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MB30 (103,447) by BFF from United States I think Mariah was more in touch with her inner child on "Music Box" than on any other album. There is a sweetness, wholesomeness, and innocence to the writing, production, and vocals that really recalls a lot of Minnie Riperton and Stevie Wonder's outputs in the 1970s. I wouldn't call it "creatively stifled", but I understand why people have that perception. Tommy and Sony overruled Mariah on some things - sometimes it was the right call (adding Walter's input on "Dreamlover"), sometimes it wasn't (leaving "Everything Fades Away" off the final track listing). (Tuesday 12 September 2023; 02:36) this is a reply to message 103,440

MB30 (103,440) by JC from USA Original Hero takes the cake, always. But MB30 has me feeling unfulfilled. While MB is vocally a "prime" era, she's artistically stifled and the album feels forced, likely a result of surmounting pressure resulting from Emotion's underperformance commercially (though incredible album). These new from-the-vault songs sound horrifically dated and while her vocals are amazing on My Prayer, it's a complete skip for me. If we are going to be celebrating anniversaries of albums every dang year, I wish we'd only celebrate and spend time more with those where she is liberated as an artist. (Monday 11 September 2023; 15:30)

9/11 and "Glitter" (103,438) by BFF from United States Today marks 22 years since the release of "Glitter" and since the World Trade Center tragedy. I always think of the song "Never Too Far" on this day because it's one of Mariah's most underrated ballads and its theme of loss is really appropriate for remembering what happened on 9/11. It's also impossible for me to forget how difficult the year 2001 was for Mariah and the humiliation she experienced in a moment that was supposed to be a moment of triumph. Sorry to interrupt the MB30 celebration, but I really hope that one day we truly get "Justice for Glitter" - a 25th or 30th anniversary edition with unreleased tracks and more insight into what could have been. (Monday 11 September 2023; 13:18)

Workin Hard x My Prayer x All I Live For x Hero 09 (103,427) by BFF from United States I will probably get pilloried for this, but I prefer Linda Ronstadt's version of "I Will Always Love You" to Whitney's. I think Rondstadt's reading is more subtle and truer to the original. Mariah took "Without You" to a place that Badfinger and Harry Nilsson could not; she didn't write the song but she sings it like she lived it. You can hear the loneliness of Mariah's childhood when she sings "You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows." And I 100 percent agree. There is no "Music Box" album without "Without You". (Monday 11 September 2023; 00:15) this is a reply to message 103,420

Workin Hard x My Prayer x All I Live For x Hero 09 (103,420) by Andrew from the UK I am sure that other British people here would agree that getting to No.1 in the UK in the 90's wasn't... how do I say this? It wasn't exactly an overly massive achievement. Now I know that Mariah was UK Top 5 with her 90s songs but to get to No.1 in the UK meant you simply had to be in a group of artists heavily pushed by the Record Labels in the UK - all of whom simply avoided releasing a song that would have competition in that week. When there were 2 songs going head to head that were otherwise created to get to, and destined for, No.1, these events made headlines, they made the national news. To achieve No.1 you either had to be a seriously heavy-weight British Artist or have a one-hit-wonder generated for you - or you were a foreign artist who simply had a really good song. Mariah got to Number 2 with All I Want For Christmas Is You (something I cried about at the time). It was beaten by a very depressing song called Stay Another Day by a 90's boyband that to say they and thesong were heavily-marketed would be somewhat of an understatement. That she got to Number 2 on the strength of the song alone is remarkable. It seems to me that to achieve No.1 in the United States (with still mindboggingly complicated ways of determining it) was not something easy. Therefore, discounting the incredible feat of getting there how many times she did, Mariah achieving Number 2's and Number 3's with songs released from an album long sinced dropped and heavy in sales figures is quite remarkable. In fact, it's astonishing. I Will Always Love You was on the back of a Box Office Movie Hit and powerful (I personally hate it) and was the first release from the Soundtrack. The Soundtrack is revisited time and time again because it is Whitney's best work. Funny, that Daydream is almost streamed as much as it. Mariah not only answered Whitney with Music Box, she came at her title with Daydream. And won. Knowing some Atlanta-born poster here's propensity for defending Whitney, I shall say only this: whoever can listen to I Will Always Love You from start to finish without turning it off, turning it down, or tearing their ears off is superhuman. What the bloody hell are you supposed this song? The acappella begining is unnerving, the ridiculous bellowing at the end is unsingable, the whole thing is a shit-show. That I saw Whitney live in person sing this is one of the greatest memories of my life. But not as great as hearing her sing I Love The Lord. Now *that* is singing. Just like My Prayer is *singing*. I shall stop typing now. Apologies, I'm on a bit of a Mariah buzz. I feel like a kid again lol. Peace. AJ. (Sunday 10 September 2023; 17:44)

Workin Hard x My Prayer x All I Live For x Hero 09 (103,398) by BFF from United States Yes, I agree. "Without You" deserved to be on the final track listing over "My Prayer." The way she sings the line "You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows" gets me every time. My only complaint about "Without You" is that it was massive internationally but only went to #3 in the United States. It really should have been a moment akin to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". The way she sings it eclipses the Harry Nilsson version and the Badfinger original. (Saturday 9 September 2023; 21:53) this is a reply to message 103,393

Workin Hard x My Prayer x All I Live For x Hero 09 (103,393) by Edward from USA The same sentiment here. "All I Live For Extended" is just brilliant. I don't know why she cut it off and put that short lived whistle at the end on "The Rarities". "My Prayer" was executed beautifully, vocally and emotionally, but I can understand why "Without You" was chosen, it sounds more current even today. As for "Working Hard", I'm still getting used to it, but I like it. Obviously I had to replace "All I Live For" with the extended version on "The Rarities", what a difference. (Saturday 9 September 2023; 17:15)

MB30 reaction (103,373) by BFF from United States "My Prayer" brought tears to my eyes when I heard it. Such a gorgeous rendition and somewhat left field for Mariah in terms of covers. More evidence that Mariah needs to put together a "cover songs" compilation album. She's done so many great ones, and it would be nice to have them all in one place. "Workin' Hard" is better than either of the Cole + Cliviles tracks on the original album. I can totally understand why Mariah's message on Twitter says she's looking back with a bit of regret on this album... because "My Prayer," "Workin' Hard", "All I Live For", "Everything Fades Away", and "Do You Think of Me" are all better than songs that made the final track list. I would have left off "Just to Hold You Once Again", "I've Been Thinking About You", and "All I've Ever Wanted" to make room for unreleased songs and b-sides if there was a concern that the album would be too long. I wouldn't be able to leave off tracks 1-7 on the original album - those are all songs I never skip. (Friday 8 September 2023; 14:51)

Music Box 30th anniversary revealed (103,302) by BFF from United States I'm so glad we are getting a high quality version of the Extended/Uncut Version of "Anytime You Need a Friend". This is my absolute favorite song on the album. I wonder which of Mariah's other albums will get an "anniversary" re-release. I would like to see that happen for "Daydream" and "Glitter". (Monday 4 September 2023; 14:43) this is a reply to message 103,266

Music Box 30th anniversary revealed (103,266) by Robert-Anthony from United States It will be out on 9/8. Here's what will be included on the 4LP 3CD cassette anniversary edition: Expanded edition with bonus tracks 1. My Prayer - new track from the recording sessions 2. Hero - 2009 Version 3. AYNAF - Extended Version 4. Music Box - Acapella... Oooh wee. I need to hear this version. 5. Dream Lover - Live at the Top of Pops *Live at Proctor's Theatre 1. new remastered audio *Behind the Scenes of Dream Lover video - Mini Documentary *Dream Lover video 4k *MC Then and Now featurette *And many more bonus features (Thursday 31 August 2023; 16:45)

Discounted singles (103,238) by BFF from United States I think "Love Muffin" and "Ken Lee" should have been discounted to $0.49. They would've gone to #1 for sure. "Love muffin, boy give your love to me. My muffin needs your lovin' so relentlessly." "Kee Leeeeeeeeeee, Tuliboodiboodoubtyou." (Monday 21 August 2023; 21:46) this is a reply to message 103,225

Discounted singles (103,225) by Bill from the UK Being the UK there weren't any tactics like this, other than the CD singles being released in "two parts" to sustain sales in the second week, and make rabid fans like me buy every version for different remixes or the alternative cover art (shout out to the UK exclusive Always Be My Baby artwork). I have been known to narrow my eyes in suspicion at the "one week only" #1s. I agree with what you say about My All and Thank God I Found You. I wouldn't say it applies to Heartbreaker and One Sweet Day though, because they had quite long stays at the top (especially OSD), plus Heartbreaker's great video would have helped as that whole thing was a hoot. This is why I roll my eyes when the (ducks) yaas queens lay down the "she's had two hundred thousand number ones" trump card. It's like, ask Joe Public to name 6 of them. Go on I'll wait. And yes, we all love Loverboy for all sorts of reasons (my affection for it is because it's such a mess), but there's no way that would have even cracked the top ten stateside were it not for it being sold for a penny or whatever it was. I always felt the UK's chart position of #12 was justified. It didn't warrant a top ten position, but deserved to knock at the door and be asked to the party, only to be sent away. I've had too much wine. (Saturday 19 August 2023; 22:17)

Loverboy (103,140) by BFF from United States I think the released version with the "Candy" sample can best be described as an "interesting mess". Critics were right to call it subpar in comparison to Mariah's previous output. The video was fun, but the low quality of the released version definitely contributed to the underperformance of the "Glitter" soundtrack. The "Firecracker" version is vastly better than the released version. I personally think Mariah could have gotten away with releasing it even with Jennifer Lopez using "Firecracker" for "I'm Real". The original version of "I'm Real" ended up underperforming any way, and that song did not become a hit until it was remixed with Ja Rule. Mariah still needs to put out remix EPs for the Glitter album singles on streaming. Does anyone know if she's planning some type of "Glitter" anniversary release? (Sunday 6 August 2023; 14:21) this is a reply to message 103,139

Loverboy (103,139) by Billy from Greece So, I was thinking about "Loverboy" this morning and watched a video combining the original visuals with the Firecracker version. When "The Rarities" was released in 2020 and I listened to the original (Firecracker) version for the first time I was ecstatic and I was immediately filled with a "coulda woulda shoulda" feeling of what this song could have become, not to mention the lost potential of the "Glitter" soundtrack or even the trajectory of Mariah's career thereafter. It screams smash hit. In a way, the skeleton of the song, namely the track, the key in which it is written, the way the vocals pop in the chorus, brought to my mind the "Heartbreaker (Remix)", which she has often referred to as her favorite version. It is just impeccably catchy and the fact that they ripped her off and sabotaged her so badly just shows that Mariah's musical instincts were so on point that everybody was paying attention. She was at the top of her game creatively. Anyway, as far as the "Candy" version is concerned, I was similarly obsessed with when it came out in 2001. I remember hearing the remix on the radio for the first time on a hot day in June while waiting in my mother's car. While the rap intro was going on I was like, wait, these sighs and "oohs" in the background sound familiar and then I was in shock. Is this the new single? Remember back then, it was usually by accident that you came across a new release. I couldn't wait to hear it again. Although it was chaotic in a way, I mostly associated exuberance, fun and sexiness with the song, which was then enhanced by the saturated colorful visuals. Even the single cover is gorgeous and a total classic in my opinion. I can understand why the song did not have a mass appeal in the form that it was eventually released, although it remains a favorite of mine. Technically speaking, the key in which "Loverboy" was rewritten buried the chorus and made all parts sound a bit cluttered. Actually, Cameo's "Candy" has quite an unconventional beat, which makes it a difficult sample in my opinion, although it's been widely used. Still, whatever the circumstances, I love "Loverboy" in all its forms and still enjoy it to the max. (Sunday 6 August 2023; 11:47)

MB30 (102,901) by BFF from United States I like "Now That I Know" but "I've Been Thinking About You" not as much. I thought the uptempo songs on "Emotions" were better than on "Music Box". I totally agree about Mariah's work with C+C Music Factory. Those songs were so upbeat and fun to listen to; thinking about them makes me miss early 90s Mariah. I hope the Music Box anniversary release has some fun goodies. (Saturday 17 June 2023; 20:03) this is a reply to message 102,899

MB30 (102,899) by Jamie from UK How can you not love Now That I Know and I've Been Thinking About You? Classic 90's pop with amazing vocals. I loved the MC and C&C uptempo collaborations they brought a happy vibe to early Mariah albums, shame it only lasted two. I'd love Mariah to do an upbeat, radio friendly song now. Even if she takes a step back from the music and just inputs on the lyrics. Sometimes it's hard to create magic when you've been writing songs for so long, I'd just love a good solid song/album. (Saturday 17 June 2023; 12:03)

Rainbow was bigger than Daydream (102,746) by BFF from United States I definitely loved the "Rainbow" era. Mariah seemed to be having fun with the promotion and seemed more relaxed than in previous eras. Out of her #1 singles, I have always felt that "Thank God I Found You" was the most under appreciated - especially the original version. The song probably would have been better as a duet with Joe rather having 98 Degrees on it, but it's still a great slow jam/ballad. "Crybaby" was also a great song that probably should have gotten an official release rather than as the double A-side with "Can't Take that Away". The only song on the album I don't care for is "X-Girlfriend". I wonder how many of the songs that ended up on "Rainbow" were originally intended for "Glitter". I'm pretty sure I remember Mariah saying that "Heartbreaker" was originally intended for the project when it was called "All That Glitters". (Saturday 20 May 2023; 22:18) this is a reply to message 102,745

Rainbow was bigger than Daydream (102,745) by Robert-Anthony from United States Well, here it is as I promised. I am probably going to get a lot of push back for making this statement. This is why I have made such a bold statement. Rainbow was MC's liberation album. She had creative authority to do what she wanted to on Rainbow. She wanted to fulfill her contractual obligations to Sony Music. So she recorded Rainbow in 6 months. The recording of Rainbow has been her shortest time ever to record an album. The Heartbreaker single Jay-Z feature was a first for MC. It was the first time in her career that another artist was featured on one her lead singles. MC wrote ballads that were closer to R&B than pop for Rainbow. Many of the ballads mirrored sentiments she experienced in her personal life. The first week album sales of 323,000 were the highest in her career at the time. It was the first time a single's remix was featured on the album's initial release. Mariah started this trend that many R&B/Hip Hop have duplicated. It was the first time a Mariah Carey album had two interludes included in the album's tracklisting. The Biana alter ego was introduced. The Heartbreaker video was more expensive than Fantasy. Heartbreaker is one of the most expensive videos ever made costing 2.5 million. Promotion and tour was bigger than Daydream. Agree or disagree? (Saturday 20 May 2023; 20:56)

Favorite 90s singles cover (102,727) by BFF from United States I love the image they used for the "Anytime You Need a Friend" single. I wish that song had performed better on the Hot 100. Great song that deserved a better peak charting position. (Sunday 14 May 2023; 22:53) this is a reply to message 102,719

Favorite 90s singles cover (102,719) by Robert-Anthony from United States My favorite 90s singles cover is Never Forget You/Without You. I love this cover because of the beige/almond background and MC's innocent pose. What is your favorite 90s singles cover? (Saturday 13 May 2023; 14:15)

Lovers and Friends performance (102,672) by BFF from United States One Sweet Day with Boyz II Men (Sunday 7 May 2023; 15:57) this is a reply to message 102,669

Lovers and Friends performance (102,669) by Robert-Anthony from United States Well, MC made us proud Lambs. She has her voice. I loved the Til The End Of Time - Camouflage - Vision of Love - hello lovers and friends intro. Mimi is even looking like she stepped back into her Touch My Body video. (Sunday 7 May 2023; 08:51)

Why is MC such a brilliant songwriter? (102,664) by BFF from United States I love Stevie Wonder and agree with everything you said, but he didn't write the lyrics or the music for "For Once In My Life". That song was recorded before he started taking more creative control over his music. (Friday 5 May 2023; 18:04) this is a reply to message 102,645

Why is MC such a brilliant songwriter? (102,645) by Robert-Anthony from United States This question came to my mind yesterday watching one of the American Idol contestants perform one of Stevie Wonder's most well known hits- For Once In My Life. Stevie Wonder will always be regarded as a brilliant songwriter because of his unique ability to draw in the listener with his lyrics and melodies. And that is exactly what MC does with her lyrics and melodies. Lastly, MC does that unique humming and singing to the melody of her songs that very few singers do. ABMB is a huge example of MC at her best. MC is one of the greatest songwriters to live. What do the Lambs think? (Monday 1 May 2023; 20:00)

What is your initial fan story? (102,624) by BFF from United States For me, hearing "One Sweet Day" on the radio when my mom was picking me up from school is probably my earliest memory of being aware of Mariah's music. My maternal grandfather had recently passed away, so the song had particular resonance for my mom and our family. I was three years old when Mariah first came out but really became cognizant of her music around the "Daydream" era. (Monday 24 April 2023; 20:00) this is a reply to message 102,618

What is your initial fan story? (102,618) by Robert-Anthony from United States What fascinated you about MC at any era that compelled you to become a lifetime fan? For me, it was Love Takes Time. Hearing this gem constantly on the radio made me know I was going to be a fan for life. (Monday 24 April 2023; 01:02)

Legacy (102,610) by BFF from United States I totally agree, Randy. AIWFCIY is one of the least impressive popular songs in her catalogue. I also think that "Hero" is pretty overrated, and the fact that she wrote it for someone else indicates to me that it shouldn't be considered her signature song. To me, "Vision of Love" is her signature song. It is one of the most triumphant, mature, transcendent, and confident songs in her catalogue. I think it needs to elevated above "AIWFCIY" and "Hero" - neither of those songs truly represent her artistry. "Butterfly" is considered by most OG fans to be her best album, but, to me, "Emotions" is either a very close second or tied for first place. That era was Mariah at her most authentic. She was in full control of the creative direction of that album. Her presentation was reserved but confident, and her image was very simple. I would've pushed her tour during the "Emotions" era to silence the naysayers - "Unplugged" was great but not enough. She was not yet in the unhealthy marriage to Tommy (that relationship should have remained professional). And she was not pandering to any particular audience in the way she did post-1997. (Saturday 22 April 2023; 15:13) this is a reply to message 102,605

Legacy (102,605) by Randy from USA One of the things that bother me with the newer fans, delusionals and yass queens is the over celebration of AIWFCIY. A few years ago the older Stans were on here arguing what MC's signature song was. We tentatively settled on Hero. But now it's clear what she's going to be known for if this yearly record keeps happening. I think that the noise around that song fades away some of the most amazing singer songwriter compositions ever recorded. Mariah Carey is more than some relic you drag out of the closet and dust off on November 1st. Another damaging thing that the newer fans, delusionals and yass queens celebrate is her whistle register. Yes it is lovely. But that register doesn't make a great singer. I remember in the promotion for Emotions she said she didn't use it more on the track because she didn't want it to become a gimmick. She laid off it quite a bit on Music Box and Daydream but when the voice changed around #1s it was on full display for Rainbow. I think it's a crutch used to prove she can still sing. But if you have lost your belting register, are you gonna whistle your next albums? I just worry that Mariah's career is in a bleak spot and people are shining spotlights on things that narrow her legacy to a whistling Christmas act. Thoughts? (Saturday 22 April 2023; 03:34)

"Emotions" album appreciation (102,592) by BFF from United States Yes to all of this. And Trey Lorenz, Patrick McMillan, and the other guys backing her up during live performances were phenomenal. (Thursday 20 April 2023; 03:03) this is a reply to message 102,586

"Emotions" album appreciation (102,586) by Jamie from UK Emotions album is one of my favourites, it oozes soul, her voice is so warm and the ballads are perfect. Till the End of Time is a masterpiece, it's beautiful. And one of my all time favourite songs is Can't Let Go. The video portrays a classy Mariah, something about her in that video is different she shows so much passion. Her image was so refined during this album wholesome, relatable and appealing. (Wednesday 19 April 2023; 21:19)

Anytime You Need a Friend - Extended (102,591) by BFF from United States What crazy person decided to leave out the extended fadeout on this song? The vocals at the end are absolutely sublime and should have been included on the final studio version. Mariah totally goes off, and I'm here for it. (Thursday 20 April 2023; 02:39)

Female singers (102,581) by BFF from United States I disagree that Mariah's "racial identity" was concealed during her early years by Tommy. She is on the record in one of her first TV interviews in 1990 about this. Critics like Nelson George who made Mariah's "racial identity" into a big deal were the problem, not Tommy. No other female singer of that era (or any era, really) was called upon by critics to constantly explain her "racial" background. No one made a big deal about Whitney Houston's background, Celine Dion's background, or Toni Braxton's background. Just Mariah's. And the people who constantly asked her to self-identify so were feeding into racialist and racist thinking. This is the same BS that got applied to gay/lesbian artists who would rather focus on their musical output than constantly have to discuss their sexual orientation. The implication of this never-ending discussion is that African-Americans somehow are inherently better singers than people of European descent or that skin color has anything to do with singing ability. And Mariah was called upon to pander to this nonsense. Listen to a Janet Jackson record alongside a Celine Dion record, and you'll know that this is absolute BS. Fans who continue to focus on this (and even Mariah herself) cheapen Mariah's artistry and accomplishments. (Wednesday 19 April 2023; 13:38) this is a reply to message 102,580

Female singers (102,580) by Robert-Anthony from United States One thing that I did notice from 1990-1997 is that Tommy concealed her bi-racial identity in any way that he could. Go back and watch those early 90s performances and interviews, it was hard to tell during those years that MC was bi-racial at least for me. Tommy's oppressive behavior over MC really did something to her emotionally and mentally. MC was never the same woman after 1997. (Wednesday 19 April 2023; 03:10)

Female singers (102,578) by BFF from United States Oh, I totally agree that marrying Tommy undermined her credibility in the eyes of some people. I also agree that he had a positive impact on her career prior to their separation. I think Mariah also had a lot to do with her own success, but Tommy should be given the credit he is due. He was correct to steer her away from movies. I wish she had opted not to marry him and instead only interacted with him in a professional capacity or maybe tried a bit harder post-1997 to be civil and professional. I think marrying him meant she had something to prove once they separated in 1997/98 and it resulted in her making a number of poor choices in the ensuing years just to be "anti-Tommy" rather than being "pro-Mariah". Backing out of the US leg of the "Butterfly" tour for that stupid movie with Chris Tucker (ugh), rushing the "Rainbow" album out the door, watering down the original concept for "Glitter", tacking way too many rappers onto songs on "Rainbow" and "Glitter", focusing too much on her image and not on her voice, etcetera. (Wednesday 19 April 2023; 01:19) this is a reply to message 102,575

Female singers (102,575) by Bill from the UK "Marrying Tommy was a massive mistake because it meant she had zero separation between her personal and professional life, a recipe for burnout. And when it became clear that Tommy was sabotaging her during the 1998-2001 period, she had to work that much harder." No one likes to say it, but the other side to this is that marrying Tommy made her lose a lot of credibility. There was a question mark over her success because she was cleverly married to the boss of the record company. If Tommy could quite easily sabotage her career, he could quite easily make her successful. Her most successful years 1993-1997. The years she was Tommy's wife? 1993-1997. (Tuesday 18 April 2023; 20:19)

Female singers (102,572) by BFF from United States I think each case is unique, and I don't think this is necessarily an issue of industry sexism. Britney Spears and her management chose for her to have an inappropriately sexualized image from the start of her career, and I believe that is the genesis of a lot of her issues. Britney could push herself harder on the choreography front because she didn't write/produce her own material and never sang live. I believe Mariah overworked herself due to her deep-seated insecurity around identity, the chaotic/dysfunctional nature of her childhood, and her decision to become romantically involved with her boss (Tommy). It definitely did not help when Nelson George called her a "white girl who can sing black" and when people started setting her against Whitney Houston. And let's be honest, Whitney and her fans wish that she had written and sang a song as great as "Vision of Love". Still grinds my gears that Whitney is seen as having more "credibility" when she didn't write or produce a damn word of her own material. Marrying Tommy was a massive mistake because it meant she had zero separation between her personal and professional life, a recipe for burnout. And when it became clear that Tommy was sabotaging her during the 1998-2001 period, she had to work that much harder. But really ever since 2001, Mariah has been pretty relaxed on the career front. Long periods between studio albums, some touring but nothing as strenuous as what other artists do, detours into movies. I don't think Mariah has pushed herself particularly hard since the early 2000s. The bottom line is that all people in the entertainment business opted into this for their career and can walk away at any time if it's too much for them. They all have the privilege of earning a living from something other people do as a hobby. (Tuesday 18 April 2023; 16:20) this is a reply to message 102,567

Female singers (102,567) by Robert-Anthony from United States Why do female singers seemed to have various career setbacks and have a hard time telling people no more than male singers? From MC to Britney to Ariana to Adele to Toni Braxton, it has happened to them all. They just to seem to have more career problems after a fast ride to success. While male singers from Usher to Kem to Sam Smith to Ed Sherran have more of a balanced approach to their career success. Are female singers pushed harder to become successful at a faster pace than their male counterparts? Looking at Ariana's recent video post of her looking frail and not looking like she did 2 years ago prompted my post. She looks like she is just tired from recording and touring from the past 10 years. (Monday 17 April 2023; 04:35)

"Emotions" album appreciation (102,562) by BFF from United States I find myself looking back on this album/era regretting that it hasn't been properly appreciated by fans and critics alike. I consider it Mariah's most "adult" album and my second favorite behind "Butterfly". Songs like "Can't Let Go", "If It's Over", Make It Happen", "So Blessed" and others sound and feel like they were recorded/written by someone much older than early 20s. Having C+C Music Factory alongside Walter Afanasieff really helped her strike a "just right" balance of soul, pop, gospel, and house. It was also unique in the sense that she was not yet married to Tommy but had full control over the creative direction of the album. It makes me wonder what her trajectory would have been if she hadn't decided to marry Tommy. Don't get me wrong, I love "Music Box" and "Daydream", but "Emotions" really tops both of those records in terms of writing, vocals, and production. She seemed much happier in the "Emotions" period and not very happy during the 1993-1996 period. It's such a unique moment in her catalog and career. (Sunday 16 April 2023; 02:19)

Article: Track list revealed for Mariah's new album (102,514) by BFF from United States She should have released the album as "The Art of Letting Go" on the original release date. "Me I Am Mariah" has some good songs, but it does not work as an album. Like "Rainbow," it felt like something she released simply to fulfill contractual obligations. Collaborating with Miguel on "#Beautiful" was a smart move, but the momentum got squandered. (Saturday 8 April 2023; 14:24) this is a reply to message 102,512

Article: Track list revealed for Mariah's new album (102,512) by Edward from USA An employee at Walmart was responsible for the title leak, but I doubt it was the reason Mariah scrapped everything. At the time it was about to be released, she was still in a relationship with Nick. When their relationship started going down south is when TAOLG didn't make sense to her anymore. (Saturday 8 April 2023; 13:09)

Biggest non #1 hit after 33 years (102,395) by BFF from United States I prefer "Ken Lee" to "Without You". It's more soulful. (Friday 24 March 2023; 23:27) this is a reply to message 102,391

Biggest non #1 hit after 33 years (102,391) by MC85 from Canada I have worked with and still do work with lots of much younger people, from early teens to mid-to-late 20's and they all know and can sing along to "Obsessed", even well before it had it's little semi-recent viral moment. So that's my choice, though definitely "Without You" isn't far behind though WU isn't as familiar to the young'uns. (Friday 24 March 2023; 19:37)

Pick 5 favorites re-imagined by the same producer (102,242) by BFF from United States I would love for Mariah to work with Blood Orange/Devonte Hynes again. I loved his first album as Blood Orange and love the "True" EP that he produced with Solange. I always wished that Solange had cut an entire album with him rather than just six or so songs. (Sunday 19 February 2023; 15:28) this is a reply to message 102,237

Pick 5 favorites re-imagined by the same producer (102,237) by Robert-Anthony from United States I was thinking this morning how MC's You're Mine (Eternal) and Keyshia Cole's Stubborn definitely have that Rodney Jerkins signature sound. Then I thought about wouldn't it be cool if MC released an album of her favorite album tracks re-imagined by the same producer. Here are my five favorites that I would like re-imagined: 1. You're Mine (Eternal) - Rodney Jerkins 2. Ribbon - Christopher Stewart/The-Dream 3. Giving Me Life - Blood Orange 4. Meteorite - Q-Tip 5. Shake It Off - JD/BMC/JA You know I had to have a JD track. Lol. (Saturday 18 February 2023; 14:08)

New picture (102,174) by BFF from United States I think Mariah crash diets when she is preparing for a promotional blitz and then puts the weight back on once she's done with promoting her latest project and goes back to unhealthy patterns. I think it's as simple as that. Maintaining a healthy weight and fitness requires more than just temporary dieting and quick fixes - it involves adjustment of one's lifestyle. This means a lifestyle that includes regular exercise, healthy eating, abstaining from alcohol and other unhealthy substances, good sleep habits, et cetera. I think Mariah can do the exercise and healthy eating bit, but her Achilles heels always seem to be her poor sleep habits and her consumption of alcohol. (Friday 3 February 2023; 15:50) this is a reply to message 102,164

New picture (102,164) by Randy from USA I struggle with weight. I can't imagine what it's like to be in the public eye with paparazzi outside your building. But why does it seem MCs weight goes up and down so much and so quickly. Maybe this is a bad angle. But I swear it reminds me of the parody Debra Wilson and MadTV did with the "I'm Not Insane" where she sings the line as MC, "Although my weight, does fluctuate." Any thoughts on this phenomenon where MC goes from a size 6 to a size 16 in a matter of two months? (Wednesday 1 February 2023; 02:11)

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