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About Zachariah from Croatia:

MC songs I've burnt out on (114,473) by Zachariah from Croatia
I've kind of burnt myself out on Mariah's first four albums. Didn't touch them in years. Everything from Butterfly onward, including Butterfly, is still in regular rotation for me. I'm more of an R&B/hip-hop kind of guy, so I tend to gravitate more toward that side of Mariah rather than the big belting-ballad Mariah.
(Monday 24 August 2026; 18:47)
Glitter (114,410) by Zachariah from Croatia
I've been loving and supporting Glitter since day one. And after Butterfly, it's without a doubt the most-played Mariah album in my household. It never gets old - I still enjoy every song as much as I did back then. I've always believed this album deserved so much more love. Loverboy in MJ Cole remix was number one that summer in Croatia and we blasted it on the beach every day.
(Tuesday 18 August 2026; 12:30)
Glitter anniversary (114,396) by Zachariah from Croatia
I am beyond excited. Especially because it is all happening around my birthday so, double joy.
(Sunday 16 August 2026; 10:59)
this is a reply to message 114,395
Caution reflections (114,374) by Zachariah from Croatia
I actually think Caution was a much better album than its commercial performance suggested, and the single campaign is one of the biggest reasons it didn't reach a larger audience.

The interesting thing is that the problem wasn't simply "they chose the wrong songs". It was the sequencing, timing, number of pre-release tracks, radio strategy, and lack of a sustained era. What actually happened? The campaign essentially went:
"GTFO" - September 13, 2018, promotional single
"With You" - October 4, official lead single
"The Distance" feat. Ty Dolla $ign - October 18, promotional/pre-order track
"A No No" - October 31, another pre-release track, later made the second official single
Caution - November 16

So four of the album's ten songs were already available before the album came out. Mariah herself later said she disliked how the label handled those "instant gratification" releases. That's a huge problem for an album that was only 10 tracks and about 38 minutes long. By release day, roughly 40% of the album wasn't new anymore.

And critically, Caution was actually very well regarded. Contemporary reviews praised its cohesive R&B/hip-hop sound, with songs such as "The Distance" and "Portrait" singled out as highlights.

My alternate single campaign. If I were running the Caution era, I'd do something quite different.

1. "GTFO" - September 2018
Keep it exactly where it was, but treat it as a buzz single. "GTFO" was actually a smart way to announce the era. It immediately communicated: Mariah is back, she's having fun, she's not trying to make another generic adult-contemporary album. It also had a great title/concept for social media. But I wouldn't count it as one of the album's major singles. The first mistake was following it with "With You."

2. "A No No" - October 2018
This should have been the lead commercial single. I think this is the biggest missed opportunity. "A No No" has several things that "With You" doesn't:
instantly recognizable sample
attitude
personality
a memorable hook
hip-hop/R&B crossover potential
a fun visual concept
potential for a major rapper/remix
something distinctive enough to cut through 2018 radio
It also plays directly into Mariah's persona. The Lil' Kim connection was particularly valuable because the song samples the remix of "Crush on You". And this is where I think they missed an enormous opportunity: Lil' Kim. Imagine: "A No No" - Mariah Carey feat. Lil' Kim. With Lil' Kim actually appearing on the remix/video. That could have generated significantly more cultural conversation than the Stefflon Don and Shawni remixes that ultimately came out. "A No No" was eventually serviced to radio in March 2019, but by then the album had been out for almost four months.

3. "The Distance" - November/December 2018
This would be my second single. And I would absolutely push the Ty Dolla $ign collaboration. "The Distance" has something really important for Mariah in 2018. It sounds contemporary without sounding like she's desperately chasing contemporary music. That's the sweet spot. It has:
Ty Dolla $ign
modern production
a great chorus
an emotional theme
enough melody for Mariah
enough hip-hop/R&B credibility for younger listeners

4. "Caution" -January 2019
This is my wildcard. The actual title track. I think the title track should have become the centerpiece of the era. Not necessarily the biggest radio hit, but the song that defines the album visually. I'd give it a big-budget cinematic video and build the album's entire visual identity around: Caution: Black, gold, luxury, danger, nighttime, Mariah in gowns, paparazzi, relationships, power. Instead, the actual campaign never really developed a strong visual world for the album. And that's particularly unfortunate because Caution is an album with a very clear aesthetic.

5. "8th Grade" - February/March 2019
This would be the urban/R&B single. "8th Grade" has a completely different purpose from "A No No". "A No No" is fun, attitude, nostalgia. "8th Grade" is vulnerability, relatability, Mariah's songwriting. It would give the campaign another dimension. And I think the story behind the song could have been marketed extremely well: insecurity, rejection, adolescence, feeling like you're not enough. That's an extremely relatable concept.

And then "Portrait". Final single: "Portrait" This is the prestige single. I'd release it toward the end of the campaign, perhaps around May/June 2019. Not because I think it would necessarily become a huge Hot 100 hit, but because it would remind people: Mariah Carey is one of the greatest vocalists/songwriters alive. It would be the Grammy/award-season type of single. And the video could have been gorgeous.

So my campaign would look like this:
Date Single Purpose
Sept. 2018 GTFO Buzz/announcement
Oct. 2018 A No No Main commercial lead
Nov. 16 Caution album Album release
Dec. 2018 The Distance R&B/pop crossover
Jan. 2019 Caution Title-track/visual centerpiece
Mar. 2019 8th Grade R&B/streaming audience
May 2019 Portrait Prestige/vocal showcase

And none of the album's other songs would be released before the album. That's the really important part.
(Sunday 9 August 2026; 09:54)
this is a reply to message 114,373
Can't waut to see who scoffs and mocks this (114,357) by Zachariah from Croatia
Me too if my name was next to that reason on the list. Otherwise, it is just bunch of words.
(Tuesday 4 August 2026; 07:48)
this is a reply to message 114,354
Leaving the spotlight for a while (114,311) by Zachariah from Croatia
I think she just wants to be left alone. I know I would if I lost a mother and sister and being single with no support from a partner. I would be just that - "Leave me alone."
(Tuesday 28 July 2026; 11:40)
this is a reply to message 114,309
So Lonely (114,276) by Zachariah from Croatia
When I look at Mariah Carey today, I don't just see a global superstar - I see someone who seems to be carrying an enormous emotional weight. Losing both her mother and her sister, navigating relationships that were often painful, living under relentless public scrutiny for over three decades, and spending much of her life in an industry where genuine trust is hard to find, could leave anyone feeling exhausted. Success and wealth don't erase grief or loneliness. While none of us can know how she truly feels, it's understandable why she sometimes comes across as quieter, more reflective, and perhaps a little sadder than in years past. I think she's just very sad, lonely and doesn't find enjoyment in singing any more.
(Thursday 23 July 2026; 10:11)
Daydream 30th anniversary (114,240) by Zachariah from Croatia
I just love it and really have been daydreaming the whole weekend. I ordered everything because it is just a must have.
(Sunday 19 July 2026; 23:43)
Interesting video (114,229) by Zachariah from Croatia
I hope they will not make any movie about her because I just know that nobody will be able to portray her like we would expect.
(Saturday 18 July 2026; 20:05)
this is a reply to message 114,225
Daydream 30th anniversary (114,198) by Zachariah from Croatia
It sure is.
(Thursday 16 July 2026; 19:29)
this is a reply to message 114,197
Whitney vs MC (114,159) by Zachariah from Croatia
I guess you all are better person then me because I have a problem to have admiration and respect for her remarkable career while she killed it with her drug abuse and bullshitting in Oprah interview how she is saved and found the Lord while Mariah was mocked and ridiculed for years after experiencing a very public mental health crisis.

That contrast has always stood out to me. It made me question why addiction was often met with sympathy and her "connection" with her public, while mental illness became the subject of jokes and criticism.

Being completely honest - I would rather see diva persona anytime than a sweaty "crack is wack" persona.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 10:34)
this is a reply to message 114,156
Daydream 30 (114,154) by Zachariah from Croatia
We are getting a double album - Daydream 31 and Someones Ugly Daughter and then later 25th anniversary for Glitter.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 14:41)
this is a reply to message 114,153
WH vs MC (114,139) by Zachariah from Croatia
Every time there's a discussion about the greatest vocalists in history, Whitney Houston's name almost automatically gets declared untouchable. It's as if any criticism is forbidden. But few want to admit the obvious fact: in the last years of her life, her voice was no longer what it once was. Longstanding health and addiction issues left a deep mark on her vocal abilities, and performances that once thrilled became uneven and often painful to watch.

If Whitney Houston had lived another ten or fifteen years and continued performing regularly, it's questionable whether the audience would still unanimously call her the greatest singer of all time. It's more likely that, like many other legends, she would have had to hear criticism that she no longer had the voice that made her famous. Death stopped that story at a moment when the myth could have outweighed the reality.

If there is a double standard in the music industry, it is most clearly seen in the example of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Whitney Houston is today almost unanimously described as the greatest voice of all time.

Her best performances are talked about for a reason - they were spectacular. But it is rarely mentioned that in the final years of her life her voice was seriously compromised. Had she continued performing for another decade, it is very possible she would have faced the same criticism that many music veterans face today.

On the other hand, Mariah Carey has been going through media attacks for years. When a performance isn't perfect, social media floods with accusations of lip-syncing, ridicule, and claims that she can no longer sing. As if no one remembers that it was she who, during the nineties and early 2000s, set vocal technique standards that few can reach.

That doesn't mean Mariah sings today the same way she did 25 years ago. She doesn't. But Whitney Houston didn't sing the same in the last years of her life as she did at the peak of her career either. The difference is that Whitney is mostly judged today by her best recordings, while Mariah is judged every day by every new performance.

Maybe it's time to stop comparing artists based on their worst days or idealizing them after they've passed. If we want to be fair, we have to acknowledge both the highs and lows of all great singers - whether they're still with us or not.
(Sunday 12 July 2026; 11:11)
One hundred percent (114,108) by Zachariah from Croatia
Don't you ever
Be discouraged
Let nobody take your courage
If you gonna pray don't worry
If you gonna worry don't pray
You just keep the faith and listen to me
(Monday 6 July 2026; 07:47)
MC's best bridge (114,089) by Zachariah from Croatia
Bridge in Butterfly. Put in the Bible.
(Friday 3 July 2026; 10:35)
this is a reply to message 114,084
MC in the studio (114,077) by Zachariah from Croatia
I think that's more a matter of taste than a fact. Plenty of people enjoy R&B, and it's still a hugely successful genre. If that's the direction she wants to explore, it doesn't automatically make the music boring. Calling R&B "not the way to go" is subjective. What's boring to one person is atmospheric or emotionally nuanced to someone else. I'd rather judge the songs than the genre. If her vocal issues are affecting her performances, that's a separate discussion from whether she should stop making R&B. Artists adapt their sound all the time, and a quieter style isn't inherently a bad thing.
(Thursday 2 July 2026; 12:37)
this is a reply to message 114,076
Taylor Swift (114,041) by Zachariah from Croatia
I don't think the issue is that Mariah's record is in jeopardy. Records exist to be broken. The interesting question is whether every #1 has the same cultural weight. Mariah, Whitney, MJ, Madonna, and The Beatles have songs that people know even if they couldn't tell you what year they came out. They're woven into the culture.

Taylor's success is undeniable, but streaming has changed what a #1 means. It's easier for fan engagement to propel multiple songs to the top for a week than it was in the era when radio and physical sales had to sustain a hit. That doesn't diminish Taylor's achievements - it just makes direct comparisons across eras tricky.

So I don't see it as "Mariah's record is being devalued." I see it as two different chart ecosystems producing two different kinds of success. Breaking a numerical record isn't automatically the same as matching the cultural footprint that made the record legendary in the first place.

Charts measure popularity at a moment in time. Legacy is measured by what people are still singing 20 or 30 years later. Those aren't always the same thing.

Taylor may end up with more #1s than Mariah. That tells us Taylor mastered the streaming era. It doesn't erase what Mariah accomplished in an era where getting a #1 required a completely different set of conditions. Numbers can be surpassed; cultural impact is a separate conversation.
(Friday 26 June 2026; 22:53)
this is a reply to message 114,040
It's a wrap (114,012) by Zachariah from Croatia
Amen to that. A little drama can make even a puddle look deep.
(Wednesday 17 June 2026; 18:05)
this is a reply to message 114,010
It's a wrap (114,009) by Zachariah from Croatia
Nobody's maligning you. We just upgraded "maybe she has some untapped potential" into the equally radical position of "maybe she doesn't". You're accusing people of misrepresenting your point while dramatically turning disagreement into a coordinated attack on your worldview. That's a lot of mileage from a Mariah Carey acting discussion. Disagreeing with your assessment of an actress isn't a worldview. It's called having a different assessment of an actress. The irony of accusing people of misrepresenting your point while turning simple disagreement into a battle over your worldview is pretty hard to miss.
(Wednesday 17 June 2026; 15:08)
this is a reply to message 114,008
It's a wrap (114,004) by Zachariah from Croatia
We're nearly two decades removed from Tennessee and people are still talking about Mariah's acting "potential" like Hollywood is desperately overlooking the next great dramatic actress. Maybe the simpler explanation is that she's a phenomenal musician and a mediocre actress.

Not every criticism of her acting career can be blamed on Glitter.
(Tuesday 16 June 2026; 23:47)
this is a reply to message 114,002
MC songwriting (113,986) by Zachariah from Croatia
I don't know if it's fair to say she's "scared". Not every artist processes their life through direct autobiography. Mariah has always been selective about what she reveals in her music, often using metaphor, fantasy, romance, or reflections on past experiences rather than documenting her current life in a diary-like way.

Also, just because she doesn't explicitly sing about motherhood, aging, or being single doesn't mean she's avoiding vulnerability. Different artists express themselves differently. Some write very literally, others prefer themes that are more universal or timeless.

The Meaning of Mariah showed she is capable of opening up deeply when she chooses to, but a memoir and a song serve different purposes. A memoir allows for detailed explanation and context, while songs often rely on mood, symbolism, and emotional snapshots.

It's possible you'd like more songs about her present-day experiences, and that's a valid preference. But concluding that the absence of those topics means she's hiding or afraid seems like a leap.
(Monday 15 June 2026; 06:25)
this is a reply to message 113,980
MC songwriting (113,985) by Zachariah from Croatia
I don't know if it's fair to say she's "scared". Not every artist processes their life through direct autobiography. Mariah has always been selective about what she reveals in her music, often using metaphor, fantasy, romance, or reflections on past experiences rather than documenting her current life in a diary-like way.

Also, just because she doesn't explicitly sing about motherhood, aging, or being single doesn't mean she's avoiding vulnerability. Different artists express themselves differently. Some write very literally, others prefer themes that are more universal or timeless.

The Meaning of Mariah showed she is capable of opening up deeply when she chooses to, but a memoir and a song serve different purposes. A memoir allows for detailed explanation and context, while songs often rely on mood, symbolism, and emotional snapshots.

It's possible you'd like more songs about her present-day experiences, and that's a valid preference. But concluding that the absence of those topics means she's hiding or afraid seems like a leap.
(Monday 15 June 2026; 06:25)
this is a reply to message 113,980
MC songwriting (113,984) by Zachariah from Croatia
I don't know if it's fair to say she's "scared". Not every artist processes their life through direct autobiography. Mariah has always been selective about what she reveals in her music, often using metaphor, fantasy, romance, or reflections on past experiences rather than documenting her current life in a diary-like way.

Also, just because she doesn't explicitly sing about motherhood, aging, or being single doesn't mean she's avoiding vulnerability. Different artists express themselves differently. Some write very literally, others prefer themes that are more universal or timeless.

The Meaning of Mariah showed she is capable of opening up deeply when she chooses to, but a memoir and a song serve different purposes. A memoir allows for detailed explanation and context, while songs often rely on mood, symbolism, and emotional snapshots.

It's possible you'd like more songs about her present-day experiences, and that's a valid preference. But concluding that the absence of those topics means she's hiding or afraid seems like a leap.
(Monday 15 June 2026; 06:25)
this is a reply to message 113,980
MC 2017? (113,956) by Zachariah from Croatia
You don't have to love everything Mariah does to be a fan. But saying it's "so many things" without actually explaining what those things are doesn't really say much. If your feelings have changed, that's valid. I'm just curious what specifically changed for you.
(Friday 12 June 2026; 11:32)
this is a reply to message 113,954
Everything Fades Away (113,955) by Zachariah from Croatia
I would strongly disagree. I've been a Mariah fan since 1990, so I've followed her live performances for decades. Trust me, I know the difference between when she's singing live, when she's using backing tracks, and when she's fully lip-syncing. Not every performance is 100% live, but it's also not as simple as saying "95% lipped".
(Friday 12 June 2026; 07:47)
this is a reply to message 113,953

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