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About this_is_qhm from the Philippines: I love the intricate vocal harmonies only Mariah can make.

Re: AIWFCIY #11 on Billboard Hot (58,741) (58,743) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines You know you are a legend if you: a) Are the latest current artist to wrote the last Christmas classic. b) Revisit the charts every year thanks to that. c) Do minimal promotion yet have such song peak at a spot shy of the top 10 twenty-one years after its original (unofficial) release. d) Make this happen (plays MIH) at an era where ageism is most definitely a thing. e) Have numerous massive achievements aside from this. f) Are (only) 45 years old. Boom. Happy New Year lambs. (Tuesday 29 December 2015; 12:25)

Article: It's time we embrace the Mariah Carey that is (58,476) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines This is a great article. It's nice when fans can be honest and try to suppress their biases for a while to acknowledge that Mariah's earlier music verged on bland fair, and that her voice cannot reach the stratospheric heights it has before. Another great artist I believe I could compare Mariah to is Lisa Stansfield. Just like her, she had this rich, instantly recognizable tone. Heck, she came out just about the same time Mariah did (several months earlier) and lost to Mariah at the Grammys for Best New Artist. When she came back with Face Up in 2001, it was evident that her voice wasn't as elastic as it used to be, but she still sounded great. Listening to her today, her voice has aged even more, and just like Mariah, can no longer replicate her studio vocals in her live performances. Lisa had smoking, Mariah had stress and drinking. But both still sound great and while they may not belt out or riff cascades as easily as today's younger singers, their respective vocal tones alone are undeniable and more than enough to school the wannabes. (Wednesday 16 December 2015; 6:55)

Re: But for what though? (57,744) (57,753) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines If there's anything we have learned from the music industry post-2005, it is that sales are not what drives careers these days - hype does. We are at an era where an album could barely even reach gold status yet still be considered a success if the artist is constantly in the news even for non-music related reasons. Blockbuster successes such as Adele's are extremely rare exceptions. With the image overhaul, I wasn't gunning for commercial success, as Mariah already has that and more with all her various deals and gigs. I was referring to her relationship with the public. Clearly the girl has lost a lot of fans through the years. While she does need younger fans, the likelihood of her getting them is quite slim. She has better chances of reconnecting with her older fans. So yeah, you're right, "for what though", but at this point in her career, she has earned the luxury of doing anything she desires, including either changing things up or curling up in her comfort zone. Clearly, she prefers the latter. And that's more than okay if it makes her happy. But I guess it would just be interesting to know what would happen if she shook things up. (Wednesday 11 November 2015; 10:48)

What Mariah needs (57,737) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Other than fans like us telling her what to do, is a serious drastic re-branding. I know, I know, her image is slowly under repair but really, she could use a total image overhaul that doesn't compromise her essence and individuality in any way. Case in point: Janet Jackson. With her current wardrobe on tour and also in public appearances, one could say she's being the "anti-Janet", as she has always been associated with risque outfits and raunchy stunts since her self-titled album came out. Now she's suddenly all covered up, and even her new music is nowhere (like light years away) as pornorgraphic as it used to be. Janet's Unbreakable isn't exactly selling truckloads, but by reining in the sex, more critics directed their attention to the music instead. As much as most of us love Mariah's devil-may-care philosophy with her penchant for form-fitting ensembles, we all know she doesn't need any of that to be sexy or beautiful. I like fun Mariah, but I woudn't mind if she suddenly went all serious (most common erroneous translation: boring) on us and toned down the opulence for relatability. Mariah may not need to beg for critical acclaim, but how she presents herself may help gain back her older fans she lost along the way. (Tuesday 10 November 2015; 12:19)

Article: Underrated '00s pop songs you need to hear asap (57,651) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Ditto on Loverboy being silly and campy. I believe the track was deliberately constructed to sound that way and was not really meant to sound sexy. Look at how it was used in the movie - almost comical. Heck, even the video is so ridiculously over the top that I won't be surprised if it was some sort of parody of the race scene from Grease or similarly-themed movie clips / music videos. It's one of her weakest lead singles to date but definitely not the worst. And yeah, I hope the original mix surfaces one day. (Thursday 5 November 2015; 7:56)

Focus (57,637) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Sorry, Ariana, but I don't think anyone was asking for Problem 2.0. Lightning don't strike the same place twice. Especially not with Adele around. (Wednesday 4 November 2015; 8:07)

Single release strategy (57,612) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines While we could attribute Adele's recent record-breaking comeback to her fans' fervent longing after the length of her absence, her burgeoning charisma, or just the brilliance of her new release, we could also pinpoint her release strategy as a a reason for her explosive return. When an artist releases a single before a video, he/she/they are clearly aiming for chart longevity as opposed to impact, so the timing between the two should not be too short to be considered useless, as well as not too long for the hype to die down, in which case the video should be out-of-this-world awesome to rekindle interest. If the video comes first before the single, they're probably looking to build anticipation until the single release, which is riskier as the video could have been already converted to audio and made its way to sharing sites by then. So Adele decided to go with option #3 - release both simultaneously, which could yield varied results, depending on the magnitude and relevance of the artist as well as the anticipation for a new release from him/her/them. Naturally, since it's Adele, a #1 just seems like a sure thing. If Mariah's gonna release a new single, I'd rather have her go the same route. She barely made any splash at all since #Beautiful in 2013, and the long wait for the mostly underwhelming videos and remixes definitely didn't help. It won't guarantee success, but at least it would maybe help make a slightly bigger splash, which sadly seems to be all that Mariah gets right now. But of course, the material has to be great. If it ain't gonna be a commercial hit, it better be at least a critical darling, right? (Tuesday 3 November 2015; 9:46)

Re: Janet gets all the love (57,235) (57,238) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I'm happy for Janet. She deserves all the love. Her new album is her best in a long time. Mariah will have her time as well, she could have had it with MIAMTEC, but she'll have it when the time is right. No need for any comparison of anything because the bottom line is that they're both legends in their own ways. (Monday 12 October 2015; 12:56)

Unbreakable is Janet's MIAMTEC (57,043) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I called it over a month ago - just like Mariah last year, Jan has come back with an album that ranks among her best work. Even more experimental than MIAMTEC, Unbreakable is also mostly an amalgam of Janet's previous work, with a modern edge. Her voice sounds the best and clearest it has since The Velvet Rope. It's also her least sexual record since Rhythm Nation 1814. It's the best concept album in recent memory, focusing on the importance of dialogue and social awareness. The beats and production, while hardly original, are twisted mashed and mixed in interesting ways that demand and hold your attention. All songs are killer as well. The Great Forever, Burnitup., and Night are reminiscent of her older hits that bear her classic style. No Sleeep is shockingly tame for a Janet "babymaking" song, and is also the only song that brings you closest to the bedroom. The dreamy title track, Broken Hearts Heal and Dream Maker / Euphoria are excellent neo-soul tracks that end too soon. Take Me Away is just begging to be the next single and captures the carefree spirit of previous hits Escapade and Runaway. The gorgeous minimalist ballads Black Eagle, which recalls the poignancy of her old social commentary; and especially After You Fall, arguably her best downtempo track since Every Time. I could gush over this album all I want, but I guess you'll never fully appreciate how great and inspiring it is until you hear it in its entirety. I pegged Carly's E-mo-tion as this year's best pop album, but damn does this knock it out. A satisfying listen from start to finish, a modern classic. This further proves that veteran artists will always outdo their so-called successors. Welcome back, Janet. You have been missed. (Friday 2 October 2015; 0:23)

Burnitup (56,883) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Wow, Janet's really bringing her A-game for this album. The beat is the sickest she has delivered since All For You - heck, maybe even since If in the 90's. And as we know from Missy's work with Mariah, a feature from her is always, always welcome. Great job. (Friday 25 September 2015; 12:28)

Fantasy (56,882) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Never mind what it sounds like. We all know no other song can top that sugar rush it induces. Now while this song may not be the first collaboration of its kind, it's responsible for bringing the pop/R&B-rap hybrid to mainstream airwaves. 20 years in, in a landscape that's still dominated by a trend "Fantasy" has started, being instrumental in creating contemporary pop/R&B's default sound is certainly no small feat. I only wish Mariah has gotten more credit for it. Happy 20, Fantasy. Time has been very kind to you. (Friday 25 September 2015; 12:24)

The Katy of it all? (56,824) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Look, I myself am not a fan of Katy. I've mentioned a few times here before that her music is the embodiment of the term Top 40 - easily digestible, clearly geared for chart domination and dizzying repeated plays. Do I think she's a very bright person who thinks much about what she says? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe it's not my place to judge especially since its not really the point because the point here is that it could be any artist at all - huge, on the rise, current, past their heyday, been appreciative of Mimi from the start, has wronged her in any way before, etc. - if they're saying something even remotely complimentary, then it couldn't be so hard for us to just look at the good and ignore the itch to always seek out the bad. And B, yes, you're right about her reconnecting with old fans, but she needs new ones as well to spread the word. I believe that's why TEOM was a success because managed the delicate balance of merging "classic Mariah" that resonated with the older fans with "edgy/modern Mariah" that connected with the younger crowd. She was 35 then yet teens were singing ILT and SIO. WBT and DFAU also managed to appeal to both demographics hence their success. So at a time where Mariah's criticized left and right on her diva antics or clothing choices, a good word from fellow artists would certainly help balance things out. (Tuesday 22 September 2015; 4:56)

The shade of it all (56,797) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I think Mariah has taught us well in her Institute of Shade. Too well, in fact, that a lot of lambs now manifest symptoms of its side effects. A good number of us have already become way too cynical - aiming our unsharpened pitchforks even at the least offensive remark or gesture which we almost automatically deem shady, only to end up realizing that we might have read too much into it anyway. Katy Perry gives a very public shoutout of praise to Mariah which she graciously accepts, and of course, let's leave it to the fans to twist Katy's words and receive it as shade. Really now? This often happens in the comments section of the news publishing website and even in fan forums. This mentality that Mariah or the lambily are "always under siege" is going to our downfall. I guess it wouldn't hurt us to learn to be less defensive and rather more appreciative of compliments to Mariah, especially if they're given by today's most popular artists. Does Mariah need those compliments to validate her legacy? Of course not. To stay relevant? No, her ubiquitous impact in music does that for her. But all I know is that because of that shoutout and its considerable media coverage, some little Katy fan out there is Google-ing "Mariah Carey" out of curiosity. Haven't we established that Mariah is in dire need of younger fans? There you go. Every little bit counts. (Monday 21 September 2015; 13:51)

5 Questions I'm dying to ask MC (56,719) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines 5. Which songs that you have written are you not particularly fond of today and why? 4. What do you consider your worst and greatest artistic/creative musical outputs? 3. What do you think about lip-synching being a common practice in the industry? 2. Would we ever hear you sing anything from Glitter in any of your future live performances, and why/why not? 1. Honestly, how has singing changed for you through the years in all aspects? (Thursday 17 September 2015; 12:45)

Re: E=MC2 vs Memoirs (56,580) (56,591) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Jono, I do agree that creatively, E=MC2 was a risk, but to me, only to Mariah's standards. If you listen to it as a whole, you would notice that most of it was exactly what R&B/pop radio sounded like in 2007-2009. Despite flirting with hip-hop countless times and occasionally dabbling in other genres, Mariah has always been considered "uptight" sound-wise. That's what sets E=MC2 apart from her other albums, because it was her basically saying, "Why not?" to following the latest trends - something she has always been iffy about. You're right, the best thing about it is probably the confidence that emanates from every song (obviously a result of her career rejuvenation following TEOM). That confidence is beautiful and makes each track that much more engaging. (Friday 11 September 2015; 12:34)

E=MC2 vs. MOAIA (56,590) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Both have something over the other. MOAIA is more cohesive at the risk of sounding all same-y, so that's probably its biggest flaw. But some of the tracks rank among Mariah's best either lyrically (Betcha Gon' Know, It's A Wrap, Angels Cry, H.A.T.E.U.), stylistically (Ribbon), and attitude-wise (Up Out My Face). It's a breakup album that is up there with Charmbracelet in terms of commercial viability. E=MC2 is the blockbuster that wasn't given a chance to take off. It's her most feel-good, party-ready, trend-chasing set that was deliberately made for radio. Every track was a potential single, you could almost hear the calculation in every element. Whether it reached its potential success or not, it would still have had zero fighting chance at the Grammies, if it even were nominated at all. The varied, genre-hopping uptempos and midtempos make up for the ballads that are rendered almost interchangeable no thanks to JDs production (not that they're bad, just indistinct). My vote goes to E=MC2 for overall entertainment value. 7 years since its release and I'm still mad at how it has ended up to be a colossal wasted opportunity. It may probably not have gotten Mariah critical acclaim, but it could at least have won her more younger fans that would've helped with her latter releases. (Friday 11 September 2015; 12:10)

Mandy Monroe (56,539) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Yeah, Kyla is great. Of all Mariah's emulators in the country, she comes closest in terms of tone and fluidity. She's actually known as the R&B princess here, so that is kind of a big deal. You may also wanna check out Regine Velasquez, Nina (Girado), and Morissette Amon. They also have very impressive voices. Regine has been in the industry even a bit longer than Mariah has. In terms of music heard on Pinoy radio, it's pretty much a mixed bag, and there also have been sweeping trends. There was a time when local pop/rock bands were everywhere (mid to late 00s). And then K-pop, J-pop, and even Taiwanese pop took over (late 00s to around 2013). Some of these acts are still popular, but foreign western pop/rock/R&B has regained popularity as of late (it dominated the airwaves since the 90's then slowed down when the "band"wagon arrived). But one trend that has been pretty much consistently alive in the country is the covering of older (usually around 70s-90s) foreign hits. Like I once before here, one artist can practically build a career on singing covers (Kyla, Nina, Regine, and pretty much every female and even male pop singer in the country has around at least half of their discography consist of renditions). Rom-coms and even drama flicks in the country nowadays more often than not borrow their titles from cover songs or their lyrics. So yeah, that's pretty much what the airwaves generally sound like in the Philippines. I mean, sure, there are other stations that exclusively play this or that genre, but they usually have a specific, limited audience. (Wednesday 9 September 2015; 4:30)

Baby (56,524) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Yeah, Mariah Carey is one of the subjects we take in school. It is a vital part of our curriculum. People should know the awesomeness that is Mariah. It's a course we have to pass if we don't want Mimi's ear-piercing whistle to be played in loop until our windows break. Haha. But seriously no, it's just Pinoys literally worship their divas. Filipinos are very loyal fans. Once they find and artist to idolize, he/she/they has/have gained a lifelong fan who's ready to defend him/her/them against detractors to death. (Tuesday 8 September 2015; 11:22)

Janet's Unbreakable (56,506) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I know this is a Mariah board but can we just appreciate the amazingness that is Janet's new song Unbreakable? That Yours-ish intro, that breezy sample, dem dreamy harmonies, dem angelic soaring vocals, that '90s vibe? I mean really, really good. This and No Sleeep are giving me The Velvet Rope vibes which is always a good thing, as that album to me is like Janet's own version of Butterfly. If these 2 tracks are any indication of what's coming in her new album, Jan might just have her version of MIAMTEC. So who cares if her new single fell off iTunes after a day? It's a sweet love letter to her fans and still crushes any other song on the radio today in terms of quality. I'm just proud legacy artists like her and Mimi are still doing their own things to mostly great results. (Monday 7 September 2015; 14:36)

The clothes / Andrew (56,230) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I know this reply is quite late but whatever. I'm all for Mariah exercising her freedom, but I'mma have to agree with Andrew on this one. Even with her residency being a success, her upcoming stint on Empire, and all her other gigs and ventures that could attract positive publicity, let us not forget that now more than ever is the time for her to keep everything together if she ever wants another comeback in the music scene. I've said this countless times before - the current landscape is not just more fickle than it has always been, it's also more brutal than ever. And can we just stop denying that ageism is a thing. Mariah knows this. She just feels like she has earned the right to finally live it up without worrying about the consequences - and she has - but in this day and age, the "eff them" attitude does not always stand, especially when you're over 40. So we may be happy that she's confident in showing off her more voluptuous figure in ensembles that not always flatter her, but sadly, the entire world doesn't think like us. Even those who are much bigger than her size are trolling dem forums comparing her to a cow or a whale thanks to the anonymity the internet grants them. So yes, image may be just one part of the entire package, but in a world where people are either liked or dismissed based on mere appearance, making sure that she looks good (plays MILG) all the time would at least spare her some hate. Every little bit or awareness and effort counts. Is she still with Jenny Craig or was that just a one-time partnership? (Monday 24 August 2015; 8:03)

Rolling Stone (56,057) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines The thing about that particular publication is that the selection committee behind every "best" list they put out is composed of predominantly male members who not only tend to favor testosterone-fueled rock, but also almost instantly dismiss even the slightest hint of sentimentality as unlistenable schmaltz, therefore not worthy of their close-minded "refined" judgment. Look at their list of 500 Greatest Albums. Pretty much 60-70% of are outings by rock artists or artists who somehow dabble in rock. As a result, everyone else whose music is "too soft" for their tastes is just left out. Mariah's never had a chance with them. I mean, her debut is substantially way better than Whitney's. True, Whit's sold more and had the bigger songs, but Mariah's was the work of a consummate artist, not just a prodigous talent. And yet Whit's made the brutal cut (which I'm fine with, it's a good album) while Mariah's was probably not even in their top 5000. Okay so maybe I'd forgive RS for not considering that album or even TEOM. But Butterfly and Daydream? That is where I drew the line and lost respect for their elitist publication. I may be biased, but I also know quality when I hear it and those 2 albums had it in spades. And though I like Taylor, I deride any so-called critics' list featuring her ahead of Mimi unless it's on the topic of random romantic conquests. Rant over. (Saturday 15 August 2015; 12:35)

Why You Mad? thoughts (55,860) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Pros: 1) Healthier-sounding re-recorded vocals. Proves that Mimi was having a rough day at the studio when she cut the original. 2) The omission of the rambling pre-chorus, which in the original version was cute (and childish), but was melodically the weakest part of the song. 3) Better beat and catchier overall sound is more radio-friendly. 4) Justin was surprisingly decent-sounding. Auto-tuned to death, but decent. Cons: 1) Too many guest features. Seriously, since when did Mariah start to be okay with being relegated to chorus girl in her own recordings? I Still Believe (Pure Imagination)? The Heartbreaker remix? Even so, both songs are far (like light years) superior to this. I get that she may be just giving other artists a chance to shine, but even generosity shouldn't come at the expense of the main artist's own exposure. 2) Same patchwork production, maybe even worse than the original. 3) It's official - French Montana ruins everything he features in. He's the new Pitbull. 4) T.I. was way off his game as well. Conclusion: Definitely not her best but one of her worst, although not her worst ever. That goes to #Beautiful with A$AP Rocky. (Sunday 9 August 2015; 13:01)

That one song from each album (55,611) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Yet another impossible task, but can I at least mention those that came too close but didn't quite make the brutal cut? Here goes whatever: Mariah Carey - All Alone In Love (I Don't Wanna Cry is close behind) Emotions - The Wind (Can't Let Go almost made it) Music Box - Never Forget You Merry Christmas - All I Want For Christmas Is You (feel really bad for Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)) Daydream - Fantasy (kicking myself because I didn't choose Underneath The Stars or Melt Away) Butterfly - Fourth Of July (what about Buttefly, Honey, My All, Babydoll, The Roof or Outside?) Rainbow - Heartbreaker (so sad I couldn't include Can't Take That Away and Crybaby) Glitter - Lead The Way Charmbracelet - Subtle Invitation (Lullaby, There Goes My Heart, Miss You, Boy (I Need You), I Only Wanted, Yours are all runners-up) TEOM - Circles (Your Girl, Mine Again, So Lonely (One & Only Part II) are faves as well) E=MC2 - I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time (easily could be replaced by I'm That Chick, Heat, I Stay In Love, or Cruise Control depending on my mood) MOAIA - It's A Wrap (just a hair above Ribbon) MCIIY- Christmas Time Is In The Air Again (together with When Christmas Comes or Charlie Brown Christmas are part of the perfect Yuletide Mimi throwback trifecta) MIAMTEC - Make It Look Good (Faded and Dedicated have been great contenders, though) (Sunday 2 August 2015; 10:11)

Lee TS / that face, no flaw (55,566) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Well that could be a possibility. I mean with all her resources it would be absurd for her to neglect her physical appearance. But aside from possible skin procedures and skincare regimen, let's not forget that aging is also dependent on lifestyle (methods of relaxation and dealing with stress) and of course, genetics. She's gorgeous at any size, though. (Friday 31 July 2015; 10:59)

Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (55,503) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Well, I'd say something like "Finally", or "About freakin' time", if it weren't only at the very least 15 years overdue. It's nice that she's getting one now, though it's not like she really ever needed one to solidify her stature and legacy in the first place. But then again, I guess this means there's justice in the world after all. (Tuesday 28 July 2015; 12:39)

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