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About Andrew from the United Kingdom: Banned forever!

Talking of the 90's (97,573) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Isn't it about time you changed the design of this website, Eric? Feel like I'm in a time warp every time I log on and see the logo. #justsayin (Friday 12 March 2021; 15:43)

Re: Rumours (97,569) (97,572) by Andrew from the United Kingdom My Heart Will Go On was recorded in May or June 1997, I believe, at a time when Mariah was in the middle of recording Butterfly, so she *may* have had the vocal chops to do it. If she had lain down Whenever You Call vocals it would have been epic (no pun intended). I love Celine and her performance of the song but I feel it's only the last chorus anyone cares about. The first two verses and choruses are incredibly boring save for the tin whistle (if anyone hasn't explored Irish music and dancing you ought to - it's as magical as the island, itself). I think if Mariah had recorded the song the first two choruses and verses would certainly have had more depth, variation and impact, possibly being less saccharine - with layered vocals and transitions from head to chest by the second verse, at least. However, Celine is to My Heart Will Go On as Whitney is to I Will Always Love You and Mariah is to All I Want For Christmas Is You and Hero. Certainly, Celine singing Whitney's signature song is an abomination to the ears. I wouldn't want, now, to hear Mariah's version of My Heart even if she were to have recorded it. From things I read in the past I believe James Horner was originally going with Sissel (whose voice is the Hymn to the Sea harmony - something Mariah could also have done to magical effect in the soundtrack) but felt like he owed the legend that was and is Rene Angelil for their loyalty on previous film soundtracks. I am, also, not sure, Mariah would wanted to have recorded it. And given the vocal difficulties Mariah fell into after the recording of Butterfly it is probably best she didn't. In any case, My Heart Will Go On is a brilliant composition. I loved it so much that it is one of the few pop songs I taught myself to play properly on the piano outside of regular piano tuition. Last year I played it on a piano in a busy train station in London and people sang along. It was great. Maybe next time I'll play Hero. It's slightly less embarrassing to admit you know. But only ever so slightly. (Friday 12 March 2021; 15:42)

Re: Tommy Mottola, a monster? (97,565) (97,566) by Andrew from the United Kingdom You are correct. The most famous episode of Star Trek in the sixties was called City On The Edge Of Forever. In it, someone was transported back in time and then innocently saves a woman's life; the woman, a pacifist, was then instrumental in preventing the United States from joining WWII resulting in Hitler conquering Europe and the space race never having happened. Humankind does not reach for the stars, the world is a very different place. All systems, even the most complex of systems can be drastically altered when an input of any size is altered (often unhelpfully referred to, but not without irony here, as a "Butterfly Effect"). Recently it has become very fashionable for the Hard Left to scream into the air about perceived historical injustice and the attitudes and ideologies of the protagonists of the times. No person of good conscious cannot help but regret that horrible things have occurred in human history: every race seemingly enslaved by another, whole races of peoples targeted for elimination, people tortured, slain, denied education, sexually assaulted and so on. History is full of hideousness, right? It can sometime be overwhelming to appreciate what had to have happened in order for us to be be here. For if any of it changed, we would not be here. I mention this because it is oft the proclivity of people to cry foul at people like Tommy Mottola with such rancour and hatred that he is lambasted for his behaviour at the mere utterance of his name. But Mariah would assuredly have had a very different career and level of success without him. It may have been much better. It could equally have been much worse. But what is true to say that any alteration to the past would result in people who are here not being here and possibly a more disastrous world. So better to not look back in anger but in wonder. And learn to make today and tomorrow better, spinning the narrative on its head and rather being thankful that people who went before us made the mistakes so that we can learn from them and perhaps not repeat them. (Thursday 11 March 2021; 11:23)

Re: Tommy Mottola, a monster? (97,562) (97,564) by Andrew from the United Kingdom It always make me laugh when people dismiss Mottola and claim that he held Mariah back or stifled her and further that she was never really able to make the music she wanted to because of him. Her demo tape isn't full of hip hop heavy songs. It's saccharine and pop. And even after a slightly more Urban sounding record with Butterfly, the free bird Mariah recorded Rainbow. And Glitter. And Charmbracelet. In fact hardly any of Mariah's so called newfound musical freedom resulted in anything much different to what came before. It just had less appealing melodies, less slick production, and a weaker voice. Mariah Carey of the 90's was amazing. It may be rude for Katy Perry to say "good for a throwback" or awkward when Shawn Mendes days "listening to old school Mariah", but truth be told: 90's Mariah unparalleled gold dust. Everything after has been of varying quality and at many points often boring, repetitive and uninspiring. (Wednesday 10 March 2021; 03:04)

Re: Languishing (97,521) (97,530) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Talking of Languishing and album openers, I think Languishing is the perfect first track for an album. The song poses a question and fades to silence followed by songs with massive beats and incredible hooks - themselves interspersed with three shorter interludes of the same music posing different questions or thoughts. And interludes of Mariah and her musicians talking over mics in the studio. (Monday 1 March 2021; 22:06)

Languishing (97,519) by Andrew from the United Kingdom So I've been watching a lot of Mariah on YouTube lately. Random things, hopping eras through performances, reviews, documentaries, reaction videos and so on. I'm doing this to basically remind myself of Mariah again, to remind myself why I do love her music and voice - not because I fell out of love, but because she changed and I changed and life has changed. It's very nostalgic, enlightening, frustrating, and moving at the same time. I just watched Mariah and her mother on Oprah in 1999. It's very strange looking back at it knowing what happened (allegedly) soon after and where they are now. It's very sad actually. Sadder still, when Pat talks about having to try to find a mixed neighbourhood and that Black kids and the white kids picking on them, Mariah looks like a frightened little girl at the memory. There's no polish, no acting, no spin. I never really noticed it before. I was always concentrating on Pat. But hearing Pat talk about race, it's confusing. She is openly anti-racist. Did she really play the poor white woman to the cops two years later, using her children's race against them? Its very confusing. I actually do hope they reunite. Life is too short for grudges where family is concerned. People change. You change, they change and the world changes. Maybe there is never an absolution, but a positive resolution, in any way, is always a good pursuit. Listening to Languishing, I do think it's about Pat now. I didn't before. They lyrics suggest deep, ancient wounds and a questioning of whether the person who caused those wounds still has feeling. I hope they reconcile. (Sunday 28 February 2021; 23:11)

Anytime You Need A Friend / I'll Be There (97,518) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Tokyo Dome is always heralded as the best performance ever of AYNAF. But Proctors Theatre was my ultimate watch when I was a kid. I watched it every single day before school. I can move around exactly how she moves I know it that well. It is the superior performance but never talked about. Anyone else have an opinion? Whilst I am at it: I'll Be There at Police Athletic League is the superior version of the Sony. Much better than MTV Unplugged. For one: she gets the second verse right. (Sunday 28 February 2021; 22:26)

Re: Album rankings (97,503) (97,509) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Brandon, honestly? If you were stranded on a desert island and you only had time to save three Mariah CD's from the burning plane, Caution would be one of them? (Sunday 28 February 2021; 00:20)

Re: Cover (97,507) (97,508) by Andrew from the United Kingdom I, in some way, agree with you. And, for what it's worth, I do value your viewpoint, somewhat. I chose Someone Like You as an example not because I think Mariah should *copy* someone else but that I firmly believe she could write something as moving as that song and perform it well. Adele singing SLY (and changing the chorus to an easy singing range) whilst crying through it at The Brit Awards at the O2 was the catalyst to superstardom (as opposed to just stardom). Watching it live was breathtaking and emotional even though the song had a range of about five notes. Mariah can easily do that. I disagree with your post about interpolating samples, however. I know Mariah is incredibly clever the way she works music. She is in the realms of genius - and I say that as someone who is not a fan of hyperbole. But we know that she's clever. I think sometimes she's *too clever* and the purpose or sentiment gets lost. She still *sounds* like Mariah Carey. The voice is scratched but in her normal speaking range, you know it's her. I may be wrong (only joking) but her head voice seems be be easier to transition to and from. So there's something to work with. If she keeps it simple and moves people she might have a surprise hit album on her hands. With a new look (and I do think she should get the hot body back) her next era could be an amazing final hurrah. I'm rooting for her. But if it's more of the same, I guess I'll be a legacy lamb and be done with it. Oh. And no more whistle notes. They used to be rare and like an adrenaline shot. Am I the only one that feels like they're everywhere? The whistle not has a place in Close My Eyes where it has no business being. (Sunday 28 February 2021; 00:18)

Re: Cover (97,504) (97,506) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Mariah could do something along the lines of Someone Like You by Adele. But an original. These vocal histrionics, jumping an octave and screeching is not needed anymore. Nobody is asking her for that. I was listening to Avicii this afternoon. Wake Me Up is energetic and moving and is sung within a five note range almost.You don't need six octaves to make an impact anymore. Even Ariana seems to realise that. But I am fully convinced Mariah won't move from her tired formula. I swear to any god anyone believes in that if she says she is in a recording studio with JD again, I'm off. And I think a lot of other lambs will be fighting me for the exit. (Saturday 27 February 2021; 20:09)

Re: Album rankings (97,488) (97,489) by Andrew from the United Kingdom "Great music is in the ears of the listener." So cried the last Miley Cyrus fan as they jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge. (Thursday 25 February 2021; 19:55)

Re: Album rankings (97,484) (97,486) by Andrew from the United Kingdom I cannot begin to fathom how people think Butterfly a better album than Daydream. I have, in the last decade, read an inordinate amount of messages lambasting the Grammy Awards for not giving Mariah the Record of the Year award for Daydream. Yet, I do not recall ever having read one message about Butterfly in that respect. And I read and write in this bloody thing every day (much to everyone’s delight). Hmm. Me thinks, again, that many a lamb feels compelled to put Butterfly at the top because that is what Mariah would want. Or do. It would be interesting for Mariah to do the same chart she did for her songs with her albums. (Thursday 25 February 2021; 13:43)

Re: My ranking of Mariah's albums (97,464) (97,468) by Andrew from the United Kingdom If the list was a ranking of what albums mean the most to me, then Music Box would be on top. I listened to it every night on cassette in my treasured Sony Walkman. It means the most to me. And I'll admit it for once and for all. I am at peace with myself, my friends and family know, and now I can finally be honest and open with the world: I. Like. Big. Ballads. Big ones. Big massive smassive ones with strings and bows and cymbals and every syllable stretched out of existence. Even if Mariah doesn't. Music Box got me addicted so she has a lot to answer for. I could have been into Green Day and Nirvana. But nope. Mariah went ahead and gave me Music Box. This guy is worth a look if you haven't seen him already. He really has an astounding voice, not only singing Mariah but other divas and Disney, also. And he's also good to sing along with as the songs are in a more male-accessible key. His voice is stunning. Check out his version of Blank Page by Christina Aguilera as well. It's enough to make any grown - or young boy - cry. (Wednesday 24 February 2021; 01:00)

Re: My ranking of Mariah's albums (97,465) (97,466) by Andrew from the United Kingdom "I mean, I don't rate Fly Like a Bird, I always skip Underneath the Stars, I can't remember the last time I listened to Make It Happen, and I prefer the original Fantasy over the ODB remix." Oooh that's fun. Lemme see: I don't rate: Vanishing I always skip: My All I can't remember the last time I listened to: Without You I prefer the original: Heartbreaker to the remix (Tuesday 23 February 2021; 23:28)

All I Live For (97,457) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Is the whistle note and last chorus really from 2020? (Tuesday 23 February 2021; 10:14)

Re: My ranking of Mariah's albums (97,440) (97,456) by Andrew from the United Kingdom It's m'lady to you, Australia. I accept your reasoning for not liking Music Box if it is a deeply held conviction. However, I sometimes get the feelings that lambs online spurt forth anything they think Mariah will agree with or which makes them look like a better lamb than others. As an example: Purposefully saying they don't like Music Box because it is the most commercially successful and/or because Mariah doesn't praise it or talk about it all that much. I am forced to agree with Jamie that Music Box is a fantastic album and am humoured to a smirk if not a grin when I remind myself that "cohesive body of work" is a favourite fan trope that could and would easily be applied to Music Box - but isn't, probably because it's just not cool to do so and/or Music Box needs no defending as it is one of the most successful albums of all time. This general argument could be flipped on its head and equally apply to Caution. It is nowhere near as good as the rest of her records vocally or sonically but it slightly fares better in critical reception and is cited as such by Mariah. Thus, if someone, say... the webmaster... were to comment about how people who practically masturbated over the album upon its release weren't out supporting it, said people might start frantically posting lists with Caution either at the top or very near it. I can't help but think there is a lot of invading cynicism. Music Box is undeniably brilliant. It is Mariah's most accessible album having mass appeal and songs of a sound that have stood the test of time. With the exception of GTFO and With You I don't think anyone will be talking about Caution in a few years. It's all rather a dull affair. I think Mariah needs to move once again to a more accessible sound with a more crafted and simpler production. I feel like Mariah has spent the best part of two decades trying to prove how clever she is as a composer, with sample + cut and paste vocals + complicated vocal layers in the background + different melody for second verse + witty kitchen sink lyrics + octave jump screech at the end. She has proved that she can do that but I think she should do something else now. I've been listening to Madonna's 80s and 90's ballads this week as I caught Live To Tell on the radio and also some of Madonna's newer stuff like Girl Gone Wild. I think one of the reasons that Madonna is successful is the simplicity of a lot of her songs. Even Ray of Light isn't that overly complicated. I think Mariah is too stuck in her ways trying to win the respect of her peers to change but I am certain not many people want to buy what she is selling, anymore. But there are certainly a few enablers who will say it's the best thing ever for as long as Mariah does. (Tuesday 23 February 2021; 09:50)

Get a grip (97,436) by Andrew from the United Kingdom "The Rihanna Book: Queen Size is limited to only 500 copies and retails for $1,495. 'It's a piece of art that I am really proud of,' RiRi said." Squeeze me? Baking power? 1.5k for a photo book. Are you kidding? It's like US$500 for a brief-no-redo photograph with the artist. How much money do they need? This is incredibly selfish. It goes to show what I have said all along. The Mariah's and the Rihanna's of the world do not care about you and though you may have spent a thousand hours in your room dreaming of the day, to them you are a dollar sign. $750,000 for crappy bound photos? Oh, tweet her and tell her to foxtrot oscar. The cheek of it. Save your money. (Monday 22 February 2021; 02:45)

Re: WBT Valentine's mix (97,418) (97,430) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Agree about Heavenly. It's so nauseating to listen to the back half of it. I love the first two verses and choruses but it then follows into a sonic car crash. It's the same with HATEU. It's such a brilliant moving song. But the part when she sings "But there's nothing I can do, boy I can't wait to hate you" right before the whistle note on the bridge is clearly cut and paste and so bad that I always imagine that Mariah has accidentally swallowed the champagne cork whilst singing and her vocal engineer is performing the Heimlich manoeuvre on her. (Sunday 21 February 2021; 17:52)

Re: My ranking of Mariah's albums (97,423) (97,429) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Oh Australia, you shall not advance fair. Rainbow above Daydream? Charmbracelet above Music Box? Thou art a villain. Everyone knows this is the correct order: 1. Merry Christmas 2. The Rarities 3. Daydream 4. Butterfly 5. Music Box 6. E=MC2 7. MTV Unplugged 8. The Emancipation of Mimi 9. Emotions 10. Glitter 11. Rainbow 12. Mariah Carey 13. Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel 14. Me. I Am Mariah. 15. Caution 16. Charmbracelet 17. Merry Christmas 2 You (Sunday 21 February 2021; 17:43)

Re: WBT Valentine's mix (97,407) (97,414) by Andrew from the United Kingdom I like your write-up. But you know what I've always wanted? If production requires many attempts in a studio with the best phrases cut and paste, I couldn't care less anymore. However, when she does do these high pitched WBT climaxes, and long sustained notes and so on, why is it that the camera is never in the studio filming these come out of her mouth? And there's only ever one other person in there with her, the vocal engineer. Funny that. (Friday 19 February 2021; 20:37)

Re: WBT Valentine's mix (97,406) (97,413) by Andrew from the United Kingdom "I feel like Caution and especially Rarities have been very good closing chapters of my life long fandom starting in 1994." I get what you're saying, actually, and I hadn't considered it that way before. It does feel like a nice, round ending. The career came full circle, almost. And if the voice is gone, why bother carrying on? It's a perfectly valid viewpoint. I believe if Mariah doesn't do something very drastic with a new release it will be the end of her recording career anyway. I'm envisioning a Cher "Believe" album type shift. Other than that, I agree the Rarities is a good Chapter End. (Friday 19 February 2021; 20:31)

Re: WBT Valentine's mix (97,407) (97,411) by Andrew from the United Kingdom "Her brilliance comes in short bursts, great moments that are stitched together to create a patchy whole." How funny, I actually wrote a poem a few days ago for my friend who is going through some addiction and depressions issues (yes, okay, I write poetry and normally only when someone asks me to these days) and it was - genuinely - about making the best of bursts of brilliance: All The Available Light I remember when strikes the thunderbolt that it's stormier still in the night and, though flashes of brilliance are fleeting, to paint all the available light. It is not how dim-lit the universe nor how woeful the world in your sight, if the canvass requires your bravery then your conscience requires the fight. AG. 14/02/21 So I agree with you. If the positive is only momentary, you have to seize those moments and make them work. (Friday 19 February 2021; 20:03)

Re: Songs Mariah never lip synchs (97,400) (97,401) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Er, Mariah lip-syncs the climax of Hero all the time now. This is a good example - watch the "Lord knows... hold on... the way..." parts. It uses backing track that can be heard identically on other renditions. But before that's even needed it's completely obvious that the sounds aren't coming out of her mouth. Sorry, boo. (Thursday 18 February 2021; 15:16)

Re: WBT Valentine's mix (97,389) (97,398) by Andrew from the United Kingdom Is it fair to say - will everybody agree - that Mariah can no longer sing live well without the use of smoke and mirrors? She is more often than not out of tune, has breathing difficulty, has extremely restricted range, cannot transition well, requires lip sync for anything not of ease to the average singer and sounds bad sometimes. If everyone just accepts this as axiomatic then I won't have to rage against stupidity/lies, we get to defcon 2 and my doctor is in Aruba sipping sangria. I agree, and have always argued, that she should record songs she can actually reproduce live lest anybody be cheated. The reworking of WBT could have avoided the high screech octave jump in favour of a normal singing pattern with resonance and depth. But nope. WBT has never ever been reproduced live in its entirety. Even to this day. Yet I still liked it because she looked amazing. I'm so shallow. Like there could be 100 people in a room and 99 of them don't believe in you and, oh you know how it ends. (Thursday 18 February 2021; 04:28)

Re: WBT Mimi's Late Night Valentine's Mix (extended) (97,381) (97,387) by Andrew from the United Kingdom It’s okay. I find it quite unsettling. The music lends itself to lounge relaxation but her voice jumping from low scratch to belt to soft head to high whistle every other line puts me on edge. But I can see why the extended mix is liked. In other news, Mariah has musicians with her? I may be wrong but until recently she did not. If this is a new turn of events they are likely with her to record new material, one would think. (Wednesday 17 February 2021; 14:33)

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