Messageboard | The Mariah Carey Archives

Only registrated members can post messages. Registration is free.

Mariah Carey appreciation (101,477) by jaker20 from US

No one has Mariah's career. No. One. No artist manage to dominate pop music for an entire generation. And then dominates a full season in a year, every year. Many have one or the other, but not both. It's so easy to forget what she's achieved. Her career is incomparable to anyone. That's not hyperbole. That is fact. Try it. You can't name one like her career (male or female).
(Monday 17 October 2022; 21:31)


this is a reply to message		101,469

Christmas surprises (101,476) by jaker20 from US

Why sit this out? This is literally the only time of the year that Mariah goes out there to perform and most actively connecting to fans, and can truly call her own.

I'm not sure why people seem to think her Christmas achievement can come naturally and can just easily sit it out and reap the benefits. She kept promoting this song since the song's inception every Christmas which means for the last 25 years, and finally reaping the benefits of her perseverance. And just 5 years ago, stans of other artists mocks Mariah as being nothing but a Christmas artist. Until she hit no.1 and now they all want the same legacy.

Just because Mariah is the "Queen of Christmas" doesn't mean that achievement can't be snatched by another artist very easily. Kelly for example has been going hard every Christmas and has been gaining. Ariana is doing the same. They are just waiting for an opening.

So no, she can't "sit this one out". Unless she is releasing a new Christmas song.
(Monday 17 October 2022; 21:25)


this is a reply to message		101,467

Christmas surprises (101,475) by Terna from Nigeria

I just want her own version of "Where are you Christmas". With [lyrics] like "My [world] is changing, I'm rearranging" (damn she's such a powerful lyricist), I feel like those words are hers, it's a very personal song, reflective of the turmoil she was going through at the time.

(Monday 17 October 2022; 20:35)


this is a reply to message		101,466

Christmas surprises (101,474) by Terna from Nigeria

Chill out Mr. confused and lighten up. There is no disrespect in that post hinting Whitney and Celine, or you also don't have the capacity to recognize genuine humor.

Not the kind you tried to pass off as "funny" in the not so distant past Mr. "Armbracelet". Yeah I still recall.

And just as a side note, Mariah's only true competition or close equal was Whitney Houston. I don't know where you get that idea Celine could outsing Mariah. When did you ever hear "You're the next Celine Dion"? Exactly my point. Sit down.

(Monday 17 October 2022; 20:24)


this is a reply to message		101,467

Nice reply feature (101,473) by Terna from Nigeria

Wow, Eric. I love the reply feature you've incorporated, Helps a lot with keeping track.

(Monday 17 October 2022; 20:06)

Mariah Carey appreciation (101,470) by Bill from the UK

I agree the Butterfly 25 celebrations have been good. The bonus material could have been better but was good to see The Roof with Brandy have a home and the new remixes. Also the vinyl edition of the album looks superb.

What I don't agree with though is the comparison against Michael Jordan. Michael doesn't pretend that he can still play his sport like he used to, and retired gracefully with a string of accomplishments behind him. Mariah continues on the facade with pre-records, lip syncing, background singers masking and then the excuses when these performances inevitably collapse around her. That's what annoys some of the fan base and why we are imploring her to head in a direction that suits her current voice, or at least retire from performing and become a studio artist.

I ask myself, years from now, will people remember Vision of Love on GMA, America the Beautiful at the NBA finals, If It's Over at SNL, or will it be the mix feed of AIWFCIY and the NYE disaster?

Time will tell.
(Monday 17 October 2022; 12:40)


this is a reply to message		101,469

Mariah Carey appreciation (101,469) by Steven Berning from USA

I have loved the Butterfly25 celebration, and seeing Janet's The Velvet Rope25 celebration has got me really feeling additional appreciation for Miss Mariah. Us hardcore fans can be so loving, but also so critical of our fave. We can hold our fave to such demandingly high standards. We say things like, "Why does Mariah do this? Why doesn't Mariah do that? Why can't Mariah sing like she did when she was 19, 25, 30, 35?" Does anyone ask Michael Jordan why he doesn't dunk like he used to, before he retired at 40? But, I digress.

For Butterfly25 Mariah gave us: a mini documentary, two new remixes, two acapella versions, a diamond collection, promo photoshoots for the diamond collection, a duet with a beloved and nostalgic R&B legend, updated music videos, a televised and well-promoted concert performance with a new song mash-up, merchandise, live performances on both streaming and YouTube, interviews with high profile publications like Vanity Fair, etc.

My point, simply comparing to Janet's 25-re-release, Mariah has given us a super respectable and super fun mini-era. No shade to Janet, rather a cause for celebration and appreciation of our queen, Miss Mariah. As much as some folks on this board like to think that she does not work for us, you are wrong, she puts in a ton of work.
(Monday 17 October 2022; 09:41)

Christmas surprises (101,468) by Steven Berning from USA

What's that saying? "Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated."
(Monday 17 October 2022; 08:42)


this is a reply to message		101,467

Christmas surprises (101,467) by Randy from USA

I'm completely the opposite. I'd like her to sit Christmas out and let the song do the work naturally. I do not like the narrative that she gets dusted off for Christmas each year and is put back. Edward I agree the whistle is used to prove she can "still sing". And Terna for as much as you get on me for being mean, Whitney who? Is very disrespectful of someone who not only MC worked with, but MC respected and is an icon. Whitney Houston was someone's mother, daughter and sister. Maybe it's the Christian in me but I respect human life no matter how many mistakes someone makes. And no matter where Celine is, she can outsing MC. And Ima tell you this, there's so many YouTube videos and TikTok's of lambs tryna prove MC can sing. No other artist's fans feel the need to prove their artist still "has it". I wonder why.

(Monday 17 October 2022; 00:34)


this is a reply to message		101,466

Christmas surprises (101,466) by Robert-Anthony from United States

I just wonder does MC have some Christmas surprises this year. The best surprise of them all was December 5, 2012 when she performed a beautiful rendition of AIWFCIY on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
(Sunday 16 October 2022; 23:08)

Re: Full of grace (101,461) (101,465) by Terna from Nigeria

Haha, Whitney who? Celine where?

So extra. Lol.

(Sunday 16 October 2022; 20:31)


this is a reply to message		101,461

Re: Full of grace (101,460) (101,464) by Critter from USA

The way I look at Patti is probably the same as the kids look at Queen Mariah these days. Right?
(Sunday 16 October 2022; 19:27)


this is a reply to message		101,460

Re: Full of grace (101,447) (101,463) by Sasha from Nomansland

People who were just fetus back then don't even know who she is.
(Sunday 16 October 2022; 19:00)


this is a reply to message		101,447

Re: Full of grace (101,460) (101,462) by Edward from USA

She just shouldn't rely on them as much, just use them to adorn the songs. She won't give up on the whistles because that's the only part of her voice that's still in good shape.
(Sunday 16 October 2022; 17:30)


this is a reply to message		101,460

Re: Full of grace (101,458) (101,461) by Stacey from USA

She knew she killed it after that last ending note where she just locked the door and threw away the key, saying I'm the best there ever was. Boom.

(Sunday 16 October 2022; 02:45)


this is a reply to message		101,458

Re: Full of grace (101,459) (101,460) by Robert-Anthony from United States

I felt that she was trying very hard to emulate Patti all way with this performance. I think that MC captured Patti's vocal performance and inflections 100%. I really feel that MC's voice now is always best when she is relaxed and singing in her mid-range. I just want her to sing and leave the whistle notes out.
(Sunday 16 October 2022; 00:58)


this is a reply to message		101,459

Re: Full of grace (101,454) (101,459) by Bill from the UK

For me, it's the imperfections you mention that make the performance that much more endearing. I think it's one of her best.
(Saturday 15 October 2022; 20:27)


this is a reply to message		101,454

Re: Full of grace (101,454) (101,458) by Terna from Nigeria

You lost me in the very first few lines of your over analytical paragraph. It is clear, You have not even listened to the original recording of that song "If Only You Knew". As it is with Mariah and songs she covers, she sticks to the original melodic line of the song. There was absolutely nothing "unnecessary and noncommittal" as you put it about her melismatic runs, there never is.

(Mind You Mariah sings like a musician with the knowledge of how music works.) They were spot on and still in tune with the melodic structure of the song as she sang. You actually think Mariah at that time didn't do her homework to score that song, take note of its breathing map and just went on stage and freestyled as she went.

Please. That is a well mapped, well planned, intentional performance, executed to near perfection with a sprinkle of magic. (Didn't Prince said something like this once?) And one can tell, it is solid and you can see the expression on her face, she knows she killed it.

(Saturday 15 October 2022; 20:05)


this is a reply to message		101,454

Re: Full of grace (101,456) (101,457) by Randy from USA

Or Stacey that interview on Good Morning America with the stripped down Vision of Love in 1990. When it was #2. Every time I see that I am flabbergasted by the voice and the control. And the fact that she has on black stockings and church shoes.

And I get that a lot of people say, how can you expect her to sing like that thirty years later. The wheels started to fall off long before that, just a few years later. Don't believe me. Check out The View Vision of Love performance from 1998. Yet, we would kill for that 1998 voice, even now. I think the problem is... she set the bar so damn high.
(Saturday 15 October 2022; 14:43)


this is a reply to message		101,456

Re: Full of grace (101,451) (101,456) by Stacey from USA

I was just listening to VOL from Unplugged tonight as I got the family some dinner. That voice, wow.

(Saturday 15 October 2022; 04:49)


this is a reply to message		101,451

Re: Full of grace (101,450) (101,455) by Stacey from USA

20 years ago I was 25. Y'all are babies, lol. Look, I totally agree with Edward. At 45 I feel I'm in the prime of my life with my career, motherhood, etc. I don't need to cover anything up. I know who I am, which is why I just flick any drama brought to me here aside. The diva act is so unnecessary. It's not who she is. It's what she hides behind. Why? I have no clue. Her talent is in a league of it's own. I don't care about the vocal trickery anymore. I just want her to own her talent when on that stage. Remember the BET Icon speech? It's Like That.

(Saturday 15 October 2022; 04:09)


this is a reply to message		101,450

Re: Full of grace (101,446) (101,454) by Geronimo from USA

I'm not sure if this is quite accurate, Terna. In the first minute of this song I think her anxiety and insecurity shows through her neurotic melodic phrasing. None of the phrases that she sings in the first minute have an intelligent melodic ending that gives her interpretation of the lines any character or definition. There's a lot of unnecessary and noncommittal melisma that she would probably avoid were she's not so anxious. There is a kind of hackneyed parallelism to the last word of each sentence that gets really annoying and you can tell she's making these decisions at the last minute when there's nowhere else to go vocally. This has always bothering me about some of her performances during that period.
I think with some of the resonance that she used to have - that smooth, buttery and broad vibrato - having vanished into thin air, she just tatters the end of each sentence with a bunch of unnecessary predictable filagree. I think the transition to "somewhere over the rainbow" is quite unique and I think it works really well. But, I also think she planned it in advance - which, of course, is a good thing. Overall, though, I like the texture and flexibility of her voice in this performance, but her judgment about vocal silence and motion is off and completely makes me anxious while watching this performance.
(Saturday 15 October 2022; 03:09)


this is a reply to message		101,446

Diane Warren song (101,453) by Robert-Anthony from United States

I hope one day that we will hear the last song MC wrote with Diane Warren. Sitting here listening to Toni Braxton's I'm Still Breathing that Diane Warren wrote.
(Saturday 15 October 2022; 01:17)

Re: Full of grace (101,451) (101,452) by MusicfanJ from Germany

"No one can top that. Vision of Love is the proof of that. Of course I want her success in the future, but she has proven so much at this point that it's almost not human."

So true. And "Vision of Love" still blows me away.

What an intro to the music world for a 20 age young Mariah.

Magical, genius and unsurpassed.
(Friday 14 October 2022; 19:50)


this is a reply to message		101,451

Re: Full of grace (101,446) (101,451) by TJ from Norway

Dear Terna. Welcome to the club. I remember years ago, when you could not write a message like this. We all miss that MC we used to know, and I guess you now understand the goats from the early 90's. I love the performance you refer to, and I wish she could still do that, but at this point I'm thinking that she has nothing more to prove, and I will always think of that out of this world voice she provided us with in the beginning of her career. No one can top that. Vision of Love is the proof of that. Of course I want her success in the future, but she has proven so much at this point that it's almost not human.
(Friday 14 October 2022; 16:44)


this is a reply to message		101,446

MORE MESSAGES