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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.

Bleak (70,446) by Randy from USA I have come to be considered one of the negative posters on this site and I have to admit that sometimes the criticism over her actions is harsh. People [are] upset about her website advertising fur. People [are] upset about Stella. People [are] upset about Tanaka. People [are] upset about the way she linked a CD for purchase to a tribute for George Michael. When you are a superfan, you notice every little thing she does. So when these things do not match who she claimed to be post-Tommy pre James Packer, I can see the frustration. I think people come here to vent because in the grand scheme of things, who or where can you vent your frustrations about Mariah Carey? Your spouse? Your therapist? Your co-workers? She has meant so much to so many here. I'm listening to Petals now and I am almost floored that after the millionth time listening to it, the song makes me feel emotional. It's hard for some of us to connect the woman who wrote and sang Petals, to the flabby 46 year old woman kissing her backup dancer on the beach in front of a photographer whom she later picked through photos with to go to tabloids. Everyone knows that I personally could care less about the image if she went on stage and sang, but we can't even get her to do that. I'd love to have something to celebrate Mariah Carey about on this board. I would've loved to say hey she sang well on Divas and silenced the haters. I would've loved to say hey, her new single is killing the haters. I would've loved to say, her gown at the awards show is killing the haters and she is a fashion icon. She's not giving us anything to be positive about. So like many of us, I just listen to the music we have grown to love. As of her present state, I don't see Mariah Carey when I look at her. She is definitely the Elusive Chanteuse now. On a side note, I had one of my students write me a paper relating to Right To Dream, it was freaking awesome. The fact that he had no idea MC was so lyrically gifted speaks wonders about the corrosion her image has done to her talent. Happy New Year. (Friday 30 December 2016; 10:57)

If it's true (69,068) by Randy from USA I am pissed. She was the headlining act. It was said she would duet with Patti. If she sang AIWFCIY and left, then I'm furious. And another thing, I don't even like her singing that song because beside the beginning and one note at the end, it's all background and two Mariah's, even on the record. I don't care how good she looks. Sing. (Monday 5 December 2016; 0:25)

Re: She's over it (68,963) (68,975) by Randy from USA You hit in over the head with the she doesn't want to work. (Friday 2 December 2016; 3:49)

Article: The greatest make-your-ex-jealous pics of all time (68,883) by Randy from USA I always wondered why anyone even came close to comparing MC and JLo. It's because they date backup dancers. I am disgusted. (Thursday 1 December 2016; 1:26)

Re: Randy (68,718) (68,725) by Randy from USA But I have to tell you, Butterfly is what made me a die hard. No one has ever and no one will ever write a commercial album with vocals: the last chorus of Butterfly, My All, Outside, Whenever You Call, The Beautiful Ones. With lyricism: Butterfly, Breakdown, Close My Eyes, Outside. With crossing genres. Hip Hop: Honey, Breakdown, Pop: Whenever You Call, My All, Dance: Fly Away/Butterfly Mix, R&B: Babydoll. And the album was cohesive. It still is mind boggling, when you compare albums that get noticed now like Adele's 25, Beyonce's Lemonade and Rihanna's Anti. They aren't able to do what MC did in 97. But at the same time, that period marked the beginning of her vocal downfall. You can tell the difference even in the studio. "When you walk by every night talking sweet and looking fine, I get kinda hectic inside" sounds so much different in tone than "Honey you can have me when you want me, just simply ask me to be there." And that's what infuriates me about this board. No one wants to believe that there was some traumatic event, besides the divorce, that happened between Tokyo 96 and Butterfly promotion 97. Everyone wants to put their head in the sand and say "Oh she's the best singer in the world and she cant sing like she used to because it's been 27 years." (Sunday 27 November 2016; 23:48)

Re: Mariah, MC, Mimi (68,713) (68,714) by Randy from USA I have to first say your post was well written and very respectful but I have to strongly disagree. See there's a few things at play here. Firstly that MC is having vocal problems is nothing new. In 96 when she had the Tokyo concert she sounded amazing. The next time we saw her sing live was the Oprah performance in 97 and she struggled and lip syncd. Something had changed. She never addressed it. She's had many great performances since 97, but mostly it's touch and go, with background singers being loud and backing tracks. It's not for preservation of her voice. Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin held on to their voices for decades without issue. Now their voices are starting to fray but Mariah frayed in 97 and was really going through a rough spot in 98, 99 and 2000. She had only been out a couple years. Now we can all speculate it was recording an album every year with three remixes per single. Or it was her starting to hang with rappers that smokes in the studio and her splashes. I think the sheer disgust is the amount of deception involved. Check out her performance of DFAU at the AMAs in 2006. She sounded horrible during the verses and lip syncd the final chorus and got a standing ovation. And there's always some excuse. I used to think a little rain cloud was following MC around to purposely screw up her performances. Oh an ear monitor, oh the AC, oh I have food poisoning, oh the casket was in front of me, oh it's too early to sing, oh it's cold outside at this outside concert, oh I didn't get enough sleep. Those are all things she has literally said. As a school teacher, if I don't teach guess what? I get fired. So what happens when a singer doesn't sing? Nothing. And she commands $1 million for a personal concert. I don't quite make that much. Sarcasm. I love MC. The depth in her body of work, makes her counterparts seem so surface. She is a true artist. But the deception is repugnant. And when Whitney had issues with her voice she went out like a soldier. Let me say this. I'm not saying all hope is lost. I used to think that until the Impromptu for Jimmy Fallon and the fans. Even some of the Vegas performances had me surprised. But when it comes to American television and high stakes whereas everyone is watching performances, she folds like a card table. And lambs keep forgetting that she is considered one of the best of all time. We should not even be having these arguments. And if there is a problem, why does she continue to make difficult arrangements and create songs she can't perform live. I hated Infinity, but my first though was, she can't sing this live. I had the same thought when she recorded One More Try and Heavenly on MIAMTEC. I want her to have integrity. I don't think as a die hard I am asking too much. (Sunday 27 November 2016; 3:01)

Divas scares the hell out of me (68,708) by Randy from USA Here's the thing, I do sometimes you guys are too harsh but when I see what's being put out there for public conception, I'm like damn this is why the lambs are turning on her. Whoever just said it needs to be about the voice is correct. Lower the keys of songs, and stop having your background singers cover for you or backing tracks for that matter. She can still do something at live shows but as far as American television, she always falls apart. And for the last time MC's voice isn't in disrepair because of 27 years in the business, she started fraying in 98. Watch Vision Of Love on The View from 1998. She let Celine upstage her on Testimony. Whitney upstaged her at the Oscars in 99. None of that would have been possible in 95. (Saturday 26 November 2016; 20:18)

Holiday game (68,571) by Randy from USA So since I'm tired of all the negativity, and to be honest MC and her team's actions warrant it, let's laugh. What would you trust/ask MC to bring to a potluck Thanksgiving to your house? Must be a good item she made. Me: mashed potatoes that I would then hook up once they're in the house lol. Mariah can't cook imo. (Tuesday 22 November 2016; 19:53)

Re: Article: The top 10 pop singers of all time (67,453) (67,460) by Randy from USA I love this site and love the webmaster but seriously? This could've been left on the half cent blog it came from. [Webmaster: I posted this because I thought it was funny.] (Monday 24 October 2016; 4:42)

Bill and Mirage (67,303) by Randy from USA That's interesting that you both picked #Beautiful as the first single from MIAMTEC. I said YME because #Beautiful was released so prematurely. But I guess you guys are right. Sort of. (Sunday 16 October 2016; 10:44)

Rank first singles (full length studio albums only) (67,295) by Randy from USA Since we're all bored and waiting for something to happy, hey how about a new list? I can hear your groans. I'm doing this in terms of choices to create hype for the album, not my favorites. 1. Fantasy ft ODB 2. Heartbreaker 3. Honey 4. Vision of Love 5. All I Want For Christmas Is You 6. Dreamlover 7. Through The Rain 8. Emotions 9. It's Like That 10. Touch My Body 11. Obsessed 12. Loverboy 13. Oh Santa 14. You're Mine (Eternal) (Sunday 16 October 2016; 1:00)

Re: [censored] Andrew (67,112) (67,117) by Randy from USA TJ I don't agree with you necessarily but your experience in Norway may be different from my experience in Atlanta. I teach 11th grade English and my students definitely know who she is but they snicker when I bring her up as a crazy has been. When I introduce them to a lyric, they are surprised by her ability to write. My co workers all day the same thing, she can't sing anymore. As far as Andrew is concerned, no disrespect but you are way off the mark when you say MC can't act. The vunerablity that she pulled from to write Outside and your favorite song, Right To Dream (smile), is the same she vunerablity she pulled from on screen. I think she did what the Empire gig called for. But you can't look at her performances in Tennessee, Wisegirls, The Butler and Precious and say "she can't act at all". (Sunday 9 October 2016; 1:25)

Good side (67,034) by Randy from USA So I'm perplexed by something and maybe a die hard can help me understand it. Remember after MC left Tommy she did a couple of interviews saying that early in her career someone told her one side of her face was horrible and it should never be shown. She said she was a fool to listen to that. In 2001, she said Honey was the first video where you could see a forehead in its entirety and she learned not to be inhibited about so many things. Now over the last several years, she's back to having a good side and wanting to sit on certain sides of the stage. What happened? (Thursday 6 October 2016; 2:36)

Infamous (66,823) by Randy from USA I like the song. It has a haunting, rhythmic pulse to it. #1 not a chance and I agree with you all who said it's great she's singing a song in her current voice without the studio tricks thus making it necessary for her to use a backing track live. Which I doubt this is part of her new album and therefore she won't ever perform this live. (Thursday 29 September 2016; 16:18)

Re: Music Box (66,707) (66,714) by Randy from USA I was online, because I was bored, and there was an opinion ranking Music Box as her best album ever. It wasn't based on sales. I almost threw up. Butterfly was ranked #2 and TEOM was ranked #3. To me Music Box is a great album but belongs below the heavy artillery. For me, and not to start a list war, best to worse to me is Butterfly, Daydream, Music Box, Rainbow, Mariah Carey, Emotions, Merry Christmas, Unplugged, E=MC2, MOIA, Glitter, TEOM, Charmbracelet, MIAMTEC, MCIIYOU (Monday 26 September 2016; 17:20)

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)

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