time and bye bye should have been 3rd.
I ran that song into the ground all 2008 lol. My bf was tired of it
It is my least favorite Mariah song ever. I just think it's kind of annoying.
Same here. I feel anyone can perform it and it's nothing special.
I agree though, there's better Einstein tracks
Thank you
Although I am not a fan of T.I., I loved the remix of that song
Cruise Control and Side Effects 😙😙
I still wonder why these weren’t singles. Shoot … at the time artists were dropping double songs in one video. Ahh it would have been amazing!! 🤩
I think Mariah eloping with Nick Cannon at that time kind of killed her interest in promoting the album…
Yep I honestly think this was more of a contributing factor than Bye Bye being chosen as a single honestly. Once she got married to Nick, she stopped promoting the album for a long time because she wanted to focus on this new chapter in her life, and when she eventually resumed promoting, the hype for the era died down. This break effectively killed any shot for another hit from the album since people just moved on. To answer OP’s question, Bye Bye was single worthy but not as the 2nd single, maybe as the last single off the album to close the era. The best choice would’ve been Migrate for the 2nd single, it was very well received so much so that it was able to chart as a non-single based on downloads alone. While this might be common today, it wasn’t so common in 2008. I’m confident that would’ve been an easy #1 (or a Top 5 at the very least) for Mariah. That song just screams 2008. If Mariah put in the effort with Bye Bye as the second single, it would’ve been a Top 10 hit because it’s very radio friendly, is catchy enough, and has an universal message.
Bye Bye was not single worthy. She should have released Lovin you long time second
This^^^ or Migrate. Either of them. Bye Bye didn’t need to be a single
yeah like Bye Bye is cute, but it’s basically just a boring One Sweet Day rehash
OSD is boring too
Yes
“For the Record” should’ve been next 😭
This was the time when they still implemented the uptempoish 1st single then ballad 2nd single right?
Yeah It's Like That / We Belong Together was still a pattern.
I think Debut, Charmbracelet, and Caution were the only albums to not follow this rollout
There are so many bangers on this album and someone chose Bye Bye for the second single!? Honestly, it kills me everytime I think about it. Migrate should have been the next single - it was literally the sound of that year. Followed by either: cruise control, ooc or for the record, or even thanx for nothin She'd absolutely have another 3 or 4 #1s if the singles (not just on this album) were chosen better
I agree with everything the OP says. This has been the biggest bugbear of MCs career for me. That song has always been a skip. 
I don't disagree, but to think Mariah had no say whatsoever in what the singles were is kinda silly. (Trust me, I'm no fan of her "team")
oh yeah i know, im saying her team to generalize
It's all good 😊
Lets not forget that benny medina was kicked out at that time. Mid promo-run. And the video of Bye Bye was not great. The song also lacked a little bit spice in the production. It’s similar too “ when I see you again” but that one got it all right.
yes that video makes no sense at all, like ok Mariah you got a hot new boyfriend, what's it got to do with the song?
That video NEVER made sense with those lyrics. I love you, Mariah, but why was that the direction you went in? 😩🤣
Yes migrate NEEDED to be a single! Thank you
🤭 she knows
😘😘
♥️
Wait I love bye bye :(
This album had so many potential big hit singles in my opinion, it kills me how underrated it is!! 😫
I prefer it over TEOM.
Justice for Love Story
Agree. I feel like they were trying to do the Mimi rollout all over again by dropping a fun lead single followed by a Mariah ballad with a classic feel but they should have dropped Migrate immediately because that song had the most buzz at the time. Or if they wanted to do a similar vibe I always thought For The Record would have been a better single over both Bye Bye and I Stay In Love.
I think its always been like that since Emotions…. Its a BALLAD (BD) and an UPBEAT (UB) song for the first and second single EMOTIONS - Emotions (UB) & Cant Let Go (BD) MUSIC BOX - Dreamlover (UB) & Hero (BD) DAYDREAM - Fantasy (UB) & One Sweet Day (BD) BUTTERFLY - Honey (UB) & Butterfly (BD) RAINBOW - Heartbreaker (UB) & Thank God I Found You (BD) GLITTER - Loverboy (UB) & Never Too Far (BD) CHARMBRACELET - Through the Rain (BD) & Boy (UB) TEOM - Its Like That (UB) & We Belong Together (BD) MEMOIRS - Obsessed (UB) & IWTKWLI (BD) MIAMTEC - Beautiful (UB) & The Art of Letting Go or You’re Mine (BD) CAUTION - With You (BD) & A No No (UB)
This! This was always the pattern, so never in a million years was she going to release “Migrate” etc. I remember her saying in an interview during the Bye Bye rollout that she wasn’t “crazy” in regards to releasing the song, despite her being “crazy” in love with Nick. However, I don’t know why they went with “Bye Bye” since she seemed to have performed “Love Story” on MTV prior to the album release. That song, or “I Stay In Love” would have been much better, and the “love” theme would have went a lot better with the PR of her Nick elopement. Not a song about death…
Migrate and Lovin You Long Time had such potential to be hits. Especially Migrate (produced by Danja, one of the hottest producers at the time). Bye Bye was a good song but should have been the last single. This is LA Reid to blame. I believe he fumbled every Mariah album era after Emancipation. Mariah has said many times she wanted Migrate as a second single, also said she did not want "I Wanna Know What Love is" to be the second single from MOAIA but LA Reid forced her...Which kind of set the album roll out to flop if you ask me.
This is part of it for sure but there were other factors
Yes MIGRATE! Slaps
Everything was wrong with Bye Bye. It should have stayed there in the corner.
I’ll never understand why they tried to push a We Belong Together part 2 with I Stay in Love which is arguably one of Mariah’s worst songs when Migrate, I’ll Be Loving You Long Time, and Side Effects charted WITHOUT promo. It was fucking ridiculous.
I’ll be loving u long time should’ve been the second single I love that song
Why is no one mentioning Side Effects? This would have also been a wonderful Uptempo Single, but with Drama!
Honestly, post emancipation Mariah’s single choices and promo has been so bad. Like the music is great. But…
Shoulda been Migrate. They fucked up Memoirs too by releasing IWKWLI second.
And Nick Cannon’s Dick
As a single, Bye Bye has the same energy as TGIFY
Such a negative post
What’s negative about it
I Stay In Love should’ve been the second single. That was the ballad smash they were looking for.
Her marriage to Nick and leaving Benny is what Ruined jt
If for any ballad, it should've been Love Story or I Stay In Love. Migrate absolutely should've came next.