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About Randy from USA: MC is my favorite artist of all time and I love her songwriting skills on her introspective songs. My favorite album: Butterfly. My favorite song: Right To Dream.

Bye Bye (66,702) by Randy from USA I am going to say this and it's gonna be controversial. I don't think Bye Bye was a bad follow up single to Touch My Body. I love the song. I love StarGate and it was a complete departure from what she had done previously as far as singles. Here's how I feel about single choices and flops. If there was some magic formula to get a #1, then everyone would have them. We don't know what the public is gonna love or hate. Artists just take a chance. PS I really love TTR and it stalled at #81. There's not a lot of rhyme or reason to a song being a hit or not. (Monday 26 September 2016; 5:44)

Re: Everything Fades Away (66,681) (66,687) by Randy from USA I swear I read that Tommy said it would lean Music Box in a direction that was too R&B, but I can't remember the source. And I cannot imagine Music Box ending any other way than All I've Ever Wanted. (Sunday 25 September 2016; 13:25)

Everything Fades Away (66,680) by Randy from USA So since this song was too black to be on Music Box, according to Tommy M, any ideas where MC and Wally A would have put it in the sequence? My guess is either before Never Forget You or after Without You. But there's no way it could go after Anytime You Need A Friend. They sound too similar. What do you all think? (Sunday 25 September 2016; 9:38)

Battle of the interludes / 2 minute songs (66,521) by Randy from USA You have to choose one. Rainbow (Interlude), Twister or Languishing. My vote is for Languishing. (Tuesday 20 September 2016; 23:14)

Through The Rain, Hero or Can't Take That Away (66,451) by Randy from USA Whis is MC's most inspirational song? I can speak for me. I love TTR. That is a song I play on the way to work on days I don't want to go. The video is perfection and my favorite part, the song has no background vocals. At least not on the record. Shade. But for real. That song gives me power. Which of the three give you all power? (Monday 19 September 2016; 3:02)

Andrew / eternally12 (66,161) by Randy from USA See I think she does have redeeming qualities. Think of it like this Andrew, the woman who wrote all of the lyrics to Close My Eyes, and Outside and probably wrote all of the lyrics to Petals, Right To Dream and Languishing is the same woman who is frolicking uselessly. Without Tommy she would've been famous. Just not where she is now. Maybe a cult fame like Brand New Heavies, Tracy Chapman, Arrested Development and any other R&B genius of the 90s that never got its sunlight. I don't care what anyone on this board thinks of me. I still feel one day, after public embarrassments and people thinking she's not relevant, she's a has been and she should be put out to pasture with the rest of the cows. Her deepest body of work will come, the true follow up to Butterfly. Remember, after Glitter and Charmbracelet people counted her out. We know what happened next. This next comeback may not be commercial achievement but it will be an artistic zenith. We are in a transitional phase in my opinion. (Monday 12 September 2016; 1:54)

Eternally 12 (66,133) by Randy from USA I live for your posts Edward and you know I always have. Eternally 12 year olds don't post bathtub selfies with diamonds. Eternally 12 year olds don't get married for a third time. Eternally 12 year olds don't spin records with DJs in fishnets. I will say this though. MC had enough years of being miserable in the business. If this is who she is, then shame on us for buying into, not only Tommy's image, but her secondary image 97-15. But then again, she did say, "I'm quite the multi-faceted creature." I still believe, no song pun intended, really, serious MC will make a comeback. I mean she is 46 with kids and two divorces. We about to get a Through The Rain that is more Triumphant than That Chick Languishing. (Sunday 11 September 2016; 14:27)

New music (66,104) by Randy from USA What I want is an album of stripped down ballads that she writes with others and produces herself. I want her to discuss the divorce and her siblings vaguely a la Petals. Discuss her love for James a la Cry or Camouflage. The album should be in the vein of Adele but of course we all know MC can write circles around Adele. Emotional, dark music. Piano, guitar, strings some percussion. That's it. No hip hop. I also want vocals that she can replicate live without a backing track and wall of background singers. But being as though she wants to be a MILF sex kitten, I'm not sure what we'll get. Probably Me. I Am Mariah. The Desireable Diva. I just threw up a little. (Saturday 10 September 2016; 20:57)

Re: A disertation on being negative (65,909) (65,927) by Randy from USA Marissa: I want to thank you for your respect and true understanding of what I said. Ty: The second half of my post was positive, so I don't get your commentary, or your personal attacks. I'm fine, no need for concern. And I don't do the back and forth insults so I'ma just say I wish you well and respond. I love MC and it's out of frustration that I'm watching Rihanna collect number ones when some of MC's best never dented the charts. Most of Rihanna's number ones are forgettable. Or watching Adele sell diamond for singing stripped down ballads which MC has done better and could do without thinking. I don't use this board as a personal attack, in fact, I barely post. Every now and then I have a burning rage for something someone has said. Everyone enjoy your week and my song of the moment, that I cannot get enough of is the Never Too Far/Hero medley. Can you believe someone stole my physical copy and when I went to buy it online it's now $50 for a new shrinkwrapped copy? How's that for being negative. (Tuesday 6 September 2016; 1:47)

A disertation on being negative (65,898) by Randy from USA Marissa, as one who has been called negative on this board, let me tell you about the disgust some of us have been feeling and why we choose to stay. Firstly, when I view how wonderful MC sounded in Tokyo in 1996, I think that's one of the best singers in the world. And then at her very next public appearance Oprah 97 she sounded awful and that was the beginning of the lip syncing. I could've forgiven her for one bad performance but she struggled through all of the Butterfly performances and by 1998 she was a hoarse cracking mess. Many want to claim there has been a gradual loss of the voice but in actuality it seemed to happen over night. And I'm not mad something happened to her voice, she's human. I'm mad that the woman who claimed to be so close to her fans couldn't tell us and never addressed what happened. She chose instead to create studio magic and then lip high full voice belts through all of the Rainbow, Charmbracelet performances both televised as well as the tours. She started "singing" again in 2005. Sort of. I think LA Reid had a sit down with her and made her do the work involved in repairing what was left since whatever happened. But I will not entertain she sang that entire 2006 Grammy performance. That was such a cut and paste job. Her engineer is a pro. Again this is not about her voice being lost, this is about deception. People wanted to attack Whitney for sounding awful in her last years but I have much more respect for a soldier, than a magician. Why stay? Because we know what this woman is capable of. There are things MC can do that no one can do. Put 3 and 4 syllable words in a Pop song and have it be a number 1: My All, Heartbreaker. Mix genres: The Butterfly, MIAMTEC albums. Combine love songs with introspective songs on an album: Looking In is on the same album with Fantasy. That's why it kills me when she allows people to limit her to an R&B singer. R&B albums are all about love and heartbreak. MC writes about other things. Sort of like a Joni Mitchell mixed with Chaka Khan. And on a personal note. I have had some struggles in my life with my sexuality and my family and songs like Close My Eyes, Outside have helped me through. While songs like Through The Rain, Obsessed, Languishing and Right To Dream are pure genius lyrically. So why stay? I would never abandon MC, she has been by my side metaphorically since I was 10. I am now 36. I know what she is capable of and I have a right to dream that this deception, laziness, aloofness and indifference when it comes to singing live, making music, promotion, social media and her fans is just a phase and she will return to what she was or at least strip it all down and be herself one day. I love this board and in particular the webmaster for allowing all points of view. (Monday 5 September 2016; 15:48)

Inside edition (65,800) by Randy from USA I don't know. I mean one part of me thinks "I'm glad MC isn't Jesus. Because all of us need forgiveness. Especially, our family members." The other part of me thinks "Where is the line drawn between help and enabling?" This was the lead story on Inside Edition and not everybody watches that or takes it seriously but it is out there and will be added on to this "diva carrying her own lighting not being relatable foolishness".' And I wonder if she will ever address it and how terrible it is to be estranged from both siblings. And where is Pat? (Friday 2 September 2016; 1:12)

Re: Vegas has made Mariah a better performer (65,746) (65,747) by Randy from USA She's lipped so much I never believe when she hits any full voice belt notes anymore but if I'm wrong and that was all her, I hope she is able to turn it on for American television because for some reason, when she is performing at an awards show, a late night show or whatever, a fairy butterfly seems to get stuck in her throat during verses so she struggles and yet glittery angels and wizards backstage make her sound amazing on the high ad libs on the last hooks of her songs. This is probably why her last few American television appearances have been sit downs only. Imagine. A singer who does a sit down only. (Wednesday 31 August 2016; 9:56)

This woman (65,694) by Randy from USA Have you noticed how much you can hate an MC song and then in time it grows on you? I hated Triumphant (Get Em) so much and it has grown on me and now when it comes on my "Inspire" playlist, I find myself singing along to it. Yeah, I'll be glad when she stops this Vegas crap. I'm ready for new music. And as for Allison. Everybody is right. Mariah's access to all types of things could've killed Alison by now. Which is why it's best MC stay away until Alison gets better. (Monday 29 August 2016; 4:16)

Re: Mariah singing with lady (64,770) (64,824) by Randy from USA Why does the lady sound better than MC though? (Sunday 31 July 2016; 12:17)

Re: Andrew, she's a she (64,650) (64,653) by Randy from USA Edward I have always loved and agreed with your posts and one day I'ma come to NY and party with you. Andrew I feel you are harsh at times but I actually agree with you 99.9 repeating percent of the time, I would just tone down the language. Webmaster, I agree you have an outstanding site and I come every day even if I don't post often, please keep it up. I credit this site for me staying an MC fan. For MC. I don't know exactly what you are feeling right now with your relevance waning, as it does with all artists at a certain point. Your contemporaries, Celine, Whitney, Madonna, Janet etc, are not selling records or able to remain mainstream for various reasons. This is normal. When you and your contemporaries were big in the 90s and 00s where were the hit records from Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack and Donna Summer? This is normal. Am I counting you out as a legacy artist? Hell no. You have a way of surprising us. Cher was 54 when she hit #1 with Believe. And you are 12 times the musical genius she is. The only way you could have a hit and/or make your fans happy is to return to the music and make that your focus. Strip down the vocal layering, rappers, production and singing notes you can sing in the studio on "good days" and are not able to replicate live at any moment. You are a natural beauty. You don't need the ensembles, hair extensions and all that make up. If you sang a lyrical album with just you, piano and guitar, all of your fans would die of happiness. You are the greatest of all time. There is a lot getting in the way of everyone remembering that. Remind them. I am still listening to Vanishing, Music Box, Looking In, Butterfly, My All, Close My Eyes, Outside, Petals, Through The Rain, Right To Dream and Languishing. I consider those your genius moments. You a once in a lifetime artist. Remind the masses. Remind us. (Tuesday 26 July 2016; 3:58)

Mariah's contradictions (64,092) by Randy from USA Didn't Mariah say she would never get married again after Tommy? I know for a fact that she said in the Billboard Book of #1s that she could use the whistle more but she doesn't because she doesn't want to use it as a gimmick. Didn't she also say on her VH1 videography that early in her career someone told her she had a bad side, and Honey is the first video where she shows her head in its entirety? Now she's back to having a "good" side. (Friday 8 July 2016; 20:31)

Mariah and James (64,041) by Randy from USA I do wonder at this. What makes people get married a third time? I would think after two divorces you would be fine with a common law sort of thing, without the celebration, dress and drama. Especially after you've done it twice. I've never been married so someone please explain to me how people are ok with getting married a third time. In addition, because of the way MC grew up, I assumed she would not trust someone a third time after what she's been through with Tommy and Nick. I gave MC and Nick 7 years because I knew it happened too fast. She was looking for a fun dude and didn't realize that sometimes fun comes with immaturity and indiscretion. I like Nick though, he just wasn't right for her. So she went totally in a different direction and I do believe MC is impulsive so she probably will marry James. I only give this one, two years. I think she's looking for someone the opposite of Nick because of the disappointment. He's not her type, he's just stable and predictable and that's what she thinks she should have now. (Tuesday 5 July 2016; 18:05)

Ty, B, Andrew and My All (63,771) by Randy from USA Ty I respectfully disagree with you. My All original version is killer and just look at her face when she sings the last chorus on Rosie O'Donnell and SNL in 97/98. I live for when Walt cuts the music out before the last chorus and Ty furthermore, she cloned the song twice afterwards on Rainbow its clone is After Tonight and on Charmbracelet its clone is I Only Wanted. B. I also disagree respectfully with you. I think Heartbreaker is her last big hit before WBT. In fact, they played Heartbreaker more on American radio than My All. And finally Andrew please come to the A so we can play Carpool Mariah Carey-oke. Do you know I actually had a Glitter party for her in 2001, where we played Mariah Carey-oke? I sang Outside. But of course this board thinks I hate her because I hold her accountable for her live performances. (Friday 24 June 2016; 21:52)

Re: My All (63,745) (63,754) by Randy from USA I think that the collection is probably her best work. The classic club mix is my second favorite club mix. I'm sorry but that Through The Rain 12 minute mix is sensational. The My All/Stay Awhile mix is my favorite hip hop mix of hers. But I don't think either hold a candle to the original. I don't know if you guys realize this but My All is probably her best number 1 if you consider the lyric, the emotion and drama in the last chorus and the video. None of her other #1s to me come close as far as everything including video and remix being pure art. What saddens me is the song is up there with Whitney's I Will Always Love You, and edges out Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart and is infinitely better than the safe "Because You Loved Me" and yet My All spent less weeks at number one and is less celebrated than those singles by the GP. P.S. I'm not gonna touch on lip syncing because I just feel like ignoring it doesn't mean it's right. I'm just gonna keep belting out My All/Stay Awhile with the windows down in my two seater driving down MLK in Atlanta, and dare the thug boys to say anything when I sing the line "Put your lovin arms around me boy and hold me like I was a cuddly toy". (Friday 24 June 2016; 16:49)

Lip syncing (63,729) by Randy from USA I'm trying to hold my tongue and be positive because my criticism of MC has caused many on this board to think I don't like her or I have outgrown her. I can't on this topic though. Lip syncing is fraud. Yes I know everyone does it. A couple of years ago I was watching Chris Brown perform on the BET awards and I was pissed that it was clear that he was singing to his own voice. To me that is still fraud. And a couple of you are saying well they're still singing to their own voice. But a voice in the studio is manipulated. Anyone can sound good in the studio so again, it doesn't prove you can actually sing. Do you know how many singers out there who can actually sing and can't get a break because they're fat and unattractive or they don't know the right people? So to me this is taking your fans money and the one thing they ask of you is to sing well and you can't do it without help. Then what are we paying you for? Patti never lip sync'd unless the venue required it. Neither did Aretha. Nor does Fantasia or J Hud or Ledisi. Whitney sounded horrible in years leading up to her death and she went out like a soldier. MC is someone who many consider the best voice of all time. Remember MTV named her #1 vocalist of the past 22 years in 2003, and she said I don't feel that way about myself, which I felt was very telling. I'll say this. She has been sounding really good lately in Vegas and I'm hoping that translates onto American television during her next promotional push, where she usually falls apart. It's also telling she has been promoting Vegas and ain't sang a note on Kimmel or on Kelly and Michael. But again you all will say she's saving her voice. I know Janet lip syncs, so does Beyonce at times, Britney Spears, J Lo, Usher, Justin Bieber and Madonna. I am disgusted with them too. But MC is a singer by profession. Not singing means you're not doing your job. How many of you can collect pay and not do your job? I saw Charmbracelet in 2003 and I wanted my money back because she lip syncd constantly. I could hear the differences in the mic whenever a high full voice chest belt was to come. Forget Stella, the ensembles, James Packer and the splashes. I don't care about that stuff. None of us pay to see MC act a certain way. We pay to hear her sing. This is the topic that irritates me most. Yeah other artist do it, but that doesn't make it right. If your voice isn't what it used to be, lower the keys of your song and change the arrangement. (Thursday 23 June 2016; 14:12)

June 17 Vision Of Love and My All (63,602) by Randy from USA Vision of Love, the best I've seen her sound since the Jimmy Fallon impromptu. She does way too much growling and I still don't think it's impressive enough for the best singer of all time according to some. But there's no lip syncing. She appears to be getting some of her higher full voice belts back. I hope she's not overstraining doing more damage to her voice. But I definitely felt at one point thought she was done vocally and now watching a lot of these videos, there's hope. I wish she would stop singing the Classic Club Remix ending to My All and just do the damn album version but whatever. I'm proud of her for singing live and putting in the work to improve her full belting voice and not just rely on whistles to prove she's still got it. Here is My All in case you haven't seen it. (Sunday 19 June 2016; 18:39)

Yeah it sucks (63,342) by Randy from USA That you all think I don't like MC. I've just been critical of her live performances. I want her to sound like her records without lip syncing. I don't think that's much to ask. My last point Billy and then I am going to shut up on this topic. On My All, where did the background singers come from on her live performances of the song? There's no backgrounds on the record. Same is true with Through The Rain. But what I've really just decided is that it's foolish to try to find answers here. This is a fan board and many, like I once did, think MC was exceptional live in 98-now until others showed me what exceptionality looks like live. I don't dislike MC. I dislike fraudulence. Something traumatic happened between Daydream Tokyo in 1996 and Oprah 1997 and she ain't been quite right vocally since. And she's used backing tracks on stage and studio tricks in the studio to seem like she can still belt. It's never been addressed. But to come here and keep making the same point to whereas people think I don't like her is insanity. So I'll come here for positivity. I think MC is the greatest artist of all time and I don't want her to be known as a studio singer. I don't think any of you have any idea how the general public views her as a singer. But maybe Mimi L is right. I should stop defending her and stop trying to figure out the need for the wizard behind the curtain. Just enjoy what's been and let her legacy end up whatever it is. (Monday 13 June 2016; 22:40)

Re: Billy, B, Giovanni and One Sweet Day (63,304) (63,310) by Randy from USA Giovanni we're gonna have to agree to disagree. Kelly Price sings back. I may not like her personality, after R&B Divas, but she sings back. All I Want For Christmas, O Holy Night and Fantasy (album version), the backgrounds are all Kelly Price. I definitely don't agree with you on Fantasia and J-Hud as to me they are the torch carriers from Aretha and Patti. And the list of performances you pulled. She lip synced on AMA 2008 and on almost every WBT ever. She either used the album or a raspy backing track when she performed the last hook until her microphone cut back on at the end. The others were good for her but not good when held up against others. Finally, The Essence Awards. Whitney got a standing ovation for coming out and singing a few notes, while I felt MC struggled through that performance, look at her face, and nobody stood for her. See this. But at this point I realize I'm just beating a dead horse to death lol. Pray for Orlando. (Monday 13 June 2016; 11:10)

Kelly Price (63,279) by Randy from USA I know this may sound petty but I have to call it like I see it. Kelly Price said last night in a documentary about her life: Mariah was a learning experience. She is masterful with what she can do in a studio. Kelly never said anything about MCs voice or her being a great singer. I never want MC to be known as a studio singer. To me a studio singer is someone who sounds awful live and great on wax. To me studio singers are Madonna, Kelly Rowland, Ciara, Mary J Blige and Britney Spears. I will say that Mariah sounded her best, not when she came out, but during that Daydream tour, especially in Tokyo. I console myself with those performances and every chance I get show the new generation, or critics those performances. To me, that's the one time she sounded better live than on her records. (Sunday 12 June 2016; 17:29)

Billy, B, Giovanni and One Sweet Day (63,227) by Randy from USA I want to thank Billy and B for disagreeing with me respectfully. Respectful disagreements without belittling and banishing are hard to come by. Billy I am MC's biggest fan. In my circle, we all have divas. We all are part of Facebook groups. When fans of other divas start pulling YouTube clips, and we compare, it is over for MC and considering her career being from 1990-2016 so far, I find myself only being able to chose clips from 1990-1997, the Glitter era and Jimmy Fallon's impromptu that are not fraudulent. What comes across as me being disrespectful and critical, is sheer frustration at not having many receipts of her vocal ability outside of the studio. I also get angry with her for lipping because she never addressed why she can't sing her songs as she records them, or she hasn't toned down her belting to what she can do in the current stage of her voice live. As a school teacher, I will not be able to one day say, I have 27 years in the game and was good back in the day so I have nothing to prove and therefore I teach when I want to, not retire, and I'm still worth $500 million. Where is that fair? Which is why B, I think Patti's the best who has ever done it. She started recording in 1960. Watch her sing You Are My Friend at the Essence awards in 2000, 40 years into her career and it is mind boggling how artists such as MC, Christina Aguilera, Pink and Alicia Keys started having vocal problems a few albums into their careers. I do want MC to succeed but it's gonna take work, not excuses for her to retain her legacy as one of the best voices ever. I shut the [censored] up when she did that impromptu for the fans because it was amazing. So why was that an anomaly? While many on this board criticize her style of dress, her love life, eternally 12 and her interviews, I could care less. If she showed up to the White House correspondence dinner in a thong and pasties, I would not care as long as she burned the stage down without lipping. What matters to me is the voice and the quality of music. And let me address One Sweet Day and the newer generation. I teach 11th grade English and when I am about to say goodbye to the students each semester I play four videos. They don't know One Sweet Day, Bye Bye or Bone Thugs and Harmony's The Crossroads. But they know every single word to It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday. Who knows why some songs are classics. And Giovanni I love your list. In my opinion, the best voices of all time during their peak are: 1. Patti Labelle 1960-2004 2. Whitney Houston 1985-2000 3. Mariah Carey 1990-1997 4. Christina Aguilera 1998-2002 5. Jennifer Hudson (still sickening) 6. Aretha Franklin 1960-1998 7. Celine Dion (still sickening but now ridiculously safe) 8. Deborah Cox (still sickening but doesn't have a job) 9. Fantasia 2004-2010 10. Beyonce (still sickening but ridiculously safe) (Saturday 11 June 2016; 0:56)

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