Tuesday 26 November 2013

Mariah Carey is making the best music of her career

America's love affair with Robin Thicke has finally reached its apex! Don't get me wrong - I loved the sound of "Blurred Lines" just as much as the next gal, and it is undoubtedly one of the goddamn catchiest songs of all time. However, because of its massive popularity and widespread appeal, Thicke's instant classic immediately overshadowed Mariah Carey's equally infectious comeback single, "#Beautiful" ft. Miguel.

After her disappointing 2012 release "Triumphant" (and I say that as a lamb) preceded by a lackluster performance of her 2009 record "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel", Carey's new sound put the songstress in a position to take back her rightful throne as the reigning Queen of Pop and R&B.

"#Beautiful" is better than "Blurred Lines". Its sound is timeless, classic, and brand new all at once. Mariah and Miguel's vocals are beautifully buttered into the background as both singers croon to one another through a series of whistles and ohhhhs. These sweet and delicious vocal treats lay nuzzled between a repeating chorus so good it's - dare I say - Beatles-esque, its glorious simplicity powerfully resonating themes of yearning and longing. Drums and claps that rhythmically echo the heartbeat of true love blossoming in the spring grass intertwine with a slightly twangy guitar to deliver this killer pop song that the world slept on.

Audiences have been complaining for over a decade now about how they want "the old Mariah Carey" back. Translation: when Mariah took her career in a more hip-hop (in this context, hip hop is really just used as a code word for Black) less pop (White) inspired direction she lost a chunk of her fan base. Most of the comments I hear as a Mariah Carey fan criticizing her later works of art are the same: "she needs to stop working with so many rappers", "she needs to stop making r&b music and go back to adult contemporary", "she needs to sing like she used to".

So when "#Beautiful" came out - a record that any old school Mariah Carey fan could easily fall in love with - and it didn't hit number one I was totally shocked. People who hadn't liked a Mariah Carey song in years listened to that song and loved it.

Ok, so she got unlucky because of the whole "Blurred Lines" situation. Fast forward to present day; Mariah has just released her follow up single entitled "The Art of Letting Go", a stream of consciousness ballad that showcases Carey's incredible power, not just as a skilled vocalist but also a seasoned songwriter. Somehow minimalist while containing a full orchestra, "Letting Go" is a modern day doo-wop cut with vocals so passionate it sounds like this diva is twenty again - still hungry for respect she should have earned years ago.

Where as "#Beautiful" at least saw itself appear on Billboard, peaking at a respectable #15, "Letting Go" has yet to even chart. In a musical climate that sinks almost any attempt that does not line up an electronic sound with sexual overtures, where pop stars are created at the age of 12 and set out to pasture at the age of 20, I guess I shouldn't expect the public to embrace a 43-year-old female songwriter playing around with new sounds and reconstructing traditional song structures within the usually cozy and safe confines of pop music.

Mariah infuses her soul into her new record to assert herself as a dominant female: "I'm making a statement of my own opinion. Just a brief little reminder to help myself remember. I no longer live in your dominion." Guess she shoulda wrote a song that finally finds out what rhymes with hug me instead.

(BuzzFeed)



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