Around the World is Mariah Carey's fifth VHS/DVDhome video release. The DVD showcases Carey traveling around the world as she explores and performs in various locations such as New York, and on her Butterfly World Tour in Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan and Australia. The DVD was released in April 1999.
Like the television special, which premiered in late 1998 on UPN, the DVD uses edited performances of songs. Many songs were edited down to half their length (by discarding the second verse and choruses). The songs so abbreviated include "Emotions", "Dreamlover", "My All", "I'll Be There", and "Whenever You Call". Other songs are not edited, as "Fantasy", "I Still Believe", "Honey", and "Hero" are more or less kept to their original length. The performance of "Hero" on this program is derived from three separate live performances.
The DVD also shows lengthy behind-the-scenes footage including scenes showing Carey exploring Japan, Hawaii, and Australia. Footage is also shown in New York as Carey goes to attend a party thrown for her #1's album, and as she shares deep conversations with her former employer, Brenda K. Starr. A cover of the hit song "Hopelessly Devoted to You" from the movie Grease is also performed with the song's original singer, Olivia Newton-John. As an added bonus of sorts, the music videos for the singles "Butterfly", "Breakdown", "The Roof (Back in Time)", and "My All" are included on the DVD.
