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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.

Anthony and Marcel (44,235) by Randy from USA Anthony, your reply was awesome. I guess I will agree to disagree with you because you speak so intelligently and aren't coming for me. Marcel I think MC released some amazing material post Charmbracelet so I have to disagree with you. I do think we're outnumbered here as far as not liking the album so that's good for MC at the end of the day. Even my friends like the album and don't understand my position so I guess I'm an outsider. Good luck MC. (Thursday 29 May 2014; 2:44)

Anthony and Licia (44,226) by Randy from USA Since I'm on vacation, I have time on my hands to debate this. Name one song on this present album that is as poignant lyrically as as Right To Dream, Petals, Butterfly, My All, Outside, Close My Eyes, Looking In or Languishing. I did not say if you liked the album you were forcing yourself to. I was making the point that many fans are overly optimistic and love MC so much that they will like anything she puts out. This is the same board that a few months ago had a member say she could burp on top of a beat and he would buy it. I'm not saying that the album is bad or you shouldn't enjoy it. I'm saying it's not comparable to her previous work. If you like it, amazing. I also pointed out the opportunity to promote this album has been thrown away. And there is probably a reason why. No one discussed that point. Her own website is not promoting the album, it lists her last album under the music link as MCIIY. In addition, TAOLG is really about IDJ not fans who loved previous MC. She does have ballads on this CD. She has said many times she would never abandon her ballads as they are a part of her. She doesn't need Walter A to craft a ballad. I bought the album for $20 full price at Best Buy. I will download Cry and Camouflage on my iTunes and the rest will sit on a shelf collecting dust. I'm waiting for you to point out any song comparable to the above ones. This is a "get me off this label" album. She's done it before. She just did a better job last time. (Thursday 29 May 2014; 0:18)

I think the album is a contract fulfillment (44,211) by Randy from USA Guys, I am really thrilled that you guys like the album. However, the woman that crafted Right To Dream, Butterfly, My All, Languishing, Outside, Close My Eyes, Petals is not present on this one. I think this was a mash of all the tracks she has recorded to get her off the label. Look at the lack of promotion and when I went to her official website, it's the same layout it has been, the first video that comes up is Touch My Body and on her music page, the last album is MCIIY. There is nowhere to find the lyrics. She did every talkshow and late night show with Memoirs. With this one she has done very little promotion this week. I do think this will undersell Memoirs. I want MC to be successful but I think a lot of you want it so bad you have forced yourself to find a silver lining in every song when none of it is comparable to her previous work. I think there will be another album in a year or two on a new label that will feel more MC. (Wednesday 28 May 2014; 17:56)

My album review (44,175) by Randy from USA Let me start by saying I am a longtime fan. But I think MC is not interested in singing songs that I am interested in. My favorite songs from her are Right To Dream, Close My Eyes, Outside, Butterfly, My All, Petals and Languishing. There is nothing close to those on this album. There is a lot of production noise that overshadows the voice. Camouflage is the only song on the album I like a lot. Cry is good but her vocal is sloppy, I guess she's going for emotion. Faded is boring. Dedicated is boring and I don't understand all the talking, background noise or weird sample/percussion. #Beautiful is boring. Thirsty is good except when the parts where it loses the strings, keyboards and pop feel. Make It Look Good is cool but I need her vocal turned up over all that noise JD has in the background plus it sounds like Janet's I Want You part two musically. You're Mine is boring. You Don't Know What To Do is great but Wale needs to go. Supernatural is good even with the babies but not standout. Meteorite is OK but people keep saying that there's no EDM on the album, to me that's close. One More Try is one of her worst remakes. And the drum/percussion sounds like a really bad keyboard demo or a beat for a karaoke version. And it's emotionless. Heavenly is good but the four key changes are laughable considering I know the current state of her voice. And the remakes are cut and paste especially Becha Gon Know but at least Mary does sound good on It's A Wrap. I do love TAOLG but the lyrics are kind of goofy but her voice is loud over the music and I actually like the music to that one. Here's the thing. I think I'm just stuck in the past with two verses a bridge some piano some strings some percussion and maybe a bit of guitar and or bass and that is it. I think this album is for you all and I'm going to sit this one out. I don't blame MC for this nor am I disappointed. I don't like much that has come out in the last few years by most of my favorite artists. What I will say is this. I think MC is just as good of a songwriter as Adele, Sarah Mc, Jewel, Lauryn Hill and whoever else if not better. She's not given the respect as a songwriter because of her image but truth be told this album isn't going to help much in the way of that either. I'm waiting still for a simple, quiet, introspective album and she's still trying to rock the club and radio so as an older fan, 35, I'm younger than her which is ironic. I appreciate her doing what she wants to do and making music for her and that a larger majority of the public will like. But this ain't it for me. (Tuesday 27 May 2014; 23:21)

Lamb O Chop (43,798) by Randy from USA While I do believe she lipsyncs more than the lambily would like to realize, I'm having a hard time believing this video isn't doctored. If it is in fact true, it is what we've feared for some time now. None of her live high belts are her singing on stage and it calls into question every live performance after Divas Live 1998. I hope this video is not authentic. (Monday 19 May 2014; 6:47)

Letterman / MIAMTEC (43,374) by Randy from USA I'm nervous. The only reason why is because MC and IDJ aren't on the same page. A statement released by IDJ said that the album would follow a traditional release promotional plan including a single, a video and a release date. MC said last night she wants the album to be heard as a complete project. She hinted at the fact, did not outright say, that she doesn't want to release a single. Record companies are very nervous about releasing albums at this point because no one is paying for music. I'm concerned about the project being shelved or the record company releasing a single, it failing and the album being pushed back. Now they've been sticking to this 5/27 but they initially said 5/6 and I was a little pissed MC never addressed us. Even though I am a little pissed, I have to admit this messageboard has been going off the deep end in terms of criticizing MC. I appreciate the webmaster for letting us have an open critical discussion, but some of the things being said have been ridiculous lately. I too am very critical of MCs live performances, but to say she didn't sing on Letterman because she can't anymore and she's holding up the album with hundreds of engineers is absolutely horrific. I was once a person that said it was over for the voice, until I saw the impromptu Jimmy Fallon concert for fans. True it's not Daydream era but there is still something there. And she has it at times, whether or not it's in her control is the real question. Some of you need to calm down. (Friday 9 May 2014; 0:57)

I am so excited but... (43,122) by Randy from USA And as one who has been critical, I felt bad for not trusting her. I like the title and like the cover. But I'm kinda surprised that some of you are nitpicking about the cover, guest stars, and the tracks to be included. I thought this would satiate everyone. Guess not. (Thursday 1 May 2014; 11:48)

Well it's official (43,007) by Randy from USA I'm laughing at all the fans that said, "No, it's coming May 6, calm down and be patient." I love MC dearly and I will buy the album, but I think I knew when YME flopped and there was no immediate follow up, we would be waiting. But no, according to the "real fans" I was being "negative". I want MC's success like the next person but even if MC can't tell us what's going on between her and IDJ legally, can we get a new single, video, title, track listing, something on May 6? And listen, I think it's pretty stupid to not buy the album because it's being pushed back, however what the lambily needs to accept is that with all this foolishness, and let's be clear this is foolishness between her and the label not strategy by someone who's been in the business for 25 years, the lambily are the only buyers for this album. Better not piss them off. Throw them something because the general public will not care when or what she releases at this point, as shown by the sales of her last 4 singles. (Monday 28 April 2014; 23:31)

My two cents and most of you aren't going to like it (42,964) by Randy from USA Doesn't it bother anyone here that MC's media coverage mentions Beyonce in every single article related to the new album? Who is supposed to be the legend? Beyonce releasing an album unannounced was ground breaking. Why is MC following her example? Doesn't this seem like desperation to bring attention to the album since the music was not doing the trick? To this day I can't believe anyone, lambs, JD, IDJ, Rodney Jerkins, Trey Songz, Nick Cannon or even MC herself thought YME was a surefire hit. No one can be that delusional. It is the most boring lead single she's ever released, so if that is our introduction to the album, everyone should be nervous. If MC's comeback single makes it to #81, then maybe they thought name-dropping Beyonce is what needs to be done. Here is my theory. The album was supposed to come out on May 6. YME was released on schedule. It flopped, which apparently shocked everyone. So they were going to push the album back. And then, the fans unloaded their disapproval on sites like this, on twitter at JD, MC, management and IDJ said "uh-oh, better not piss the only guaranteed buyers, her lambs, off". So, this exposed-secret release is a way to get the word out that the album is coming and as much attention as possible on it. At this point they're expecting a flop so they've given up on promotions using the normal vehicles, such as a hit single and promotion on television and in magazines. Then MC will quietly leave IDJ and who knows from there. (Monday 28 April 2014; 0:03)

Marissa and Sweetheart Aaron (42,862) by Randy from USA Thank you so much for posting those videos. I want to speak to JD first. He says that people buy the promotion now? People should basically be surprised when the album is on the shelves with the cover and the title? What shelves; there are barely any music stores. And who buys an album (caps) solely because of the way it is promoted? And YME was put out to show she was still singing? We never doubted MC could sing in a studio; she does it better than anyone. It's the live version that bothered us. Am I the only one who noticed TTR and My All has so background vocals on it, but every time she sang it live there are full choirs on stage? And even if YME was to assure us she could still sing, the one time she performed it it wasn't live. TAOLG was to prove she still sings ballads? She's never had an album without a ballad. He made no sense at all. That video had me fuming. (Friday 25 April 2014; 0:15)

Amused (42,811) by Randy from USA This entire thing is amusing to me. To see all of the die hard fans get so worked up over the album release is interesting because it means that the people most loyal are starting to get irritated and you never irritate your fan base. But there is a part of me that snickers at the nuclear holocaust that some of you are predicting if the album doesn't come out on time. It makes me wonder if some of you don't have anything else going on in your lives? Am I wrong for thinking like that? There was a time when I was outside of Sam Goody at 9:58 on a weekday to buy Rainbow the day it came out and the year before that I had a Walmart employee open all the boxes in electronics on November 17, 1998 to get my copy of #1s. But now that I'm in my mid 30s, yeah I'll be annoyed if MC releases this album late but I'm really sitting back waiting to laugh at the fan reaction as well as the lame excuse that she comes up with. I will agree with 90% of you that a silent release is not going to work for her and that this is the messiest she has ever been as far as a lead single choice or promotion. I can't believe this is all happening, but just as MC has put her family first career second, I think some of you need to put your family first, career second, and MC's album release third. (Wednesday 23 April 2014; 6:00)

Edward and the voice, pushback (42,746) by Randy from USA Thanks for having my back Edward because I did not want to start that argument with Matthew by naming certain songs she has never once performed totally live in their entirety. As far as the pushback, I don't believe it until MC addresses us. But I will say it is probable. I am just on pins and needles about what she'll say lol. (Monday 21 April 2014; 7:26)

Retirement and pushback (42,721) by Randy from USA I'm more than positive that MC is not retiring. That wouldn't make sense. Even if the voice was in tatters or the buying public just aren't buying anymore, she loves music. Here's what would happen first. She would continue to make albums quietly like Annie Lennox, Dionne Warwick, Cher, Aretha, Diana Ross and Patti. She would also stop releasing vocal performances from the studio that she can't replicate live. That's the way her career would be after this album, if the album flops. No one really retires. Even if they announce it, like JayZ did a long time ago. Now to address a pushback, Daydream327: I thought for awhile she would push the album back but I really think a pushback would have been announced by now. Now I could be wrong, and we could all be disappointed in a few weeks, but what in the world would be her excuse and how could she possibly make that right with the lambs? She did say a month or so ago: I am going into the studio and I am not coming out until the album is done. She has pretty much stuck to that promise so I think she'll stick to May 6. (Saturday 19 April 2014; 16:02)

Quaid (42,534) by Randy from USA You took the post right out of my fingers. What's interesting is that I think this is all being handled badly and yet, I have never searched the boards or the web so frantically or fervently for an answer. So she does have us all salivating, even if it is in anger. I do think it may come out quietly due to the changes over at the label. In addition, I can't imagine her making yet another excuse to push the album back, although the reshuffling at the label would give her a good one. Or should we just all batten down the hatches and listen to old MC releases until May 6, 2015? This could be the ultimate prank, since she's a prankster. "Oh you thought I meant this year?" (Wednesday 9 April 2014; 3:04)

Listening party with no details (42,474) by Randy from USA Seems shady. But I do think releasing the album as titled "0506" would be cool. Usher did a similar thing with 8501 and Jewel released hers as 0304 way back when. (Thursday 3 April 2014; 23:21)

May 6th (42,451) by Randy from USA G.G. That tweet did give me a bit of hope but I know better than to get excited. That may be him protesting the label getting in the way of the scheduled release. His thought process may be if he can show the label that the fans are demanding the album, it may pressure them into releasing it on time. Now at the same time, they may release it quietly. They could just be willing to let her go and just let it come out with no noise. As for Justin and this YME debacle. Where is the song on the Hot 100? That's the only chart that matters as it covers all genres and formats. MC could sneeze and it be a Top 40 hit on the dance charts. I wonder where is MC right now though? In the past, MC has straight up told us "things in my professional life are hard right now". Publicly she has stated there are issues with both Virgin and Sony in the past. Why should this instance with IDJ be any different? Finally, I want the album to come out on May 6th. The whole thing with family being a priority etc. I call bs on. She completed Rainbow in 3 months. I understand she can't do that now with a family but 5 years? And I know the album was probably ready last year #723. Mariah doesn't take long for a song from start to finish. Look at Love Takes Time, Loverboy, and the first three TEOM singles. So all the mixing, backgrounds, vocals, mastering is probably a piece of cake for her at this point. (Thursday 3 April 2014; 2:52)

Dammit IDJ reorganization (42,429) by Randy from USA Well now I can stop watching the sites (Archives, MDJ and MariahCarey.com) because we now have Mariah's excuse to push the album back yet again. Unless, this may mean MC gets to control it coming out regardless of how the first single does/did? What do you all think? (Tuesday 1 April 2014; 22:01)

Terna (42,413) by Randy from USA Really? All of the titles were in jest. They were all about the music being delayed or why the music was delayed. I don't want anything to happen to MC nor am I making light of a painful situation. I was having a few splashes dahling and I thought it might be funny to go through the catalogue and play a little. If I was being mean-spirited, it wouldn't have been posted by the webmaster. With all of the drama and tragedy in the world: Ukraine, the missing airplane, GM recalling vehicles and this album being pushed so far back to whereas MC has won her second Artist of the Millenium award. I needed to lighten the mood. It's not that serious. (Monday 31 March 2014; 21:53)

Just a little laugh while we're waiting (42,398) by Randy from USA If MC has to push back the album again, I've come up with some possible titles based on her past works. Mariah Buried, Slowmotions, Music Locked, Staydreamin, Cocoon, Sprain So, Sitter, Arm-Brace-let, The Procrastination of Mimi, E=MC Where?, Mirages of an Imperfect Album. (Monday 31 March 2014; 2:49)

Nick / the album (42,385) by Randy from USA I gave their marriage seven years when they got married and before you all blast me, I don't wish bad on anybody but it was done too quickly and they seemed too different. Whoever just posted about the album and not hearing anything (sorry I don't remember the name), I've had some splashes dahling, the album, tentatively titled, dem songs, won't be out on time. I am just wondering how Mariah will address us in an open letter. That's why I'm checking the Archives every day. (Saturday 29 March 2014; 20:30)

Edward and Mus (42,240) by Randy from USA I completely agree with both of you and to be honest, I do believe the album is going to be pushed back at this point. But what the hell is she gonna tell us? She can't say "I was waiting for it to be heard the way it should be heard, chronically my full journey." She's already used that. She can't say "Right now things aren't going well in my professional life right now" like she did with Rainbow because IDJ could then sue her for a number of things. Listen, in the 90s Mariah was a machine. She released an album a year, for the most part. We've been waiting since September of 2009 for a studio (non-holiday) album. She has already gone through a release date disappointment. She hasn't been honest about a number of things throughout the years and she doesn't have to be; she's a human being before an artist. This is so frustrating though. She has die-hards and how the hell are we supposed to be sticking around for an album that is taking her back to high school? Mirage. (Only the old fans know that reference lol.) (Wednesday 19 March 2014; 22:59)

Best and worst cover art / backlash's backlash (42,207) by Randy from USA Favorite album cover: Butterfly Worst album cover: MOAIA I am so glad to see that there's a backlash over so much backlash. Yes, I agree Mariah's live vocals have been embarrassing to the lambily and yes, I agree that these are some of worst singles/songs she has ever released. (I'm sorry comparatively speaking, YME is the worst lead single she's ever released.) And yes, her interviews have been unfocused. But there have been too many people on here that seem like they want to burn MC at the stake. They are criticizing her drinking, her sanity, her marriage, her management, her font on her albums, her hair, her breasts, her clothes, her choice of interview locations and anything else. Look, I know the situation is bleak but we can't be critical of every little thing and some of these posts are mean. I am holding on to the fact that Mariah has never released a bad album. She has given us some amazing music so why can't we hold on to some of that and be a bit more positive? (Tuesday 18 March 2014; 23:26)

Torn but I'm still in MC (42,160) by Randy from USA I completely agree that MCs voice, recent releases and interviews has left something to be desired. I will say though that the criticism on this board has been way too harsh as well. I want Mariah to sound good live without lip syncing any part of a song and I want Mariah to release music that the general public (not just the lambily) will like. I do think we could ease up just a bit. Two more things. Everytime I see that clip of Kelly Price it makes my blood boil. Partially because it's true but how classless is it for you to criticize someone who gave you a chance. One should keep those comments to themselves. I could say some really mean things about Kelly but I'm sure the webmaster wouldn't post them. In addition, am I the only one nervous with the silence? May 6? Seems like it ain't gonna happen. (Sunday 16 March 2014; 22:36)

Snickers at fan optimism (41,947) by Randy from USA Listen I am a fan and I want Mariah to do well vocally, and commercially as much as anybody. But it's kind of comical that some of you think we'll see an album May 6. In addition, clueyy, YME is a done deal. I'm sorry dude. (Monday 3 March 2014; 7:55)

Album pushed back? (41,621) by Randy from USA Ok, so since we can see no one's buying the single, 32.000 copies sold in its first week. And someone on here said that was only the fans. I think a lot of fans slept on this one because she has had other singles sell quadruple that amount when she had no airplay like, Loverboy, TGIFY, I Still Believe etc. It's funny to me that people are thinking a release to radio is going to matter on February 24. For all of the promotion Mariah has done, if the masses were feeling it, radio would be playing it without IDJ's consent. That's happened with plenty of songs in the past whereas the label was pushing a single and radio went with something else on the album. Radio does what it wants. No miracle is going to fall out of the sky on February 24. I'm surprised radio is even part of the Billboard equation as I don't know anyone who listens to radio outside of their car. I don't think Trey Songz is a surefire way for a hit in that he did nothing for Toni Braxton's Yesterday. His last single and CD was not a big seller; he has his own career problems. The only hope I'm holding out for is that Through The Rain peaked at #81 and Charmbracelet came out on time. Do you guys think it'll be a May 6 release? Will MC release another single (her fourth without an album not counting Almost Home)? (Saturday 22 February 2014; 12:07)

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