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Ear monitor fidgeting (83,084) by Randy from USA Have ya'll noticed how much MC fidgets with her earpieces during a performance. It's funny because most of the time she's not even singing. Like what do you need to hear the pre-recorded track louder for? Does she really think we'll think she's singing live because she's fidgeting with technical equipment? 90s Mariah thanks for posting that clip of ISB. She sings two notes and then it's the album track while she fidgets with her ear. I'm starting to think there's a little gnome that lives in the ridges of her inner ear that lives off of earwax and says Yaaassss for the prerecorded vocals. I've seen so many artist sing with those monitors in their ears. Christina. Pink. Mary J. Kelly Clarkson. They sing live all the time and don't touch their ears. Oh wait. Here comes the Calvary of excuses. Her ears are sensitive because she didn't get enough sleep. Her ears are very nuanced and she can hear in other ways other artists can't. Her ears are sensitive when she's in a room full of smoke. Her ears are sensitive because the room was at room temperature. I you MC but you ain't foolin us. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 15:54)

Re: Criticizing Mariah / other divas and fans (83,075) (83,083) by Special K from USA I just saw Diana Ross in concert at the Hollywood Bowl and she sang 100% live. Girl let me tell you at the age of 73 Ms. Ross rocked the house and shut it down. Now does Ms. Ross sound the same as she did when she was in in her 20's, 30's, even 40's? Of course not but damn at least she can still sing, hold a damn note and her showmanship and charisma on stage is absolutely impeccable. I just don't buy the arguement that we fans are too hard on Mariah and the standards are way too high. Nobody in their right mind would expect Mariah to sound like she did in 90's. What we do expect is a better than average 100% live vocal performance without all of the smoke and mirrors. I don't think that is too much to ask. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 15:12)

Re: Who's a singer? (83,078) (83,082) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Exactly. My understanding of singing, as someone who has been a part of many choirs in the past, is that if you wanna sound good, no matter what environment you're in, then there's only one approach - give it your all, period. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 14:36)

Re: She uh have nice gowns - Aretha (83,079) (83,081) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I knaaaaw right? This woman is seriously bad at pretending. I mean if you're gonna use playback then at least record a version with your 2018 vocals where you can do countless retakes to perfection and then play that. Geez. The reason why this upsets many fans is because it's an insult to us - our intellect and our ability to listen. She seems completely unaware (or completely dismissive) of the fact that as such avid fans, we have learned pretty much every detail of her songs from playing them incessantly, as well as watched her perform them live in many shows and videos that we can easily tell if she's faking it or not. She always says that she does these performances for the fans. So realistically speaking, she mimes for the fans and charges them with amounts her star power warrants? I mean nobody's dragging anyone or holding a gun to their head to buy a ticket and see Mariah perform "live", but still, this is just unfair and quite frankly, insensitive and inconsiderate. And all we want is to see and listen to her, she who has inspired so many of us and still does. And to many of us that may be enough, but when it's show after show after show, then like, when is it gonna end? This issue is such an old dead horse that it there is no beating it anymore when it's already decomposed, and I know many of us are sick of seeing it time and again on this board, but it will always keep coming back for as long as Mariah keeps selling herself as someone who can still sing her hits like she used to. And for the record, no, I think nobody's expecting 90's vocals from her anymore. But at this point, we just want authenticity and truth, which apparently is too much to ask from her these days. There are ways to go about performing her songs that she can no longer reach - ways that she already does but sadly not as often as staccato singing or lazily just relying on playback: dropping key (Emotions), doing mashups and medleys (Heartbreaker/Love Hangover), rearranging (Thank God I Found You), incorporating elements from remix versions (My All), etc. Something, someone please help her remember that more than just the high notes; it's her unique tone that still keeps us wanting more of her, and she still has that in her lower register, so why not focus more on that? After all, "range" isn't just stratospheric. I really hope this is just a one-off and she tries to sing at least 5% of I Still Believe next time. It's a great thing that Mariah identifies herself as a songwriter first - she's still good at that, so at least there's an ounce of self-awareness there. P.S. We have reached a point where you can tell from the minimal audience response that they know what's real from what's not and therefore know how to act and applaud accordingly. Give your fans some credit, Mariah. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 14:33)

Re: Criticizing Mariah / other divas and fans (83,075) (83,080) by Licia from USA Ribbon have you seen the video of Anita and Regina Belle singing? I was in heaven. Regina showed out. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 13:15)

She uh have nice gowns - Aretha (83,079) by 90sMariah from SG Eeeeeeee-muh-ugh-ugh-ugh-shuns. Ey. Ey. Seriously though her live performance of ISB blew me away. It sounds like the recorded version. Oh wait. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 13:08)

Re: Who's a singer? (83,071) (83,078) by TJ from Norway I totally agree. I don't understand where he get this from. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 11:55)

Re: "Prisoner" lip sync (83,076) (83,077) by Lara from Middle East She should sing it on a trap beat. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 10:38)

"Prisoner" lip sync (83,076) by Skip from United States I haven't posted in a long while, but wanted to share a Mariah moment I had with my friends over the hot weekend. God, I wish she'd do this song in concert. (Also, never gonna happen.) (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 08:05)

Re: Criticizing Mariah / other divas and fans (83,073) (83,075) by RibbonB from USA Many do on tv tapings, but these ladies sing live in concert, as does Fantasia, Ledisi, Anita Baker. Their live concerts don't compare to Mariah's live pop-in singing to taped vocals. Mimi is still a fave, but not for live concerts. Plus Aretha and Dionne have consistently sang live, month after month, for over fifty years each and their fans support and know what to expect, two divas singing their favorite songs with no apologies. (Wednesday 11 July 2018; 01:46)

Re: Glitter 2 (83,072) (83,074) by Licia from USA The title alone has me interested. Tell me more. Lol. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 23:27)

Re: Criticizing Mariah / other divas and fans (83,052) (83,073) by B from USA Both also lyp and use playback. Every singer does it, not just Mariah. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 23:25)

Glitter 2 (83,072) by Bill from the UK Like if you actually want to see Glitter 2: The Glit Hits the Fan. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 19:24)

Re: Who's a singer? (83,068) (83,071) by Bill from the UK This makes no sense. How could she sing the "you'll find the way" climax of Hero live flawlessly from 1993-1996, but then lip it ever since? I don't talk about this on the forum but I worked as a singer for 10 years and what you're saying is nonsense. Plenty of singers have soft voices and don't need to sing differently when on stage. That is what a microphone is for. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 19:22)

Re: Who's a singer? (83,068) (83,070) by amends from Germany I have a rock band and have been performing live for over 10 years. Since it's rock music I depend more on energy then anything else because the crowd in our particular music genre doesn't give a shit about pitch but care about performance and raw emotions. You can check my band out we're called Do I Smell Cupcakes. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 15:06)

So much fun (83,069) by Edouard from France Mariah was having so much fun vocally on the 7th. She's less trying to recapture the splendor of yesterday and having more fun vocally. She's more creative because the audience is different that on her previous residency. They went Mariah the creative person and less Mariah the icon of the 90's. Maybe this show is more about Mariah the artist. And we all know what happens when Mariah's free to just be the artist she is: Butterfly, TEOM, the next album. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 14:07)

Who's a singer? (83,068) by Edouard from France Are there singers out here? I am. I'm not the greatest but I know a thing or two about live singing. I know that it's a totally different discipline and experience compared to singing in a more intimate setting, i.e to friends, behind a piano, in a controlled environment. Those who have sung live know that singing in front of an audience requires a diffrent approach to singing. They know that it's like you use a different part of your voice and that the main ingredient is energy. It's not so much about the voice per say. I know some might think it's strange for me to say that. But I believe Mariah's voice is still intact in terms of quality and tone, if not better. But I also know that she can give us that when she's in the studio. It's harder when live. But it's not that her voice is gone it's that when you sing live it's more like a karaoke thing. And we all know how horrible a karaoke moment is. If Mariah's voice were gone, she wouldn't be able to give a a tenth of what she's been giving us for the past 5 years. Ask jennifer Lopez. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 13:55)

Re: Mariah's voice (83,060) (83,067) by amends from Germany Manu Berlin as well. All the things you said about being able to see her in those past few years etc. I wholeheartedly agree. Hit me up on insta if you like @canmonarc. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 08:21)

Send in the clowns (83,066) by Andrew from UK This tells you everything you need to know. The vocals are almost all lipped save for the cringeworthy embarrassment of when she thinks they are going to kick in but they don't. Seemingly, from a signal to her ear perhaps, they kick in - louder and clearer than God instructing Moses to not shag his neighbour's wife - only to disappear again leaving Mariah looking like someone just cast her in Glitter 2: The Glit Hits The Fan. The voice is gone. It isn't there anymore. Basic singing is not there. So what is left? She should lipsync some Sondheim. "Send in the clowns? Don't bother. They're here." (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 03:31)

Re: Mariah's voice (83,060) (83,065) by Tevin from USA Ok cool thanks for the answers Manuel. I will look for the video and post a link later. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 02:26)

Re: Emotionless may hit Number 1, for Mariah? (83,062) (83,064) by enwar00 from usa As a songwriter, but not as an artist, because it is not listed as Drake featuring Mariah the same way that his other song is listed as Drake featuring Michael Jackson. Why that is the case I can't answer. MJ earns his 30th top 10 on Billboard, but Mariah stays at 28. (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 00:53)

Re: Criticizing Mariah / other divas and fans (83,053) (83,063) by Andrew from UK It's an interesting if not strange question to ask how helpful criticism is or can be. MC's vocals are pretty binary: they are either viewed as good or bad. The problem is that she is now taking the piss (British idiom?) with charging for endless tours in which she barely sings anything outside of one octave and relies so heavily on lipsync and bursts of shouts she barely sings at all, let alone moves around the stage, even. So what does it achieve to get [censored] off about this? I'd suggest perhaps a lot. But also perhaps nothing, admittedly. For the former I think the title of Judith Sheindlin's book is aptly applicable here. It is essential to say: "Don't piss on my leg and tell me that it's raining." For the latter: "It is what it is." (Tuesday 10 July 2018; 00:04)

Emotionless may hit Number 1, for Mariah? (83,062) by Sheila from United States No. 8, "Emotionless" currently on the charts, does Mariah get credit for a number 1 if it does? (Monday 9 July 2018; 23:33)

Re: Mariah's voice (83,059) (83,061) by Anonymous from Thank you Manuel for your comprehensive explanation. I and other fans appreciate it. Makes sense and of course it's a shame it's got to this point. I love Mariah but I can also appreciate that she now cuts corners out of laziness. I'd probably be the same if I had her bank balance. It helped me to realise that the choice in which she sings is not an excuse, especially when she can make choices to improve. I think fans are rightly annoyed, the majority highlight the highs and lows with transparency and I'm glad. With your extensive knowledge, thank you for making it so much clearer. I'm not trying to diss Mariah out of spite, but I feel like we as fans are hyped up or fobbed off when deep down I feel Mariah isn't trying her hardest. Anyway thank you again. (Monday 9 July 2018; 23:19)

Re: Mariah's voice (83,055) (83,060) by Manuel from Germany amends: Sehr gerne ("very welcome" in German). Where in Germany do you live? I am from Berlin. Billy: Yeah I think it is easy to put the blame on only her singing technique or nodules or presumed drinking habits or whatever, when we humans are such multi-faceted beings and emotional, psychological, spiritual and bodily wellbeing all play into how much we are able to give of ourselves. This woman has worked so much and given us so much and while I understand the frustration of paying a lot to see her live and then have her carelessly perform, I also see that she is living her life in front of the whole world and that is just so crazy and while from a professional point of view I sometimes cringe when I hear the way she sings, I am at the same time grateful that she is still around and that I was able to see her two years ago in Cologne and that I will be seeing her in Berlin this year and that to me is just awesome because she is an icon and she as a person means more to me than her vocal mishaps. She is like family to me and thanks for the compliment dahling. Tevin: well as I said earlier, alcohol drains the body, you basically pee out a lot of the water that is stored in the membranes and cells and what not, so the voice just becomes drier because the larynx dries up and the cords can't close as they would in a more "succulent" body. But since I don't know how much alcohol she consumes, I wouldn't want to say that it is the main factor. I feel like a lot of fuss is being made about how much alcohol she presumably drinks, but since we are not with her every minute of the day, we cannot say with certainty that she drinks so much that it would harm her. (Or cause her to pee a lot. It's actually weird to think and talk so much about Mariah peeing. In my mind I wish to believe she doesn't do those mundane things hahaha just kidding.) So yeah, when she was pregnant, she couldn't breathe well because if you have little humans inside of you, the diaphragm has nowhere to go to so she had to rely more on rib breathing and she handled that really quite well. But in pregnancy, hormones are released that make the body more flexible and especially more soft, so that for example the skin can expand and this also affects the cords, causing them to be more flexible which is why many women'S voices change during pregnancy. Menstruation on the other hand causes the body to store more water, and this also happens in cords, so they cannot move as fast anymore because they have more mass and that is why sometime women will find while they menstruate that their voices drop a bit. The video you mentioned: I remember seeing it a while ago and I don't really remember all of it, I remember thinking that some things I agreed with but finding other things a little unclear. If you find it again, I can look at it and better give you my opinion. (Monday 9 July 2018; 22:58)

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