Messageboard

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

RJ112 (46,175) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I wasn't expecting everyone to agree. Really I wasn't, like even anyone at all. I know she's not everyone's cup of tea and won't force her down anyone's throat. I also do get that this is a messageboard and understand the freedom it grants its posters, that's why I chose things that I wanted to comment on (not missed anything you said). I left out the NFY part because although I hear some similarities, I'm not in a position to judge if AINE was a complete rip-off of it, and that unless Mariah herself comes out and says it is, I tend to tread carefully when it comes to these copying issues because I wasn't happy when Mariah was accused of ripping other people off, so I don't wanna put anyone on the receiving end of that. I also didn't comment on Ariana or how she's being marketed as the "new Mimi" because I know eventually people are gonna tire of that schtick and expose it for the ridiculous plan it is. I'm gonna agree on your more recent point, though, that talent doesn't equate respect. Most importantly, it was rash of me to assume you were insinuating I had bad taste in music and I'm sorry for that. Peace. (Thursday 21 August 2014; 9:11)

Certifications (46,157) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Don't you just miss those times when having a single go platinum really meant something? I mean not that it doesn't now, but the digital age has somehow warped our perception of commercial success in the music industry. Remember when artists back then somehow relied more on airplay than sales to top the charts because people who supported a single would have to choose between buying a single or an entire album, and that either would require an actual trip to the record store? #Beautiful going platinum is still quite an achievement, especially considering Mariah's age and current place in today's music scene. But that feat is easily dwarfed by other artists nowadays whose songs reach quadruple platinum status. That seemed to be impossible back in the era of physical singles. Then, even going gold was considered impressive. Now, the only way a platinum single would stand out from the many other certified tracks out there is if it was achieved within a record time. Digital downloads have made purchasing music much easier, but has also somehow rendered sales certifications less significant. (Wednesday 20 August 2014; 16:47)

The deafening silence (46,091) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines One quote in a review for MIAMTEC caught me. It states that Mariah is capable of 2 kinds of crazy: crazy brilliance or just plain crazy. The author was right. We all know the former. Woman can compose songs like nobody's business yet still remains underrated. Woman can still do marathons of impeccable runs that dem rivals and wannabes can only dream of. But she can also test the heck of out her fans. Surely, silence can mean a lot of things. But when you've just released one of your best works and stay mum about everything that goes wrong with it, all while remaining vocal and open about a bunch of other (mostly unrelated) stuff, there has to, there's just got to be a very good reason behind it. As a result, fans are left with no other choice than to speculate. And indeed we do. Very much so that a lot of times we've gotten way too creative. Could she be cooking up something special? Could there be a problem bigger than anyone would've thought? Could she actually be clueless of which next step to take? It's anybody's guess. I therefore add another to her capabilities: the ability to her drive even her most optimistic fans crazy. (Sunday 17 August 2014; 16:20)

Understanding The Beyoncé Project / MIAMTEC release (46,085) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I won't say Beyoncé didn't promote her eponymous album as much as she did her previous ones. I think she did, but in smarter, subtler, more unorthodox ways. 1) The woman kicked off 2013 by performing at the Superbowl. Of course Beyoncé wouldn't be released until December, but the publicity she generated with that huge stint was enough to last the whole year round. 2) Her dropping of buzz tracks, even thet didn't really do well, nevertheless heightened a sense of "will-she-or-won't-she" kind of anticipation for her new album. 3) She's married to Jay-Z. That pretty much guarantees her regular features on entertainment news shows, posts, and columns. 4) Lots of recording artists have surprise-dropped their new releases before, but she happened to be one of the first mainstream acts who did (and the most popular one at that), an extremely unconventional move. 5) Timing is everything, and in this case, it was brilliantly strategic, releasing at the last quarter where album sales always rise due to the holiday rush. The fact that she did it in the middle of the night days before the year ended adds a whole lotta intrigue. 6) People were just caught off guard. And overwhelmed. "Oh there's a new Beyoncé album. And celebs are tweeting about it. And it's getting rave reviews. And it's got all new material that includes none of her buzz singles. What the hell's a visual album? Oh, it's got a music video for every damn song. Oh, everyone's buying it. And it just broke world records. But there's no first single to sample it. Screw that, I gotta have it." It's this frenzied herd mentality that created a domino effect. You know you did everything right when people buy your expensive album out of intrigue alone. Katy was right, "B done broke the internet." 7) She opened the Grammys with a surprisingly low key performance. With no less than her husband. Really, I can get more analytical about this genius plan and there's no way it wasn't strategic. It may have been a huge risk that paid off better than anyone could've expected, but it was a calculated one. She can say it was because she was tired of the usual way albums were being released, or wants to sell albums and not just singles, or that it was a way to prevent leaks, which may very well be true, but doesn't change the fact that it was a middle finger to conventionality, and boy did it work bigtime. It was a masterclass in using shock value and deviance in modern marketing and promotion. If Mariah really was planning a similar release for MIAMTEC, she was doomed from the start and probably didn't fully understand what a Beyoncé-style release meant. 5 singles were already out and 3 of them made the album. A few release dates were already set, pushed back, and forgotten. Add to that the series of horrible events that preceded its release, along with Mariah's tainted image, this album never really had a chance. Shame, as it contains some of her best material in her entire career. Here's to moving on. (Sunday 17 August 2014; 11:00)

Appreciating Ariana or other artists (46,084) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Okay, it's not unbelievable that a Mariah fan can appreciate Ariana songs. Those two aren't mutually exclusive. I get that this is a Mariah board, but if we can discuss issues here about artists light years away from her caliber (Katy, Rihanna, etc.), I think it's fair to throw someone more talented in the mix, even if she's a "copycat". Though a lot of her music can be a blatant rip-off of Mariah's, we're just appreciating the girl's talent. We know it's nowhere near Mariah's which is why we also know she can't possibly replace someone who she's just not on the same level with. I'll always appreciate loyalty towards Mariah and recognize that we're entitled to our own opinions on anything, but I don't think it's fair to even somewhat insinuate that a person's musical preference is somehow bad or wrong. It's one thing not to like someone. It's another thing to question someone's preference if they don't share your opinion. Us supporting a "copycat" doesn't diminish our love for Mimi one bit. Besides, I think she's slowly trying to disassociate herself from Mariah. Unlike her debut, her newer songs are less similar to what Mimi normally does. She knows that eventually people should know her as Ariana Grande and not just some poor man's Mariah. And she may be the "it-girl" today, but only time will tell if she'll achieve longevity. We're just cutting her some slack because she's the most deserving of the bunch and I see no crime in that. Same goes with admiring other artists. (Sunday 17 August 2014; 7:54)

Eastern fans / Mariah's international success (46,064) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines First of all, I respect all fans out there. This is just my observation of most mainstream music acts and how they're generally recieved around the world so I hope this doesn't come across as bragging, especially since I'm Asian. I'll try to put this as objectively as possible. I believe a good reason why a lot of artists that tour around the world usually make sure they make a stop at Asia and Oceania and usually stay there for a while (other than keeping all their bases covered) is because of the extremely loyal nature of fans out here. Not to say fans in the west can't just be as loyal - they certainly can. It's just that fans from this side of the globe tend to be less critical and more supportive and appreciative of their idols. And if they are critical, they're more likely to shrug it off or forget about it at the drop of a hat. They're less swayed by whatever controversies their idols face and focus on their music instead. In fact, a lot of American and even UK acts that aren't that big in their own countries are better known (some even huge) in Asia and Australasia. iTunes chart stats worldwide often prove this, and in response, some artists reward their eastern fans with bonus tracks or exclusive content in their album releases (especially Japan). I think that's partly why Mariah is eyeing the orient as one of her definite tour spots. iTunes charts are very telling of her most fervent fanbases, and recently, those appear to be located in most Asian countries (particularly Eastern), several in South America as well as Africa, as well as Australasia. Where I'm from, I can say that almost every recent release of hers has pretty much shot straight to the top of the charts. I remember a lot fans lining up in front of the record stores to buy multiple copies of TEOM and E=MC2 back then, which is something as most Filipinos consider LPs expensive. As for her reputation, it's still pretty much intact. The younger people don't know her that well, but most still do and seem unfazed by all her diva antics and lip-synch controversies. She is still very much looked up to and her songs get regular airplay. It's safe to say Mariah's releases now do better internationally than in her homeland, which still is a good thing. The obvious problem though is that the western world still dictates who's hot and who's not. The UK and especially the US is what's considered "worldwide", and remain the authority in pop culture, especially in entertainment. I hope she finally catches a break and siezes the oppotunity to recapture these 2 major audiences and make a crack big enough to blow another successful era wide open. (Saturday 16 August 2014; 15:07)

Edward (46,061) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I love Yours Truly as well. And yeah, it is too bubblegum for future rediscovery, but it's one of the most impressive, consistent, and cohesive debut albums from a young artist I've heard in years. And yes, her new songs are following that template, but at least now it's a bit bolder and is more varied. Of course she'll never have Mariah's beyond-her-years songwriting when she was starting out, but if you listen to Ari's new songs, they're some of the best of the entire current music scene, especially in this era inundated with either countless tired odes to getting down or getting nasty. (Saturday 16 August 2014; 3:33)

Stephen / Mariah the singer (46,056) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines You're right. Normally, fans would always jump at the chance of seeing their idol live, regardless of whether they perform the whole concert live or not. The fact that some fans don't want Mimi to tour (possibly to spare her the impending criticism and further image-tainting, fearing that she'd mime or botch her performances) indicates how it only took less than 2 years of bad decisions and appearances to tarnish her reputation to what I fear might be an irreversible situation. Before Idol premiered last year, Mariah was fine, even with a failed single and an escalating diva identity. Now, even her great new music can't steal focus from her image. It seems like more and more people are almost starting to treat her like they do Miley or Bieber - not taking her seriously and possibly just waiting for her to implode one day. This emphasizes the fact that first and foremost, Mariah Carey is known as a singer, and one of the best that ever graced this earth for that matter. If that's taken away, she'll just be a caricature. She should get back to that. Care for her voice more so it would serve her better even through the most unforgiving of schedules. I'm hoping that she gets to see the damage and somehow takes solid steps to address them. (Saturday 16 August 2014; 1:13)

Mariah's fave tracks from each album (46,041) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I'm a huge fan, but I don't think I'm a hardcore fan because I only know a few of her favorite songs from her own albums. Like I know her top fave from Butterfly is The Roof, and that she loves Underneath The Stars from Daydream, but sadly I guess that's about it. I haven't really watched a lot of her interviews so would you be kind enough to fill me in on her other faves from her other albums? I'd appreciate it a lot and you may also be educating others as well. (Friday 15 August 2014; 17:35)

Charmbracelet (46,038) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I personally don't really consider Charmbracelet underrated, because despite its okay commercial performance and mostly negative critical reception, I know it holds a special place in the hearts of most Mariah fans. It holds a few firsts for her: her first album since the Glitter debacle, her first where it's become really apparent that her voice wasn't what it used to be, and her first one that feels less forced/obligatory than what is usually expected from her thanks to the circumstances surrounding its creation and release (expectations were relatively low and she just signed on to a new label for a reasonable deal). The agenda was pretty clear here - go back to where she started and try to recapture her adult contemporary pop audience she alienated when she was transitioning into an r&b/hip-hop/urban artist. While that turned out to be less successful than she had hoped, this release was a triumph for her in several ways. To date, it remains her least polished body of work, which actually is a good thing as the mostly stripped down, organic production lends a warmer, more intimate feel to the music. It also features some of her most candid and personal lyrics, as well as some of her most playful melodies. The lack of immediate hooks actually benefits the album as it diverts its listener's attention to the story each song tells. You can tell how therapeutic the whole constructing process was for her, making it clear that from then on, she was gonna make music her way just for the love of it. Most importantly, it abandons her superstar persona, making it the most human and humane she's ever sounded in her entire career so far. Wanna hear wide-eyed Mariah? Listen to her first 3 albums. Mariah at the top of her game? Play her mid to late 90s LPs. Criminally underrated Mariah? Put Glitter on. Mimi? Spin any of her post-05 records. But if you wanna hear her at her humblest and most relatable, then go for Charmbracelet. It's the sound of a woman who's been knocked down bigtime but is slowly gaining back her faith. (Friday 15 August 2014; 17:24)

Never Too Far / Lead The Way (46,014) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I love it when other fans single out random songs from Mariah's catalogue and post about their fascination for them in detail. I recently have been playing 2 of my fave Glitter ballads back-to-back a lot: Never Too Far and Lead The Way. I mean Twister's one of the most hauntingly beautiful things I've ever heard and Reflections almost always makes me teary-eyed, but it's those 2 that really transport me. NTF is a great uplifting ballad that perfectly punctuated the Glitter film. It's simply enchanting. The soaring melody of the chorus embodies its hopeful message of finding the good in a loss, even if it's possible only by reminiscing. It may have been a flop in most major music markets, but it was a hit in my country. LTW, on the other hand, contains one of Mariah's most impressive vocal performances ever. It spends half of its running time gradually building up until it reaches the bridge where she gears up for one of the most breathtaking climaxes of Mariah ballads. After a gorgeous intrumental break she finally unleashes herself on the final chorus when she goes off on the "take over" bit (up there with Can't Take That Away as one of the most complex runs I've ever heard) that's legit chill-inducing stuff right there. I think it's overall a stronger composition than NTF, but wasn't a single probably because it lacked an immediately discernible hook. Still, both power ballads are just gold and makes me hope for Mariah to work with Walter, and Jimmy and Terry again. (Tuesday 12 August 2014; 13:45)

Mimi L. / comparisons (46,009) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Yeah, I also enjoy listening to Problem and Break Free as well as her entire debut album. And yes, it's nice that she's starting to deviate from Mimi's sound. Truth is that her songs stand out of today's mostly frustrating music scene. It somehow reminds me of how Mariah's songs also managed to tower over a lot of the other songs in the 90s and 00s (although it was more impressive as there was far better material on the radio back then). It's funny how some seem to be deathly allergic to comparisons between Mimi and other artists. I, for one, don't mind it. I may not always agree, but I won't switch into all out defensive mode, because I'm confident that Mariah's always gonna hold her own against them. Comparisons in the music industry are inevitable, and any new big-voiced octave-scaling artists that will pop out in the future will almost certainly be compared to Mariah. Besides, when have the supposed "protégés" ever shone brighter than their mentors/idols? Madonna's still bigger than Britney or GaGa. Neither Justin nor Usher will ever reach the heights of Michael's career. If we stay pressed about who the next "wannabe" will be and how she will measure up, we're all gonna drive ourselves crazy. If anything, it would only make us seem insecure as fans, which would be ironic since Mariah's catalogue is nothing to be insecure about. I don't sweat comparisons at all because at the end of the day, they're exactly just that and only that. They won't diminish any accomplishment Mimi has done throughout her illustrious career. If anything, like I posted before, these comparisons will only benefit her, as young fans of the artists she is compared to could discover her discography out of curiosity. It keeps her in the news. I don't mean to be gauche, but let's just relax and enjoy the free (inadvertent) publicity. And if Mimi does decide to collaborate with Ari, not only would it portray Mariah as a secure artist; it would also introduce her to a newer, younger audience. It'd be a smart deal on all accounts, as iTunes and Vevo prove Ariana can do no wrong nowadays. Other than Beyoncé, Christina, MJB or Adele (highly unlikely), she's the only other big-voiced artist in the game I can imagine Mariah singing with. She'd also benefit from it, what with being able to duet with a legend on her resume. It's a win-win deal, a hit waiting to happen. Plus, "Mimi plus Ari" would look good on the single cover. Wishful thinking. (Tuesday 12 August 2014; 11:46)

In defense of some MIAMTEC tracks (46,007) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I've noticed several songs off MIAMTEC that seem to get quite the cold shoulder on this board. That's fine, no one can argue with personal preference. I agree with some of them, but I try to focus on the good. 1) Money ($*/...) may sound more like a track that features Mariah than a Mariah song, but there's no denying that behind the cheesiness, dem horns are (for better or worse) pretty catchy, especially when Mariah mimics their monotonous tune in the end. 2) Thirsty may be deemed a bit too "street" and derivative, but that "Mariah choir"-chorus just cuts through the repetitive minimalist production like hot knife through butter. 3) You're Mine (Eternal) may be criticized for sounding dated or indistinct, but it has a certain ethereal feel that in only present in a few other Mariah songs, and she really has saved the best note for last. 4) One More Try may lack the raw, earnest emotional resonance that made the George Michael original such a hit, but it does make up for it in terms of appropriate restraint that comes across as homage to that version, as opposed to trying to top it. 5) Meteorite may be seen as cheap by some, but it still sounds opulent and smart for a dance track in 2014 thanks to a wisely used sample. 6) Supernatural may border on saccharine and have way too many giggles in it, but it holds some of Mariah's most impressive belting since TEOM. (Tuesday 12 August 2014; 3:50)

May, b3nP123, TR, RockyRoc (45,994) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines May, thanks. I really feel that way about the album. To me, it's one of Mariah's more lush, airy, atmospheric albums - as slinky as Butterfly, as bright as Rainbow, and as intimate as Charmbracelet. b3nP123, I don't think it's a fair comparison either. MOAIA's cohesion is a product of it's sequencing and overall production style, while MIAMTEC's cohesiveness relies more on other aspects such as it's recurring theme of nostalgia and clever transitional devices to patch up its relatively scattershot production and genre-hopping. TR, I love it too and think that it's probably one of the top 2 most difficult songs to sing in that album (the other being IAW). It's hard enough to sing that chorus at that tempo, let alone in a controlled, whispery manner. My favorite part, though, has to be that clever boxing metaphor - genius. It's one of her smartest compositions lyrically. RockyRoc, I love that part as well, but as much as I know she can do that for real, it also can sound like a bad cut-and-paste job in terms of vocal production. In fact, I recall reading 2 reviews at the time noting it as a "weird transition/editing". (Monday 11 August 2014; 16:41)

Ken / Ariana (45,993) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Most of the dislike for Ariana stems from the false perception that she's a Mimi usurper. Point: her voice is lithe but doesn't have the heft and conviction of Mariah's, so she can't really replace someone who she isn't in the same league with vocally. Still, she deserves to be cut some slack. Yes, she presently isn't even on a fraction of Mariah's artistry, but she's open to try new things (Bang Bang sounds good) it would be a lie not to acknowledge that the girl can sing better than any of her contemporaries. To be fair, no artist in the music industry nowadays or for the past 4 decades or so has been completely original. Everyone's work is somehow derivative of others to some extent, save for a few nuances here and there. Most importantly, she is the most recent obvious proof of Mariah's influence in today's music, including all the Christinas, Beyoncés, and pretty much every singing competition alum since the '90s. So she does a lot of things "the Mariah way" to a rip-off-ish level. So she posted an okay cover of Emotions. I don't think that warrants the shade she receives. After all, this is the same girl who refused to record AIWFCIY for her Christmas EP because she deemed it "untouchable". Aren't you glad she chose to emulate Mariah instead of other artists out there of lesser caliber? Besides, I believe it's just a phase in her career. She cannot play the mini-Mimi card forever, people would eventually get tired of it and she'd have to step out of Mariah's shadow. (Monday 11 August 2014; 15:53)

MOAIA (45,988) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I've seen this topic countless times on various websites and have compiled several reasons why MOAIA is frequently unjustly maligned: 1) its merely okay performance on the charts; 2) it was led by a polarizing lead single followed by a weak second single; 3) it's her second consecutive album showcasing relatively more restrained vocals, but with a more leathery tone than it was in E=MC2; 4) before her latest release, it's been her least commercial and least catchy album since Charmbracelet, both of which missing a standalone hit; 5) though The-Dream really did try to vary their production styles on the songs, it still somehow sounded understandably same-y, which did work well for cohesion, but not so much in terms of distinguishing the songs from each other; 6) it was deemed too R&B and too toned down; 7) like MIAMTEC, it's predominated by down to mid-tempo songs, with just a few slightly uptempo numbers to break the blend; 8) it felt rushed, with filler more obvious than ever. In summary, at the time, people just weren't ready for a more confessional, less commercial, mellowed-out Mariah, something that seems to be the case until today. I personally like it. It trades the diva gloss and sheen for introspection, some of her most understated and intimate work since Charmbracelet, as well as some of her most vivid storytelling since Butterfly. Most associate Mimi with bombast and stone cold smashes, so anything that deviates from that is considered uncharacteristic and is often unfairly dismissed. To her fans, it's one of her most divisive collections. To me, it's still most definitely a keeper. (Monday 11 August 2014; 12:28)

Rapture (45,979) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I really wish Mariah would cover anything, really, any song from Anita Baker's Rapture album. It's a classic and is one of my favorite albums from the 80s (she's already done a song from George Michael's Faith, so I hope she chooses this next). If you still haven't heard it, I strongly recommend you to, it's guaranteed satisfaction. Out of the 8 songs, though, I think Mimi would sound the most magical with You Bring Me Joy, Been So Long, and of course the monster hit Sweet Love and most especially Caught Up In The Rapture. JoJo did a great job of putting a modern spin into that song on her latest EP. I could just imagine what Mariah would do with the cascading intro of the song. Chills. It would suit her perfectly. Plus, Anita would pretty much automatically love it as we all know she's a massive Mariah supporter and in fact was one of several celebs that tweeted about how amazing MIAMTEC was during its release. (Sunday 10 August 2014; 16:42)

Mariah's enablers (45,895) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Post-TEOM Mariah loves herself some enablers. I mean right now, she's surrounded by them, most of them by her own choosing. Theory, I think this is one of the side effects of her relationship with Tommy. She was married to him for around 4 years, and under his control during the entire first decade of her career, that had to leave a scar. Now, especially with a possibly strained relationship with her label, she's overcompensating for that era by surrounding herself with people who will give in to her wishes and hardly ever say no to her. If this really is the case, then it's nice that she finally has control over things she didn't use to. But I hope she doesn't get drunk in it as she still needs some guidance, guidance she probably won't be able to receive and accept well if she chooses to remain stuck in her own bubble. (Wednesday 6 August 2014; 16:59)

Thankful for Mariah / underrated acts (45,890) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I just remembered again that Mariah's approaching her 25th year in the music business. And she didn't just passively wait for time to pass by, the longest gap between any of her albums was over 3 years, and she has released some songs within that period. Like Madonna, she has clocked in a long time of musical contributions, among other endeavors. As much as I criticize her at times, I'm still grateful that she is where she is now. Like what if she decided not to be a singer? What if she didn't work with the right people most of the time when she was starting out? What would music sound like these days if she wasn't around? Sure, she worked her ass off, but she also was very fortunate, and so are we to have her. I mean there are a lot of talented singers out there who sadly can't quite catch a break and still maintain a low profile. Who are other relatively less known artists in R&B whom you think should be bigger right now? I can think of mostly females, namely JoJo (hit it big when she was a teen but now only releases mixtapes which are awesome and available online for free), Chrisette Michele (actually a Grammy winner and her latest album is in some ways just like MIAMTEC, classy and excellent), and my latest obsession King (in all caps, a female trio mentored by Prince himself that has so far only released an EP and a 2 other tracks but are so soulful, like a jazzier Destiny's Child). What underappreciated acts do you listen to? (Wednesday 6 August 2014; 11:11)

MC should turn up and turn it up (45,887) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I also agree that it's gonna take more than a management change to get Mariah's career back on track. I always thought it has been unfair how most people automatically blame the label/manager/team for every failure when it's clear that Mariah also has a part in this. I don't know what her everyday life is like or how she juggles her family duties with her career responsibilities, but it's obvious she hasn't promoted MIAMTEC as persistently as she usually does for an album. If there's anything we've learned from this travesty of an era, it's that when one promotional aspect/strategy is off, it messes up the whole system. If this is true for most artists, the it's even more so for Mariah. She may still be very much capable, but she's also past her prime age-wise. She can't just rely on hype because obviously, hype can be misleading and doesn't necessarily translate to commercial success anymore. If the artists half her age are hustling 24/7 to stay in the game, then she should double that amount if she really intends to be in it because she's older. Firing JD was a sign that she still somehow cares about success, especially since she still prides herself for her commercial achievements and in fact still uses them to promote herself. Yes, we can say it's the music that should matter above everything, but unfortunately that doesn't speak for itself anymore. And you can't be a mainstream artist and not expect any commercial success. If you believe in your art, then the world deserves to hear it, and that very rarely happens on its own. So for this to totally work, everything should come together - the music (no problem there, as she's pretty consistent with quality), the marketing, the performances, and most importantly, her image. She must step up to it, be all in, and make sure everything else that's going on around her is at least on par with her own expectations and efforts. Not to say that she hasn't done anything recently or that having a family isn't a valid excuse to slow down - she has, and it is - but she has to be more observant and realize the the industry isn't what it used to be anymore and adapt accordingly. The unforgiving train has accelerated exponentially, now travelling at the speed of light and won't stop for anyone who won't bother to hurry and catch up. Harsh reality. (Wednesday 6 August 2014; 7:38)

Shelly / 2015 (45,884) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines Yeah, I agree. As great as MIAMTEC was, to say it's image has been tainted by a series of unfortunate events and bad decisions is a huge understatement. And sadly, I don't think even solid top 10 hit from it is gonna be enough to bouy it up the charts, let alone shake off its association with failure. However, if a re-release is on the way, it should be done this year before the tour starts. Next year is a special year for her and all her fans. Not only does it end with a "5" again (which as history dictates twice has been a lucky year for her both creatively, commercially and critically), it also marks her silver anniversary as a superstar. If she's gonna celebrate it with any new release, there are a few options in the horizon - all of which are very possible: 1) an album of all new material, which I hope won't feel as rushed as MOAIA; 2) a greatest hits compilation, now to include her post-2001 hits, with some new songs including a single and a few bonuses; and 3) a re-release of her remastered debut album, with maybe demo/alternate versions of the tracks plus some outtakes. Or maybe I'm just getting my hopes up way too much. Whatever she does, I still wish her all the best. (Wednesday 6 August 2014; 2:30)

Differences / re-release vs. new album (45,865) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I guess the thing about this board is that although we're all fans, we're all still different. Some of us are eternal optimists. Some of us are tough-love fans with pessimistic tendencies. That's just the way we are and the way it is. We shouldn't change ourselves or our opinions for anyone, nor should we ask others to do so just because we don't agree with them. We're all gonna react on the same opinion differently. Some of us are gonna be vocal about it, some of us won't. We'll all just have to find a way to coexist as peacefully as possible, because after all, we're all here for the same reason. Anyhow, we all know the rumors of new material that Mariah has finished. Considering the current state of her career, what do you think would be a wiser decision: to re-release MIAMTEC or to use the tracks for her new album? (Tuesday 5 August 2014; 17:02)

Mariah's "slacking" (45,861) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines I've been one of those people who have been critical about Mariah's "slacking", something that started probably around the late 00s and has since escalated. Now I can rant all day about why she mimed most of Meteorite (in my opinion one of her easier songs to sing if you didn't include the belted ending), but I'd rather share my theories on why she has slowed down: 1) Family. She obviously has more on her plate now. It's tempting to compare her to other supermoms who can equally manage family and career just fine but then again, even people of similar status react differently on their situation. 2) Self-awareness. She has finally realized who she is to the world and knows she doesn't have to prove herself to anyone anymore. People know who she is. People know that she sings (or used to, to some). To her what matters now is that she makes great music, period. 3) Natural causes. Everything has been said about her vocal decline through the years. Of course we can blame her lifestyle for that, but aging and her nodules should at least account for half of that. Hence the lip-synching. It's probably her method of vocal preservation while gearing up for a live climax (which is fine with me, now if only she did it better). 4) Her reliance on familiarity. It's obvious that Mariah always turns to people she knows in every aspect of her life, even her most adventurous one - her music. In the studio, she's not as bold as Madonna who hires a different producer for almost every album. She'd much rather choose her friends. Onstage, she adheres to the standard 90s trick of just standing and letting her performance of the song speak for itself, seemingly blind to the fact that these days, that sadly isn't enough anymore for an increasingly visual audience. She sticks to the same past hits to sing over and over again, as if those were vital to introduce her new material. Don't get me wrong, no matter how good or bad the performance turns out, I still do enjoy seeing her onscreen or onstage, I mean come on - she's still Mariah, so I'll always be under her spell. But I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't admit that I'd enjoy her appearances better if she was always on her A-game, which is probably asking too much of a living legend who has embraced and now embodies the word "diva" in the best way possible; but unfortunately even its negative connotations. At the end of the day, be it filled with adoration or criticism, one thing will always remain the same - to me she'll still be the most influential singer ever. (Tuesday 5 August 2014; 15:14)

JD (45,860) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines It's no surprise that she fired JD. I have nothing to say against the guy on his managerial skills, as until now we still don't know what really transpired behind the scenes, including the terms he and Mariah have agreed upon and if they did meet each other's expectations as far as doing their respective parts is concerned. And even though the guy was responsible for a few subpar, same-y Mimi material through the years (hello, E=MC2 ballads), he also was fundamental in the creation of some of her vital recordings. I hope there's no bad blood between the two and that it was an amicable split. I'd still want them to collaborate someday, as YDKWTD and MILG prove that old dogs can learn new tricks, but for now, I hope this firing is a sign of Mariah finally reevaluating her team and making necessary changes that will hopefully work to her advantage. (Tuesday 5 August 2014; 14:37)

MimiLamb (45,854) by this_is_qhm from the Philippines It really is a cycle, a vicious one that leaves no winners or losers at its wake. It would first start as a simple disagreement that escalates into a fan vs. critic debate and then someone like us, tired of the same old story chimes in just to try to remind everyone just how pointless it is. It's become a regular part of this board. Like clockwork. I've yet to learn how to ignore it every time it happens. (Tuesday 5 August 2014; 11:02)

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