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About Lambi from USA:
Mc 4 life
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A full-throated defense of Glitter (113,550)
by Lambi from USA
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Here are her words verbatim from this interview, I extracted it so you don't have to:
I was so obsessed with my career ever since I can remember. I remember in seventh grade we each had to speak about what we wanted to be. I was a hideous mess then. I had shaved my eyebrows by accident, I had orange hair, I had three shirts that I rotated; it wasn't a pretty sight and it wasn't fun. But when they asked me, "What do you want to be?" I said, "I want to be a singer and an actress."
We actually can just confirm it based on her actions. She did in fact pursue both singing and acting.
(Sunday 5 April 2026; 15:03)
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113,547 |
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A full-throated defense of Glitter (113,547)
by TJ from Norway
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I can't remember Mariah saying that she always wanted to act when she was growing up. I do remember reading interviews where she said that she didn't want to be an actress, and that singers/musicians should stick to what they knew, which was music. If this was after the release of Bodyguard or Evita, I can't recall.
(Sunday 5 April 2026; 07:16)
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A full-throated defense of Glitter (113,544)
by Lambi from USA
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My acting coach said that for acting to be believable, the actor needs to have experienced the emotions, or at least been in close proximity to what they're trying to portray with their facial expressions. This is why Heath Ledger purposely isolated himself in a hotel room to develop the mindset of the Joker. He fully immersed himself in the psyche of his character. It's called method acting.
I'd say Mariah did well in scenes that have everything to do with being a singer-songwriter. Finding out her song was on the radio for the first time. Getting more excited as the melody she's writing improves. These are all emotions she had already felt, and they came out naturally in the movie.
But it was also sometimes inconsistent. For instance, she did really well lip syncing Don't Funk at that club when she was put on the spot by Dice, then did pretty poorly miming All My Life when she took over Sylk in the studio.
The more family-oriented emotions, like seeing her movie mom on drugs and wandering the streets, probably came from similar feelings to dealing with Alison. Then there are the Tommy-related emotions required for Dice's tantrums and jealousy. When he called Da Brat fat ass, she might have drawn from emotions tied to when Tommy degraded Diddy. Her acting was very strong in that scene in my opinion. Then being physically threatened by Terrence Howard because Dice didn't pay 100k. Those reference emotions could connect to what she felt when Tommy put a knife to her cheek.
I wouldn't say she was objectively bad, but a bit unseasoned. I don't think she was quite ready for a lead role just yet. I also felt like it needed better cinematography. I'd even argue better songs. Mariah has written such vivid songs. She quite literally paints a picture with her lyrics. This would have been the perfect opportunity to write another Underneath the Stars or Fourth of July, but instead we got the haunting, suicide-themed Twister, which felt awkwardly shoehorned into her mother's disappearance. It felt like, "whatever, we have to make use of the soundtrack, let's just put this here". Overall, the movie direction fell far short of her songwriting's standard.
Mariah's always said all she wanted to be was a singer and an actress growing up. Actress being there is a pretty big deal. I'd say with the right material and once all the inhibitions are gone, she could be great. She's proven this with Precious. I'm not shutting down MC just yet in her acting pursuit. She's got a larger emotions palette just from what she went through the last 15 years, meaning there are plenty of inspirations to take from.
(Sunday 5 April 2026; 00:40)
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A full-throated defense of Glitter (113,537)
by TheButterflyReturns from United States
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I found it so gratifying to see "Loverboy" rocket up the charts from #60 to #2 after the fans turned out to buy the single and support our girl.
Mariah and her team made a lot of mistakes with Glitter. I think "Wisegirls" should have been Mariah's first major film role rather than "Glitter". She was quite good in "Wisegirls" and definitely held her own with Mira Sorvino and Melora Walters. You could tell she was much more relaxed on that set than for "Glitter".
"Glitter" turned out the way it did due to a number of factors. Number one, they veered away from Kate Lanier's script and relied a lot on improvisation during the filming. Number two, they should have picked a more seasoned director than Vondie Curtis-Hall - he had only directed one film before "Glitter" (Gridlock'd) and I think his style was not a match for what Mariah needed. A better choice would have been Brian Gibson, who did the Tina Turner biopic based on a script by Kate Lanier. Number three, Max Beesley was the wrong lead male actor to play Dice. He's a nice guy, but they should have picked someone with a higher profile. I don't think Terrence Howard was the right person either, but they needed a bigger name. Number four, the sabotage of the "Loverboy" single probably meant that they had to cut out footage featuring the "Firecracker" version in post-production because the song was her character's first big hit in the movie. The movie was delayed from early 2001 to Summer 2001 because of it, and that was before Mariah's personal struggles in July/August. They had to redo movie trailers and re-work the soundtrack album because of it.
Whitney had it much easier with "The Bodyguard" than Mariah did with "Glitter". Whitney only wrote one song on that soundtrack, only recorded six of the 13 songs included, and had Kevin Costner as a director and co-lead right around the time of "Dances with Wolves". The film had already been in development since the 70s, while "Glitter" was something that Mariah worked closely on with Kate Lanier and others throughout the development process. Whitney did not have to work for "The Bodyguard" the way that Mariah did for "Glitter".
Whitney was a decent actress, but I disagree that her acting in "The Bodyguard" is that much better than Mariah's in "Glitter". "Waiting to Exhale" was definitely a better showcase of Whitney's acting talents.
(Friday 3 April 2026; 20:35)
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Diva persona / the voice (113,443)
by Lambi from USA
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Beauty brings you closer to your calling so I don't mind it either. When you read her book you can see Mariah's love for being a showgirl was supported early on by her guncles. The few times she felt beautiful as a little girl (like when her matted hair was untangled for the first time) were very incredibly significant and cathartic for her. She even wanted that photo to be the cover of the memoir. An eventual superstar feeling somewhat put together, for the very first time, would've meant the absolute world, which explains why she vividly remembers that moment. She would also routinely make her friends switch clothes with her just so she had a chance at a newer outfit, like it was almost a necessity. Ensembles are a big part of being a diva, she has always been innately one. It wasn't something she randomly became later on.
And for momentous occasions like prom, she unashamedly threw a keg party so she could fundraise for the whole shebang. She racked up $1k plus that afforded a limo and a personally tailored dress. Even while being unbearably poor, Mariah somehow managed to go on full throttle because prom is a moment, darling. She will find a way, she will be festive and she will be that girl. She has seriously always been inherently fabulous. The celebrity in her came out even with no fame or fortune.
Considering her royalty money keeps growing over time, she is inevitably going to live larger and larger. And she loves responding back to haters via flexing her wealth. Remember when she finally made it big, she pulled up to the house of one of her bullies (one who chanted the N word) in a sports car while blasting Vision of Love as a clap back. You truly get a sense of who Mariah is. Her way of dealing with people who've maniacally did her dirty was to go bigger, grander, and harder than them: "You a mom and pop, I'm a corporation", "I don't know her either", "Which is difficult to get, not everyone has that", "Are you selling M&Ms?" LMAO.
Another tidbit is that she hovered over the idea of burning her original wedding dress in the WBT music video which would've felt like a very pointed F you to Tommy who wanted her permanently cemented in the 90s. Though the colossal success of TEOM did just that, there was really no need to be burning a $25k Vera Wang 27 foot train.
For a while though, I thought she held such a deep sense of security after marrying Nick and having kids with him. Marriage can do that. You simply won. The more important things come into focus (like dem babies) and the outside noise don't matter as much. But life really did take such a sad nasty turn for her. I honestly would have never, in a million years, expected Nick to turn out the way he has today.
I can understand why she keeps getting her breasts enlarged or piling on layers and layers of makeup. When someone you married and the only person you chose to have children with, goes on to publicly father children with several other women, whom are stunningly beautiful by the way. You will be psychologically impacted.
This must've ensued a deep insecurity most of us will never ever understand. It's not a normal thing to go through and to this very day, none of it is okay. The way you handle beautification won't be quite the same. It'll catapult you to be more and more excessive. She was already insecure after the series of failed relationships with men. Unfortunately, this was even more amplified to the freaking extremes, to a height I never thought possible, by Nick's severe psychological disorder.
I kind of just accepted that Mariah may perpetually have this unrelenting desire to always be at her most beautiful. She will maximize her good looks while she miraculously still has it. Voluminous hair, cinched waist, flawless make-up. She will be grand and she will make a statement. There is almost an incessant need to remind people that she is that girl, and as a fan who's forensically examined her life, I understand why. My only hope for her is to not end up being that bitter single mom. She's worked so incredibly hard for this life and she truly deserves the world.
At this point, I am really just happy she's still alive and going. Consistently working on something and enjoying a family life. I know people say to just bow out gracefully. But the God in Mariah (the creative force) is still there. Not as prolific some would say, but she is still creating. And she released a song/some sorta single/a remix, every single year from 1990 to 2015, so I think she deserves a pass. There are some amazing projects on the horizon this year; as her word, it'll be "major".
By the way, thank you to everyone who's reached out with congratulations. For reading if you've reached this far. And I apologize for the lack of response. This year has been incredibly transformative for me, both personally and creatively. I hope everyone is doing well.
(Saturday 21 March 2026; 03:21)
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Diva persona / the voice (113,394)
by Giovanni from USA
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I don't mind the diva persona or attitude. I can see how some might not like it but it's never bothered me, what bothers me is the voice. I do admit I miss the Mariah who wasn't on meds and the Mariah who could belt strong and keep Beyonce in her place lol. I realize Mariah is 56 and past her prime and has nothing to prove. I just want her to sound decent on future albums. The nodules has gotten worse with age but I will no longer mention getting them removed because it's more easy for me to say. It's not my voice and being put under the knife would have me a little scared. I think rest and discipline is the only thing we can ask for at this point. I do want another album asap as I've been having Caution and Here For It All on a loop.
(Saturday 14 March 2026; 10:31)
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Healing words (113,370)
by Lambi from USA
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In Mariah's own words, "She said a couple things to me that was very healing for what I needed," in reference to her mom's last words to her. We will never know what Pat uttered to MC, as those are sacred words reserved only for her. But with the amount of love she has shown for her mother, "I want to honor her for giving me the gift of music." We can assume it's a reinvigoration Mariah's never felt before.
They say a part of you dies the moment your mother passes. And from personal friends' accounts (I haven't experienced it), it's ringing to be true. They also say that the reverse of it is a need to carry what your mother gave you forward. In Mimi's case, that gift was music.
This is a huge contrast from what she once wrote: "My career was everything to me, and because of my mother, my brother, and Tommy Mottola, it was nearly taken away. Honestly, it felt like they almost killed me." (An excerpt from her memoir.)
I believe Mariah went right back to being Patricia's light. "You've always been the light of my life." Her last words seemingly lit a fire inside our girl. To witness Mariah's drive during HFIA's rollout was amazing to watch. That is what reconciliation does to a wounded child. She must've been made to feel like the biggest star.
It was truly incredible to see an almost 60-year-old reinvigorated about her career and promote a record like she is a debuting artist. Mariah is obviously diseased by the immense trauma that comes with Hollywood, but she is not letting that stop her from honoring what her mother breathed through her as a child: music. She is so obviously proud to be part of Pat's legacy and is doing the absolute most to keep her mama proud. I could cry about it. Mariah's calling prevailed, and the gift of music her mother nurtured in her spirit continues to pour out into the world. Forget what Pat did wrong and forget the numbers. Ultimately the gift of God won and we are all so unbelievably blessed by it. I am honestly just so thankful at this point and what ever comes next for MC, I will be here for it all.
(Sunday 8 March 2026; 09:47)
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Type Dangerous: MC and the Epstein files (113,298)
by Lambi from USA
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Hey John. There's no restriction on me being here or having an online presence. I just can't discuss, allude to, or hint at any active projects because I'm under NDA, and I'm very careful about that. I can post about anything that's already out and not new information. I come here when I get a break and read, but my frequent posting days are over.
By the way, I love your post about Mariah's voice being that rare flower. I haven't really heard anyone describe her instrument that way before. I also believe that's part of why she's so unbelievably prolific. The good vocal days are limited, so she has to get things done and take advantage when the voice is there.
"You'll see Whitney and Celine vocal impersonators left and right, some quite convincing in their mimicry, but there is no one that can fully embody Mariah's unique tone." I've always felt this way. No one can match that top quality belting tone in My All, Whenever You Call, and Heartbreaker. She is truly a freak of nature.
(Saturday 21 February 2026; 01:51)
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Type Dangerous: MC and the Epstein files (113,292)
by John from USA
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MC's team has no restrictions with you posting on this board again?
(Friday 20 February 2026; 15:26)
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Type Dangerous: MC and the Epstein files (113,291)
by Lambi from USA
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Geronimo, I really appreciate that you are passionate about deeper topics but you are fundamentally wrong about Mariah on this one. Those in the files are blackmailed and have been heavily protected by the media.
The complete opposite of how they treat Mariah. She took a rather catastrophic slave beating from the media apparatus when she ran away from the plantation. She was persona non grata the moment she stepped out of Sony. That does not reflect someone who is protected or part of an inner elite circle.
Furthermore, when she was 12, she was left alone with older man who was obviously plotting and made her whole entire body freeze the moment he leaned in for a kiss, should signal to you, she's never ever going to put herself in that situation or be in the vicinity of that demonic culture.
I understand your insinuation as these celebrities are slowly being exposed for who they are but to put Mariah in the same category is completely unfair and makes me question: Have you not watched a single interview? Have you not read a chapter in her memoir? After listening to I Wish You Well or My Saving Grace, do you seriously not sense that she is a force for good?
(Friday 20 February 2026; 11:21)
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113,287 |
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Type Dangerous: MC and the Epstein files (113,287)
by Geronimo from USA
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MC attests to her own morally perverted childhood, herself. Her book tells the tale. Read it if you're the reading type. She told you she likes them dangerous. Believe her. "Like" is the operative word. That indicates choice.
Speaking of judgment, she didn't just cross paths with the people I mentioned. Those were her chosen associates - two of whom were her chosen lovers with plenty of "time to reflect" between choices. Her childhood exposures reflect her notable adult choices - pure and simple.
There are plenty examples of people with similar and worse backgrounds than MC's who made morally divergent choices when choice was theirs to make compared to the choices that were forced upon them as children.
Thou dost protest too much.
(Friday 20 February 2026; 03:10)
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Great news (112,924)
by Lambi from USA
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Last October, I stopped by Gamma Headquarters in LA in search of work and was fortunate enough to make a somewhat direct link towards Mariah's team. Long story short, I've recently been brought on in a new capacity. Of course, for contractual reasons, I'm not able to share in-depth behind the scenes. What I can say is that I'll now be part of a new, real-life Mariah community, which likely means stepping away from this board, not for good but at least for a very long while.
It's truly been a wonderful experience here. Dove, Giovanni, Mimi L, MusicFanJ, Terna, Lainsky, Randy, Joachim, Lara, Rashidi, and TJ, I've loved reading your stories, ideas, and reviews. I'm hopeful I'll continue to work my way closer to MC, and I'll absolutely try to relay your ideas and perspectives.
Thank you to MCArchives for all the festivity and warmth during my short time here. God bless, and I'm so grateful to have shared my love for Mariah with all of you. I wish you all nothing but the very best, darlings.
(Monday 5 January 2026; 05:41)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,921)
by Lambi from USA
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It's deep-rooted for MC. Aretha clearly favored her, but it was Celine who truly showed out, and that probably felt like a hard slap in the face. And J-Lo is just fundamentally annoying. The comparisons to Beyoncé were probably so insulting too. She simply does not belong in the same lane as any of these extraordinarily talented women. It honestly felt like she was a prank the industry tried to pull on everyone. A terrible singer, a mediocre dancer, and an equally mediocre actress. Just look at her acting on her Kamala speech, definitively nobody bought those crocodile tears.
(Monday 5 January 2026; 02:31)
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112,913 |
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,913)
by Mimi L. from Empower Your Highlighter
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Haha call me a hater but JLo deserves the shade. She's incredibly fake, has no moral compass when it came to using other artists' material to get fame (so many of her songs have vocals from other singers she passed off as her own, she also stole from Usher) and basically is full of herself. Is she the only one at fault? No because Tommy facilitated it and JLo took what she could to advance in her career. But yes Céline is an angel and super sweet so I definitely disagree with Mariah's treatment of her. I don't think she should have made statements about Celine's Divas performance.
(Sunday 4 January 2026; 23:52)
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Last fully live television performance (112,918)
by Lambi from USA
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Sadly the whistles were lipped in HATEU. But what comes to mind are Jimmy Fallon AIWFCIY 2013 and Play This Song 2025. True fully live rarities.
(Monday 5 January 2026; 02:18)
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112,909 |
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Last fully live television performance (112,909)
by Bobby A from United States
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Was this performance of H.A.T.E.U. on the David Letterman Show MC's last fully live television performance? I think it is. Maybe somebody can prove me wrong.
(Sunday 4 January 2026; 18:31)
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Webmaster (112,916)
by Lambi from USA
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Obvious typo. *shouldn't be.
(Monday 5 January 2026; 02:11)
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112,912 |
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Webmaster (112,912)
by Lambi from USA
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Kindly post my rebuttal and start being more impartial. Silencing someone who's only defending themselves should be allowed.
(Sunday 4 January 2026; 20:52)
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Webmaster (112,912)
by Lambi from USA
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Kindly post my rebuttal and start being more impartial. Silencing someone who's only defending themselves should be allowed.
(Sunday 4 January 2026; 20:52)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,906)
by Lambi from USA
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Honestly, yeah Celine is the one person I'll disagree with Mariah on. She could diss Christina, Nicki Minaj, or J.Lo, those were warranted. But Celine? She only outshone Mariah in Sony sales and refocused Aretha's invitation. And it's all because she simply did a great job at singing.
(Sunday 4 January 2026; 14:24)
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112,893 |
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,893)
by TJ from Norway
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I find it sad that she thinks it's ok to diss anyone at all in the public. It's kind of trashy and unnecessary. I think J.Lo is being the bigger person.
And Celine? As you say. Never heard her saying anything bad about anyone.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 15:13)
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Divas Live 1996 (112,905)
by Lambi from USA
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96 would have been the sweet spot for the vocal trinity, the perfect medium. If I had one wish, it would be for the three of them to share one stage. Arguably the greatest vocalists of a generation, they were neck and neck in vocal skills and impact. We will never see a tighter competition of phenomenal singers. 90's kids were truly blessed.
(Sunday 4 January 2026; 14:14)
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112,898 |
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Divas Live 1996 (112,898)
by Rashidi Rahim Rick from Malaysia
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What if VH1 conceived their idea of doing a fund raising concert gathering top female singers/divas two years ealier than the 1998, maybe around November/December 1996. The line up and set list are based on the divas latest project or hit song at that time.
Solo performance: 1. Toni Braxton - Breathe Again, Unbreak My Heart 2. Celine Dion - Because You Loved Me, It's All Coming Back To Me 3. Mariah Carey - Always Be My Baby, Anytime You Need A Friend (perfect song for fund raising event) 4. Whitney Houston - Exhale, I Believe In You And Me 5. Madonna - Take A Bow, You Must Love Me
Group performance: 1. One Sweet Day (Mariah & Boyz II Men) this song was huge at this time so VH1 needed this to pull ratings 2. Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Madonna & Celine) Madonna was busy promoting this movie/soundtrack this time 3. You Were Loved (Whitney & Toni) they can bring Babyface too because he produced it and Whitney was busy promoting The Preacher's Wife movie and soundtrack
Finale: Them 5 divas can end the show with whatever gospel song Whitney had from the soundtrack or end it with I'm Every Woman. Mariah must hit couple of whistle notes, as that a requirement by VH1. Just for laughs. Just imagine the vocal galore and vocal climax from Whitney, Mariah, Celine and Toni. Madonna needs to be included for ratings because she had major project at that time and very popular too at that time. Janet should be there too but she was not in any due for album or any project in 1996.
(Sunday 4 January 2026; 05:40)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,903)
by Lambi from USA
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Fair point. As much as it was the real her, it's definitely something that a lot of fans weren't used to. I'm so glad Mariah eventually found her niche, though. TEOM proved her instinct was correct.
(Sunday 4 January 2026; 13:53)
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112,856 |
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,856)
by Jamie from UK
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I'd say it was more because Céline stuck to her trade. Mariah post 96 lost a lot of support with the direction she took. I'm not personally saying it was a bad thing, as I like both directions she had. But she lost a lot of fans who didn't like the change.
(Thursday 1 January 2026; 16:13)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,896)
by Lambi from USA
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This laughable routine, "Lambi once insulted me, people enjoy and engage with her content, so I'll nitpick every minor omission and frame her as an unhinged conspiracy theorist to make sure no one ever takes what she says seriously" is tired and completely predictable. And frankly really boring at this point. It's so stupid, it hurts. Let's leave that nonsense behind in 2026.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 23:31)
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112,887 |
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,887)
by Edward from USA
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But you have to admit that the stuff some people pull out of their behinds, as ridiculous as it might sound, can be entertaining in times like these. I'm having a blast. I'm waiting for the reveal that the New Year's fiasco was just Tommy hitting mute from a control room.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 01:29)
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Divas Live 1998 (112,892)
by Lambi from USA
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It truly depends on the group. I always thought the 98 batch was a mismatch. Only 3 of the 6 were power belters. Mariah did not have access to her high belts that night, which effectively made it only 2 true power belters. And sure enough, those were the only 2 that went neck to neck. It makes you wonder why no one reached for the stars and brought Whitney or another gospel singer up there. Hello, we are tributing Aretha Franklin. It would've been cool to see the vocal trinity on one stage. We'll forever have a reference on who's the best live singer. My bet is Céline.
I also get being respectful, but Mariah was literally being directly invited by Aretha. Come on with me. Help me lift it. Higher. And she still willingly missed the mark.
And to be completely honest, she did not really wow me in her individual numbers either. Her voice landed on the worst possible night to be singing alongside other talented, seasoned female vocalists. She definitively underperformed.
That later batch with Yolanda, Christina, and J Hud was just a mess. All screaming and straining, and it turned into an absolute shit show. With Aretha and Céline, you could tell they were actually having fun. You did not sense competition. You sensed a couple of vocalists simply enjoying their talent together.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 10:19)
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Divas Live 1998 (112,885)
by Terna from Nigeria
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There is a tendency for female singers to try and outdo or outsing each other once they're sharing a stage. Mariah is well aware of this fact and wanted no parts of any such setup. It always ends up as a screaming match and then the song gets butchered. Check the Aretha Franklin tribute by Yolanda, Martina, Christina etc. I'm glad Mariah, even though Aretha approached her to lift, did not engage. That was wisdom because you don't control what the other singers are going to do and then suddenly it's a screaming match, nothing musical, then the train gets derailed and all the divas fall off. Haha.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 00:00)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,891)
by Lambi from USA
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He's a great choice. I honestly love the video. Mariah most likely pitched the Titanic elements, and they meshed perfectly in B&W. I'd imagine it would have been corny in color, but in black and white it added a sophisticated surrealism. It's dreamlike but yet very ethereal. It is definitely a video that did the song justice.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 09:52)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,890)
by Lighty from China
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The My All video was directed by Herb Ritts who was known for "black and white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture, which emphasized the human shape". Mariah didn't involve in the directing part so I think he was the main reason for My All's dark and minimalist video style, though it might've been Mariah who chose Herb to direct the video.
Mariah did co-direct the Butterfly, Breakdown and The Roof videos. A proof she was at her artistic peak both musically and visually at the time.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 03:49)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,886)
by Lambi from USA
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No one is saying Mariah mocked Céline or made a parody video. The point is about extreme contrast, not shade. At the time, Sony was pushing huge, cinematic ballads like MHWGO. Very much Tommy-coded. Schmaltzy and corny. Same for the video.
Meanwhile Mariah was openly fighting for creative control. Choosing a dark, intimate, minimalist video for My All released right after MHWGO and using similar oceanic and tragic imagery, can reasonably be read as her saying, "This is actually how I want to do it." That's interpretation based on timing and industry context, not a conspiracy. It isn't completely far-fetched. It's ridiculous to willingly miss the broader point.
Will Mariah ever confirm this? Hell no. The same way she wouldn't confirm Eminem was the guy she dressed up as in Obsessed. The same way she would never confirm that the Honey video symbolizes how she was a hostage in Sing Sing. Mariah does subtext. If you refuse to read between the lines, that is your limitation.
(Saturday 3 January 2026; 00:57)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,883)
by jaker20 from US
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This is the first time I'm reading this sort connection between My All video and MHWGO, it's just so ridiculous to think Mariah had a part in conceiving a clap back video, let alone to make fun of MHWGO.
For me, after Daydream, Mariah wanted to do something in the film industry because back then artists think movies is the next step. Whitney was doing what she saw herself doing next, that is, soundtracks for films she would star in. Whitney was just coming off Waiting to Exhale, and The Preacher's Wife, and by the time Butterfly was released, she was producing Cinderella, and probably thought she could do the same.
I can see Mariah being jealous of what Whitney was doing because as she wanted more control over the materials she's singing.
Does she want to be part of successful soundtracks she didn't write? Sure. But that's like saying, she was jealous of Alanis Morrisette for dominating the cross-over pop-rock scene at the same time Mariah was creatively and commercially peaking.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 20:04)
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Christina Aguilera (112,878)
by Lambi from USA
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Christina was out of line, for sure. Mary J Blige said the same thing, "She stuck her hand out for me to kiss it," she tried to be slick. I did look into it though because I'm curious why she is this way.
Apparently Christina's father was physically and verbally abusive toward her mother. The girls, she has a younger sister, were always rendered powerless in the household. She was also bullied as a kid. Because she was undeniably beyond local level, Christina was targeted by other kids at school. Some competitors in talent shows reacted with envy and even vandalism, like slashing her mom's car tires.
So yeah, I think just years of verbal abuse, instability, and torment that inevitably shaped her arrogance. It became her defense mechanism. I also think The All-New Mickey Mouse Club heightened it. On a show filled with teenagers that sold talent, they all subconsciously wanted to be the most talented, in front of national television. She basically just had the worst formative years as a performer. It's similar to Mariah's but at least MC got to laser focus on developing her talents as a teenager privately, without the immense pressure of being on TV. That would mess anyone up.
I'll give her some grace, but I still don't know that she really possesses that golden voice standard. Even today, it irks me when she does interviews and says, "You know, as a powerhouse vocalist," like why would you self-proclaim that. LMAO.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 13:50)
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Christina Aguilera (112,875)
by Dove from United States
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I don't see her as a competitor. (Céline, yes.) I used to kind of like Christina when I was younger, but now every time I try to listen to her, it sounds like nails on a chalkboard.
The audacity she had to run her mouth about Mariah when she (Christina) was first starting out is unbelievable. She was super rude to contestants as a judge on The Voice too. I think she's even said negative things about Britney. Her mean-girl attitude is the final nail in the coffin for me. Her ego outweighs her talent.
I know people say that about Mariah now that her voice is not what it used to be but I don't see it the same. At one point Mariah's voice was magic and otherworldly. Legendary, even.
Also, I feel like Mariah only shades people who come for her first, and even then it's mild. She doesn't go after people just to be cruel.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 12:18)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,876)
by Lambi from USA
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Sorry, but I just had a family member that was obnoxious. I'd say yeah, I took out the chicken and started thawing it around 3pm. And she would be like, "Nu-uh, you took it out when I got home at 2:45," when it's already 8pm and the chicken is ready to cook no matter what anyway. LMAO. I am very short-fused with this.
Fair point about My All. It could very much be because Titanic was so massive and everywhere at the time. Mariah was genuinely inspired by it and just liked the aesthetic of the over turned boat submerging in the ocean. I don't know though. Part of me also believes she's genuinely irked with Céline because she got all the special treatment from Sony. To me, it was like Tommy saying to Mariah, "This is what you could've had if you just listened," and after reading Tommy's memoir, it confirmed it even more for me.
Walters' account also somewhat confirmed it. He said, "Singers like Mariah, Celine, Whitney, Barbra, they're all very insecure creatures. If you start working on a song with another singer, the jealousy comes out. They're very, very jealous people." He is so messy, but I believe it. I grew up in the performing arts and the best talents always trashed each other behind the scenes.
But yeah, at least Céline was actually a formidable competition vocally. Post-Sony, them drumming up the narrative that JLo was her rival was so insulting. They caricatured the heck out of Mariah. "This is your equivalent now. You're rendered to a talentless bimbo."
(Friday 2 January 2026; 13:03)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,873)
by Lighty from China
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I only corrected those "insignificant technicalities" because those were the only things that were, well, technically wrong. Maybe I should've studied law and become a lawyer as Bobby A said. Just kidding.
I said I mostly agree with you on this topic and I truly meant it, expect for, maybe the My All video part. Everyone can have their own interpretation of a music video and that's fine.
Well back to this topic, I always had this feeling that Mariah treat other female singers in distinctively different attitudes: respect the senior divas (Aretha, Patti, Whitney, etc.); friendly to the industry recognized divas (Janet, Mary J, Beyonce, etc.); indifferent or somewhat bitter towards some of the vocal powerhouses (Celine, Christina Aguilera, etc.); acknowledging some younger generations depending on whether she "knows" them or not (Rihanna, Ariana, Taylor, etc.); and somewhat hostile towards certain ones (Madonna, JLo, etc.).
The difference between Celine and JLo is that Celine had the voice, the hits, the sales that might've threatened Mariah during a certain period, so I think Mariah more or less treated her as a competitor more than just a label mate. Meanwhile JLo, quote Mariah, "Her thing is something different". She was like Tommy's weapon to take Mariah down with the Firecracker sample and Ja Rule feature incidents. It is natural that Mariah treated her as the "thief" for stealing her most cherished thing, which is music and songwriting.
At the end of the day, Mariah never really spoke ill of Celine except for maybe that Divas Live thing. But for JLo, Mariah will never know her.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 11:44)
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Nah (112,874)
by Lambi from USA
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Mariah was deeply embarrassed. Aretha hand-picked her for that moment, but it was Céline who ultimately gave Aretha that moment. The entire world saw it. Mariah's reaction was hilarious when Céline finally accepted the challenge in Testimony. Mariah plays it off like she did it out of respect, but we could also argue that it's disrespectful to decline the clear invitation from Aretha.
Now imagine if Whitney had been there, or Gladys Knight, or Chaka Khan. They would have done the same thing because that's what church-bred gospel singers do. They ascend together and revel in each other's talent when they're anointed. There's obviously no hint of disrespect in that exchange.
There's another layer to consider. That night, Carole King was Céline's personal guest. During Natural Woman, she was supposed to open the song, but Aretha sang over her and took her part. It wouldn't surprise me if Céline was a little irritated by that, because she spent the rest of the night going toe-to-toe with Aretha and held nothing back.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 12:12)
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Nah (112,870)
by Bill from the UK
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It's weird because I also watched DL on its original air date (and recorded to video the undubbed original version - where Aretha's performance of A Rose Is Still A Rose is not cut and Carole's mic isn't muted during Natural Woman). I remember feeling there was something "off" with Mariah's voice, I put it down to tiredness at the time, but it was more raspy and gritty than ever. The touched up DVD/CD version sounds a lot better but the actual vocals on the night seemed like every note was a struggle and effort, which was never the case previously.
And as for the finale with Celine. All I remember is being annoyed that Aretha walked over to Mariah, put her arm around her, brought her to the stage, and *invited Mariah to sing with her* and Mariah said "Jesus" three times then stepped back. Obviously Mariah knew she couldn't compete and after a night of singing in a relatively bad form, probably couldn't handle it. I don't buy this whole "I was respecting the queen" line she spews out every time it's mentioned.
I also think Celine was gracious in her behaviour, as Aretha was clearly asking the singers to "help her lift it" and none of them did. Céline saw Aretha originally picked Mariah, who shrank back, and only after seeing Mariah not do anything did she step in to not leave Aretha hanging. She was the only one capable that night, vocally speaking, of matching Aretha's energy and power. We need to be real and face facts. This whole "Celine was disrespectful" narrative has got to end. She was doing what she was paid to do that night and what Aretha was asking one of the singers to do.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 10:42)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,869)
by Lambi from USA
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I was speaking metaphorically. Mariah took the Titanic-esque elements in her My All music video, with the overturned boat, isolated and alone in the vast ocean, very much like Rose in the movie. She did it in a more refined aesthetic way. It's kind of her way of showing Céline how it's done because the MHWGO music video came across as cringe.
I also agree about Divas Live. Aretha clearly just wanted to sing with Mariah, which made Mariah feel very special, but when it came time to help Aretha lift it at the end, only Céline rose to the challenge and completely owned it. She did absolutely nothing wrong. She hit the same notes she hits in every live performance, and this time Aretha happened to be there. Mariah didn't have access to those high belts and reacted bitterly.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 10:41)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,857)
by TJ from Norway
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You say: "In my honest opinion, Mariah was simply bitter about Celine being positioned to carry on her torch as the best Sony selling artist. So she chose to make fun of how corny the MHWGO music video was by responding with a much stronger, more refined aesthetic built around the same theme. It was a silent clap back."
I really can't remember Mariah being bitter about that song (or Celine), or making fun of it back in the 90's. But I might have forgotten it. Do you think the video for My All is less corny than MHWGO? I'm not sure.
Another thing is that Whitney was not a part of Sony Music back in 1993 and therefore wasn't their biggest selling female artist that year.
About the Divas Live concert. I have always been thinking that Mariah said what she said about respecting the queen of soul and not trying to outshine her as a result of the fact that her voice was in a bad shape on that concert. She wasn't able to try to go where Celine did that day.
The voice you hear on the CD/DVD is dubbed in some parts and not what they aired on VH1. It was very notable on the duet with Aretha.
On the other hand I don't think Celine did anything wrong that night. Why on earth isn't it OK to show the world what you are made of?
(Thursday 1 January 2026; 16:57)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,868)
by Lambi from USA
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Yeah, it's your default to only correct the most insignificant technicalities. It's fair to bring up and I appreciate being corrected too, but at the very least acknowledge the broader points, otherwise you're inevitably going to come across as obnoxious. TJ did a great job by raising something he felt was slightly inaccurate while also adding depth and genuinely enriching the topic.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 10:26)
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112,867 |
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,867)
by Lighty from China
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And by the way I think you're mixing up MHWGO and The Power of the Dream. MHWGO was written by James Horner and Will Jennings and the soundtrack version was produced by Horner and Simon Franglen while the album version was produced by Walter, if that's the situation you were talking about.
Meanwhile, The Power of the Dream was written and produced by David Foster, Linda Thompson and Babyface. There was only one version of this song, no difference between the version Celine sang at the Olympics and album version. David Foster was even playing the piano behind her at the Olympics Games ceremony.
I don't mean to be nitpicking, it's just some clarification of facts. If that annoys you, I should rest my case now.
(Friday 2 January 2026; 05:41)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,861)
by Lambi from USA
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I used a reconstructed list based on Sony-family artists. 1992 is a crossover year. Whitney can be argued due to The Bodyguard’s late-year impact. Different metrics, same label. And even if I wrote Mariah for 92, that only makes my point stronger about the frustration of her post-95 decline. So what exactly are these none-debunkings supposed to do?
(Friday 2 January 2026; 02:12)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,855)
by Lighty from China
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Whitney was on Arista/BMG in 1992, and the merge between Sony and BMG didn't start until 2004. Sorry for getting technical again.
(Thursday 1 January 2026; 15:32)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,860)
by Lambi from USA
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You're mixing up songwriting credits with production credits and versions. The Power of the Dream was originally written by James Horner and Will Jennings for the 96 Atlanta Olympics, that's the composition Céline performed and the collaboration people refer to.
David Foster, Linda Thompson, and Babyface were involved later on the commercial recording/album version, mainly in production and adaptation, which is why their names appear in liner notes.
So yes, they contributed, but that doesn't erase Horner and Jennings as the original writers, or the fact that Horner and Céline had already worked together before Titanic. And how that was such a determining factor as to why Céline was the first and only choice for MHWGO.
I'm really sorry but you are objectively being annoying now, Lighty. Please refrain from the tiniest most insignificant and debunkable technicalities. Is that honestly all you have to add?
(Friday 2 January 2026; 01:54)
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Was Celine the original JLo? (112,854)
by Lighty from China
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If we still get technical, The Power of the Dream was written and produced by David Foster, Linda Thompson and Babyface. None of them had anything to do with MHWGO. But I get your point, Celine had sung too many theme songs by that point of her career.
(Thursday 1 January 2026; 15:25)
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