Sunday 23 December 2012

Mariah and her little lambs

Mariah Carey has thanked her Aussie "lambs" for waiting 15 years to see her perform on local soil. Speaking exclusively to Insider ahead of her tour here next week, the American singing superstar says she is looking forward to bringing husband Nick Cannon and their children Down Under.

"Darling, I plan to give my lambs in Australia my all so we can share in the experience together," Carey says, referring to her loyal fan base, just as Lady Gaga calls her followers "little monsters". Carey last visited Australia in 1998 when she brought her Butterfly world tour here, featuring a cameo from Olivia Newton-John for a duet of Hopelessly Devoted To You.

"It is really hard to make sure I see all of my fans around the world," she says. "It has been a case of waiting for the right time to make the trip." Carey says she's enjoyed strong support from Australian fans during more than 20 years in the business.

"I have been so lucky with my career and my fans are really diverse, ranging from those that have stuck by me right from the beginning to my new fans who have joined along the way," she says. "I have the best fans in the world and they know that's how I feel. My fans and I have an incredibly strong connection. Since the beginning they have named themselves the lambs, it was just something I used to say to them."

Carey, 42, holds multiple world records and is regarded as one of the top-selling female artists of all time. Since breaking onto the scene with her self-titled debut album in 1990, she's enjoyed hit after hit with songs including Emotions, Dream Lover, I'll Be There, Hero and Fantasy.

Carey has notched up sales of more than 200 million and amassed an awards collection that includes five Grammys, 17 World Music Awards and 31 Billboard Music Awards. "There are so many women who helped pioneer the music business for all of us," she says when asked of her inspirations. "Really, there's too many to name. For example, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan."

Carey finds it equally hard to pinpoint a favourite song. "I don't have one," she says. "My taste in music is so diverse it varies from day to day. Music has always been my saving grace and there are so many songs that have been the soundtrack to my life."

Carey's husband will perform DJ sets across the country marking the first time the couple will perform on the same bill together. Anthony Callea and Andrew De Silva will also perform support slots. The tour starts at Jupiters on the Gold Coast on January 1 and heads to Sydney's Allphones Arena two days later. Both shows are sold out with a limited number of tickets released last week for her gig at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium on January 5.

"I remember what a beautiful country Australia is and what incredible fans I have there," she says of her last visit here. "The absolute highlight of the trip was swimming with dolphins in Perth. They are so beautiful and that experience really stayed with me."

Carey and Cannon, 32, were married in the Bahamas in 2008. Their one-year-old twins, Monroe, a girl, and Moroccan, a boy, will travel with the couple and Carey is anxious to make sure they get to see some of the local tourist sites, as well as our unique flora and fauna. "Of course I'll be with Nick and the babies, it is the holidays," she says. "I really want my babies to see the kangaroos, the koalas and the dolphins."

Carey recently signed on to the judging panel of American Idol alongside Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson. "The most important thing to me is being able to work with some deserving contestants," she says of the new gig. "There are so many that are truly talented and I'm really excited to be a part of helping them realise their dreams."

Mariah Carey plays Sydney's Allphones Arena on January 3.

(The Telegraph)



COMMENTS
There are not yet comments to this article.

Only registrated members can post a comment.
© MCArchives 1998-2024 (26 years!)
NEWS
MESSAGEBOARD