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About Randy from USA: MC is my favorite artist of all time and I love her songwriting skills on her introspective songs. My favorite album: Butterfly. My favorite song: Right To Dream.

Deniece Williams (Lee and This is GHM) (95,173) by Randy from USA I was kind of surprised when Eric (webmaster) didn't post that story about Deniece Williams. Here's my thing, MC's voice started a massive decline in 1998 so it trips me out people keep talking about "30 years in the business". My issue isn't the vocal decline, it's the deceit. The singing on records highly engineered that she has no hope of replicating live and then using a backing track when she sings live. Sometimes even recording a raspy backing track so it's not so obvious. I love MC and yes Whitney and Amy had their own struggles but Whitney sang live all the time no matter how bad a shape her voice was. If you are paid to do a job, do it. Teachers are paid to teach. Police officers are paid to police. Singers are paid to sing. And MC is considered one of the all time greats. If you are interested in the Deniece Williams article you can view it here. (Monday 24 August 2020; 14:41)

Re: Andrew (95,037) (95,104) by Randy from USA JT. This board is meant for everyone that has love for MC. If Andrew criticizes MC, it's because he knows she's capable of more and he wants her to win. Loving someone is not allowing them to run amok recklessly with their talent. Would you handle a crystal meth addict with kid gloves? It's ok that you're eating out of the garbage as long as you're still eating. That's what matters. To say Andrew has mental issues is making a mockery of the mental issue subject. And yes I'm diagnosed bipolar mixed type. But I am an award winning school teacher, a brother, an uncle and a son. I have three degrees, am a published poet and live in NYC. I'm hardly embarrassed. The way I see it, this board is meant for the entire spectrum of sexuality (gay to straight), the entire spectrum of mental health (normal to schizo), the entire spectrum politically (Trump to Sanders). Terna and We Are Lambily irritate the hell out of me with their "Mariah has never done anything wrong; she's never even stepped on an ant." But this is a place for them as they are on that side of the MC fandom spectrum. Andrew and I are on the frustrated side of the MC fandom spectrum. But we're all a family. And none of us are about to leave. The only one who may need to leave is he who does not understand differing opinions. That's you in case I was too subtle. Hey it's a "Subtle Invitation" for you to leave. (Saturday 22 August 2020; 04:03)

Re: STD is epic (95,091) (95,103) by Randy from USA You've got to be kidding me. As an English teacher, I deal with the criticism that we over interpret things. If the heroine has blue curtains in a novel, it doesn't mean she's depressed. If a superhero spills ketchup on his suit while eating a hot dog, it doesn't mean he's about to explode with anger. I love that you hear great moments in the song but to analyze it down to its sections and then relate it to the world's ills today is reaching. Like a rubber band reaching to connect the United States to Great Britain because we miss being under the crown. (Saturday 22 August 2020; 03:52)

Save The Day (first listen) (95,043) by Randy from USA Chile this coulda stayed in the vault. (Friday 21 August 2020; 07:18)

Re: How is everybody? (95,018) (95,020) by Randy from USA I'm glad you asked. We're suffering in the USA. I feel like everything is exhausting. You can't live carefree. Going to the supermarket is a chore. Trying to meet with friends is a chore. Trying to see family is a chore. I've had two emotional breakdowns. What I've had to do is daily keep reminding myself of all the things I have that others don't and be grateful. (Thursday 20 August 2020; 18:24)

Mariah on GMA (94,981) by Randy from USA So I watched MC on YouTube since I slept in this morning. I gotta say she looks and sounds great. Here's my issue. I never feel comfortable giving her credit for a good performance because I'm always thinking she lip synced it. I made peace a long time ago with MC's voice suffering irreparable damage at some point and for whatever reason she still writes and sings with an engineer's help to make it seem like she's still the greatest vocalist of our generation. I've learned to love MC through the rasp and deception. I want her to win. There's just always a small part of me that wants her to be honest with us and with herself. But I'm sure die-hard delusional will say "she sung live" or "she didn't sing live because she was nervous there was no audience, her implants were inhibiting her from breathing, the air conditioning was on, the heat was on, her nodules were inflamed, her nodules were laid off, dem babies were sleeping in the next room and she didn't want to wake them, her voice is social distancing or she was campaigning for Biden and trying to sequence The Rarities so she was distracted". (Wednesday 19 August 2020; 17:23)

Re: Name game (94,954) (94,966) by Randy from USA I have a Right To Dream that y'all will love that song someday. (Wednesday 19 August 2020; 11:07)

Re: Name game (94,924) (94,952) by Randy from USA Right To Dream And You Don't Remember Never Too Far Did I Do That? Yours (Tuesday 18 August 2020; 21:39)

Mariah of 1990 (94,900) by Randy from USA Mariah seemed to be very dissatisfied with her work in 1990 and dropped hints that she didn't want to be a diva superstar. I wonder what changed so drastically to make her give her freedom personally and musically to Tommy. She was a little spit-fire here. (Friday 14 August 2020; 06:43)

Re: The Sun and HIV (94,872) (94,879) by Randy from USA That's what's up. I have a defeatist attitude a lot of times when it comes to any type of activism so I watch from afar or give $20 to the cause. You're a hero Andrew. Edward I'm now living in NYC maybe we can hang out. (Friday 7 August 2020; 22:35)

Favourite four (94,852) by Randy from USA So Andrew and I were arguing and he thinks my favorite four MC songs mean I'm depressed. 4. Through The Rain 3. My All 2 Butterfly 1. Right To Dream. What does your favorite four MC songs say about your personality? I put the u in for you Andrew. And oh fun fact about Andrew; he has no musical taste as he is moved by Hero. Vomit emoji. (Friday 7 August 2020; 00:45)

Re: Triumphant (94,817) (94,820) by Randy from USA Who are you? Firstly if Triumphant was your introduction to MC you missed out on a colossal amount of quality work. And who listens to an MC song for Meek Mill's verse? And don't get me wrong both raps in the song are stunning but MC was a guest on her own record. And You're Mine Eternal was the most boring song ever. It put Gilbert Godfried on steroirds to sleep. Look I welcome all different opinions and viewpoints on this board but you are living somewhere between Candyland and Oz if you think MC's work around 2012-2014 holds a candle to 1993-1997 output. And we didn't ruin those songs, we want MC to win or else we wouldn't be fans. But you can't put out mediocrity and expect the sheep to do cartwheels. (Wednesday 5 August 2020; 19:44)

Re: Walter live videos on instagram (94,765) (94,767) by Randy from USA I didn't listen to the Wally A interview. And I'm not going to. Here's my thing. Did he do her wrong? Possibly yes. But I need everyone to stop acting like he wasn't instrumental to her hits/career and all he did was play piano while she got ideas out of her head. It's ludicrous. He was her writing/producing partner for 6 albums and regardless of their falling out he proved to be a serious part of many of her biggest hits. They had a chemistry. And "All I Want For Christmas" is not a song she just sat at the Casio keyboard and wrote. If MC was that melodically inclined she would've composed wrote arranged all of her own songs like Jewel or Joni Mitchell. Is MC the most talented singer/songwriter ever? IMO yes. But please don't act like Wally A was a hanger-on. He's a musician. Btw he produced My Heart Will Go On for Celine. Not a fluke. (Saturday 1 August 2020; 06:29)

New album (94,574) by Randy from USA Do y'all think an album is coming? Y'all know she loves a fall release. (Monday 13 July 2020; 16:18)

Re: Hopes for the memoir (94,554) (94,561) by Randy from USA Bill I couldn't agree more. Everything you said I want to know. Remember awhile back when she said she wouldn't write a memoir because no one would believe her childhood? I'm already disappointed in the title and cover photo but I don't think I need to repeat the cliche. (Sunday 12 July 2020; 02:04)

Mortified (94,430) by Randy from USA I was at a convenience store at 1:30 AM this morning buying a sandwich, cool ranch Doritos, a honey bun, a sugar free Red Bull and a Diet Dr. Pepper. I swear I am going somewhere with this. My All was playing over the store's speakers and I was singing along. Then I'll Be There came on. And then Emotions came on, and the store clerk started singing along and I said, while she was ringing up my healthy purchases, "someone likes Mariah Carey" and she laughed and we both went in to singing the first verse and I messed up the words. I will be turning in my locker keys, my glitter and rainbows today at 3. (Monday 22 June 2020; 19:53)

Re: Article: Mariah Carey's no. 1 singles ranked (94,376) (94,379) by Randy from USA I so don't agree with this article. Not to start a list war but you know I can't help it. 19. Hero 18. Dreamlover 17. I'll Be There 16. I Don't Wanna Cry 15. Thank God I Found You (The Make It Last remix is better) 14. We Belong Together 13. Touch My Body 12. Love Takes Time 11. Emotions 10. Someday (the video version) 9. Fantasy (the Bad Boy Mix - has both hooks) 8. One Sweet Day 7. All I Want For Christmas Is You 6. Honey (Bad Boy Mix Ft. Mase & The Lox) 5. Don't Forget About Us 4. Vision of Love 3. Heartbreaker 2. Always Be My Baby 1. My All (Sunday 14 June 2020; 08:33)

Andrew, George Floyd and MCA (94,335) by Randy from USA Andrew, Andrew, Andrew. You are my friend and I don't think in your heart you're a racist. But I do think you can be insensitive at times. You are an exceptionally intelligent dude. But not everything about life is about ethics or logic. Emotion plays a large part of our human existence. I truly believe that the people that are literally painting George Floyd as an angel flying into heaven on t-shirts and posters don't know of his past. And here's the point, his past doesn't matter because he served his time and if you add up all previous charges, they still don't add up to the death penalty. I believe we all make mistakes and Jesus forgives. I loved MC tying one of my favorite songs of all time to this moment because it is appropriate. George Floyd is the spotlight and catalyst for change for a police culture in the United States that has served as the post civil war slave-masters. There was a post on Facebook that I reposted asking black men how old were you when you first had the police hold a gun to you. I couldn't believe the numbers that responded and the ages. My answer was 17. Andrew sometimes in a moment of tragedy and unrest, keep the logical and ethical argument to yourself, at least for a time. Consider others' emotions. And for the rest of the board, sometimes check your emotions before you reply. Because Andrew is not a member of the Klan. Am I really having to say all of this out loud? (Monday 8 June 2020; 16:30)

Re: Through the Rain/Make It Happen (Rise Up NY) (94,085) (94,092) by Randy from USA I did not like it. I am happy she's doing so much singing on social media and in her full voice but it's not pleasant to hear her voice at times. And what scares me most of all, is that if this is her voice at 50, will she be able to do legacy performances like Dionne, Aretha, Patti, Barbra, Diana and Liza at 70? They all sounded pretty good at 50. (Wednesday 13 May 2020; 18:01)

Hero and Your Girl (93,583) by Randy from USA I actually liked both performances and it made me less embarrassed as a very public fan. And did you notice how understated her clothes, hair and make up was (except the damn fan still blowing on Hero, I can't win). Maybe I was too harsh on the Delusional Fans. You know when I was angry for them with the excuses: her corset was too tight, a casket was in front of her, it was too hot, it was too cold, she has nodules, her mic was too low, her background singer was too loud, her earpiece monitor wasn't working, she just got a divorce, she didn't want to upstage the queen of soul, her humidifiers weren't working, she didn't get eight hours sleep, it's too early in the morning to sing, they were pumping air in at the fresh air benefit last night. What this proves is an environment 100% controlled by Mariah and she can do as many takes as she likes, she can put together a rather decent performance. The irony in this was when I said let's call Mariah a studio singer, someone said that wasn't fair. Things that make you go hmmmmmm. It's good to be right. (Saturday 11 April 2020; 19:11)

Re: Favorite non-successful song (93,543) (93,545) by Randy from USA Edward thanks for acknowledging me as the lead performer of Mean 3. That's a great name for our group. Of course, I have to be the Diana Ross / Beyoncé / Michael Jackson / Nicole Scherzinger / Lionel Richie of the group but I promise I won't leave until the second single. And it will be because Andrew refused to use his share of our signing bonus for my lighting guy. Ok theory on your pick for Butterfly. I think it's an amazing song. Definitely in my top 5 MC songs of all time. I fully believe had Columbia released it as a physical single in the US, it would've went to #1. MCs airplay at the time wasn't strong but her single sales were. Fans like me were running to the store to get her singles with remixes and stuff. The airwaves and record stores were crowded that fall. Remember Boyz II Men and Janet Jackson released albums within the same month. That's why Butterfly didn't stay number one longer as an album but as far as the song/single going to number one, I think that would've been a pretty safe bet. But of course Tommy with his bag of bullshit couldn't let that happen with a song in which she is subtlety screaming let me go. (Thursday 9 April 2020; 01:49)

Favorite non-successful song (93,542) by Randy from USA Andrew, Edward and the Webmaster are going to be shocked by this one. But I'ma have to go with "Right To Dream". I still cannot get over the lyrics: "I wonder where I left myself and lost the will to fly." "It's cold beneath the sun and the fire in me is languishing." "An angel lands with broken wings warms me with his eyes. The ice that sheathes around my heart unravels as he smiles." I swear if the general public were given these lyrics, they would never believe MC wrote them. A Pop/R&B icon not singing about love? And then it's just her and a guitar and no studio vocals that she can't replicate live? I mean this is as stripped down and genius as MC can get. It's the saddest song about hope in existence. I still get emotional whenever I play it. (Wednesday 8 April 2020; 23:43)

Flowers (93,410) by Randy from USA So I want to follow up on my last post. I posted 5 great performances of MC on Facebook. Collectively they got three likes maybe one comment. I was a fan of Michael Jackson but made jokes about his boy obsession, his strange looks and then he was gone. I was a fan of Whitney Houston and made crack jokes and then she was gone. Prince. Gone. Luther. Gone. Natalie. Gone. Aaliyah. Gone. Left Eye. Gone. My point? MC is batshit crazy, the voice has deteriorated, her latest music has disappointed, and her weight is up and down. I don't care about any of that. I want the world to give MC her flowers, for all of the invaluable music she has given us to get through this complicated life, now while we still have the chance. (Saturday 28 March 2020; 15:34)

Happy silver anniversary, MC (93,405) by Randy from USA I have been posting my favorite live performances on Facebook all day. No one has liked or commented #sadface. Words cannot express what her music means to me. Right To Dream gave me a distant glimmer of hope in the midst of severe alcoholism and depression. More recently Through The Rain has helped me navigate through a confusing sobriety and I've held tighter to my faith. As a teenager, the only out homo in a large Black hypermasculine family, Outside described exactly how I felt. I could list probably a dozen more specific instances but I've probably already overshared. I recently turned 40 and am in the process of changing cities and even though I don't play them because they are on my phone, I will pack my 27 Mariah Carey CDs, albums and singles in a box marked fragile. Music Box. Oh I'm so [censored] corny. (Saturday 28 March 2020; 01:27)

Re: Everything Fades Away (93,310) (93,311) by Randy from USA I hate to be negative. But the production, melody and vocal is amazing and it's one of my favorite songs by MC. But the lyric doesn't make sense if [you] study it. (Tuesday 17 March 2020; 16:22)

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