Aside from its critical acceptance, "Make It Happen" was successful in the United States, but charted weakly internationally compared to her previous singles.

A benefit event inside, titled "Save Our Church", features Carey as the main performer, leading a choir in song as she sings to the constant cheering and applause of the crowd.

[3] As a result, Carey frequently transferred into different schools, and at the age of seventeen, she moved into a small Manhattan studio with other young women to pursue a career in music.

[6] At a gala for Sony executives, Starr gave a copy of Carey's demo tape to Tommy Mottola, CEO of Columbia Records.

[14] In the song, Carey sings "Not more than three short years ago / I was abandoned and alone / Without a penny to my name / So very young and so afraid / No proper shoes upon my feet / Sometimes I couldn't even eat / I often cried myself to sleep.

"[14] Later in the song, Carey sings "But still I had to keep on going / I struggled and I prayed / And finally found my way," retelling how her faith helped guide her until her career blossomed and expressing to listeners the importance of finding and connecting with God.

[14] Author Chris Nickson wrote the following regarding the song, its lyrics and composition: That wasn't just a faith in herself and her talent, but also the ability to let herself go, to pray to God, and to trust in what would happen.

Musically, the piece had a restrained dance beat, very Mowtownish, that owed a little more to gospel, with a chorus – sung by Mariah, Trey and Patrique – that rose gloriously from the verse to repeat and drive and its very positive message home.

[13] "Make It Happen" is a dance track that draws influence from pop, R&B, gospel, and dance-pop genres; its tempo is 108 beats per minute.

[15] The song was written and produced by Carey and C+C Music Factory's David Cole and Robert Clivillés, and it was released as the third and final single from her second studio album, Emotions.

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine named the song one of his top two picks from Emotions,[16] while Jon Pareles from The New York Times called it an "uplifting pop-gospel homily".

[19] Larry Flick from Billboard stated that here, Carey "tones down the vocal acrobatics slightly and delivers her most appealing and affecting single to date."

"[22] Pan-European magazine Music & Media noted, "Dryly thumping beats, trebly rhythm guitar and dabs of synthesized violins make for a song with Chic-like feel.

[11] Rob Tannenbaum from Rolling Stone described the track as "a teary tale of how she kept her religious faith despite hard times", while complimenting its "overheated [vocal] growling.

"[9] Chicago Tribune editor Jan DeKnock called it "upbeat" and "inspirational",[24] while Mellisa A. Jacque from the St. Petersburg Times wrote "Carey evokes a deep-felt strength and love for life, and the music has a jazzy feel in its sparsity".

[12] Chicago Sun-Times critic Michael Corcoran called it a "so-so composition" and described it as a "zombie dance-pop" production, though he said the song was salvaged by Carey's "stunning vocals".

Nispel said he added additional raw sounds, such as cheers, praises, and shouts, into the video in order make it feel like a "real, live experience".

[40] In his biography of Carey, Nickson noted the inclusion of men, women, and children of different races and ages: "The video tried to incorporate and further the song's image of religious belief and racial equality.

The audience, as they filled into the dusty and deserted building, was made up of the widest cross section possible: old and young (with a strong emphasis on the children), abled and disabled, all races and color.

[46][47] Carey performed a three-song set list, opening with "Make It Happen" followed by "Hero" and "We Belong Together", featuring a live choir of African children during the first two songs.

[46][47] On April 12, 2005, Carey performed the song as part of a three-song concert for Good Morning America, drawing the biggest crowd in Times Square since December 2004.

[48] Following a live rendition of "It's Like That" with Jermaine Dupri, Carey was joined on stage by several male and female vocalists, all wearing white gowns and serving as a gospel choir.

During her first show at Japan's Tokyo Dome on March 7, 1996, Carey performed the song alongside a twenty-five person choir and several additional musicians and background vocalists.

[citation needed] "Make It Happen" was featured on Carey's Butterfly World Tour in early 1998, during which she was joined on stage by several choir members and musicians.