How do you solve a problem like Mariah?
One of the other most intriguing questions on the eve of Grammy nomination voting has to do with the remarkable commercial comeback of Mariah Carey, whose "The Emancipation of Mimi" ranks among the year's few real blockbusters and who has been the top singles artist of recent months.
A decade ago, this would have made her a slam-dunk in top album and song Grammy contests. But since the Recording Academy moved to let select committees choose the final five nominations in many categories from the top 20 vote-getters, the question arises of whether Carey is a "credible" enough artist to get a nod.
"She's the story of the year," says former Vibe, Spin and Rolling Stone editor Alan Light, noting the redemptive angle of Carey's return from personal problems and seeming commercial irrelevance. "But can you really see enough people considering it the album of the year? Within other category awards, she'll be major." (Calander Live)
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