Messageboard

About Andrew from the UK:

Crybaby (103,460) by Andrew from the UK Bobby A: I will agree with you to any degree, on any subject, for a whole ten minutes, if you stop pretending Mariah can climb a building like Batgirl. And give her her bloody head back. She's pretty good looking, y'know. (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 22:14) this is a reply to message 103,450

Crybaby (103,450) by Robert-Anthony from United States Crybaby was genius Mariah at her best. It has elements of hip hop, R&B, New Jack, and jazz all in one song. What other contemporary female artist has done that multiple times over. She doesn't receive enough credit for being a damn good songwriter. Her vocal acrobats and diva persona cause her songwriting skills to take a back seat sometimes. Timmy Gatling's creative differences with Aaron Hall of Guy brought me here because MC had the same creative differences.with Sony over Crybaby's release. It's ironic that one of the songwriters had creative differences over Piece Of Love that Crybaby samples. (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 05:31)

MB30 (103,459) by Andrew from the UK Something I will offer then that I think almost every disagrees with: Mariah genuinely needs to lose weight. Her confidence levels and her behaviour seems directly linked to her size, if not completely then, definitely, in part. Mariah on The Friday Night Project was fiercely hot, funny, articulate, interesting, fun. And the vocals of that era were pretty good as was the music. (I absolutely love the E=MC2 album and era in general.) I think if Mariah committed to working on her fitness, working on her voice preservation, and letting go of trying to look perfectly positioned everywhere every second of the day, she would reconnect with her greatness. Jamie, FYI: The Friday Night Project was a TV show Mariah hosted. You should check it out. It's really good. (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 22:09) this is a reply to message 103,446

MB30 (103,446) by Jamie from UK Well said Andrew I totally agree, she loved those times otherwise she wouldn't be paying them any attention. She was there present at the time and without any effort she looked comfortable and enjoying herself. Nothing is perfect and there were times she wasn't happy but on the whole I'm certain she misses those times. (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 01:48)

MB30 (103,458) by Andrew from the UK I could talk endlessly about Mariah Carey eras. This is why fan meets ups would've been fun. The best thing about reliving Music Box and living a new Music Box is that we know where the music went, what came next. I liked Emotions which I went to after Music Box but it felt very much like going backwards musically: becoming more old-fashioned. Listening to the Eponymous album after those was just a step to far in the Eighties and to a musical style that now seems very Kindergarten compared to how sophisticated the writing and production became. I just can't with the Mariah Carey album. And the less said about the cover the better. In saying that: does anyone look at the new zoomed-out cover for the 30th Anniversary Music Box and get the feeling that those facial features have been interposed onto a different photo? It doesn't look like thats where they should be on... her head. Maybe it's just me. It beats the shite out of the Rainbow cover. That belongs in the vault, sealed in concrete. I will offer original Music Box a lifeline: Just To Hold You Once Again, whilst not the most exciting of songs gives me chills from "To something so far gone, oh where did I go wrong? Even though..." It is a brilliant vocal. I'm honestly surprised more people are not as ecstatically pleased with this Music Box 30 era as I feel I am. It's normally the other way around. (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 22:02) this is a reply to message 103,454

MB30 (103,454) by MusicfanJ from Germany I completely agree with you Jamie and Andrew. That time was so special, and that she did write and produce the songs on Music Box was the best thing to do. Andrew wrote Music Box is like a blockbuster, I love the comparison. It's true, it's her blockbuster. The album that changed everything. Mariah knows it and hasn't forget it. She was simply genius, the whole production and team on point. (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 10:30)

9/11 and "Glitter" (103,445) by Andrew from the UK To all those who lost someone on that fateful day 22 years ago: it is only life that ends... not love. Love is a thread woven into the fabric of time. It is without beginning and it is without end. If we never meet - or if we never meet again - I wish every one of you a long and happy life. (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 00:36) this is a reply to message 103,438

9/11 and "Glitter" (103,438) by BFF from United States Today marks 22 years since the release of "Glitter" and since the World Trade Center tragedy. I always think of the song "Never Too Far" on this day because it's one of Mariah's most underrated ballads and its theme of loss is really appropriate for remembering what happened on 9/11. It's also impossible for me to forget how difficult the year 2001 was for Mariah and the humiliation she experienced in a moment that was supposed to be a moment of triumph. Sorry to interrupt the MB30 celebration, but I really hope that one day we truly get "Justice for Glitter" - a 25th or 30th anniversary edition with unreleased tracks and more insight into what could have been. (Monday 11 September 2023; 13:18)

MB30 (103,444) by Andrew from the UK Mariah was artistically "stifled" on Music Box? How interesting. She did, did she not, write the songs? She did, did she not, produce the songs? She did, did she not, create the vocal arrangements? She did, did she not, commission the remixes on which she...? Oh, you get me. The pretention of you. Mariah does, does she not, sing Hero in every concert? Mariah does, does she not, sing Dreamlover in every concert? Mariah's breakthrough hit, was it not, Without You? The audacity of you. Music Box is one of the best selling records of all time. Do you see Mariah denying or lessening her involvement in it? Do you hear her, for example, wishing it had been different to the extent she was forced into this in slave labour? The stupidity of you. The lambs do bleat foul under the impression that pre-97 Mariah was chained to a piano leg with Walter Afanasieff sucking the creative blood out of her. What absolute nonsense you have willingly been fed. Do not regurgitate it in my presence. (That's a posh way of saying STFU and GTFO.) (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 00:20) this is a reply to message 103,440

MB30 (103,440) by JC from USA Original Hero takes the cake, always. But MB30 has me feeling unfulfilled. While MB is vocally a "prime" era, she's artistically stifled and the album feels forced, likely a result of surmounting pressure resulting from Emotion's underperformance commercially (though incredible album). These new from-the-vault songs sound horrifically dated and while her vocals are amazing on My Prayer, it's a complete skip for me. If we are going to be celebrating anniversaries of albums every dang year, I wish we'd only celebrate and spend time more with those where she is liberated as an artist. (Monday 11 September 2023; 15:30)

My tracklist order for MC30 (103,435) by Andrew from the UK I have the feeling that these tracks were left off the final Music Box because most of the songs seem to have lyrics on one particular theme: I love him but I don't have him. It's very overkill looking at the album this way and it makes sense that certain tracks were left off. What I genuinely don't understand is why certain tracks, which have been left off albums for either this reason or another, are not used on the following album release. Workin' Hard could have been on Daydream, for example. Here We Go Around Again could have been on Emotions. Discuss. (Monday 11 September 2023; 12:55) this is a reply to message 103,434

My tracklist order for MC30 (103,434) by Bill from the UK Switch the last two around and it's perfect. (Monday 11 September 2023; 08:47)

Workin Hard x My Prayer x All I Live For x Hero 09 (103,420) by Andrew from the UK I am sure that other British people here would agree that getting to No.1 in the UK in the 90's wasn't... how do I say this? It wasn't exactly an overly massive achievement. Now I know that Mariah was UK Top 5 with her 90s songs but to get to No.1 in the UK meant you simply had to be in a group of artists heavily pushed by the Record Labels in the UK - all of whom simply avoided releasing a song that would have competition in that week. When there were 2 songs going head to head that were otherwise created to get to, and destined for, No.1, these events made headlines, they made the national news. To achieve No.1 you either had to be a seriously heavy-weight British Artist or have a one-hit-wonder generated for you - or you were a foreign artist who simply had a really good song. Mariah got to Number 2 with All I Want For Christmas Is You (something I cried about at the time). It was beaten by a very depressing song called Stay Another Day by a 90's boyband that to say they and thesong were heavily-marketed would be somewhat of an understatement. That she got to Number 2 on the strength of the song alone is remarkable. It seems to me that to achieve No.1 in the United States (with still mindboggingly complicated ways of determining it) was not something easy. Therefore, discounting the incredible feat of getting there how many times she did, Mariah achieving Number 2's and Number 3's with songs released from an album long sinced dropped and heavy in sales figures is quite remarkable. In fact, it's astonishing. I Will Always Love You was on the back of a Box Office Movie Hit and powerful (I personally hate it) and was the first release from the Soundtrack. The Soundtrack is revisited time and time again because it is Whitney's best work. Funny, that Daydream is almost streamed as much as it. Mariah not only answered Whitney with Music Box, she came at her title with Daydream. And won. Knowing some Atlanta-born poster here's propensity for defending Whitney, I shall say only this: whoever can listen to I Will Always Love You from start to finish without turning it off, turning it down, or tearing their ears off is superhuman. What the bloody hell are you supposed this song? The acappella begining is unnerving, the ridiculous bellowing at the end is unsingable, the whole thing is a shit-show. That I saw Whitney live in person sing this is one of the greatest memories of my life. But not as great as hearing her sing I Love The Lord. Now *that* is singing. Just like My Prayer is *singing*. I shall stop typing now. Apologies, I'm on a bit of a Mariah buzz. I feel like a kid again lol. Peace. AJ. (Sunday 10 September 2023; 17:44) this is a reply to message 103,398

Workin Hard x My Prayer x All I Live For x Hero 09 (103,398) by BFF from United States Yes, I agree. "Without You" deserved to be on the final track listing over "My Prayer." The way she sings the line "You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows" gets me every time. My only complaint about "Without You" is that it was massive internationally but only went to #3 in the United States. It really should have been a moment akin to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". The way she sings it eclipses the Harry Nilsson version and the Badfinger original. (Saturday 9 September 2023; 21:53)

MC30 (103,419) by Andrew from the UK Although she didn't write My Prayer I understand your point about constructing a track in a very simple, traditional - but powerful - way. Nobody seems to write songs and cover songs the way Mariah does. Or did. I agree with your point that she should have put the brakes on Don't Forget We Belong To Shake It Off about 2012-ish. And to an extent she did - there are absolute moments of genius on The Elusive Chanteuse such as You Don't Know What To Do, Cry, etc, Beautiful, etc. But there's something about the production of that whole album that is so complicated it's rather exhausting to listen to, or, at the very least, the enjoyment of it hampered by massive over-production and choppy vocal patchworking. Caution is okay - but it lives up to its name: it is was to cautious in melody, harmony, and full whack attack, to name a few. Were Mariah to give another studio album a go, I think she should go back to what made her an international superstar. Just one more time. One More Try. (Sunday 10 September 2023; 16:57) this is a reply to message 103,411

MC30 (103,411) by TheWind from England The previously unrealised songs are fantastic. It always amazes me that Mariah can write songs like My Prayer in her early 20s. I really think Mariah should keep future new releases as simple as possible. Don't overthink the theme, lyrics, melody, production. Lately, too much time has been spent constructing a song that's current or relevant. Whereas, songs like My Prayer does the opposite, and in a good way. Beautiful song. (Sunday 10 September 2023; 09:45)

Music Box is not Music Box without Without You (103,406) by Andrew from the UK How can there ever be any suggestion that Without You ought to have been left off Music Box? According to Spotify: Hero has 242 million plays and Without You is not that far behind with 221 million plays. All the other tracks are in the tens of millions or single digit millions. When Mariah says that this album changed her life she's blatantly referring to how it made her an *international* superstar to contend with the likes of Whitney and Madonna - and Without You is the song mainly responsible for that. Whilst not very popular in the US it went to No.1 in the UK and many other important record sales territories which were thirsty for big voice ballads (which explains Celine breaking these markets with Think Twice). Add in the universal appeal of Hero and the Club Remix of Dreamlover and Mariah entered new markets and blew the competition away. My Prayer is great but... c'mon, you cannot be serious. Music Box would not be one of the best-selling albums of all time without Without You. (Sunday 10 September 2023; 04:56)

Workin Hard x My Prayer x All I Live For x Hero 09 (103,389) by Andrew from the UK Many listens in and I'm won over. They're bloody brilliant. Even - and I never thought I'd say this - Hero (2009). It's like rediscovering Mariah Carey all over again. (Saturday 9 September 2023; 09:58)

Music Box 30th Anniversary Edition - cover (103,388) by Andrew from the UK One thing I never liked about the cover of the album was that it zoomed in on a blank white face - so much so that, with the lack of quality of the paper inside - I could see the lyrics back to front on Mariah's face. It was a rather blah cover. The new zoomed out version is amazing. This whole thing is amazing. (Saturday 9 September 2023; 09:54)

My Prayer (103,380) by Andrew from the UK It's anastonishing vocal performance. But I can't stop hearing Unchained Melody when the arpeggio kicks in. The song is great but - now don't shoot me - feels very out-dated, even for the 90s. (Friday 8 September 2023; 18:05)

Proctor's Theatre (103,379) by Andrew from the UK I have just relistened to both about fifty times now side-by-suide, but I can't hear it. She seems to end the phrase on the same beat the guy in the audience ends his contribution. Can you imagine being that guy, now? On another note: when you listened to Hero at Proctor's Theatre did you picture the audience member in a black and white striped T clapping and shaking his head in disbelief? I bet you did. Now, can you imagine being *that* guy? (Friday 8 September 2023; 17:55) this is a reply to message 103,375

Proctor's Theatre (103,375) by Jamie from UK I might be wrong but the Thank You For Coming bit seems a fraction earlier than the DVD version, like it's an alternative take? (Friday 8 September 2023; 15:47)

Music Box/Proctor's Theatre - my origin story (103,378) by Andrew from the UK Alright, Lee, jeez. It's not a contest. I, too, recorded the audio from the VHS of Here is Mariah Carey (Proctor's Theatre) onto a casette so I could listen to it on the way to school and on the way back. And I wore the Music Box CD out and had to get several copies. And that original VHS tape was worn right through, too. It was very emotional for me to read your story. I used to sit listening to Music Box in my room staring out the window at the sea wondering if anyone else was doing the same: wondering if there were other boys like me. Now I know there, of course, was. But those were very very different times. I just listened to Proctor's Theatre whilst running down the river and I'm not ashamed to say I stopped and cried when the AYNAF - Extended came on. These 25th/30th Anniversary Editions are almost like reliving the 90's all over again. I almost feel as young as I look. I love what you wrote. You have no idea how much your story moved me. (Friday 8 September 2023; 17:46) this is a reply to message 103,372

Music Box/Proctor's Theatre - my origin story (103,372) by Lee from UK Proctor's Theatre was my introduction to Mariah. My uncle gave my older brother a VHS called "Here is Mariah Carey". I remember being 10 years old and walking into the living room while my brother was watching it. I was mesmerized. I could not believe the sounds her mouth was producing. I studied this VHS tape, every note, every riff, every hand gesture, every inspirational thing she said. I know it word for word from the beginning to the end. I needed to hear more. I wore out two copies of this VHS due to rewinding, pausing and playing so frequently. Shortly after, my brother gave me his cassette of Music Box (he did not turn out to be such a fan in the end). I didn't even have my own cassette player so I spent most of my free time in my brother's bedroom playing and replaying the Music Box album. Every song was sheer perfection but the two that really stood out to me where All I Ever Wanted and Everything Fades Away. I eventually received a CD player for Christmas with a CD version of Music Box and simply being able to "skip" between tracks made listening to this album an even better experience. I have had several copies of this album on CD over the years as they were very well used and ultimately became scratched and would skip. Eventually, I ripped an MP3 from the CD making listening even easier, I recorded it to mini-disc (remember those?) I even used a couple of aux leads to record the Proctor's Theatre VHS audio to a minidisc and I could take the concert with me everywhere I went. I am so grateful we now have the Proctor's Audio on Spotify and the video on Amazon Prime. This was prior to the days of the internet and no 11-year-olds where I grew up in Liverpool, England, were listening to Mariah Carey. I had so much to say about how she sings and why I adored her so much but no one would listen to me for long enough. My family would gift me with various CDs from her back catalogue for birthdays and Christmas and then the first album I ever bought for myself was Daydream. Thank goodness the internet was invented and by 2001 I had found a community of like-minded people who just wanted to share their love for Mariah. I have been obsessed ever since. (Friday 8 September 2023; 13:54)

Proctor's Theatre (103,371) by Andrew from the UK I am beside myself that this is now on Spotify. "This is another new song from my new album, called Anytime You Need A Friend. I just wanna dedicate to everybody here tonight. Thank you for coming." It is the very first thing I heard from Mariah whilst my brothers - who had 'borrowed' the VHS from their friend up the street - watched it in the living room. I walked in to see what it was I could hear and couldn't believe it. I know every single hand movement, head movement, foot movement from the performance. Mariah, you're incredible. (Friday 8 September 2023; 12:06)

Music Box 30th Anniversary (103,327) by Andrew from the UK Sorry, CD3? So it's only on hardcopy? (Thursday 7 September 2023; 00:50) this is a reply to message 103,321

Music Box 30th Anniversary (103,321) by Edward from USA Yes, Proctor's audio has been remastered and will be on CD 3. (Thursday 7 September 2023; 00:03)

Music Box 30th Anniversary (103,318) by Andrew from the UK I must admit I don't really understand what is being released and how? Is Proctor's Theatre being released as an audio? If so, is it going on Spotify or do you have to actually purchase a hard copy? It's all pretty confusing. (Wednesday 6 September 2023; 23:22)

Re-recording Music Box 30 (103,306) by Andrew from the UK Far be it for me to throw a spanner in the works but I am forced to agree with Eddie: Music Box is not one to be messed with. More to the point, perhaps: having read original and somewhat up-to-date reviews of Music Box: how pithy the negative critiquing of Music Box as an engineered money-maker. Blockbuster movies are created to be blockbuster movies: the timing, the CGI, the actors, the release date, the budget, the production studio... everything is on point to make a blockbuster. So Mariah made a ballad heavy pop masterpiece in order to show that she was not going to be taken on by Whitney hands-down. She created one of the move successful albums there ever was - and that came from within her. What a ridiculous - actually if I could label it as it is without Eric deleting it, I would - state of affairs to be criticised for being good. So she didn't sell as well with Emotions - and, boy, did they write about that. She sold extremely well with Music Box - and, boy, wasn't it just "selling out"? GTFO. Music Box is a masterpiece. It is her biggest selling album because it contained grand songs, timeless masterpieces and a vocal performance that ought to have won her more accolades than it did. To have created an answer to The Bodyguard soundtrack was in and of itself a stroke of genius that could only have been done by MC. Music Box is her best-selling work and is flawless for that it is. A Blockbuster. But I am sure as shit certain that don't nobody need the 2009 Hero. Get me Ed Shapiro on the phone. (Monday 4 September 2023; 23:40) this is a reply to message 103,298

Re-recording Music Box 30 (103,298) by Edward from USA Unless tracks from that recording sessions are released, like All I Live For, she should leave Music Box alone. (Monday 4 September 2023; 02:14)

lmao. (103,264) by Andrew from the UK "Sleigh" like "Slay"?. This is brilliant. "B*** better sleigh." Howling. (Wednesday 30 August 2023; 22:31) this is a reply to message 103,262

(103,262) by Terna from Nigeria At this point it might as well begin in September. The comments on this though. (Wednesday 30 August 2023; 18:54)

Where is she? (103,260) by Andrew from the UK I think, given representations she has made in the past, that now is about the time when Mariah will be working on Christmas material so is probably holed up. Personally I think there is one more Christmas album to come ("Merry Christmas III" or "M3rry Christmas") if you will. Hopefully it would me more Marc Shaiman-esque with bold strings, bells and horns and includes Sleigh Ride which is quite brilliant. The issue with Merry Christmas II You is that, whereas it has very nice songs, I'm not sure R&B and Christmas... go together? After that, the last album "Debut", then a World Tour. And then write a musical, not a jukebox musical, but an actual musical written from scratch - maybe even with Marc Shaiman. (Wednesday 30 August 2023; 13:19) this is a reply to message 103,259

Where is she? (103,259) by Zachariah from Croatia Guys, where is she? What is happening? No news, no nothing. (Wednesday 30 August 2023; 12:08)

New era? (103,254) by Andrew from the UK Quite like the idea of the last album being "Sweet Sixteen". Isn't 16 when girls in ages past made their social "debut"? Perhaps the final album being called "Debut" would be rather fun. Would certainly make headlines for the name alone and has many a layered meaning. (Tuesday 29 August 2023; 00:51) this is a reply to message 103,249

New era? (103,249) by Will from England I think it's to be expected that she slows down now. She's done literally everything there is to accomplish in music that she wants to do and has broken and made so many musical history records; she's done all the dog and pony shows for each album; she's performed in nearly every country; she's had to her rise, fall and return to grace. Her arc is complete, and there is nothing more for her to do expect enjoy the life she has built for her family. Her children are nearly teenagers, and for now, she is enjoying being a mom to them, occasionally recording and writing stuff, but without the pressures for commitment to a record label to deliver a full album and do a promotional tour. Look at the other legacy acts around, there isn't anyone in her category making music or having hits (with the odd exception here or there like Kylie), it's all the younger upcoming artists and I'd like to think that she has made peace with that. Her final large promotional push she had to do, that I feel she wanted to achieve and was easily attainable at that point, was to get AIWFCIY to number 1, and that's done, and that song will now continue to increase in weeks at number 1 every year, before finally becoming the longest running number 1 song ever on the chart ad infinitum. However, that's not to say she will never release another musical project, I don't think that she can ever let that happen considering her views on Caution, but something to really sum up over 30 years in a cut-throat business and something she can be proud of being the final major project, and finish it with her sweet 16th album. (Saturday 26 August 2023; 23:50)

New era? (103,253) by Andrew from the UK In the *three* messages you have posted to this board, two are dripping in negativity with one already having been shown to be based upon a lie. I shouldn't think anyone needs suggestive behavioural advice from the likes of you - someone so hellbent on consuming content to which they contribute so little, whilst bemoaning it for not being sweet enough. Be a good boy and swallow your medicine. Sorry it's so bitter. (Tuesday 29 August 2023; 00:43) this is a reply to message 103,251

New era? (103,251) by David from USA This. You said everything that needs to be said. There's really nothing, literally nothing, else that needs to be discussed about Mariah's future career after this post. Of course, that won't happen, since most of the people on this board would have nowhere to go to express their incredible negativity and insults in an effort to project their own unhappiness. (Sunday 27 August 2023; 16:39)

New era? (103,248) by Andrew from the UK An era? Mariah the music artist is over. She is Christmas-oriented for the dollars and that is it. And why? Because her voice is shot and musically there's nothing left she has to offer. I don't say it with schadenfreude - I offer it as a truth which I am happy to be attacked and disproven. (Saturday 26 August 2023; 21:11) this is a reply to message 103,247

New era? (103,247) by Robert-Anthony from United States Is this the new era that no one expected? An era where we get new items dropped in MC's store quarterly and occasional video posts on Twitter. I believe this is the new norm. Therefore, I am disappointed with the release of the new Honey 2 LP. The gold colored vinyl is not worth buying. I don't purchase color vinyl because it does not produce brillant stereophonic sound like black vinyl. This is where we are from the start in 1990 to 2023. It is really disappointing that MC hasn't addressed anything. Did Elton John or Janet Jackson experience a career slow down like this without some type of announcement? I would like to know. (Saturday 26 August 2023; 03:52)

Great topics this week (103,242) by Andrew from the UK You're visiting the UK at Christmas? Hold up: are you a big fat jolly fella with a big beard and a massive sack? (Tuesday 22 August 2023; 22:22) this is a reply to message 103,226

Great topics this week (103,226) by Robert-Anthony from United States This has been a good week with great topics. From rumors of MC's impending return to A.I. to reminiscing about the Price sisters and Melonie Daniels to the impact of discounted singles to flirting with a favorite board member to my failed The Rarities 2 Twiiter campaign, the topics brought us all together. I may have to visit the U.K. this Christmas though. (Saturday 19 August 2023; 23:53)

Discounted singles (103,241) by Andrew from the UK I would also add to this that - as Randy has just told me - Loverboy was the No.1 selling single that year. (I think this is in the book, akso, right?) We know it's not Mariah's best work. in fact, on first listening, who here didn't wait for the chorus and go... "Er, what the actual ****?" There was no chorus. Sweet Sweet Fantasy Loverboy it was not. The crux is this: Bootylicious is in no way Destiny Child's best song. In fact, it's essentially a nothing with "I don't think you're ready for this jelly" as a gimmick hook. In British English vernacular: it's shite. It is in no way better than Loverboy and, I submit this also: if Mariah had put out Loverboy Firecracker and said to the critics: that B stole by my sample but I stand by my work, I believe she would have blown Destiny's Child out of the water. Loverboy Firecracker is 100% brilliant Mariah Carey. She should have gone for it. She would have had the public and radio behind her. (Tuesday 22 August 2023; 22:17) this is a reply to message 103,228

Discounted singles (103,228) by Andrew from the UK I must be missing something here. "Discounted singles"? My first question would be: "Discounted from what?" People can sell whatever they want at any price in a free market society. As on a bell curve, items are sold at the lowest price that will shift more units that at a higher price that will shift less if it would make more profit to do so? I don't recall in Woolworths of Tower Record or any other music store in the UK at the time there being a standard fixed price for a single. And, in any case, my second question would be: "Who, in their right mind, buys a hardcopy single because of the price? "Way back when, back in the day, all songs were on the radio and music television channels before they hit the music stores. I had rarely gone to one not knowing what the new single releases sounded like - or, if I had, I would generally (elongated) know what the single was going to sound like dependent on the artist. It's not as if people bought My All not knowing what a Mariah Carey ballad would sound like. The argument is absurd. My third question would be: "If it were so easy to get to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by discounting a hardcopy single in the music stores - that is, if the high charting led to further purchases at full price, even: why didn't everyone do it?" There is something so dubious about this "Mariah only got No.1 because of discounted singles" argument that it smacks of disingenuousness somewhere. Unless I am gravely mistaken. But the trouble with entertaining Mariah critics in this talking point is that they're arguing something that can never be won and so they can chip away at her with it. But it can be argued on a test of objective reasonability. Yes, I imagine some persons did throw it into their baskets because it was cheap, as some people are so inclined - but so inclined in *those* numbers? I would tell anyone suggesting that as a reality to not waste my time. (Sunday 20 August 2023; 09:32)

MORE MESSAGES