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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,896) by Lambi from USA

This laughable routine, "Lambi once insulted me, people enjoy and engage with her content, so I'll nitpick every minor omission and frame her as an unhinged conspiracy theorist to make sure no one ever takes what she says seriously" is tired and completely predictable. And frankly really boring at this point. It's so stupid, it hurts. Let's leave that nonsense behind in 2026.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 23:31)


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Upcoming appearances (112,895) by Bobby A from United States

As of right now, MC's appearances are the following:

1/26 - Musiccares Person of the Year program - not televised
2/6 - Winter Olympics opening ceremony - televised on NBC, USA Network, CNBC and Peacock streaming service
2/7 - Saadiyat Nights in Abu Dhabi
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 23:24)


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Upcoming appearances (112,894) by Eliel from United States

What are Mariah's upcoming appearances?
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 19:48)

Was Celine the original JLo? (112,893) by TJ from Norway

I find it sad that she thinks it's ok to diss anyone at all in the public. It's kind of trashy and unnecessary. I think J.Lo is being the bigger person.

And Celine? As you say. Never heard her saying anything bad about anyone.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 15:13)


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Divas Live 1998 (112,892) by Lambi from USA

It truly depends on the group. I always thought the 98 batch was a mismatch. Only 3 of the 6 were power belters. Mariah did not have access to her high belts that night, which effectively made it only 2 true power belters. And sure enough, those were the only 2 that went neck to neck. It makes you wonder why no one reached for the stars and brought Whitney or another gospel singer up there. Hello, we are tributing Aretha Franklin. It would've been cool to see the vocal trinity on one stage. We'll forever have a reference on who's the best live singer. My bet is Céline.

I also get being respectful, but Mariah was literally being directly invited by Aretha. Come on with me. Help me lift it. Higher. And she still willingly missed the mark.

And to be completely honest, she did not really wow me in her individual numbers either. Her voice landed on the worst possible night to be singing alongside other talented, seasoned female vocalists. She definitively underperformed.

That later batch with Yolanda, Christina, and J Hud was just a mess. All screaming and straining, and it turned into an absolute shit show. With Aretha and Céline, you could tell they were actually having fun. You did not sense competition. You sensed a couple of vocalists simply enjoying their talent together.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 10:19)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,891) by Lambi from USA

He's a great choice. I honestly love the video. Mariah most likely pitched the Titanic elements, and they meshed perfectly in B&W. I'd imagine it would have been corny in color, but in black and white it added a sophisticated surrealism. It's dreamlike but yet very ethereal. It is definitely a video that did the song justice.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 09:52)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,890) by Lighty from China

The My All video was directed by Herb Ritts who was known for "black and white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture, which emphasized the human shape". Mariah didn't involve in the directing part so I think he was the main reason for My All's dark and minimalist video style, though it might've been Mariah who chose Herb to direct the video.

Mariah did co-direct the Butterfly, Breakdown and The Roof videos. A proof she was at her artistic peak both musically and visually at the time.

(Saturday 3 January 2026; 03:49)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,889) by Bobby A from United States

I am having a blast reading these posts. With my vacation coming to an end in two days, I need some laughter in my life. Cheers cheers to see what happens in 2026. I see a remix album coming this summer. Just kidding. Lol.

(Saturday 3 January 2026; 03:02)


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MHWGO and My All video (112,888) by Dove from United States

Honestly, when I first saw that video, I thought maybe she - or whoever came up with the concept - was inspired by Titanic, too. That movie was huge back then. Although I love Celine's version, I would have loved to hear Mariah's interpretation of it.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 01:42)

Was Celine the original JLo? (112,887) by Edward from USA

But you have to admit that the stuff some people pull out of their behinds, as ridiculous as it might sound, can be entertaining in times like these. I'm having a blast. I'm waiting for the reveal that the New Year's fiasco was just Tommy hitting mute from a control room.

(Saturday 3 January 2026; 01:29)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,886) by Lambi from USA

No one is saying Mariah mocked Céline or made a parody video. The point is about extreme contrast, not shade. At the time, Sony was pushing huge, cinematic ballads like MHWGO. Very much Tommy-coded. Schmaltzy and corny. Same for the video.

Meanwhile Mariah was openly fighting for creative control. Choosing a dark, intimate, minimalist video for My All released right after MHWGO and using similar oceanic and tragic imagery, can reasonably be read as her saying, "This is actually how I want to do it." That's interpretation based on timing and industry context, not a conspiracy. It isn't completely far-fetched. It's ridiculous to willingly miss the broader point.

Will Mariah ever confirm this? Hell no. The same way she wouldn't confirm Eminem was the guy she dressed up as in Obsessed. The same way she would never confirm that the Honey video symbolizes how she was a hostage in Sing Sing. Mariah does subtext. If you refuse to read between the lines, that is your limitation.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 00:57)


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Divas Live 1998 (112,885) by Terna from Nigeria

There is a tendency for female singers to try and outdo or outsing each other once they're sharing a stage. Mariah is well aware of this fact and wanted no parts of any such setup. It always ends up as a screaming match and then the song gets butchered. Check the Aretha Franklin tribute by Yolanda, Martina, Christina etc. I'm glad Mariah, even though Aretha approached her to lift, did not engage. That was wisdom because you don't control what the other singers are going to do and then suddenly it's a screaming match, nothing musical, then the train gets derailed and all the divas fall off. Haha.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 00:00)

Was Celine the original JLo? (112,884) by Dove from United States

I think he was trying to prove that he could make anyone a star and wanting to make Mariah feel like she wasn't as special as she thought she was. Just my guess though.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 23:36)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,883) by jaker20 from US

This is the first time I'm reading this sort connection between My All video and MHWGO, it's just so ridiculous to think Mariah had a part in conceiving a clap back video, let alone to make fun of MHWGO.

For me, after Daydream, Mariah wanted to do something in the film industry because back then artists think movies is the next step. Whitney was doing what she saw herself doing next, that is, soundtracks for films she would star in. Whitney was just coming off Waiting to Exhale, and The Preacher's Wife, and by the time Butterfly was released, she was producing Cinderella, and probably thought she could do the same.

I can see Mariah being jealous of what Whitney was doing because as she wanted more control over the materials she's singing.

Does she want to be part of successful soundtracks she didn't write? Sure. But that's like saying, she was jealous of Alanis Morrisette for dominating the cross-over pop-rock scene at the same time Mariah was creatively and commercially peaking.

(Friday 2 January 2026; 20:04)

Was Celine the original JLo? (112,882) by Lighty from China

We don't know her.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 16:30)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,881) by Edward from USA

I don't know her.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 15:57)


this is a reply to message		112,880

Was Celine the original JLo? (112,880) by Bill from the UK

Who's this J.Lo person you all keep talking about?
(Friday 2 January 2026; 15:34)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,879) by MusicfanJ from Germany

I always liked Celine too. A smart, funny woman. Her music is pop and a bit of chanson but on a level which is really rare. She belongs to the "voice trinity" with Mariah and Whitney. J.Lo is so far away from it. She was never more than an entertainer/dancer. I don't know why Tommy helped her instead of another singer. Thalia at least seemed friendly and nice. Personally I can't stand J.Lo.

(Friday 2 January 2026; 14:28)


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Christina Aguilera (112,878) by Lambi from USA

Christina was out of line, for sure. Mary J Blige said the same thing, "She stuck her hand out for me to kiss it," she tried to be slick. I did look into it though because I'm curious why she is this way.

Apparently Christina's father was physically and verbally abusive toward her mother. The girls, she has a younger sister, were always rendered powerless in the household. She was also bullied as a kid. Because she was undeniably beyond local level, Christina was targeted by other kids at school. Some competitors in talent shows reacted with envy and even vandalism, like slashing her mom's car tires.

So yeah, I think just years of verbal abuse, instability, and torment that inevitably shaped her arrogance. It became her defense mechanism. I also think The All-New Mickey Mouse Club heightened it. On a show filled with teenagers that sold talent, they all subconsciously wanted to be the most talented, in front of national television. She basically just had the worst formative years as a performer. It's similar to Mariah's but at least MC got to laser focus on developing her talents as a teenager privately, without the immense pressure of being on TV. That would mess anyone up.

I'll give her some grace, but I still don't know that she really possesses that golden voice standard. Even today, it irks me when she does interviews and says, "You know, as a powerhouse vocalist," like why would you self-proclaim that. LMAO.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 13:50)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,877) by Mimi L. from Empower Your Highlighter

I really would like to know Tommy's thought process when he thought JLo could be the new Mariah? The woman doesn't write, nor does she sing (won't even get into her range, she can't sing point blank), doesn't produce. She's basically an entertainer with a pretty face. If you're going to try to replace a once in a lifetime phenomenon like Mariah, you need to put your money where your mouth is and match her skill for skill. I always found it sad that Mariah dissed Céline so much. Céline is so sweet and always has nice things to say about others.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 13:39)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,876) by Lambi from USA

Sorry, but I just had a family member that was obnoxious. I'd say yeah, I took out the chicken and started thawing it around 3pm. And she would be like, "Nu-uh, you took it out when I got home at 2:45," when it's already 8pm and the chicken is ready to cook no matter what anyway. LMAO. I am very short-fused with this.

Fair point about My All. It could very much be because Titanic was so massive and everywhere at the time. Mariah was genuinely inspired by it and just liked the aesthetic of the over turned boat submerging in the ocean. I don't know though. Part of me also believes she's genuinely irked with Céline because she got all the special treatment from Sony. To me, it was like Tommy saying to Mariah, "This is what you could've had if you just listened," and after reading Tommy's memoir, it confirmed it even more for me.

Walters' account also somewhat confirmed it. He said, "Singers like Mariah, Celine, Whitney, Barbra, they're all very insecure creatures. If you start working on a song with another singer, the jealousy comes out. They're very, very jealous people." He is so messy, but I believe it. I grew up in the performing arts and the best talents always trashed each other behind the scenes.

But yeah, at least Céline was actually a formidable competition vocally. Post-Sony, them drumming up the narrative that JLo was her rival was so insulting. They caricatured the heck out of Mariah. "This is your equivalent now. You're rendered to a talentless bimbo."
(Friday 2 January 2026; 13:03)


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Christina Aguilera (112,875) by Dove from United States

I don't see her as a competitor. (Céline, yes.) I used to kind of like Christina when I was younger, but now every time I try to listen to her, it sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

The audacity she had to run her mouth about Mariah when she (Christina) was first starting out is unbelievable. She was super rude to contestants as a judge on The Voice too. I think she's even said negative things about Britney. Her mean-girl attitude is the final nail in the coffin for me. Her ego outweighs her talent.

I know people say that about Mariah now that her voice is not what it used to be but I don't see it the same. At one point Mariah's voice was magic and otherworldly. Legendary, even.

Also, I feel like Mariah only shades people who come for her first, and even then it's mild. She doesn't go after people just to be cruel.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 12:18)

Nah (112,874) by Lambi from USA

Mariah was deeply embarrassed. Aretha hand-picked her for that moment, but it was Céline who ultimately gave Aretha that moment. The entire world saw it. Mariah's reaction was hilarious when Céline finally accepted the challenge in Testimony. Mariah plays it off like she did it out of respect, but we could also argue that it's disrespectful to decline the clear invitation from Aretha.

Now imagine if Whitney had been there, or Gladys Knight, or Chaka Khan. They would have done the same thing because that's what church-bred gospel singers do. They ascend together and revel in each other's talent when they're anointed. There's obviously no hint of disrespect in that exchange.

There's another layer to consider. That night, Carole King was Céline's personal guest. During Natural Woman, she was supposed to open the song, but Aretha sang over her and took her part. It wouldn't surprise me if Céline was a little irritated by that, because she spent the rest of the night going toe-to-toe with Aretha and held nothing back.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 12:12)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,873) by Lighty from China

I only corrected those "insignificant technicalities" because those were the only things that were, well, technically wrong. Maybe I should've studied law and become a lawyer as Bobby A said. Just kidding.

I said I mostly agree with you on this topic and I truly meant it, expect for, maybe the My All video part. Everyone can have their own interpretation of a music video and that's fine.

Well back to this topic, I always had this feeling that Mariah treat other female singers in distinctively different attitudes: respect the senior divas (Aretha, Patti, Whitney, etc.); friendly to the industry recognized divas (Janet, Mary J, Beyonce, etc.); indifferent or somewhat bitter towards some of the vocal powerhouses (Celine, Christina Aguilera, etc.); acknowledging some younger generations depending on whether she "knows" them or not (Rihanna, Ariana, Taylor, etc.); and somewhat hostile towards certain ones (Madonna, JLo, etc.).

The difference between Celine and JLo is that Celine had the voice, the hits, the sales that might've threatened Mariah during a certain period, so I think Mariah more or less treated her as a competitor more than just a label mate. Meanwhile JLo, quote Mariah, "Her thing is something different". She was like Tommy's weapon to take Mariah down with the Firecracker sample and Ja Rule feature incidents. It is natural that Mariah treated her as the "thief" for stealing her most cherished thing, which is music and songwriting.

At the end of the day, Mariah never really spoke ill of Celine except for maybe that Divas Live thing. But for JLo, Mariah will never know her.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 11:44)


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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,872) by Bobby A from United States

This conversation is very interesting. It is like watching two lawyers battle in the courtroom.

(Friday 2 January 2026; 10:56)


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