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About Billy from Greece: I don't know, and neither do you.

MC BET Honors 2012 (58,541) by Billy from Greece Just looking through some videos from the olden days and I stumbled upon Mariah getting honored at the BET awards in 2012. This is one of the most emotional moments for both Mariah and the fans. You can see how filled with emotion she was throughout, but especially when Patti sang "Hero" to her, wow, that was intense. Mariah said "Patti you just murdered me" when she walked out on stage, and really seeing Mariah's reaction is so heartwarming. A really special honoring. Also having the queen of soul herself Ms Aretha Franklin in the audience standing up for Mariah when she went up to receive the award just makes it even more divaliciously special, knowing that Mariah is now officially in the company and lineage of her idols. (Friday 18 December 2015; 15:48)

Two amazing performances (58,538) by Billy from Greece First, "O Holy Night". Yes, she did lip the expected parts but her voice in the rest of the song was just as wow. It has some amazing mid-belts, while the opening part in her lower register was as full and heavy as the 1994 version. It flows seamlessly. And that ending, she took it home people. Second, "Joy to the World". Kudos to the cameraperson. The video allows you to see Mariah in all her live glory and makes you wish you were standing next to her to witness her work them vocals live. (Friday 18 December 2015; 11:13)

MC 2015 (58,537) by Billy from Greece So, 25 years into her career, Mariah started 2015 with one of her most bizarre and reprehensible live appearances ever in Jamaica (which nonetheless did include its own shining moments) and ended the same year with some of her best live vocals and performances ever. Only Mariah. Of course, in between the excellent Vegas residency took place. Overall, 2015 was a "getting it together" year for Mariah, in which she eventually triumphed. So glad that we see Mariah rejuvenated. (Friday 18 December 2015; 11:07)

MC Milan/Amsterdam (58,536) by Billy from Greece Hi guys. Just a quick question for anyone attending the concert in Milan: Are there any meet and greet packages for this concert? The best tickets I see avalable right now in Ticketone are the "Settore Gold Numerato" that cost 138 euro. Also, anyone attending the concert in Amsterdam? I'm considering that option as well. There is also a bigger variety of tickets there. The gold hot tickets seem like a good deal. (Friday 18 December 2015; 10:53)

My wig was snatched (58,478) by Billy from Greece I have killed the replay button over this. Anyone complaining about vocals? (Wednesday 16 December 2015; 9:43)

Re: Mariah - Italy (58,456) (58,463) by Billy from Greece Thanks for the info Sarah. (Tuesday 15 December 2015; 17:42)

Re: Mariah - Italy (58,455) (58,458) by Billy from Greece So, unless I buy the Honey B.Fly live pass, I won't be able to buy a ticket during the presale period and will to wait until Friday, right? (Tuesday 15 December 2015; 15:38)

Mariah - Italy (58,455) by Billy from Greece Though she's not coming to Greece (not that I ever thought she would, but anyway), I'm beyond excited that Mariah is finally touring Europe. I'm considering going to Italy to catch the show there. Anyone else planning to go there? Also, can we book the tickets now from, say, ticketmaster or only from Marah's website? I'm a little confused due to the rush. Wish I could buy the VIP meet and greet package but 500 euro/dollars is way too expensive. 160 euro is for front seats? Ugh, I'm confused. (Tuesday 15 December 2015; 15:08)

Def Jam (58,430) by Billy from Greece Apparently, Def Jam has screwed up quite a few of their artists's plans, as indicated here. (Monday 14 December 2015; 23:04)

Comping (58,326) by Billy from Greece For anyone who doesn't know what comping is, which I mentioned in my previous post, here's Elton giving some wisdom. (Thursday 10 December 2015; 10:47)

Glitter interview (58,325) by Billy from Greece Mariah at her most unguarded and humane. (Thursday 10 December 2015; 10:15)

Re: Randy (58,318) (58,324) by Billy from Greece Randy, you say that "there are hardly any trustworthy receipts outside of the studio after 1997". I find this to be a huge exaggeration. First of all, I don't think that Mariah has the obligation to address anything that may have happened pertaining to her voice or any other fact that may have affected her voice, not to the fans, not to anyone. Not right now anyway. Secondly, I really can't understand how a person who is a fan either of Mariah or of vocalists in general cannot appreciate Mariah's vocals after her so-called prime. I'm in no way neglecting her shortcomings as a live performer, not so much vocally, but in terms of taking chances or being more experimental musically. Personally, I see a continual evolution in terms of vocals, studio or live. The woman is a vocal prodigy, and still a powerhouse. Just listen to any "Thank God I Found You" performances this year. Also, you wouldn't have Miss Powerhouse herself Patti Labelle saying that "Mariah can sing her face off" if she really couldn't do it. Whitney also said that "Mariah, I tell, she can go... she's a hell of a vocalist." Did you ever see her throw shade to MC in terms of vocals? Hell no, because as a singer she got it. The real problem for me, the real issue, which again I can't understand why Mariah does it, is her insistence on duplicating the recordings to the T, hence her "need" to lip specific vocals. Take the 2013 live in Central Park for example. She did "My All" perfectly, without lipping the usual opening line. She could just slow down the pace of certain songs and that would be it. Some songs are just not realistically performed the way they are recorded. That's why although I adore the second Christmas album, it's downside is the instances of bad comping (stitching good parts together). Vocalists need time for breathing. As long as Mariah performs within the idiom of contemporary "popular" music that might be a problem. The moment the setting changes and becomes more improvisatory (see Carlyle 2012), there is a drastic change in vocals. There you see the full, present gorgeousness of her instrument. And don't forget the 2012 Australian tour. Fantastic vocals. Mariah grows still as a vocalist. The main issue is industry techniques that she no doubt learned next to Tommy. It's the unrealistic standards that are put on pop performers, not musicians. Mariah falls in between. She still has the musicianship, but she also has to cover the industry (and public's) expectations. She could tomorrow rearrange her ballads or uptempos and blow you. Also, don't discount the crippling stage fright that apparently had, lost and reacquired. Say what you will, but don't say that Mariah has not offered moment of stunning vocals after 1997. And I'm not talking once a year. And trust me, as a person who adores legendary vocalists like Sarah Vaughan, Whitney, Ella, Aretha and so on, my standards are very high. (Thursday 10 December 2015; 10:04)

"My All" (Divas 1998) (58,281) by Billy from Greece Every move, every look, every note, every hair movement, every hair flip, everything in this performance is epic perfection. Just pure Mariah gloriousness. By virtue of this entrance and performance Mariah solidified her seat in the pantheon of divas. (Tuesday 8 December 2015; 21:53)

Re: I Know What You Want performance (58,249) (58,251) by Billy from Greece I sensed nothing like that. All I could see is that Mariah was enjoying it fully, she was into it and confident. She seemed comfortable next to Busta to just let her voice flourish. To my ears, she sounded wonderful and I loved how she changed some parts. She was gorgeous and generally totally into her element in the hip-hop setting. I thought it was a beautiful meeting. (Monday 7 December 2015; 10:24)

Those runs (58,233) by Billy from Greece Holy moly listen to them runs. (Sunday 6 December 2015; 15:16)

Tabloid "journalism" (58,147) by Billy from Greece So, in the 45 pound loss "article" the following quote happened: "Mariah is gearing up to become a billionaire's wife and has already started referring to herself as billionairess." And I'm wondering: the people that are writing and approving this "piece", are they that stupid? I mean, seriously. Are they that much of idiots that they actually have the conviction that even idiots will believe such bull? No, really, this is a genuine query. Don't they think that even the bull they want to write lose credibility by virtue of such idiotic commentary? It's beyond me. (Wednesday 2 December 2015; 0:45)

Re: "Melt Away" / "Waiting To Exhale" (57,945) by Billy from Greece I was just listening to WTE yesterday. Great songs, great artists. When the Chante Moore started playing and I heard her do the whistle notes I thought that this was their (Babyface's/ Whitney's/ Clive's) way of having a Mariah "moment" in the OST without Mariah, if you know what I mean. Could have been interesting though, having Mariah there, but remember back in 95 the Mariah/Whitney "rivalry" was at its peak. There was a journalist that did separate interviews with both divas around the same time and she brought each other's names each time. Nippy's reply was a bit more biting, while MC literally exhaled when replying "not for me" to a supposed rivalry situation. Oh dear Lord, the 1990s are back and never coming back. Twenty years since 1995? I have to stop counting. (Monday 23 November 2015; 22:37)

Article: SoundTreks: Glitter (57,944) by Billy from Greece One of the lamest and most uninformed reviews of "Glitter" ever. Just terrible sense of taste or of understanding this genre or Mariah's music as a whole. Why review it then? I also detest how he insists on Mariah not having a personality musically. Totally idiotic review. (Monday 23 November 2015; 22:20)

Re: Speak up more (57,901) (57,907) by Billy from Greece Jonathan, as you said, Mariah has been indeed misunderstood but there are many forces that have led to that, some of them pulled by MC herself, but she clearly does not care. When I said that the "Elusive Chanteuse" was as "bare" as she would get at this point in her career, I meant that it's doubtful that she would have a tell-all, "this is for real for real, Oprah Winfrey whole segment for real" interview now, so you have to read between the lines, of her music in specific. That's where she puts everything but she does not name-call it, hence the "elusiveness". In fact, in my opinion, "The "Elusive Chanteuse" album was her most personal since, I don't know, "Charmbracelet" probably (sure "Memoirs" had very personal songs as well, but personal in the sense of specific to her - see "The Impossible" - instead of introspective, soul-searching songs). There may come a time that she speaks about Alison or Morgan, but I don't see it right now. It's obvious that as much as she is Hollywood, there are certain things that are out of reach. And it's fine. I think she expressed the most the way you mean it between "Buttterfly" and "Charmbracelet". As I've said before, she was at her most unguarded during those years. After that, and especially after 2008, there was a clear distinction between personal and public. The way in fact she treated the second divorce - which obviously was life-changing for her - just shows you how human she is. She could have made a headline with a revealing interview, but she didn't. As Miss Ross has said, "this is my life, not a [censored] story". (Saturday 21 November 2015; 22:31)

Re: Speak up more (57,898) (57,899) by Billy from Greece I think that in the "Elusive Chanteuse" Mariah was as 'bare' as she would get at this point in her. Although I see your point about opening up, I thoroughly get Mariah's hesitation to open too much about anything too personal. Also, the truth of the matter is, she has opened up several times in the past, though never overexposing herself either. I like that about her. I respect her "elusiveness" and I don't think that she should overshare. We're talking about a person who's under constant scrutiny, mind you. Finally, the "eternally twelve" issue could be, as you said, a defense mechanism, but I think it's a very strong part of her persona and playfulness and her own take on Marilyn Monroe's image tricks. Mariah is an excellent student of classic Hollywood and of pop culture in general, so I'm sure she cultivates her public persona based on a specific vision and "plan", if I can put it this way. Clearly, she's way more complex and smarter than what she allows the general public to see, but they way she "directs" herself is not random either. (Saturday 21 November 2015; 16:56)

"If We" / "Glitter" (57,823) by Billy from Greece I have often discussed my adoration of the "Gliiter" soundtrack for all kinds of different reasons. I'm giving it a play right now and I remember listening to "If We" for the first time. Wow, what a revelation that was. Such a hook, just an instant classic since first listen. Nate Dogg's part is so smooth too. Actually, the whole album felt as a revelation back then. Obviously, we knew that Mariah could blow like no other, but boy her vocals were so up front in that record and her performances - presumably through the character of Billie - different in a way. I remember the belting on the ballads. Wow, such a slap in the face (in a good way). It was also the first time that her tracks were so groove-oriented and the records so radio-ready, meaning tight and immediate. Great piece of work that will be a cult classic forever and for always. (Sunday 15 November 2015; 14:20)

Rare pic (57,785) by Billy from Greece Is this MC and Narada Michael Walden in this pic? (Friday 13 November 2015; 15:51)

Ariana interview (57,626) by Billy from Greece I really couldn't care less about Ariana (not a fan of her music or singing), but I was watching an interview she gave on Powel 106 FM where she really shut down a lot of misogynistic commentary from the two male hosts who were acting like university lads (with all bad connotation of the word), so kudos to that. However, what struck me was her body language and mannerisms which reminded me a lot of MC, as if Ariana has now started studying Mariah's interview techniques as well. I've never seen her like that before, but this time I could see an influence, or I'm just reading too much into it, I don't know. Here's the interview. (Tuesday 3 November 2015; 16:08)

Mariah - Macau China (57,536) by Billy from Greece Mariah looked and sounded every bit of the legend she is. Here's a good clip of the fantastic intro of "Emotions". (Wednesday 28 October 2015; 8:50)

Awesome vocals (57,171) by Billy from Greece Beause when Mariah is on, she is the best hands down. (Friday 9 October 2015; 1:32)

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