About Billy from Greece:
I don't know, and neither do you.
Album openers / "Betach Gon' Know" (54,346)
by Billy from Greece
Among the many things Mariah knows how to do well is "opening" an album. From "Vision Of Love" to the masterpiece that is "Cry.", the opening track of every Mariah album is striking and sort of sets the tone for the rest of the album. As I listen to "Memoirs" quite frequently as of late, I yet again marvel at the lugubrious heaviness of "Betcha Gon' Know". It's as if you watch the opening credits of a film, so ominous and mysterious sounding. She has a gorgeous narrative style in this one, while the way she manipulates her lower register to "color" the lyrics is spine-tingling. This song exemplifies perfectly what Time magazine said in their review of "#1 to Infinity", that is, Mariah has become "an impressive storyteller", "an artist comfortable in her own skin and voice and enthusiastic about the music she makes and loves". (Monday 8 June 2015; 11:22)
Late 1990s MC live (54,184)
by Billy from Greece
Remember the performance of "Close MY Eyes" on the Rosie O'Donnel show? It's one of her most precious performances. As I re-watch several live clips of Mariah from different parts of her career, I can say that her lives from the late 1990s are rather undervalued. As a video that has recently been uploaded on YouTube also indicates (here it is by the way, though I don't necessarily agree with everything), her voice did not deteriorate in the late 1990s. It just matured, which led to a somewhat different vocal placement or technique, thus to a different sound overall, but one which to me is not inferior to what is usually considered her vocal peak. Looking at the Butterfly and Rainbow tours from a time distance, you have to appreciate the sound that she had then, which was deep, intense, and very expressive. (Thursday 4 June 2015; 14:33)
Rainbow tour, Milan (54,179)
by Billy from Greece
In case you haven't checked any videos from the "Rainbow tour" recently and only remember it as the worst tour vocally by Mariah, I suggest you immediately check out the show from Milan. Her vocals and stage presence are outstanding. Honorable mentions go to "Without You" and "My All" (excellent ad libs) while she really grooved to "Dreamlover" and "Honey". Finally, "Crybaby" is awesome too. (Thursday 4 June 2015; 13:42)
Billboard Awards 2015 (53,953)
by Billy from Greece
Here's an unofficial clip of the performance. She looks and sounds beautiful, even better than the official broadcast. I love how her voice has matured. Also, the audience goes crazy, just by virtue of her voice. I'm sure certain people attending have never experienced that as performers and had to distract themselves somehow. (Sunday 31 May 2015; 15:26)
"It's Like That" live / arrangements (53,757)
by Billy from Greece
Wow. Did you see the video from the show on the 24th where she sings impromptu some bits of "It's Like That"? It's beautiful. Even with the on-the-spot different arrangement, and thinking also about the fantastic stripped down versions of TGIFY, you just have to wonder about the marvels that MC could bring live if she teased her songs a little bit more. In this video, ITL has a more loungy sound, but it sounds oh so good. That's all she needs. Just slow down the pace a little bit, allow her some extra room (in terms of breathing and comfort) and she'll blow you. (Monday 25 May 2015; 11:29)
Nice 1990 interview (53,708)
by Billy from Greece
Nice 1990 interview. (Saturday 23 May 2015; 11:53)
"#1 To Infinity" booklet / "We Belong Together" (53,536)
by Billy from Greece
Mariah wrote this: "Obviously this song was an undeniable hit that reintroduced me to the world at a crucial time when I felt very vulnerable." I did not expect that she would be so open about it ("it" being basically the couple of years that preceded WBT). (Tuesday 19 May 2015; 16:08)
"I Still Believe (Morales Classic Club Remix)" (53,532)
by Billy from Greece
And since I started talking about and listening to this oh so beautiful song, I'm now relistening to the abovementioned remix and I had completely forgotten about the wonderful newly recorded adlibs she did after the sixth minute of the song. The wonders of Mariah's vault. (Tuesday 19 May 2015; 15:28)
"I Still Believe (Eve of Soul Remix)" live (53,530)
by Billy from Greece
Oh my goodness. Now that's a remix I never thought I would hear her do live, even as a snippet. Gorgeousness. (Tuesday 19 May 2015; 14:54)
First impressions Vegas / Anita Baker (53,204)
by Billy from Greece
From the first couple of shows, all I can say is that Mariah is looking gorgeous, sounds wonderful and is "present" once again. I don't want to assume too much, or sound as if I know what she's been up to as if I was sitting next to her, but she does come across as more involved in the shows. Also, she looks fabulous with the curly hair. Finally, it is so nice to see a great R&B singer and artist like Anita Baker being so supportive of Mariah, be it through social media or going to her concerts. Great camaraderie. (Monday 11 May 2015; 23:13)
Black dress, Vegas 2009 (53,179)
by Billy from Greece
Do you guys remember the black shimmering dress MC wore in the Vegas Pearl shows back in the fall of 2009? Now that was something. (Monday 11 May 2015; 10:18)
That "Dreamlover" video (9.5.2015) (53,163)
by Billy from Greece
Oh my goodness. Do you hear how her voice resounds? Her voice is such a wonder. Hearing this legendary thick mid-range belt makes you realize once more the difference between "sanging" and screaming (no to shade and "singers" or anything). (Sunday 10 May 2015; 9:58)
"Oh, it's nice" part II (53,041)
by Billy from Greece
Just to explain my previous post. In the video from Good Morning America, Michael Strahan tells Mariah at some point about the supportive comments Nick made about "Infinity". Mariah replied "Oh, it's nice" but you have to hear it to actually experience the shade. (Thursday 7 May 2015; 23:21)
Wow. It sounds so good, almost 20 years after its last performance. (Thursday 7 May 2015; 14:59)
"Thank God I Found You" Vegas (52,992)
by Billy from Greece
Wow. The snippets sound so promising. A total re-envisioning of the song. (Thursday 7 May 2015; 10:24)
Re: Joachim / "If It's Over" (52,953)
by Billy from Greece
I love this song as well. The performance at the Grammys is one of the most, if not the most, epic vocal moments in Mariah's entire career. The SNL is almost equally mindblowing. She was 22 and was a total virtuoso already. To me that performance (as well as others during the "Emotions" era) showed a huge leap from the debut era in terms of control, technique and delivery. (Wednesday 6 May 2015; 22:15)
Bandaid (52,623)
by Billy from Greece
Remember back in 2008 when Mariah was wearing several bandaids (I think she had one when she was on Oprah)? At that time she said that her dog had bitten her. Looking at her hand in the recent interviews in Vegas, you can actually see in that part of her hand that there was something going on in the past. Could be some scars from that incident. Or something else, I don't know, like Hollywood beauty secret. Random, I know. (Thursday 30 April 2015; 18:43)
Are these snippets real? (52,461)
by Billy from Greece
(Tuesday 28 April 2015; 10:53)
"Infinity" / "Up Out My Face" (52,392)
by Billy from Greece
Does anyone else hear the similarity? It's like UOMF part two, only sweeter. Cool track. (Monday 27 April 2015; 18:56)
TGIF live (AMA 2000) (52,183)
by Billy from Greece
This is a rather forgotten performance by Mariah. I love the costume change half-way. (Friday 24 April 2015; 18:34)
Re: RJJ12 / enwar00 (52,143)
by Billy from Greece
Thank you both for your responses. RJJ12, I love the Stevie J. remix of ISB too as you noticed and I second what you said about the late 1990s being her peak period in terms of reinventing a song. Enwar00, it is so interesting to read about you "watching your memory" years later. Endless, nostalgic melancholy. (Thursday 23 April 2015; 15:16)
"Alone In Love" (52,109)
by Billy from Greece
Can we show this song some love? Such a gorgeous song. By far one of my favorite Mariah records. I think it sort of predicted her future or even "core" sound better than her more mainstream hits. It is also quite unique structure-wise, in terms of verses versus choruses. (Wednesday 22 April 2015; 12:34)
Re: Jon (52,090)
by Billy from Greece
Thanks for the interest Jon. My piece has not been published somewhere. It was my dissertation for my Master's some years ago. However, for starter's, do check Brett Farmer's article “The Fabulous Sublimity of Gay Diva Worship”. There is also a Master's thesis available online by Blake Paxton, entitled "My Bad Romance: Exploring the Queer Sublimity of Diva Reception" which covers an extensive bibliography on he topic (it is somehow akin to what I did also). Another article is by Andrew Milnes, called "Vamps, camps and archetypes: gay men, the diva phenomenon and the inner feminine". Great stuff. (Tuesday 21 April 2015; 10:43)
Re: Jon / identification (52,083)
by Billy from Greece
Great post Jon. I have wondered about the same thing just like you when it comes to identification between myself and Mariah. One of the first instances for me to notice a similarity between my person and Mariah was in terms of her preferences when it came to her own music, but also music in general. Whenever I would read or listen to an interview, it was like she spoke out my thoughts, mostly regarding issues on music. There is definitely the feeling of "ambiguity" and "outsiderness" that provoked an identification early on. I just love how she can be composed yet sassy at the same time, seemingly conforming to conventions yet inserting a sardonic touch on things. Basically, I like how she subverts ideas of seriousness and convention, which I tend to do also, more often than I should probably, "just for laughs". I could go on and on. Without assuming anything about anybody, there is a hugely interesting area of research on identification between gay men and their divas, often called "gay diva worship". I have also written a few stuff about it. Finally, though not a fervent believer of astrology, it's funny how not only Mariah, but almost all of my favorite divas are aries, just like me (Diana Ross, Sarah Vaughan, Chaka Khan, Aretha, Marvin Gaye, Luther, Elton John, Billy Mackenzie). I don't know if that enhances the identification saga. (Monday 20 April 2015; 22:24)
RJJ12, I love the Stevie J. remix of ISB too as you noticed and I second what you said about the late 1990s being her peak period in terms of reinventing a song. Enwar00, it is so interesting to read about you "watching your memory" years later. Endless, nostalgic melancholy.
