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This page is dedicated to my favourite email pal, Claire. She is the funkiest person I know and I'm grateful to have met her! This page is also dedicated to Dale Bicknell and Mariah Carey. _____________________________________________________
~ MARIAH CAREY: Singles ~
* MY ALL / BREAKDOWN * from Butterfly (Columbia,1998)
Description: My All is Mariah's 5th single from Butterfly and her second single in America. It contains remixes of My All & Butterfly Club Mix by David Morales, The Roof with Mob Deep and Breakdown.
7" Single (38 78821), CD Single (38K 78821): 1. My All - (3:51) 2. Breakdown (Featuring Krayzie Bone & Wish Bone) - (4:44)
Maxi CD-Single (44K 78822): 1. My All (Album Version) - (3:51) 2. My All (Classic Club Mix) - (9:06) 3. Breakdown (The Mo' Thugs Remix) - (4:58) 4. The Roof (Mobb Deep Mix) - (5:29) 5. Fly Away (Fly Away Club Mix) - (9:50)
* IF IT'S OVER * from MTV Unplugged (Columbia,1992)
Description: If It's Over was the second and final single from Mariah's impressive MTV Unplugged performance. The single was released outside America.
Austrian single: 1. If It's Over (Live) 2. If It's Over (LP Version) 3. Someday (New 12" Jackswing)
Japan - single: 1. If It's Over (Live) 2. Emotions (Live) 3. Special Message for Japanese fans
* THE ROOF * from Butterfly (Columbia,1998)
Description: The Roof single was released on March 10 in Singapore and selected parts of Europe. This was the third single in Europe from Butterfly album. The song is in a hip-hop kinda style, showing again Mariah's beautiful voice. The remixes are also excellent. This is Mariah Carey's favourite song from the Butterfly album.
Singapore (?): 1. Album Version - 5:15 2. Radio Edit - 3:58 3. Mobb Deep Extended Version - 5:31 4. Full Crews' Club Mix - 4:58 5. Full Crew Club Mix - 4:58
Europe (UK): 1. The Roof (Mobb Deep Extended Mix) 2. The Roof (Full Crews Club Mix) 3. The Roof (Full Crews Club Mix) 4. The Roof (Full Crew Radio Edit No Rap) 5. The Roof (Funkly Club Mix) 6. The Roof (After Hours Club Mix) 7. The Roof (Bass Man Club Mix)
* VISION OF LOVE * from Mariah Carey (Columbia,1990)
Description: Vision Of Love was selected as the first single from Mariah's debut album. On August 4, 1990 reached #1 at Billboard's Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. At the same time they have also filmed the music video. It was her first ever single and is now a classic.
US version (?): 1. Vision of Love - 3:31 2. Prisoner / All in your Mind / Someday - 5:44 3. Sent from up Above - 4:05
UK: 1. Vision Of Love - 3:31 2. Someday 3. Prisoner 4. All In Your Mind _____________________________________________________
*** REVIEW ***
Emotions (1991)
1.EMOTIONS:Mariah's second album kicked off with the catchy title track Emotions, which now stands as another Mariah classic, although she rarely performs this song live since 1992. The lyrics are pure sugary pop and it's one of those songs that leave you feeling happy. Once again, Mariah uses her high- pitched vocal range to great extent... and it works VERY well. **** 1/2
2.AND YOU DON'T REMEMBER: Mariah and Walter Afanseiff teamed up again to produce this nice ballad, which never really soars like some of her other ballads, but it's still a great song. The lyrics are stirring and the entire song flies quite well. ***
3.CAN'T LET GO: This is one of Mariah's most raw, emotional and powerful ballads. It soars along with a dynamite chorus and Mariah's angelic voice. *****
4.MAKE IT HAPPEN: What makes this catchy track work really well is the inspirational lyrics and the honesty in Mariah's voice. This is a great song that really does have a great theme. ****
5.IF IT'S OVER: Mariah worked with her idol Carole King on this one, and to be honest, this song has never really grown on me over the years. Mariah's voice is strong and still as enchanting as ever, but the slow tempo and lack of power make it not as popular as some of her previous tracks- despite that flaw, some people may love this song... I think it's average. ** 1/2
6.YOU'RE SO COLD: Whilst this isn't as pumping as Mariah's more recent dance tracks (Fantasy, Honey) , You're So Cold is still a very good song. An infectious chorus, a catchy beat and Mariah's great vocal range (going from deep to incredibly high) make this a great track. *** 1/2
7.SO BLESSED: This is one of my favourite ballads from the Emotions album. It's an emotional, romantic and touching ballad that delivers a powerful chorus and is a pure gem. **** 1/2
8.TO BE AROUND YOU: Mariah's earlier dance tracks were never enough to make me get up and dance, but they were always great pop tracks with a catchy melody you can't get out of your head and a feel-good melody. This is no exception. *** 1/2
9.TILL THE END OF TIME: This is another gem, Mariah's most beautiful ballad on the album. This is hailed as a Mariah classic (despite never charting nor release). Fans love it! It's a sweetly soft song that's timid and painfully beautiful, yet compelling and powerful aswell. *****
10.THE WIND: On first hearing this song, I thought: THIS IS SLOWER THAN SNAILS! But now it's grown on me as a blues style ballad with a gospel and jazz influence. It really is a beautiful song once you sit down and really listen to it. It's about a man who died in a motor vehicle accident. *** 1/2
OVERALL:Mariah was given more freedom with this album, and it shows a gospel edge with a splash of R&B and that pop style Mariah is famous for. It's a more raw and emotional album than her debut, which is what makes it just a slight (I mean SLIGHT) fraction better.
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* CHARATIES THAT MARIAH SUPPORTS *
We all know Mariah isn't the poor girl from Long Island anymore, so what charaties does she support?
THE FRESH AIR FUND 1040 Avenue of the Americas, Third Floor New York, NY 10018 http://www.freshair.org
AM FAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research) supports AIDS research, finding a cure, education for AIDS prevention, and AIDS-related public policy development 733 3rd Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10017 http://www.amfar.org
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND supports education of minority and diadvantaged students, raises funds for historically black colleges and universities 500 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10021 http://www.bin.com/assocorg/uncf/uncf.htm
CAMP MARIAH a career awareness camp for inner-city children. http://www.freshair.org/docs/campmariah.html
HALE HOUSE CENTRE Cares for babies born with drug or alcohol addiction, AIDS,... 68 Edgecombe Avenue, New York, NY 10030
TJ MARTELL FOUNDATION Supports AIDS, leukemia, and childhood cancer research. It is a favorite charity of the music industry - specially country music. 6 West 57th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10019
- So not only is Mariah Carey the best female artist of the 90's, a talented songwriter, producer, filmclip director and performer- she's also a giving and generously caring woman. Please, if you can, support the above charaties also...they are all so worthwhile. _____________________________________________________
*** REVIEW ***
Merry Christmas (1994)
1.SILENT NIGHT ****
2.ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU: This incredibly infectious hit single is so catchy I find myself singing it inside my head throughout November, December and January. Listening to it now, it makes me feel Santa's on his way and I feel like decorating my room with tinsel. What a song! *****
3.O HOLY NIGHT:A rich,beautiful song unlike any other. Suprisingly powerful - Mariah sounds like an angel. *****
4.CHRISTMAS (PLEASE BABY COME HOME): A little too much like AIWFCIY, this is still a great song that really gives you that Christmas feel. ***
5.MISS YOU MOST (AT CHRISTMAS TIME): This is such a gorgeous song! It's so rich and full of beauty. The lyrics are so heart wrenching it nearly brings tears to my eyes. *****
6.JOY TO THE WORLD ****
7.JESUS BORN ON THIS DAY: A purely moving song, the choir in the background are a nice touch. ****
8.SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN ***
9.HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING/GLORIA ****
10.JESUS OH WHAT A WONDERFUL CHILD: Great Christmas gospel song. Happy feeling stuff here, nothing too amazing though. ***
11.GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN **** 1/2
OVERALL: This really does spread the Christmas joy! It's like Mariah has taken the joy from her holidays and given them to us with her beautiful voice and music- now that's a beautiful present. This album is so good, I still listening to it all year round. Mariah doesn't destroy the traditional songs like some artists have,she's only made them better.
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email me: daydream@sci.net.au _____________________________________________________
*** DIVA RIVLARY ***
Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Madonna, Toni Braxton and Mariah Carey are all power-house artists. So it's hard to compare each of them, but here we go! They are in ranking.
(1). MARIAH CAREY Without being bias, Mariah Carey would have to be the most talented of all. She 's done own producing, writing, music, vocal arranging, filmclips and yet her talents are still expanding. She's had more #1 hits than any other female artist.
(2). MADONNA Once again, Madonna is much like Mariah Carey in some aspects- she does produce and write a lot of her own music. She also has a gift for reconstructing her image, and after selling 100 million, she's a powerful artist. However, when you here that she's sold 100 million over Mariah's 80 million - this apparent sales graph includes Madonna's singles aswell as albums, and she's been around many years longer than Mariah. Her latest singles "Frozen" and "Ray Of Light" prove she's getting better and better. Her work on BEDTIME STORIES and SOMETHING TO REMEMBER are also proof Madonna has a grasp on the music industry.
(3). WHITNEY HOUSTON Sure, Whitney has faded from the spotlight after such flops as her films Waiting To Exhale and The Preacher's Wife. Personally, I've seen both movies and I enjoyed them- and I do own all her soundtracks. Whitney also has a hand in her material, co-writing and co-producing, Whitney has talent and an unmistakably powerful voice.
(4). CELINE DION OK, OK, Celine sells a great number of albums and she's got like one of the biggest selling singles at the moment... but really, what creative control does she hold? On her latest album "Let's Talk About Love" she co-wrote one song out of a sixteen track CD. And out of 16 songs, 5 sound the same. Maybe she would do better if she had 11 track albums and save the others for B-sides. However, no one can argue she has an amazing voice... she just needs to put some personality in her music before becoming a full-fled diva.
(5). TONI BRAXTON She has less creative control than Mariah - but More than Celine... however, she doesn't have the powerful voice. She has a smooth sweet voice, but she relies more on grooves and over-polished ballads. Toni Braxton needs to let herself free of making songs that sell - and put some personality into it.
POTENTIAL DIVAS: - Shania Twain - Puff Johnson - Allure - Janet Jackson - Monica
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*** REVIEW ***
Daydream (1995)
1.FANTASY: This is one hell of a song! The beat is unlike any other dance track she's done, this a groovy and pumping pop song that's catchy and sooooo good. A classic #1 hit. *****
2.UNDERNEATH THE STARS: A not-so-typical Mariah/ Afanasieff production fits perfectly with the whole Daydream feel. This is a trippy kinda song, one which I admire a lot. ****
3.ONE SWEET DAY: Mariah's duet with Boyz II Men is her biggest hit ever, and it doesn't suprise me. This is an inspirational ballad beyond anything I've heard for a long time. Boyz II Men and Mariah are both so talented, and they sound terrific together. *****
4.OPEN ARMS: One of my favourite Mariah songs! My twin brother doesn't like Mariah (he's a Nirvana freak) - but he loves this song aswell. It's a cover of a 1981 song and it's so nice- also quite powerful. *****
5.ALWAYS BE MY BABY: A catchy pop melody that enjoyed great success on the charts along with Fantasy and One Sweet Day. Produced by Jeramie Dupri, a very talented man, this is a great song! ****
6.I AM FREE: If anyone else would have sang this song, it would be pretty average. But Mariah's sweet angelic voice and powerful range delivers a soaring ballad. ***
7.WHEN I SAW YOU: Another stunning ballad that I feel is good enough to be released as a single, but never ended up being charted. Mariah and Afanasieff really do work well together. *** 1/2
8.LONG AGO: What at first sounds like a B-side kinda track is saved by a dreamy feeling and fantastic lyrics , plus a slick R&B groove. ***
9.MELT AWAY: Mariah and Babyface work together again to create this smooth R&B track that really is a delight. One of the gems of this album. ****
10.FOREVER: This is Vision Of Love and Always Be My Baby blended into one. A catchy pop tune blended with a slow tempo melody make this track above average. *** 1/2
11.DAYDREAM INTERLUDE: I'm not a huge techno fan, but this is a great track! I was shocked to see Mariah's music make such a turn, but this is a very good song. ***
12.LOOKING IN: Slow, but intensely beautiful, "Looking In" is a great finish for one of Mariah's finest albums. ****
OVERALL: Mariah's DAYDREAM is a showcase of her many talents as a singer, writer and producer. She is a very talented woman who deserves so much respect and success... she is a remarkable person. _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
