January, 31 2006
Shane Ward Disses Mariah!
Joe Mott from the Daily Star reports the following story today:
Shayne Ward has dissed Mariah Carey. The 21-year old is up for Best Single at the BRITS but only sold enough copies to get in the running thanks to winning X Factor.
Mariah, 35, is one of the biggest female singer so of all time and current album "The Emancipation of Mimi" happens to be a global chart topper.
Shayne, who has never been to a live gig, said: "I just think she’s lost it". No boyo, look closer to home.
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Album of the Year: Who Will Win?
All Grammys are not created equal. While 1,100 nominees are vying for 108 trophies, one contest trumps the rest for prestige, pizzazz and PR power.
Album of the year.
Music's most coveted prize, an anointing of artistic merit that can also reignite sales, brings five diverse candidates into a tight race decided by a notoriously illogical voting body.
The results will be revealed during the Grammy Awards, airing Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The five albums in play are U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, Kanye West's Late Registration, Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi, Paul McCartney's Chaos and Creation in the Backyard and Gwen Stefani's Love Angel Music Baby.
They're listed in the order that Paul Grein, music writer and veteran Grammy prognosticator, believes the voters will rank them. The criteria? Popularity, artistry, sales, lovability, history and mysterious ephemera.
"I think U2 will win," says Grein, countering a consensus leaning West. "Three albums have a shot. Kanye is second, Mariah is third. I've got to believe U2 will take it. They're so respected, and they stand for the traditional pop-rock craft that has always done well in the Grammys going back 35 years."
"The Emancipation of Mimi" - Mariah Carey
Sales and Airplay: Mimi, the top-selling album of 2005, has sold 5.1 million copies since its release April 12. We Belong Together was the top national airplay song of 2005; Shake It Off was No. 6 and Don't Forget About Us was No. 38.
Critical Standing: Considered by most critics as more of a marketing success than an artistic triumph. Metacritic: 61. Rolling Stone: 2 1/2 stars. EW: B. USA TODAY: 3 1/2 stars. "The singer hasn't forsaken her passion for hip-hop. But it's the ballads and midtempo numbers that truly reflect the renewed confidence of a songbird who has taken her shots and kept on flying." - Elysa Gardner
Touring Boost: Carey managed to keep a high profile in 2005 without hitting the road.
Grammy Clout: Carey's up for seven other Grammys, including best record and song. She won best new artist and pop female vocal in 1991.
Grammy Tilt: "Mariah is strong, because she had the year's No. 1 album and nobody thought she could come back anywhere near this level," Grein says. "This is an unforgiving business, and once your name's a punchline, it's almost impossible to come back. But (modern) R&B isn't a favorite kind of music for a lot of Grammy voters. Traditional R&B is more respected. So a win would be a surprise."
Read the comments for the other nominated albums here.
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Divas To Record Duet
Two of the biggest R & B divas in the world are teaming up to record a duet.
Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson have been joined together by record producer Jermaine Dupri.
Dupri was responsible for Carey’s ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’ album being so well received…the album and singles from the album are currently up for numerous Grammy Awards.
Dupri also happens to be the boyfriend of Jackson and has managed to persuade the two singers to work together.
He said to MTV: "That’s been on my mind for a couple weeks now.
"The hardest part is figuring out a song that fits both of them, because you have two different styles of artists, and the thing when you’re dealing with divas is you don’t want to overshadow either one, so if you were to do a song for them, it would have to work where both of them would feel they were on the same pedestal, or else someone’s gonna have a problem."
Jackson has been in hiding since the nipplegate fiasco two years ago…however, she is currently back in the gym fighting all that flab and will be releasing a new album later this year.
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Now Available
The commerical 12inch Single import from the United States of "So Lonely" is now available from most vinyl specialist stockists.
Prices will vary greatly from £4.99 to £7.99.
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So Lonely Commercial Single Available In The States
"So Lonely" is commerically available to purchase in the United States as a Vinyl Single. The details are as follows:
Catalogue Number: 0-94164
Label: Atlantic Records
Side A: So Lonely ft Mariah Carey
1. Radio (3:52)
2. Explicit (3:52)
3. Instrumental (4:22)
Side B: Do Wrong ft Lil’ Kim
1. Radio (4:01)
2. Explicit (4:01)
3. Instrumental (4:02)
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January, 30 2006
Mariah To Perform With Gospel Choir At Grammys
Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, nominated for Best Gospel Performance and Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album, will sing to the rafters with previously announced performer — and current eight-time GRAMMY nominee — Mariah Carey.
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Road To The Grammys: The Story Behind Mariah Carey's 'We Belong Together'
Sessions that produced 'We Belong Together' — Mariah's 16th #1 single — almost didn't happen.
Mariah needed a miracle.
In November 2004 she was still mired in a deep slump that was on the verge of killing her career ("Glitter," anyone?). But she had a full album's worth of hot new material in the can that she was sure would rocket her
However, Mariah's label boss, L.A. Reid, thought she needed a little insurance, and suggested she try just one more session to sprinkle some final fairy dust on her emancipation proclamation, The Emancipation of Mimi. "L.A. was like, 'You and Jermaine Dupri make magic together, why aren't you in the studio with him?' " Carey recalled. "I said, 'I love Jermaine, is he free? I know he's doing a million things, Usher and this and that.' But Jermaine said, 'Come on down.' "
Dupri, of course, is one of the biggest hitmakers of the past 20 years, having crafted hits for Usher, TLC, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Nelly, Aaliyah, Kris Kross and many others in addition to Mariah. When she arrived at Dupri's studio in Atlanta the next day, the two of them worked nonstop, popping off two songs in two days: "Get Your Number" and "Shake It Off."
Up to that point, Carey and Reid had planned to make "Say Somethin'," a collaboration with Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams, her new album's first single. But once Reid heard the Dupri-helmed songs, Carey recalled, "He was like, 'Oh no! Now we've got to change the single, make these singles one and two.' "
Carey agreed. "Nobody could tell me that 'Shake It Off' wasn't going to be my first single. It was my favorite song, just from the demo."
Dupri had quickly sized up what he felt the album needed. "The records that I made are very melodic records, regardless of their hip-hop influence," Dupri said. "I think that's what she was missing."
And since he and Mariah had come up with those two songs in two days, why stop? "Then it was like, 'You want to go back down to Atlanta again?' " she said. So the pair teamed up again, coming up with "It's Like That" and "We Belong Together" — the first two songs in the album's final sequence — in two days. "We said, OK, we love 'Shake It Off,' " Carey recalled. "We don't know how we're going to top that, but let's just try.' It turned out that 'It's Like That' was the right fire-starter, and 'We Belong Together' was the bigger record." "We Belong Together" — which is nominated for Grammys in both the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories — became Carey's sweet 16: her 16th #1 hit, the most ever by a female artist. (Mariah has since broken her own record with "Don't Forget About Us.")
Dupri may deserve as much credit for what he got Mariah not to do. For someone so associated with multi-octave vocal gymnastics (look up "melisma" in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of Mariah), Carey is a model of restraint on "We Belong Together": She doesn't even raise her voice until the song is near its end. She sings the chorus as if she actually were resigned to not having what she wants, and that understated approach makes the song far more powerful than it would have been if she'd belted it.
"People have to learn the art of subtlety," she said. "We realized that once we did it, it was an inspiration in terms of how I was singing it. It was obvious that if it was touching us, it was going reach other people too."
Carey also reversed her usual technique of singing as many notes per syllable as she possibly can, and her comparatively spare, hip-hop-inspired delivery is what pushes the song forward (the instrumental backing is primarily a beat and just a few simple piano chords).
"We just went back and forth with concepts for the beat and melodic ideas, which I didn't expect from Jermaine, because usually I'm the one that dictates the entire melody," Carey said. "But he had some really great ideas."
The rest of the song is classic heartbreak. For the second verse, Mariah said she and Jermaine "had a pow-wow," trying to figure out what it makes certain songs so special, how they "just hit you, and you're like, 'Oh, man!' You know?"
They came up with Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" and Babyface's "Two Occasions," which Carey quotes in "We Belong Together" as she flips across a radio dial: "I gotta change the station/ So I turn the dial, tryin' to catch a break/ And then I hear Babyface/ I only think of you and it's breaking my heart/ I'm trying to keep it together but I'm falling apart."
Carey reverses the melancholy at the end with vocal lifts that imply she's bound to get her heart's desire anyway, through sheer determination.
Kind of like the way she's revived her career.
"It's like, damn, two years ago she was the craziest person in the funny farm, and that [image] don't even exist no more," Dupri said. "And she never got nominated this many times when she was the Mariah of old. It felt like the rebirth of the person you know as Mariah Carey." "I am so grateful I went to Atlanta," Carey said. "And I have to say, we wrote some of my favorite songs on the album. I'm so proud of Jermaine — he's so focused, and he knew what had to be done.
"You can never write off talent," she added. Especially not her own.
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Catch Mariah on BET's 'Setting The Record Straight'
Setting The Record Straight - Thursday, February 2 at 9:00pm EST on BET
Don’t miss this Grammy Awards special featuring intimate one-on-one interviews with Grammy top contenders Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and John Legend. Each artist is nominated for a record 8 Grammys! BET's' Big Tigger, along with guest co-host Ananda Lewis, sit with the stars to chronicle their path to this potentially record breaking night.
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Mariah Carey: Queen Of Pop
2005 was the year of Mariah Carey. On December 31, 2004, if anyone had written the previous statement, they would have been ridiculed. Mariah had been placed in the "career over" section of the music industry alongside the likes of Whitney, Bobby and Lauryn Hill. How she got there and how she overcame that stigma is the real story.
The music world is one of young, hot and upcoming artists. It’s hard to get on top and it’s even harder to stay there. Every year there is a new artist that rises out of the woodwork. Back in 1990, that artist was Mariah Carey.
Through her work as a background vocalist, Mariah’s music came in contact with Sony head Tommy Motolla (remember him?), who promptly signed her to Columbia Records. Her very first single, "Vision of Love," shot to the top of the charts and multiple number one songs would follow. Mariah owned the 1990s.
During this time, Motolla married his protege. Is it even ethical for a record head to have a romantic relationship with one of his artists? (Berry Gordy and Diana Ross’ relationship ultimately broke up the biggest female group ever, The Supremes). The eventual end of Mariah’s marriage to Motolla (which was displayed in her "We Belong Together video) was the beginning of a strange and peculiar downward spiral for Mariah.
Once Mariah left Motolla and Sony for Virgin Records for a record $80 million contract, the attack was on. It’s been reported that Motolla took songs intended for Carey’s first release on Virgin and gave them to Jennifer "I’m Real" Lopez. Whether it’s true or not is the subject of much debate; however, record companies have been known to do whatever it takes to artists they know are leaving their label.
Leading up to the release of her first movie, Mariah began to act irratically. Combined business and personal matters began to take their toll and Mariah took a "break" in the middle of the massive promotion for the debut of her movie and new Virgin CD. With no Mariah to promote them, both projects failed and the doubters began to write Mariah as a lost cause.
Virgin even got in on the act, quickly buying her contract out by giving Mariah $28 million just to leave their label. Although she made out in the deal, it’s considered a public relations disaster to be paid to leave your record company to "cut their losses." Critics had a field day with the downfall of Mariah Carey. Was it because she could no longer sing or that she was close to breaking records of the highly acclaimed Elvis and the Beatles?
Now a free agent, Mariah was signed to Def Jam by new head LA Reid (the mastermind behind the chart success of Usher and OutKast). Even though her first release on Def Jam, "Charmbracelet" eventually went platinum, it was widely considered that Mariah’s days as a top selling artist were long gone.
To prepare for her second release on Def Jam, Mariah took her time and went to the islands to regroup. After clearing her head of all the pressures of life, she hooked up with her old producer/friend Jermaine Dupri and created "The Emancipation of Mimi." (Mimi is the name Mariah is called by her close friends).
A ultra smash, "Mimi" walked down 50 Cent’s "The Massacre" to become the number one selling cd of 2005 by selling over 5 million copies and counting. (At press time, "Mimi" is still firmly lodged in the top ten.) Even more impressively, she scored 2 more number one songs from the CD, giving her a total of 17. Now she is tied with Elvis Presley for the most number one songs of all time behind only the Beatles with 20. Does anyone think Virgin jumped the gun?
In other words, Mariah Carey is walking ground no other woman has ever achieved. She’s had more number ones than Whitney, Janet Jackson and Madonna. She has earned the official title of "The Queen of Pop." More importantly, she’s approaching the holy grail of the Beatles. Does anyone doubt she won’t get there?
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No Bad Feelings From Allure
Girl group Allure who released their debut album on Mariah`s ill-fated record label Crave back in 1997 are interviewed in the current issue of Blues and Soul Magazine. Currently attempting a comeback, one of the girls, Akissa, dismisses suggestions that they bear a grudge against Mariah:
"Though they were only there for one album, Akissa worries that people may assume bad feeling between Allure and Mariah: "She has changed since we were with her but she is so talented and we`ll always wish her luck. I think people still hang-on to her breakdown and stuff. The music industry is really hard and it`s even harder to retain a sane mind. We`ve had times when we sit and cry and can`t handle it anymore but we just stay true to ourselves and pull through it. Mariah has been through a lot from a young age and then a big divorce and it all takes its toll". Sighing she concludes: "This business is not as easy as people think it is and there are many, many casualties".
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World Chart News
Official UK Album Charts
"The Emancipation of Mimi" exits the Official UK Top 75 Albums Chart:
Official UK Albums Top 100 Chart
* The Emancipation of Mimi - #83 (down 25)
* The Greatest Hits - #94 (down 6)
Official UK R&B Album Chart
* The Greatest Hits - #15 (up 3)
* The Emancipation of Mimi - #12 (down 3)
Official UK R&B Singles Chart
* Don’t Forget About Us - #10 (down 2)
Official UK Singles Chart
69. "Don’t Forget About Us" (down 14)
77. We Belong Together (down 18)
Australia
Official Albums Chart: The Emancipation of Mimi - #42 (down 4)
Official Singles Chart: Don’t Forget About Us - #26 (down 6)
Ireland
Official Albums Chart: The Emancipation of Mimi - #72 (down 9)
Official Singles Chart: Don’t Forget About Us - #36 (down 3)
Not Official: Brazillian Charts
As there are no Official Charts in Brazil, we are using charts published by Brazilian Hot 100 as an indicator on how Mariah is performing in Brazil:
Brazilian Hot 100
Shake It Off
This Week: #98
Last Week: #76
Peak: #23
Weeks on Chart: 17
Don’t Forget About Us
This Week: #34
Last Week: #42
Peak: #34
Weeks on Chart: 5
Top 40 Dance Traxx
Don’t Forget About Us
This Week: #28
Last Week: #20
Peak: #15
Weeks on Chart: 6
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January, 29 2006
Marie Claire Cover
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Billboard's Grammy Preview: Mariah Carey
# Record Of The Year: "We Belong Together"
# Album Of The Year: "The Emancipation Of Mimi"
# Song Of The Year: "We Belong Together"
# Best Pop Female Vocal Performance: "It's Like That"
# Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "We Belong Together"
# Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "Mine Again"
# Best R&B Song: "We Belong Together"
# Best Contemporary R&B Album: "The Emancipation Of Mimi"
Billboard Album Review - "The Emancipation Of Mimi" - April 16, 2005:
"The Emancipation of Mimi" is Mariah Carey's most satisfying album since her 1997 collection, "Butterfly." The latter disc spawned multiple hits and has sold 3.7 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Mimi" has already notched a hit with "It's Like That," and a second single -- the midtempo ballad "We Belong Together" -- is ascending the charts. Carey's emancipation is drenched in hip-hop and old-school R&B ballads, and it smartly focuses on her strengths. While her voice has lost some of its power through the years, "Mimi" deftly showcases her still-considerable pipes with strong lyrics and slick production. In addition to the aforementioned singles, highlights include the Snoop Dogg-spiced thump of "Say Somethin'," the gorgeous ballads "Mine Again" and "Circles," the bouncy silliness of "Get Your Number" and gospel closer "Fly Like a Bird."
One of music's most dominant forces, Mariah Carey continues to sell (and break) records. In December 2005, the singer tied Elvis Presley for second place among artists with the most Billboard Hot 100 topping singles in the rock era when "Don't Forget About Us" became her 17th No. 1.
In addition to selling 46 million albums in the United States throughout her career, according to Nielsen SoundScan, Carey scored a Hot 100 No. 1 in every year in the '90s and has won a bevy of awards.
The artist started out her dream in a gutsy way, relocating from Long Island to Manhattan a mere day after graduating from high school. Fortunately, Carey signed with Columbia shortly thereafter went from an overnight success with her self-titled 1990 debut to a consistent hitmaker for the label.
But more than a decade into her career, Carey suffered a couple of missteps, including a very public breakdown and the critically maligned film "Glitter" in 2001 and its Virgin soundtrack. A break from Virgin led her to Island Def Jam, and her second set for the label, 2005's "The Emancipation of Mimi," became a comeback story of considerable note.
Considered as a testament to her fortitude and undeniable talent, the Island Def Jam set has sold 3.6 (sic) million copies, debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and led to an impressive eight Grammy nominations.
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Download: Various Files
Mariah On TV
Mariah Whistles "Happy Birthday" to Ellen DeGeneres
Format: mpg
Size: 3,52 mb
Download | Megaupload link
On the Dutch Show "Idols!"
Format: mpg
Size: 32,65 mb
Download | Megaupload link
Thanks to Mariah Daily for those videos.
Music Videos
Boy (I Need You) Feat. Cam'Ron
Format: avi
Size: 40,03 mb
Download | Megaupload link | Captures
Hearbreaker Remix Feat. Missy Elliott & Da Brat
Format: mpg
Size: 91,07 ,mb
Download | Megaupload link | Captures
E! Online's Grammy Awards Predictions
Mimi and You: We Break Down the Grammys and Reveal Our Picks for the Top Awards
What is the Bermuda Triangle? How was Stonehenge built? Who will win the Grammy for Record of the Year? These are the enduring mysteries of our times, and since we still haven't figured out the answers to the first two (though we're fairly sure unicorns are involved), we're ready to take a crack at who we think the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) will be awarding statuettes. And to make things interesting, we polled our columnists to let you see how their great minds work.
Album of the Year
Nominees: The Emancipation of Mimi (Mariah Carey), Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (Paul McCartney), Love.Angel.Music.Baby. (Gwen Stefani), How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (U2), Late Registration (Kanye West)
We Say: Mariah Carey: Hands down, this is Mimi's award. Nobody sold more albums, and nobody in the category overcame as many career obstacles--Glitter, anyone?--as she did.
Ted Casablanca Says: Mariah Carey: Kanye, your year was so 2005. And while I like shakin' my très existent rump to "Gold Digger" as much as the next dawg, I'm gonna have to bet my ill-fitting spandex ski suit on Mimi. Hey, all this success, and the diva still can't find solid love. At least give the gal a damn Grammy, right?
Song of the Year
Nominees: "Bless the Broken Road" (Rascal Flatts), "Devils & Dust" (Bruce Springsteen), "Ordinary People" (John Legend), "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" (U2), "We Belong Together" (Mariah Carey)
We Say: Mariah Carey: Seriously, did you read what we said before? Nothing in this category had the commercial or emotional impact of "We Belong Together"--this is Mariah's year.
Tab Fab Says: Mariah Carey: Hey, any song about Mariah Carey's breastesses all smooshed up is a sure winner for Song of the Year, which is why we love "We Belong Together."
E! Online also predicts Mariah will lose the "Record of the Year" category to Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl."
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January, 28 2006
Mariah Carey Party in MadridOn 2nd February, 2006 there will be a Mariah Carey party in "Disco Kapital", Madrid at 11.30pm. The party is announced here. This is a special occasion to celebrate the Spanish release of the Platinum edition of "The Emancipation of Mimi", her success and why not, to meet another lambs, so dont miss it!!
If you are going to be in the area at that date and want to join the party, turn up to this address:
Disco Kapital: Calle de Atocha, 125 Madrid (Spain)
As soon as we have more details about the party, we will publish them here, so stay tuned and spread the word!
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Katie "Jordan" Price Praises Mariah
Katie Price, AKA glamour model Jordan, picks out her 6 favourite CDs in today’s Daily Express and includes Mariah’s Greatest Hits CD:
I just think she has an amazing voice. Pete and I watch the video of her concert and we would both jump at the chance to see her perform live. I also think her lyrics are great.
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Golden Globes
The Golden Globes pick up plenty of coverage in this week’s UK gossip magazines and sadly Mariah’s appearance picks up widespread criticism in the fashion pages:
New Magazine: Trinny and Susannah must have been shouting at their TV’s when they saw this one. Mariah, 35, clearly forgot that the first rule of fashion is to detract from problem areas, not enhance them. We’re all up for curves, but really...
Heat: Only Mariah could make Chanel Haute Couture look cheap. Mind you, the pea-head top-knot doesn’t help.
Reveal: Cheap-Mariah has a great figure but this looks too tight and, well, tacky.
Reveal: also has a picture of Mariah at the after-party where they accuse her of "trying her hardest to blend in with the sofa".
Pictures of Mariah at the Golden Globes also feature in OK and Hello.
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Misty Opportunity
I was delighted to read old chipmunk cheeks Mariah Carey is going to do some good for the world at last. No, she’s not visiting Niger to solve the humanitarian crisis with her diamond-encrusted chequebook - she’s doing something much more worthwhile. Yes, she’s bringing out her own fragrance. Thank God we’ve got someone looking out for us. It’s too early to say what it’ll smell like, but it’ll probably be called Diva and I’m betting it’ll reek of cash with high notes of desperation. But it did make me wonder whether I should jump on the stinkwagon. So I’ve decided to create my own fragrance. It’ll be so exclusive you won’t be able to buy it in the shops, be able to see it or touch it, and it won’t smell of anything. The name? Sweet FA. It’s got a lovely ring to it, hasn’t it?
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Grammy Advertisement
A scan of an ad for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards from the February 3rd issue of Entertainment Weekly. Mariah is pictured at top left among the other Grammy nominees.
The awards ceremony will air at 8pm on CBS live from the Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA. Be sure to tune in!
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Under The Rainbow Competition I'm excited to let you all know that there is a new Under The Rainbow competition!
The prizes for this competition are:
First Place:
A copy of The Emancipation Of Mimi: Platinum Edition: Bonus Dvd: Ltd & the single Dont Forget About Us
Second Place:
A copy of the singles Dont Forget About Us and Get Your Number/Shake It Off
Third Place:
A copy of the single Dont Forget About Us.
Click here or on the banner above for more details.
(Another) New Layout for the Gallery!
Picture Gallery: Version: 2
Online: January 28th 2006 - now
The previous layout was OK, but certainly not the best. Even I found it hard to navigate so I decided to completely re-do this section of the site. Now categorised by year,
I thought it would be much easier for everyone to find the pictures that they were looking for. The coding of this layout will also make it much easier to update.
Entertainment Weekly's Grammy 2006 Predictions
Who'll score when the Recording Academy hands out music's top honors on Feb. 8? See who Entertainment Weekly thinks is likely to win - and who deserves to win below.
Album of the Year
Nominees: The Emancipation of Mimi (Mariah Carey), Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (Paul McCartney), Love.Angel.Music.Baby. (Gwen Stefani), How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (U2), Late Registration (Kanye West)
Will Win: Mariah, Gwen and Kanye will split the R&B/rap votes, leaving U2 with their 17th Grammy.
Should Win: Kanye - the most musically and lyrically audacious of the bunch - gets our nod.
Record of the Year
Nominees: "We Belong Together" (Mariah Carey), "Feel Good Inc." (Gorillaz), Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (Green Day), "Hollaback Girl" (Gwen Stefani), "Gold Digger" (Kanye West)
Will Win: Seemingly on the radio every 15 minutes, Carey's single brought millions back to the cult of ''the voice.''
Should Win: For turning a demeaning dis into a hilarious song, West deserves it.
Song of the Year
Nominees: "Bless the Broken Road" (Rascal Flatts), "Devils & Dust" (Bruce Springsteen), "Ordinary People" (John Legend), "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" (U2), "We Belong Together" (Mariah Carey)
Will Win & Should Win: A tough one, but Legend's ballad will eke out a victory, if only for its old-school soul virtues. Though lesser tracks from Mariah, U2, or even the Boss could steal it.
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Nominees: "It's Like That" (Mariah Carey), "Sicne U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson), "Good Is Good" (Sheryl Crow), "I Will Not Be Broken" (Bonnie Raitt), "Hollaback Girl" (Gwen Stefani)
Will Win & Should Win: With an undeniable Max Martin-penned hook, Clarkson's anthem is a perfect meeting of slick production and raw emotion featuring a killer vocal from the Idol vet.
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Nominess: "1 Thing" (Amerie), "Wishing on a Star" (Beyonce), "We Belong Together" (Mariah Carey), "Free Yourself" (Fantasia), "Unbreakable" (Alicia Keys)
Will Win: The silk-and-satin embrace of Carey's single was the spark for her incredible comeback year.
Should Win: For its mind-boggling beat alone, Amerie's Meters-sampling track shouldn't be ignored.
Source
January, 27 2006
Mariah Wins Big!
Groovevolt.com, one of the Internet’s leading music sites, announced the winners Friday for its Third Annual GV Music & Fashion Awards. Voting for the awards took place at Groovevolt.com beginning December 20.
Not surprisingly, this year’s voting was dominated by Mariah Carey, who swept the categories in which she was nominated, and took home a record six GV Music Awards, including honors for Album of the Year (The Emancipation of Mimi), Song of the Year (“We Belong Together”), Best Female Pop Album and Best Female Pop Song Performance.
"Mariah Carey has been honored with a number of awards already this year and her six GV Awards are a testament to her successful comeback," Groovevolt.com Editor-in-Chief Chauncy Jackson said. “Carey’s fans are extremely loyal to her and she repays them for their devotion.”
The full list of the winners of the Third Annual Groovevolt Music Awards follows:
GENERAL
Album of the Year: The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey
Song of the Year: “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey
Best New Artist: Fantasia
Video of the Year: “Hollaback Girl,” Gwen Stefani
Best Motion Picture Soundtrack: Be Cool
POP
Best Male Album: Something to Be, Rob Thomas
Best Female Album: The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey
Best Male Song Performance: “Beautiful Soul, Jesse McCartney
Best Female Song Performance: “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey
Best Unreleased Album Track: “Circles,” Mariah Carey
R&B/SOUL
Best Male Album: Get Lifted, John Legend
Best Female Album: Libra, Toni Braxton
Best Song, Band, Duo, or Group: “Cater 2 U,” Destiny’s Child
Best Male Song Performance: “Ordinary People,” John Legend
Best Female Song Performance: “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey
Best Deep Cut: "Through With Love,” Destiny’s Child
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German Maxi Single: Tracklisting
The tracklisting of the German Maxi CD single is as follows:
1.Don’t forget about us (Radio)
2.Don’t forget about us (Ralphi & Craig J. Anthomic Vocal)
3.Don’t forget about us (Radio - Tony Moran)
4.Don’t forget about us (Video)
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News For German Fans
"Don’t Forget About Us" is now available to buy on commerical maxi single in Germany!
Also if you are from Germany don’t forget to download the exclusive remixes from the below outlets, as they also count towards the Official German Singles Chart now:
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January, 23 2006
Final Results
According to Hits Daily Double, "The Emancipation of Mimi" ends this week in 10th position again with sales of 38,100 units, off the back of all music outlets reporting in.
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Mariah's Gown of Choice
Finally, the secret is out.
Mariah Carey wore a skin-tight B&W satin Chanel gown to the Golden Globe awards which had been designed and fitted on the sexy songbird in Paris, by the house’s esteemed head, Karl Lagerfeld.
But it turns out that the Chanel frock became Carey’s much-needed backup, not the award-winning songbird’s first GOC (gown of choice).
Curvy Carey had really wanted to wear an Escada gown also specially made for her. But the gorgeous gown didn’t arrive in time for her to wriggle into it and then wiggle to the Globes.
Seems the Escada gown was stuck in DHL Hell, according to Brian Rennie, Escada’s design director, who let the news slip to a West Coast fashion editor last week. Escada’s Munich-based head design dude was in Los Angeles last week to show stars his Oscar-worthy gowns, including a $50,000 one-of-a-kind gown inspired by Monet’s famous water lily painting.
So now we know the real reason why Chanel’s Globes press release (naming actresses in Chanel) didn’t include Carey’s gown. They were as surprised as Escada was disappointed.
No word on what the late arrival Escada looks like. No inside news on color or print. But rest assured, the Escada gown will be worn, sez my inside sources. By Mariah? Duh. Otherwise, the alternations would be a nightmare. Maybe at the Grammys? It’s possible.
This late dress dilemma happens more often than we know. Earlier this season, Scarlett Johansson’s gown for her London “Match Point” premiere was reportedly late in arriving. So she ended up in a less-than-stellar plaid Dolce & Gabbana shift.
We asked an LA PR agency insider why designer gowns are delayed. Is customs scanning the designs for smart bombs, checking for anthrax in the crinoline?
Not quite. It’s basically a merde-shoot.
“It all depends on how you ship it,” says the insider. “And on who fills out the mailing and customs forms, the weekend, the timing, maybe the weather. It should only take two days but sometimes its longer. And it’s a nightmare when a dress, shoes or jewelry is late.”
Just ask Carey.
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Blue Over Blackberry Gals
Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley is putting his enormous foot down when it comes to the "CrackBerry" addictions of his friends Mariah Carey and Naomi Campbell.
Talley complains in February’s Vogue that his glamorous gal pals are constantly tapping away on their BlackBerrys, even while dining at fancy restaurants. Detailing a trip to Russia with Campbell and Marc Jacobs in his column, Talley writes, "On this trip, the only out-of-control Naomi Campbell behavior I witnessed was compulsive BlackBerrying. Personally, I find this new BlackBerry culture annoying to the point of exasperation. On several occasions, I have observed other iconic personalities, such as Mariah Carey, forget that while at a formal dinner it is not exactly good manners to drop the BlackBerry into your lap and start e-mailing."
Informed of Talley’s tsk-tsk-ing, Carey’s manager, Benny Medina, told PAGE SIX, "The utilization of this technology is common place and it’s unusual that he would actually feel the need to single her out. They were just speaking over the phone last week about outfits for the Grammys and stuff . . . I’m sure Andre didn’t mean any harm."
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Mariah To Attend Premiere?
A who’s who of black Hollywood (minus Denzel) is expected to attend tonight’s premiere of “Something New,” Sanaa Lathan’s upcoming film due in theaters on Feb. 3. Lathan and her co-stars, among them Wendy Raquel Robinson, Golden Brooks, Taraji P. Henson and Donald Faison, are due to work the red carpet at the Cinerama Dome on Sunset Blvd. Other celebs on the guest list include Prince, Mariah Carey, Layla Ali, Gabrielle Union, James Lesure and India Arie.
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Jasmine's Juice
Readers. I’m feeling-knackered and pugnacious. All the frivolities and travelling has whacked me out! I feel as if I could sleep for a month!
Hopefully next week I will be reborn. It’s not as if it’s a surprise I’m tired. My birthday was 48 hours long!
Let me explain. It began at the end of my Anguillan vacation when we took off to fly back to New York. Then we arrived at Mariah’s NYC apartment at 3am on the morning of my birthday.
I told you last week about us flashing MC’s doormen in our fake fur coats and bikinis – but what I didn’t know was what was awaiting me upstairs in MC’s crib.
As we entered, I threw myself onto my bed with exhaustion-in her guest room (the butterfly room) and was just about to don my PJ’s when MC announced she needed to borrow my camera for a “business meeting” in her kitchen.
What?!? I know I look young readers but I wasn’t born yesterday! Like good ole Jackson P Mutley (MC’s doggy) I can sniff a tall story when I hear one. I knew those Careys were up to something but like a good little English girl I played along.
As expected, two minutes later someone beckoned me ‘into the kitchen immediately!’ I felt like I should stall but no - it was now 4am and I knew they must really LOVE me to be this exhausted and without sleep for 2 days and still be making my moment festive. As I walked “innocently” into the kitchen, MC and a few of our nearest and dearest showered me with champagne.
I exclaimed “stop wasting the grape - it’s expensive!” MC et al sung for me and danced around me as I blew out my silver-studded twinkle candles and cut into my Oreo cake. I was given a beautiful and thoughtful gift then we chatted about our blessed year and laughed about the “Jack incident”. Let me explain.
Our last moment in Anguilla was hilarious. MC had a photo session scheduled with a famous British photographer on our private beach.-Alas, a multitude of-other paparazzi had somehow heard and were camped out and wouldn’t budge.
Apparently, when they spotted me running along the beach earlier in the day with Jack they knew MC was nearby as they recognised the dog! How crazy is that?! We concocted a cunning plan!
MC, her security and the photographer would escape-into a jeep and sneak off to a nearby beach whilst I (the DECOY)-would wander casually down to our beach with Jack and- some of the staff fully laden down with “Diva Accessories” like a bottle of Cristal and glasses, a pillow and silk sheet, iPod, sun lotions, silver trays full of seafood, Jimmy Choo shoes, etc, pretending MC-was about to appear.
As I gestured wildly at the “position of the sun” and announced at the top of my voice “her favourite position”, I saw the paps looking excited and readying their lenses.
All the while I am practically wetting myself as I continue my Oscar-winning, Meryl Streep performance and-slyly peek MC being smuggled out the back door! MC’s photo shoot just up the road took 10 minutes and she was back in 20 hollering at me that “it was safe” to come back.
The stupid photographers watched the sun set and continued to wait eagerly till 9pm when it was pitch black, then-they wandered over to “MC’s sun lounger” to find a lovely little note I’d left them with the champers which said “enjoy the drink suckers!!!” Oh, how we laughed.
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Best Of 2005
Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi
Almost no one expected Mariah Carey, 15 years into a mainstream career, to release another multimillion seller. But with this year’s The Emancipation of Mimi, she did just that. Most of Mimi’s success can be attributed to Carey’s successful transformation from vanilla-tinged adult contemporary singer into an ultrahip, modernized R&B star. Ever since Butterfly (1997), Mariah has yearned for more street credibility. With Mimi she got her wish.
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Help Maria In Italy
"Don’t forget about us" has just been added to MTV TRL: Italy. Vote HERE Mariah is at the bottom of the page, just click on "vota". You can vote upto 5 times a day... remember 1 vote by SMS counts as 10 votes by internet!! It seems that MTV has not added the video to its official playlist, so TRL is the only chance we have!
"Don’t forget about us" has also been added to AllMusic. They’ve already moved it from "playlist small" to "playlist extra-small", so it’s already on the verge of being dropped. Please vote HERE.
"Don’t forget about us" debuted at #244 in the Official Italian Airplay Chart; up until now only three radios have added the song to their playlist.
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Weekly Soundscan Numbers For Mariah
# The Emancipation of Mimi
Billboard 200: #10 (Last Week #6, 41 Weeks)
Sales this week: 39,896 (-20%)
Total sales: 5,132,693
# Don't Forget About Us
Hot 100 Airplay: #5 (Last Week #1)
Hot Digital Songs: #39 (Last Week #28)
Sales this week: 17,655 (-5%)
Total sales: 239,506
# "Don't Forget About Us" received a 2 certification this week from Nielsen BDS for over 200,000 detections on all monitored radio stations. It joins the following certifications for the 'Mimi' singles:
# It's Like That (100,000 Spins)
# We Belong Together 5 (500,000 Spins)
# Shake It Off 2 (200,000 Spins)
Summed together, Mariah's achieved an incredible achievement of having four singles from one album played over one million times on the BDS monitored radio stations.
# "Don't Forget About Us" drops from #1 to #5 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, losing -23.5 million audience impressions from last week. Its total audience this week is: 104.49 million.
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January, 23 2006
Mariah & Naomi in Paris
Mariah was spotted last 19th January, 2006 at the "Place Vendôme" in Paris with Naomi Campbell. Here are the pictures:
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Download: New Remix to "Don't Forget About Us"
A new remix to "Don't Forget About Us" will be featured on DJ Clue's new mixtape, titled 'The Professional 3'.
The remix, produced by the "Desert Storm" team, features rappers Styles P. and Fabolous.
Similarly to the "We Belong Together" remix, this brand new remix also features new vocals from Mariah.
You can download the remix here (4.31 mb)
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Mary J. Blige Credits Mariah As Her Musical Inspiration
In an interview with NPR's Debbie Elliott about her latest album, "The Breakthrough," Mary J. Blige cites Mariah as a source of inspiration in her early singing career.
NPR: I read that you started singing as a kid in church and that you would also sing in talent shows. Was there some performance along the way where you started to think "Hey, I think I can do this, I like this"?
MJB: Let me see, I had performed at a club when I was a teenager. I sang one of Mariah Carey's songs. I think it was "Love Takes Time" 'cause I'm a fan of Mariah Carey's. I love her. So it was that performance at the club that night. The club was called Arthur's. [sings a verse of "Love Takes Time"] That one. Her songs gave us a lot of hope and I finally got a chance to tell her, "You played a part in saving our lives, little project kids - we had nothing. You know, sometimes the lift for it felt like and it was your music that saved our lives and made us want to sing 'cause you were an angel and still are to us."
You can listen to the full interview at NPR.
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January, 21 2006
Born Again In The USA
Dear Fred,
As I read the column this week, I started thinking about the amazing rebirth of the single that has occurred in the last year. Here are some examples:
Mariah Carey’s success: I had given up hope that she would tie Elvis Presley’s 17 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, as I think most of your readers had. But the success of the singles from "The Emancipation of Mimi" has revived her impressive singles run. Although the Beatles are my favorite recording artist of all time, I would still be happy for Mariah if she tied/passed the Beatles’ 20 No.1’s.
Albums with multiple hit singles: counting Mariah along with Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, Green Day and the Black Eyed Peas, the era of albums with over three hit singles is back. Not since the early 1990’s have so many artists had so many singles from one album.
The digital download: what a difference a couple of years has made. With single sales increasing dramatically, sales are becoming more of a factor on the Hot 100, which is a wonderful trend that puts the Hot 100 back in balance again. It will be interesting to see if the rapid turnover of No. 1 singles lately is just a fluke or a trend.
As far as Paul Ketz’s e-mail of last week asking about spoken word number ones, the only one I can remember without cheating and looking at your book is "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers.
Thanks,
Dave Dolbear
Monroe, N.C.
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Dear Dave,
One thing I’ve said so many times over the years that it has almost become a mantra is that everything is cyclical. It turns out that applies to the single, which is once again a viable format, even if it has gone from a tangible item to something that is intangible.
I remember reading a prediction when I was in high school that one day music would be beamed into a cube, and that’s how we would listen to it. If you think about the iPod and other MP3 devices, the only thing they got wrong was the shape.
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100 Questions For Mariah Carey Part 2
50. Is it correct that your therapist is a reverend?
You could say that, yeah.
51. What’s your therapist’s name?
Reverend Clarence Keaton.
52. What was Reverend Clarence Kaeton’s last useful advice?
He really just wants me to relax, take breaks, stay in contact with myself, stay with me. And he wants me to call him whenever I need his help, no matter what time of day it is.
53. Do you agree that it would be a stupid idea to fall in love with one’s therapist?
Most of my doctors are women. So that’s not an issue for me.
(Now, oopsie daisy, we want to deal with a serious issue: how tired, sad, depressed is she really? Here’s our little Mariah-Health-Check.)
54. Are you still addicted to the T.V.?
Never have been. I’ve always just been addicted to the radio.
55. Are you still addicted to "Old El Paso cheese flavored tortilla chips"?
Never have been. I love New York Pizza.
56. Test question: How many calories does a banana have?
I have no clue.
57. A vitamin product you swear by?
There’s this B1 product that doesn’t taste bitter but sweet.
58. Name something that is good for sleeping problems. Something you’d recommend because it’s not addictive and still helps.
I’d recommend hot milk with honey.
59. The most glamorous medicine on earth available only by prescription?
I don’t know the answer to that question.
60. Do you agree that you’re addicted to comebacks? You must have had three of them.
Everyone keeps talking about this comeback theory. The truth is: You can’t write anyone off if they are talented and don’t give up on that talent. No, I’m not addicted to comebacks. I’m addicted to music.
Four major questions, the broadest question on earth - here it goes! Oh my gosh.
61. What makes life worth living?
God gave us life, that’s a blessing. You have to take it as a gift not as a punishment. Jesus, there are so many wonderful things on earth: Music, friends, colleagues. The hard thing is to realize and accept what you have been given.
62. What is your proof fort he fact that there is a God?
No proofs. Prove me wrong. I talk to Him, every day.
63. Are you glad to be alive?
Absolutely.
64. Can we, your fans, help you to become an even happier person?
(Oh Gosh, what a question, the absolute low point.)
I hate when you think I’m not happy. I don’t know what makes you think that. Stop it!
(She smiles even while shouting these words - unbelievable! Our result: She either is hopelessly depressive or an addict. Or: an All-American girl, cute, nice and pink, one that just sells more CDs than any of the other. It possibly is the latter one. Following: Glamor-Questions, Mariah-style.)
65. What is the most unusual fashion rule Andre Leon Talley, Vogues’s editor-at-large, has taught you?
No, no rules. What Andre says is that style comes from the inside. He is such a sensible, cultivated - a wonderful person.
66. Are we right when observing that you are experimenting with a 1930s-Marlene-Dietrich style lately?
I’d rather say: Late 1950s, Marilyn Monroe. For a certain night, that’s true, I was inspired by the Marlene-Dietrich-Style.
67. How long does it take for your nails to dry?
Depends on who does them. Long, too long.
68. The most beautiful steps on earth that you have ever walked down - in haute couture, one hand on the railing, the other one on your security guy’s shoulder.
The Spanish Steps in Rome. I was just wearing ordinary clothes though, not haute couture. It was a spontaneous idea. I wanted to surprise my fans.
69. The sexiest object in your living room?
Oh, I wanna mention a new decorative piece in my bathroom here: a purple coloured chandelier decorated with baroque flower patterns.
70. Your most romantic experience in a stretch limousine?
Stretch limousines are overrated! All these hip hop videos create a contorted, unrealistic image of stretch limousines. There’s no room, no intimacy. The driver hears everything.
71. For the show, the big entrance: Are you good at simulating nervous breakdowns?
Since I never had a nervous breakdown myself, I wouldn’t know how to simulate one. I mean, would it be considered a nervous breakdown if I hurled this glass off the table? Like "Huh, there’s a broken glass on the floor. Come on everybody, help me!" Was that good? I mean, please, come on.
72. If the typical Hip Hop thing to do is wear diamonds in your mouth - as dentures, so to say. Which parts of the body are typical for R’n`B?
I’d say the cleavage.
73. How many carats can you wear on one finger at maximum?
As many as I’m given. No, seriously. A diamond ring cannot be too heavy. If the ring gets too heavy, I’ll use it for weight lifting.
74. The most rocking piece in your jewellery collection?
Rocking as in expensive? As in remarkable? Do you know the rap group The Diplomats? The most beautiful, the boldest piece was given to me by Cam’ron from the hardcore rap group The Diplomats. He took it off his necklace and gave it to me.
75. How many dollars does one have to pay for the diamond studded fish net stockings from your underwear line Mariah Kiss Kiss?
We don’t have the fish net stockings yet because I personally don’t wear fishnet stockings. Once we’ll have them we’ll give you a reasonable price.
76. Is it true that you get a headache when not wearing high heels?
It’s true that I don’t have any experience at all when it comes to walking without heels.
77. Do you know a more up-to-date, a more extensive vision than, to make it short, Louis Vuitton?
Oh, yes.
(Now she swings her legs off the couch; sits straight; abruptly throws her curly mane to the front and back - this is how female horseback acrobatics fix their hair. The splendour of her hair, the splendour of her smile, the splendour of her breasts. For everyone who has not gotten it by now: She is brutally sexy. We love her.)
78. Are we right when observing, you are a very feminine person?
I feel like a feminine woman, oh yes. I hope that doesn’t scare you.
79. Are you ever fed up with eternally smiling, smiling, smiling?
Sometimes, yes. I prefer laughing.
80. Your definition of emancipation?
To free from restraint, control, oppression or the power of another.
81. Your self-defense-technique?
My brother taught me some combinations when I was little. He was a professional kick-boxer.
82. Do you agree with us when we say you’re an icon of survival and liberation?
I know that I can be a role model for woman who have been under bad influences and now are taking their lives in their own hands and I appreciate that. I always hope I can help people.
83. The first names of your best girlfriends?
Josephine, Rachel.
84. The rules of a Mariah-Pyjama-Party?
Be faster.
(Be faster. That’s all she says. Imagine Mariah, Josephine and Rachel playing tag in their pj’s.)
85. The content of your favorite movie "Mean Girls"?
Highschool-Dramas.
86. The translation of your favorite word "fetch"?
Good. Awesome. Special. Unique. I don’t know. In "Mean Girls" that’s what the dumb girl, the one who isn’t allowed to join in, asks the gang: "What the heck is this fetch thing all about?" It’s slang, from England. I’d translate it with "Making the impossible possible."
87. Do you agree that you, as a strong woman, are an icon for gays?
I’ve heard of that, yeah.
88. One thing that non-gay men could learn from gay men?
Manners. Gay men are going out with the most fabulous women. Now why is that, I ask myself.
(Finish: Men. We didn’t talk about men yet.)
89. How does the "One and Only" look this spring 2006? The one every R’n`B ballad is talking about?
He needs to be calm and very self-secure to keep up with my lifestyle.
90. Is it easier to fall for a security guy or a background singer?
Of course, a majorly stupid question! No, it’s a good question sadly. I know my background singers too well to fall in love with them. No, it’s not that easy.
91. Can you still count all the men you had sex with?
Yes.
92. The first name of your current boyfriend - which you want to reveal as a world exclusive here in SZ-Magazine?
Jack. My dog.
(After the interview our reporter is going to be on the elevator with a member of her entourage and a Latin-looking guy (not very noticeable, rather small, Baggy pants). Exit Latin guy. The member of the entourage, giving him a nod as he leaves: "That was him by the way. Her new guy." Thank you, Mariah. Finally we want to have the minimum of what can be said: sweet nothing. Not a problem for her. She rediscovered her breath spray. Pzz!)
93. How is Jack?
Great. He’s on the cover of the new K9 magazine.
94. How is Whitney?
Whitney Houston? I haven’t talked to her for quite some time.
95. Do you have any information on the current state of Elizabeth Taylor’s health? Info that others don’t have access to?
I’m afraid not. Sorry.
96. How do you keep a living butterfly?
Delicate thing. You’ll need a certain temperature, a certain humidity. I only have this one right here.
(Holds up her right hand. There’s a diamond butterfly on her ring finger.)
My lucky charm.
97. Your advice for the first female chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel? Is she going to be successful in this bad, bad world of men?
I’m sure she knows her job better than I do. Be strong. Stay independent. Don’t let the male egos get you down.
98. And your message to all the ladies walking down the big, red carpet and - crack - there goes the heel!
Enjoy it. Make a moment of it. Take the heel and the shoe and give it to a fan.
99. Are you seriously claiming to still believe in Santa Claus?
Don’t we all?
100. Your question to Marilyn Monroe?
How are you, daahling?
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2005 Top Money Makers
Pop diva Mariah Carey, who didn’t tour last year came in at No. 16. Carey made all of her $46.4 million from record and digital sales.
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For The Record
Mariah Carey’s favorite place to be is between the sheets, the singer reveals in the new issue of V magazine. "When I’m not working, I’m so about the bed," Carey tells the mag. "I’m literally like a 2-year-old, I just eat and watch TV, not that that’s something to be proud of." She says that she needs 15 hours of sleep (part of her "vocal rest" regimen), and if she’s not rested enough after that, she said, "I’ll get a masseuse to come, to make it a relaxed atmosphere." And to keep her throat in good shape, she has a special bedroom ("a room that I didn’t show on `Cribs,’ because it wasn’t done yet") where she keeps 20 humidifiers around a bed with terrycloth bedding. "Basically it’s like sleeping in a steam room," she said. "The ceiling is pitched so the water can’t fall on my head, and it all drips down to the side, and the TV is behind glass."
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Bermuda‘s Top 20 By DJ LT
Holding at the top of the pops is Don’t Forget About Us by Mariah Carey. You have to hear the dance mix, which slams.
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January, 20 2006
100 Questions For Mariah Carey
... as quick as possible though, we don’t have forever, you know.
An interview by Moritz von Uslar
Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich, December. She, the most succesful female singer of all time with 17 Number 1 songs, is here to receive another award – forgot which one. She had to be talked into giving this interview. (Background: Jokster Oliver Pocher called her “fatty” on national television. That hurt her. She does not want to experience anything similar ever again, understandably.) So we promise the record label that it is not cool to hate Mariah Carey, to the contrary. One thinks of her as being sad. One wants to stroke her, support her, encourage her. The lady, as stories have it, constantly breaks her heels, in the most stupid situations, too. One hundred nice, blank, oh-so-sweet questions for Mariah Carey (and still the journalist is going to ask her about her alleged addiction to pills and suicide, we’ll see.) Thirty minutes: good time. An assistant hands us the catalogue of questions revised by the management, there’s a “No” written behind almost half of the questions. She walks in with her entourage; lays down on the couch; exit entourage. The lying Mariah: a whole lot of Mariah at once. She is about 6ft 1inch tall. She is lying down in a way that makes you look at her heels from below, a lot of skin, a lot of flesh. Her impressive bust. It, the bust, has the size of two big bellies. A light blue stocking like dress is stretching around her luxury body (This dress alone could provide for a highly interesting, three-page essay: What it says about Mariah’s background, her fairy tale rise to stardom, pop and pomp and her desire to be punished for all of this by someone – the whole story, the whole tragedy). She is rummaging for her asthma-spray, sprays some of it into her mouth. Smiling. It is incredibly awesome to be able to watch this – this show! – for thirty minutes now. One hundred questions? Yes, one hundred questions; and short answers, please. And don’t be scared, why would you, too? We’re warming up.
1. SZ-Magazin: Red or pink?
Pink.
2. Silk or cashmere?
Silk.
3. La Mer or Dr Sebagh?
No brandnames. I only use products that my dermatologist makes for me. My mom is Irish, I have sensitive skin.
(Pzz! The spray. She puts on her sugar sweet smile. One immediately understands this is a number, the Mariah-Carey-number: Spray, smile, find-me-cute, in this order. The thing with the breath spray is totally hip of course. She has the voice of a soul diva: vibrant, voluminious, awesomely deep.)
4. Mariah, congratulations! 17 number-one-hits, 155 Million records sold! You are the most successful female artist of all time.
Great! Thanks.
5. Is there any award left, besides the Oscar, that you haven’t won so far?
Just the Oscar for best leading actress. The best awards are the things the fans give me. Like this one here.
(She holds up a mess out of paper, plastic foil and a photograph: handicraft work by a fan. The mess falls back down next to the couch.)
6. A rule you should follow when performing in front of a screaming herd of fans on Times Square at 8am?
Have someone next to you holding a glass of hot water. Air at this time of the day can be really hard on your voice.
7. Your formula for a number-one-hit?
Write a song people of every age and race can relate to.
8. Wouldn’t it be fun to break Elvis’ record for 18 number-ones with a cover of "In The Ghetto?"
That might be fun, I mean, right? So many things could be fun.
(Smile, an ambigious one. Oh really? Why? What is that supposed to tell us? One of the problems of 100 question is that one (reader, celebrity, journalist) often have had enough after ten of them with this much being said. She arranges her legs in a new way, pulls down the thigh end of her body-stocking down to her knee. One would like to say even less, hear even less. Too bad, it can’t be done without a climax. So we’re pulling this interview to its painful climax and then rest for seventy, eighty questions – us, the spray and her. Let’s go.)
9. Let’s talk about your upbringing, the infamous poor conditions: describe a picture illustrating this upbringing!
I’m walking through Manhattan on soles coinsisting of holes, there’s snow on the ground. You will never forget the pain that each of this steps meant.
10. Have you suffered from hunger as a child?
No, not from hunger. There are various levels of poverty. At our home there were huge amounts of not exactly expensive food on the table. You know, poor people are not on a diet.
11. The name of your first Barbie?
Superstar.
12. Was it a slap-on-the-face-childhood?
It wasn’t a happy childhood. I didn’t have a childhood.
13. The best advice your mom ever gave you?
Don’t say "Yes" but to know “when you can say Yes."
14. Here are some names the press has given you. Give us a quick answer on whether or not you can relate to them. Diva.
Okay. Fits the bill.
15. Cute, innocent, twelve-year-old girl.
That’s true. Yeah, that’s me.
16. Cinderella.
Lame. Who wants to be Cinderella?
17. The greatest voice ever since Aretha Franklin.
Great compliment.
18. Bookworm.
Bookworm? Bookworm, yeah. Albert Einstein, a very nice compliment, true, but that’s not me. If I had more time, I’d read more books.
19. The most beautiful breakdown in music-history.
The most beautiful ...
(Shaking her head. She does not continue talking. Mouth open, mouth closed. Fumbles with her spray...)
Another quick answer round. I’ll recall four classic Mariah-moments of your career, you comment.
I don’t know if I can do that.
20. 1989 – You are 18 years old and waitressing in a burger restaurant – did label boss Tommy Mottola point at you and say "Her! She will be my new star!”
True. After he heard my voice. He never saw me waitressing though.
21. In 1993 you married your big mentor. Tommy and Mariah celebrate a fairy tale wedding.
Correct.
22. An accident, a fauxpas, a funny detail that went wrong at this wedding?
The complete wedding was a farce. I’m sorry.
23. In 2001 Mariah gives an interview on MTV. She’s sweating, rambling, talking nonsense. The interview gets broken off.
It is hard for people who don’t have any experience with TV appereances to understand this. There was a problem with my ear monitors. I had this chaos of voices in my ears but was expected to answer a question at the same time, which is hardly possible. Everyone was terribly excited. It was a joke. Things were exaggerated afterwards because I fainted two days later, and I needed medical help.
24. A suicide attempt at the climax of your exhaustion and sadness fails.
That is not true. I am a far too spiritual person to even think of suicide.
(Hardly any emotions. She smiles it off. The tip of her feet bops, the bopping wanders up her leg and gets lost in her large body. Smile, smile, smile. The smile of a 6ft 1inch bunny that has decided to be happy.)
25. Your words adressed to Mister Luis Miguel?
(Luis Miguel, biggest pop star in Latin America, the break up with who supposedly triggered Mariah’s nervous breakdown.) Tell him I said hi. There are no bitter feelings, no anger. I mean...
26. A song that makes you change the station because it reminds you of a long gone love?
There is none. I love music. No matter what song.
27 Speaking through singing: Which song from your new album best summarizes your emancipation, your overcoming your crisis?
There are parts of the spiritual "Fly Like A Bird.”
(From now on there is smiling non-stop. The Spray, partly relaxing means of course, should be somewhere between her and the couch’s back. It stays hidden there. How easy everything gets once you decided nothing is going to touch you anymore – hey! Sweet! Sweet! A finger in her curly mane. The finger takes the hair, again and again, takes it as if it was a crochet thread.)
28. Mariah, what is the most beautiful sound, created by Mother Nature maybe, that you have ever heard with your own ears?
I love the sound of the ocean.
29. If you’re being exact: is it a five or a 41/2 octave range?
Depends on whether I had an exhausting performance the day before and whether I got my sleep. Today it might just be one octave.
30. The last President of the U.S. you granted a pivate performance?
President Clinton. His daughter Chelsea arranged that.
31. What helps against hoarseness?
Hot water.
32. Can you confirm rumors about you performing live at a New Year’s Soiree given by Saif al-Gaddafi on the Bahamas?
(Saif al-Gaddafi, 33, architect, son of Libya’s president Muammar al-Gaddafi.) I have never heard of this invitation.
33. Is it true that you can hold the letter "n" in and “ – one just has to think of your hymn "Vision Of Love" – for ten seconds?"
"N" note isn’t easy to hold. But ten seconds? I can do that. Ten seconds is really not that long.
34. Are you, in one way or the other, a country singer?
A country singer ... wait a minute, I have to think about that. No. Do you think I’m a country singer? My father is black. I can’t be a country singer. I’m outside this category.
35. Your height in centimeters?
I am 5 foot and 9 inches tall. You’ll have to translate that.
(5 foot, 9 inches are 175cm/1.75m)
Of course I’m taller when I’m wearing shoes. People always think I’m tiny until they meet me for the first time. They’ll be like “Huh! You’re tall!”
36. Your optimum weight?
I don’t measure by pounds, I measure by how my clothes fit. I’m a muscular girl.
37. Your message to the millions of women out there dieting.
Be realistic. Be more loving to yourselves. Forget the diets. They hurt you. Working out is much better for your health.
38. The biggest truth you can say about plastic surgery.
I think that is a very personal decision. Once you start it’s hard to stop.
39. An animal you want to be compared to? No, another question: Do you agree that you have the natural appearance of a bunny? Of a bunny?
(Laughter. She enjoys this, combs her hair back with her hands before returning into her original position: the smiling.) Wow. Thanks. That’s really cute.
40. Major question: What is an Air Kiss?
An Air Kiss is how you greet other people from the music- or moviebusiness. You don’t wanna ruin your or their make up. If it’s a guy you don’t wanna ruin his collar, his suit or his make up. So what you do is you stop an inch before the other person’s face and kiss the air.
41. When was the last time you cried in front of the T.V.?
I cry about so many things. There are so many things touching you right in the heart. I cry about letters. A girl wrote me she had been abused in her childhood and that my music was helping her a lot to cope with that traumatic experience. It touches me when I get to know how I influence other people’s lifes.
42. Do you agree that you have the aura of a woman who knows pain?
Really? I come into a room and you think of pain? That’s not good.
43. More specific now: Are you experiencing an unbearable pain anywhere in your body?
I’m hungry.
44. If you bop, which part of your body bops the most?
My hips?
45. When you’re lovesick, what part of your body hurts the most?
The soul.
46. Not an expert on pain?
Not an expert on pain, no. Certainly not. That would be terrible. I don’t think I can enjoy pain. I went through painful periods just like anyone does. I now have words for those periods and I can sing about them. That gives the pain a belated meaning.
47. Your record for sleeping long?
I wake up in between. Get up, eat, go back to sleep. I can make it for 15 hours like this. I can stay in bed for five, six days and longer even.
48. Your quirk when you’re nervous?
I don’t know that. I’m different than that. I’ve learned to keep my hands still, especially when the tension is rising around me.
49. During your infamous vocal rests you hold up signs. What are some of the funniest messages on those?
No.
Hot Tamale.
(A typical Mariahism, meaning "extremely hot, sexy, extraordinary, glamorous", it unfolds its humor and charm through inflationary use in meaningless, inappropriate situations especially.) Spare me the details.
Source
V Magazine Interview: "Carey On"
Mariah: 5 Octaves, 14 Albums, 64 Singles (10 Platinum 2 Multi-Platinum), 14 Platinum Albums (10 Multi- Platinum), 2 Diamond Awards, 39 Grammy Nominations (2 Wins), 180 Million Albums Sold Worldwide, 16 Number 1 Singles (Billboard Record For Female and Active Artist), Artist With The Most Number 1 Debuts, Artist With The Most Top 2 Singles, Female Writer With The Most Number 1 Singles, Only Female Artist To Be At Number 1 And Number 2 Simultaneously ("We Belong Together" and "Shake It Off"), Billboard Record For Single With Most Weeks At Number 1 ("One Sweet Day"), Biggest Selling Christmas Album Of All Time ("Merry Christmas"), World Music Awards Best-Selling Female Pop Artist Of All Time
My back was turned when I heard her open the door: "Okay, do you want me dressed?"
I had a vision of love, and it was all about Mariah emerging from her hair and makeup station in a plush white robe, letting everyone know that, basically, she's ready for her close-up.
Fans are likely to cling to the belief that even if the singer hadn't been in the right place (industry party with singer Brenda K. Starr) at the right time (before record kingpin-and future husband-Tommy Mottola made a chauffeured getaway back to Long Island with her demo tape), Mariah still would have floated her way to music heaven, her destiny entwined with that golden, winged voice.
But things could have turned out very differently for a girl growing up in Hungtington, Long Island. She might have let any number of things wear her down, not unlike the one pair of shoes, toes poking out, that remained in her wardrobe "when I was broke": schoolyard taunts about her racially ambiguous looks; a broken home of divorced parents, frequent moves, and irresponsible siblings; the tedious cycle of part-time jobs: waitress, beauty school student, and session singer. The spectacular breakup of her marriage to Mottola is a chapter to itself.
Standing on the patio of Karl Lagerfeld's suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel, watching the singer pose for the designer/photographer's camera on a bed trundled out for the occasion, it was easy to see how people might overlook her past and judge her solely on the basis of her glossy surface: a Marilynesque enthusiasm for the camera and a cheerful embrace of girliest-common-denominator icons like butterflies and rainbows. What's more, the rumors of on-call masseuses, first-class tickets for Jack (her dog), and custom-built high-humidity sleeping chambers - all-true - certainly make it difficult to give the impression she would abdicate the "diva" throne any time soon.
She may be wearing a crocheted Galliano gown and enough Bulgari rocks to build a small house, but as she tiptoes, barefoot and bathrobed, down the hallway of the hotel, chatting with a string of callers (her friend Rachel, her friend Andre Leon Talley, her boss L.A. Reid), she is less VH1 diva than high school prom queen (a title she doesn't deny campaigning for, tirelessly, when the chance came up).
This is really why I've come to Beverly Hills: to find out who the real Mariah is (not to mention this Mimi chick I keep hearing about). My chance comes after the shoot wraps and the singer is back in her suite, chilling on a king-size canopy bed, alternately talking on the phone and chatting with an assistant about her diet as ads for molten caramel cake mix flash on the TV. Noticing me hesitate at the door, she smiles and pats the comforter next to her: "Don't be shy, come sit over here."
And without even taking off my shoes, I find myself jumping into bed with the best-selling female artist of the millennium.
Mitchell Healey: I don't know if I've ever done an interview in bed before.
Mariah Carey: When I'm not working, I'm so about the bed. I just lay in the bed and put a towel over me. I'm literally like a 2 year old, I just eat and watch TV - not that that's something to be proud of. [Watching a Betty Crocker Warm Delights commercial] That is hot! That's a stone winner!
MH: Don't they feed you?
MC: I'm on a soup diet with Rachel, my trainer who lives in St. Barths. When I'm working out with her it's really easy to eat what I want and stay in the shape that I want. I was always really thin and muscular as a kid; then came the butt. But I can make my legs really good when I work at it.
MH: Plus working out is a good stress reliever.
MC: Yeah. For me stress manifests itself in my back. No interviewer has ever done this. [Placing my hand on her back] Feel that? It's full of knots. I used to think it was because I was sitting at a desk, and I was like, this is not for me, sitting at a desk. But that's just where I feel stress.
MH: Honestly, when I first heard the title of that album, The Emancipation of Mimi, I really wasn't sure what to think. Does it have any relation to the Mimi in La Bohème?
MC: That's actually pretty great, but I never thought of that. It's just my nickname. There was a time when a lot of people used that for me, and then it turned into just two or three people who are close to me. I felt it was appropriate because this album was like a new beginning for me. It was like losing the baggage.
MH: You needed your own valet for all that baggage.
MC: I've been through the ringer. On my own label. Emotionally, not physically - I haven't been around the block; I've protected myself from that. I don't want to say that I'm judging anybody. I'm just saying I know people who are 16 that have been around the block too many times and you see it in their eyes.
MH: It seems like those who are the types of people who would relate to your ballads.
MC: I have a song called "Petals" that's completely about me growing up and my family. And so many people relate to it. And it'll be people from other countries, like a girl from Germany who'll talk to me. Songs like that usually are not vocal performance moments. It's really weird to me because I feel like that's the expression of who I am, that's the true me. And people don't know me for that. They don't see that side, and I don't really care because the people that need to see it see it.
MH: You've got a song for pretty much every stage in the life cycle of a relationship. You didn't even date in high school. Where do you get your material?
MC: I did date in high school, but I didn't go all the way - that sounds so corny but whatever - because I knew I wasn't going to marry those people, and because I had such a fear of intimacy, which I still have, and a fear of being taken advantage of. I had experienced things and witnessed things as a kid that I didn't want to happen to me.
MH: Does your material come from that time, or is it recent relationships too?
MC: I think it's a combination. There's a certain time period in my life, my adolescence, that definitely influenced how I write. That's when I really started writing about my feelings when it had to do with relationships, even though they were not physical relationships, even if it was like a crush. And I think that that's the strongest thing.
MH: Unrequited love?
MC: Yeah. And people can relate to that. Even if they've had the relationship and been through it, which I also write about. It's like you've been through it, you've romanticized it, and then it didn't work. And that's a devastating thing to a lot of people. Especially if you're, like, Wait a minute, I thought I was giving my all - not to use one of my songs - to this moment, and how can this not work? Everything else in my life I sort of predicted, and here I am in this thing that's not working out.
MH: You once told Larry King, "I don't know that I've ever actually really been in love." Is it that longing for love that inspires you?
MC: I hate to go into this because I think people are friggin' sick of it and yet some people have no idea: I come from a biracial union. I grew up with my white mother, who is a wonderful person and a civil rights activist, but, still, she's an Irish-American woman who could never understand what it feels like to be black. Because my father was black, whether kids knew it or not, I still looked different to them. They would call me any number of racial slurs. By the time I came to the point where people would do it to my face, I was already little miss tough girl and they were scared of me and thought I would fight them and whatever.
MH: You think your drive comes from the little girl longing for affection underneath the tough exterior?
MC: I guess it comes from a need to feel loved unconditionally, and a need to feel like there's somebody who can relate to me completely. I always had this dream that somebody would not judge me because of my race, or because of my ambiguity - being black but looking white, being white but not looking white. I mean, I'm not white no matter what. I never would be, like, "Okay I'm white," because I know I'm not. But people always ask me "What are you?" So I just say "I'm black," which is technically the answer, they'll be like, "...and what else?" Either that or they'll say "No, you're not," like somebody just said the other day. And I'm like, what do I do? Because then people of color will be say, "Well you can say 'black.'" But it doesn't work because you have to explain all the things that you are or they don't understand. Which all manifested itself in, well, I became the class clown; I became a performer.
MH: It's funny - your speaking voice sounds so tough. But it must be a delicate instrument.
MC: Yeah, I was just on vocal rest. Living out here in the desert is not good for my voice. And Luther Vandross, God rest his soul, taught me about a lot of things, like humidifying my throat. But my best thing is sleep. I need fifteen hours of sleep.
MH: What happens if you don't get it? Do you turn into a mad, raving...
MC: Nah, it's not like that. I'll do what I have to. I'll get a masseuse to come, to make it a relaxed atmosphere. Literally I'll have twenty humidifiers around the bed. In my apartment (which one day will be finished, and I'll be good to move in] I have a room that I didn't show on Cribs, because it wasn't done yet. But basically it's like sleeping in a steam room. The bed is all terry cloth, the ceiling is pitched so the water can't fall on my head, and it drips down to my side, and the TV is behind glass. You walk in there and it's like, "Whoa!"
MH: Speaking of beds, in "Say Something" you talk about "how we'll kiss and **** You strike me more as the making love type.
MC: Of course! That was Pharrell being a bad influence on me, darling! That was done for the moment of writing it, and kinda because Pharrell was challenging me if I would say that. And I was like, "Yeah whatever." No, I don't think I've ever - I've never - had a one-night stand, because of my own fears, really.
MH: Well it kinda lets Mimi kick things up a notch.
MC: It's the performer onstage giving you a moment. It's a [she sings, in her best pillow voice] "Do you think I'm a nasty girl?" moment. 12, 13 years old in the mirror singing lyrics to Vanity 6 that people shouldn't even be singing when they're grown...
MH: While we're on the subject, how about the line: "Lookin' for a man that'll... make me sing real high when he goes down low..."
MC: [Laughing, with mock outrage] You read the lyrics!
MH: You can learn a lot about a woman from her lyrics... Does a man going down low make you sing?
MC: It could make me sing if he knew what he was doing! [Husky laugh]
MH: There's a fine line, for women especially, between being sexy and promoting promiscuity, no? Like that Destiny's Child song, [in a feeble voice] "Nasty put some clothes on I told ya..."
MC: You mean [sounding like Beyonce Unplugged] "I'll be your naughty girl..."
MH: Well, no, but you can go on singing. I mean the one where they chastise girls for dressing nasty.
MC: You go to clubs and you see every girl dresses like they're in a video. And if not, there's no way they're gonna get attention, unless they're strikingly beautiful. I think that a lot of women are just trying to live up to the stereotypes and to the standard that's set on TV and in magazines, which is airbrushed women who weigh 3 pounds. And it's not fair. It's not easy. But everybody gets really protective of me. They're, like, "Be less sexy," and this and that.
MH: I feel like you're someone who rarely crosses that line.
MC: And if I do, it's not intentional - if you film my body a certain way, it's gonna look like a certain way. But honestly, I've been the same way since I was a little kid. Like, I'm just emulating whatever's on a magazine. Or I'll see a Marilyn Monroe film and I'll be emulating that. It's not, like, Oh here I am! and I'm serious about it.
MH: That's easy for people to misinterpret.
MC: And I don't blame them. But if they can't look further into it, and see that there's something else there, then whatever.
MH: I thought the decision to use your own wedding dress in the We Belong Together video was heroic.
MC: Thank you, but the wedding dress doesn't symbolize the marriage for me. It was representative of the day, which was one of the least stressful moments of my, um, relationship. I also could never have found one that fit me in two days, 'cause that was when we had the idea for the wedding thing. That's why I love Brett [Ratner, the director]. He's another Aries freak like me.
MH: How about the ring?
MC: The ring is no longer a ring. I, um, transformed it. That's the only thing I did. I left everything else up there. I left cars and all that. Most people don't know that I paid half of everything in that house. And that just pissed me off because some people looked at me like a kept woman.
MH: I liked what you said in an interview for Blender: "I just want to have fun. Doesn't anybody else do stuff for fun?" I feel like that's exactly what people don't understand about you.
MC: You know, somebody said in a recent article, "Everybody takes Mariah Carey seriously except Mariah Carey." And it was funny because it's really true. My thing is, I'm living my dream. Let's have a freakin' good time. That's why I'm not, like, "let me make 55,000 celebrity friends." If somebody's cool and wants to be friends, that's cool. But my thing is, I hang out with real people: singers, dancers - they may not necessarily be stars, but we connect on another level. I believe we need to make the most of it. That's why [singing from "It's Like That"] "It's my night, no stress, no fights, I'm leavin' it all behind..." 'Cause you know, that's the state of mind that I wanted people to know I was in. And it's tough to stay in that state of mind. But I call it a swirl. As opposed to a spiral. You know what I mean? You have to swirl it and have a good time. I am all about that. I'm very... [swirls a hand up with a Flamenco flourish]
MH: Some people don't see that side of Mariah Carey.
MC: Even if you hated me, we're only here for freakin' half an hour. And how do you get to know somebody in that time period? I'm one of those people if I get a good vibe from somebody when I meet them then I know that. But not everybody's like that. A lot of people take it seriously when I'm making a diva comment. But my mom's an opera diva. I grew up in the most dramatic place ever. Like, a lot of it's jokes to me. You gotta joke. This is show business - it's not that deep. It's only that deep when you're doing something like Live 8 and you're doing something that's gonna change the world. Other than that, just do it. And stop taking yourself so seriously.
Source | Scans & Text
January, 19 2006
Mid-Weeks
Below you will find chart position and sales figure as at close of play:
Tuesday, 17 January 2006
59. The Emancipation of Mimi - 1,496 units (down 32%)
"The Emancipation of Mimi" also begins to fade. Hopefully it can manage to stay another week or two in the Top 75.
N.B Woolies, HMV & WHSmith are all selling the platinum edition for under £9. So keep recommending to all your friends.
Source MTV Base: Help Out!
"Don’t Forget About Us" really needs your requests over at MTV Base. The track is struggling to chart:
MTV BASE: For everyday requests email: mtvbase@mtvne.com
MTV BASE CHART SHOW: http://www.mtvbase.co.uk/baseVote.jhtml
Source The Smell of Mariah
Pop diva Mariah Carey is all set to launch her very own perfume range.
Following in the footsteps of stars like Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears, the chart star will launch her signature fragrance which is sure to be a top seller with her fans.
It’s rumoured that Mariah is keen to rope in top fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld to design a sexy frock for the ad campaign.
The star has come back from a troubled few months that saw her check into a clinic and leave ranting messages on her official website.
She has since released a top-selling album which garnered her eight Grammy nominations.
The award-winning songstress will unveil her new scent at the end of the year.
Source Ooh La La! Did You See Mariahs Dress?!
Mariah Carey may well have had the sexiest dress at Sunday night’s 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards. Along with about 45 other stars, she presented an award. But unlike so many of those celebrities, her dress was daring, sexy and oh-so-revealing.
Source Mariahs Bust-Up
Mariah Carey was certainly busting out of her tight black satin dress at the Golden Globe Awards. Should Mimi not be emancipating her boobs quite so much?
Source
Billboard Updates (Issue Date: January 28, 2006)
Here are Mariah's Billboard chart positions for the magazine's issue date January 28, 2006.
The Emancipation of Mimi ?5
Billboard 200: #6 (Last Week #6)
Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: #7 (Last Week #4)
Sales this week: 50,020 (-33%)
Total Sales: 5,092,797
Don't Forget About Us
Billboard Hot 100: #4 (Last Week #4)
Billboard Hot 100 Airplay: #1 (Last Week #1)
Billboard Pop 100: #8 (Last Week #8)
Billboard Pop 100 Airplay: #5 (Last Week #4)
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #4 (Last Week #2)
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: #4 (Last Week #2)
Billboard Adult R&B: #18 (Last Week #24)
Billboard Mainstream Top 40: #4 (Last Week #3)
Billboard Rhythmic Top 40: #3 (Last Week #2)
Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play: #2 (Last Week #1)
Billboard Dance Radio Airplay: #2 (Last Week #1)
Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales: #20 (Last Week #21)
Billboard Hot Digital Songs: #28 (Last Week #29)
Billboard Hot Digital Tracks (Radio Edit): #25 (Last Week #26)
Billboard Hot Videoclip Tracks: #1 (Last Week #1)
Sales this week: 18,652 (-28%)
Total sales: 221,851
Shake It Off
Billboard Hot 100 Recurrent: #6 (Debut)
Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Recurrent: #3 (Debut)
Billboard Pop 100: #42 (Last Week #36)
Billboard Pop 100 Airplay: #34 (Last Week #32)
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #33 (Last Week #29)
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: #32 (Last Week #26)
Billboard Adult R&B: #15 (Last Week #14)
Billboard Hot Ringtones: #34 (Last Week #28)
We Belong Together ?3
Billboard Hot 100: #44 (Last Week #39)
Billboard Hot 100 Airplay: #33 (Last Week #32)
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #48 (Last Week #40)
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: #47 (Last Week #38)
Billboard Adult R&B: #12 (Last Week #11)
Billboard Hot Singles Sales: #20 (Last Week #16)
Billboard Hot Digital Songs: #59 (Last Week #57)
Billboard Hot Digital Tracks: #49 (Last Week #48)
Billboard Adult Comtemporary Recurrents: #4 (Last Week #6)
Billboard Hot Ringtones: #12 (Last Week #8)
So Lonely
Billboard Pop 100: #91 (Re-Entry)
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles: #14 (Re-Entry)
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-hop Singles: #4 (Last Week #1)
Mariah Carey, Greatest Hits?
Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Catalog Albums: #25 (Last Week #14)
# "Don't Forget About Us" spends its 5th (and possibly last) week at the top of the Hot 100 Airplay chart:
1. Mariah Carey - "Don't Forget About Us"
Overall Audience Impressions: 127.99 million
Change from last week: -20.39 million
2. Nelly - "Grillz"
Overall Audience Impressions: 126.00 million
Change from last week: +15.14 million
3. Beyonce - "Check On It"
Overall Audience Impressions: 117.78 million
Change from last week: +23.95 million
# This week, "Shake It Off" leaves the Billboard Hot 100 Singles after spending an amazing amount of 26 weeks in it, 25 out of them in the top 50. Here's its complete chart run: 66 - 50 - 19 - 12 - 6 - 4 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 - 9 - 12 - 18 - 20 - 24 - 32 - 41 - 42 - 42 - 47
Source
pc munoz reviews "Dreamlover"
The artist/songwriter pc munoz recently launched a popular online column called VERSE-CHORUS-VERSE, a column dedicated to great songs, old and new, which focuses on songs that have influenced and inspired him. This week he wrote about "Dreamlover."
"Dreamlover" - Mariah Carey
Written by Mariah Carey
From Music Box, Sony Records, 1993
I'm just going to say it right out front: I love Mariah Carey. And it's not just because, as video director Joseph Kahn once put it, she looks "like Anime come to life", though her curvy good looks do happen to be right up my alley. I love Mariah for so many reasons: for starters, she's a technically amazing vocalist, a determined artist who wouldn't let consecutive project failures defeat her spirit, and a savvy songwriter who has written with the great Carole King (amongst many others). In addition, as a mixed-race person, I appreciate that Mariah has been a subtle-but-proud advocate for mixed-race folks and the mixed-race experience. After about 5 years as the butt of mean-spirited (read: envious) jokes and snide write-offs, I was one of the few people not surprised at all when Mariah re-emerged in 2005 with a wildly successful straight-out R&B album, The Emancipation of Mimi, which is filled with choice grooves, killer vocals, and a fun vibe that recalls the earlier hit I will discuss here, "Dreamlover."
"Dreamlover" is pure, frothy pop. It flows along so sweetly and lightly, it's easy to dismiss the wide-eyed innocence which the lyric imparts. With her talk of rainbows, charm bracelets, music boxes, and butterflies, I've always thought that Mariah possesses a kind of little-girl spirit which most female songwriters don't dare conjure, for fear of being pigeon-holed, stereotyped, or mocked by "serious" songwriting peers and critics. One might conjecture that Carey's use of these images is simply a calculated manipulation of her targeted demographic (young females), or, worse, an indication of a kind of stunted emotional growth, but I happen to be of the opinion that she really likes that kinda stuff (her cover of Def Leppard's big-haired suburban classic "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" supports this theory, as far I'm concerned). Her penchant for this imagery of course completely precludes Mariah from ever earning the type of indie-cred heaped upon folks like PJ Harvey or the early incarnation of Liz Phair,
but it certainly doesn't warrant automatic dismissal of her work as an artist. And since I mentioned Liz Phair, one need only look to Phair's recent grab for pop megastardom to discern who's really zooming who.
Some of Mariah's older recordings are bathed in a kind of gauzy prettiness that isn't always to my taste, (even if her singing is outstanding throughout), but "Dreamlover", produced by Carey with Dave Hall and Sony uber-producer Walter Afanasieff, has a rhythmic flair that keeps things pumping. The lyrics also contain some memorable lines, once you dig deeper. I've always liked the first few lines of the second verse, which are an interesting mix of Mariah's childlike innocence, and her very grown-up cynicism and world-weariness:
Don't want another pretender
To disillusion me one more time
Whispering words of forever,
Playing with my mind...
The rest of the lyric is a description of, and a call for, the mythic Dreamlover; someone to take her away, to "rescue" her. Fluffy-seeming stuff, sure, but very possibly also an expression of the simplest of romantic dreams: to find the right person and to be taken care of. Musically, a funky beat drives the thing, Afanasieff's Hammond B3 flourishes add an old-school vibe, and Mariah's layered vocals coo and caress your ears. I'm a fan of her ultra-high frequency vocal "whistle", and she puts it to good use here, as a harmony on the extremely catchy musical hook, which incorporates a sample of the Emotions' "Blind Alley", written by soul man David Porter. I know Mariah has been blamed for every over-singing female vocalist since 1990, but the truth is, when she does her thing, no one can touch her, and she actually seldom goes overboard in the same crass way her imitators do. On "Dreamlover", especially, she keeps a close, tasteful rein on the acrobatics.
If you're a fan of, as my friend Adam would say, "appropriately-cool" female songwriters like India.Arie, Aimee Mann, PJ Harvey, Mia Doi Todd, Lucinda Williams, Vienna Teng, Karen Peris, etc., but have stayed away from Mariah out of disdain for the pop machine (or Maxim photo shoots), I encourage you to give her a chance, especially if you have a soft spot for R&B. Start with the latest record, The Emancipation of Mimi, which in my opinion is the R&B album of the year, and definitely her best collection to date. You can then navigate through her back catalog and find other nice things, including "Dreamlover" and the majorly-maligned (even by Mariah herself) Glitter project, which has some very cool sonic references to 80s R&B. You're bound to find something you can dig.
And who knows...you may even develop a new respect for unicorns, rainbows, and charm bracelets, too.
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Rumor Alert: Mariah to Launch Her Own Perfume
Mariah's So Nifty
Mariah Carey is following in the footsteps of J-Lo and Britney Spears by launching her own perfume.
The singer, who's up for eight Grammy awards next month, will unveil the fragrance in December and wants designer Karl Lagerfeld to kit her out for the advertising campaign.
A source says: "Mariah is so excited about the scent and it will be based on white flowers. She wants Karl to design a dress that fits in all the right places."
That girl always comes up smelling of roses...
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January, 18 2006
Frances Bean Loves Mariah Carey
KURT COBAIN and COURTNEY LOVE's daughter FRANCES BEAN has no respect for her rock heritage - she wants MARIAH CAREY to perform at her 16th birthday party.
Despite her late father being the most influential rock musicians of his generation, the 13-year-old insists she shares her cultural taste with every other girl her age.
In an interview with i-D magazine, Frances Bean lists her favourite shows as LAGUNA BEACH and AMERICAN IDOL and professes her love for HONEY hitmaker Carey.
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Midweeks: Goodbye "Greatest Hits"
Below you will find chart position and sales figure as at close of play:
Monday, 16 January 2006
57. The Emancipation of Mimi - 1,004 units (down 33%)
As you see "The Greatest Hits" is no longer featured on the midweek chart. This means that the album has fallen out of the Top 75.
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Possible Tour Prospects
Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, the Who, Coldplay and Radiohead will hit the road, and Mariah Carey, Madonna, Prince, Metallica and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are all maybes.
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Mariah Officially Announced As Grammy Performer
Top Nominees Mariah Carey, John Legend and Kanye West All to Perform on 48th Annual GRAMMY(R) Awards
Mariah Carey, John Legend, and Kanye West, all up for eight GRAMMY Awards, are the first performers announced for the 48th Annual GRAMMY® Awards telecast, it was announced today by The Recording Academy®. The music industry's premier event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.yahoo.com. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
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Weekly Soundscan Numbers For Mariah
# The Emancipation of Mimi
Billboard 200: #6 (Last Week #6, 40 Weeks)
Sales this week: 50,020 (-33%)
Total sales: 5,092,797
# Don't Forget About Us
Hot Digital Songs: #28 (Last Week #29)
Sales this week: 18,652 (-28%)
Total sales: 221,851
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If Left to U.S. Teens, Mariah Carey Would Take Top Honors at 2006 GRAMMYs
If U.S. teens could decide, the 48th Annual GRAMMY(R) Awards would result in a return of former chart-toppers, according to a new Harris Interactive(R) survey. Teens gave the nod to the alternative group Green Day's comeback, picking the single "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" as Record of the Year. Also back on the rise, Mariah Carey was chosen by teens for the Song of the Year with "We Belong Together".
The Harris Interactive YouthQuery(SM) omnibus of 1,092 U.S. teens, aged 13 to 18, was conducted online from December 14 to 20, 2005.
The poll covered three of the most popular GRAMMY(R) categories and gave teens an opportunity to pick their favorites. Results include:
-- Record of the Year:
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day (27%);
"Gold Digger" by Kanye West (17%);
"We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey (14%);
"Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz featuring De La Soul (10%);
"Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani (9%).
-- Song of the Year:
"We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey (27%);
"Bless The Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts(14%);
"Ordinary People" by John Legend (11%);
"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" by U2 (10%);
"Devils & Dust" by Bruce Springsteen (5%).
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January, 17 2006
More From The Golden Globes
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Mariah Mentions
The Globe & Mail: They laughed. They cried. They squealed, hugged and kissed. And a few of the lovely ladies -- most notably Mariah Carey -- nearly slipped out of the front of their plunging couture gowns.
Rediff.Com: 2005’s best selling music artist, Mariah Carey, appropriately presented the award for Best Original Song for a Motion Picture. Beating out Mel Brooks’ The Producers hit, Brokeback Mountain romped home again, with A love that will never grow old picking up the prize.
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Jasmine's Juice
Anguilla is a vacation spot for the overly wealthy and the seriously beautiful! There was me, Mariah, a few of her nearest and dearest. A huge white mansion on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, a private beach, 12 staff looking after 10 of us and much, sun, fun and bronzed bums.
by Jasmine Dotiwala
DAY ONE: Jermaine Dupri pops over to celebrate Mariah’s 17th No.1 (only beaten by the Beatles – this is history!) and to congratulate her on beating 50 Cent for the album of the year sales-wise. MC and JD drew the number "17" in the white sand on our private beach as we all sipped a couple of dozen rum punches and gazed at the starlit sky.
DAY TWO: MC invited a reggae band to come over and play for us at our BBQ as we ate crayfish, sweetcorn, BBQ chicken, ribs and garlic bread. We then had a dance off. MC's choreographer and friend Rachel flipped upside down and did a handstand on a pole to 'wind her booty down' and showed the locals she may be a Yankee but her roots are strong. Then, to the locals' delight, MC and her two friends/singers Maryann and the Grammy-nominated Trey Lorenz and I took the mic to sing MC's songs in a "reggae style". (Pass the Duchie was my particular specialty!)
DAY THREE: We wanted to learn how to surf, so three instructors sailed over in their boats but alas, when they turned up we found they were teaching us to windsurf! MC gave it a go but when we saw how violently the sail falls we convinced her to sit back, relax and watch us attempt it instead. I think I was pretty good considering it was my first attempt – and I would’ve been even better if MC's security man, Rob, didn't keep trying to foil me by yelling ‘SPLASH’. Did I tell you all I can do more leg throw-downs than him in the gym. Hee hee! After getting up on the board a few times and going way too fast for my liking and bailing ship, we returned to our house pool which is heated at all times for a military-style water work with MC's French trainer and nutrionist Patricia. Yep - she kills us but look at MC's abs - its worth the pain.
DAY FOUR: We had mucho fun riding the waves on the banana boat and ring dinghies. I made MC sit at the back of the banana as that's where it's the scariest and most bumpy - well she is the bravest, so why not? That night we had another beach BBQ and bonfire and the moon was actually smiling at us, or was that the rum punch?
DAY FIVE: We went bareback horseriding on sable-brown stallions in the sunset and were left free to run the horses around the island. My horse was freaking from the second I stepped onto his back and wanted to take his own journey regardless of my whoopin' and kicking - we think he was on some kinda herbal crack! I'm not gonna front, I was shook. MC wanted to "gallop faster" all the time and I was like: "I'll see you later ma!"
DAY SIX: Snorkelled. It was a great day full of sunshine and pool frolicking. I couldn't have been more relaxed. Then my hair went green. Well, if we're gonna get technical, lime. I called my hair dresser Julian (even though it was 1am in London). He chuckled: "you've been oxidised by the chlorine." Luckily for me, MC (who once went to beauty school) had a batch of lotions and potions by Artec Sunflower - and soon my hair was neutralised into a slightly less crazy witch colour.
DAY SEVEN: Thankfully my hair wasn't bad enough to freak out the dolphins which we had been waiting all week to play with. We kissed, clapped, danced, sang and did tricks with the five beautiful creatures including swimming with us on their bellies. One of the dolphins was called Bianca and as MC's fans will know, Bianca is not our favourite person so we were slightly freaked out. But, by the end, MC and Bianca were swimming off into the sunset, so all was peace and harmony as it should be at the start of the year. Then we were told it was time for "wheels up in an hour" (celeb speak for 'planes jetting'), so we threw long (fake) fur coats over our bikinis, jumped into a jeep which deposited us to a private Anguillan airfield to MC’s G5 jet and arrived back in MC's home town of NYC by sunrise the next day. Much shrieking ensued as we flashed MC's apartment doormen in our bikinis and cosied ourselves up at the end of our vacation in her fabulous crib. What a way to start 2006!
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Mariah At The Golden Globes
