REVIEW: Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi
Published April 12, 2005
"You probably haven't got a clue, but I wish you knew how I love you baby. .....
"To the Floor." Indeed a welcome change of pace. "I can't denya" (Mariah). Nice shot of funk - a chocolate filigree icing on the cheesecake.
Got my head moving back and twisting
"Whatever happens is going down tonight." Nelly has a good chorus / anthem voice. One unique enough to be a great contrast to everything around it.
Again Mariah ends on a high high note
Joy Ride: Mariah airs out her voice, which means it's a breathy delivery. Her voice layers with her voice as the joy ride tours the galaxy.
"You can have me any time any where. When you need me I will always be there. And our love goes round and round. Way up high. A .. joy .. ride. We can touch the stars above. We feel love.
The layers of this song make it strong. And towards she also lets the high octaves waft over the top like a cirrocumulus undulatus cloud."
"Fly Like a Bird." That 80s feel again. Except enhanced, better and more tightly produced than "Mine Again. The female chorus comes in throughout, adding a great effect and positioning Mariah to sing louder, crisper and clearer than the competing chorus.
The two end tracks are remixes of "It's Like That," the first track.
Remix one. Here, after the preceeding reassurance that she hasn't gone completely Lil Kim, the bounce beat comes in as refreshing.
"It's like that. It's like that y'all. It's like better than that. I'm like that y'all."
The 8:26-David Morales' mix is a notable and welcome difference, with a great dance-floor potential as Mariah's voice is accelerated to go-go with the 110-bpm pace. There's none of the modern remix conventions of the growling, scratch, beeping sounds trying to be music. Mariah doesn't need that.
If I wasn't typing I'd be shuffling around the floor in my "tall white boy can't dance" mode.
Overall, since I wish her well, in her talent and her life, I am happy for this album to come now. She's spoiled, a drama diva to many. Not to me. I've only ever focused on that smile, that shape, and looking for good news. And that voice.
This is a high note of her career.
Welcome back. Now I'm playing it again.
* An hour through the album I'm just going to go back and review my attempted song quotes to fix them.
** This is the first album or music I ever bought online though iTunes in honor of my March 17 green pledge
*** A couple of swear words in "One and Only" may have been "8-second delayed." If that's the case, that's unfair to me, the music buyer."
- REVIEW: Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi
- Published: April 12, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Downloads, Music: Pop, Review
- Writer: Temple Stark
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Comments
Cool. This was my reaction as I typed along to my very first listen.
The Talent is There.
I think animosity should be reserved for the porn queen Paris Hiltons of the world (if we discount for the moment the more serious animosity for child molesters terrorists etc etc)
Well Well Well. Mariah, I think that she is great, I like the album because it's her, not because it's great. when I think of Mariah I think of her in the early 90's. Vision of Love, Love takes time, etc... I miss those days, but for all you Mariah fans, I can't weait for everyone to hear this nwe girl about to come out, her name is Lisa Lavie, and coincedentally she just finished her first album with Ben Margulies, Who co-write of all of Mariah's First hits. I hear that this girl's album will be released this year. It's Crazy off the chain, Soaring vocals, Crazy style
mariah carey cant sing if her life depended on it. She screaTches like an Alley cat. by the waY..she is not even the closest to being the top selling female artist of all time..its a title her record company gave her when her career went south. Also..if she had so much "talent" then why does she have to employ a rapper for every song of hers.
Mariah the biggest selling female artist of all time? That was hype created by Virgin, to try and restart Mariah's horrifying failed career. Madonna and Streisand have sold way over 200 million albums each (Mariah Carey has sold 150 million) and they can sell out concerts. Mariah Carey's last tour was such a failure that it was downsized from arenas to high school gymnasiums...and it STILL couldn't sell out. All you "lambs" should realize that Mariah is a no-talent who's voice resembles a dog whistle rather than that of a real singer. Too bad she didn't commit suicide after her breakdown.
Probably right on the "best-selling" not on much else, though. Popularity does not = good.
Mariah's music never has transcended commercialism. "The Emancipation of Mimi" makes no attempt to be anything other than a money making venture. Perhaps this album is a slicker more devious attempt at pulling in the Benjamins then the lame Charmbracelot or Glitter, but one could never call it art. The tracks sound very much like that of the current pop/r&b stars such as Beyonce or Ashanti. Mariah's voice, never supple or distinctive, is even less effective here alternating between breathy whispers, screams, and ear-drum shattering dog whistles. Mariah, never a true soul singer, goes through the motions but never connects with the emotions. Apparently she penned some of the tunes, a feat not worth bragging about.
I agreed CD, it's not 100-percent art. However, she's trying to get back on track and she's producing what she likes to hear right now. Unlike most of us, she can do something about it. Do I think it could have been stronger and more original? Yes. Do I want something as sterile as Butterfly (for the most part) no. However, both are commercial successes.
I love Mariah, especially in this album, She's doing great!!!
This album is her best in years.OMG someone said she "sounded squeeky"!!! for those idiots...That squeeky things is called "whistle register" people who's into singing knows that its rare since not many singers can hit notes in that range!!! so idiots please stop reviewing if you dont have a slightest clue about music!!!
Vocally Mariah is up there with Whitney,and Xtina, or even better!!
Welcome back Mariah!!!
oh and Please show the world the return of your voice, I want to hear more ballads...
I want to hear "The Emancipation of Mariah".
Mariah is a goddess and long may she rule,she's also a hotty i've just seen her fhm pics yuuuum.:-)
oh James, and here I was learning to trust your judgment
ERIC,we all have our weaknesses mate ,(lol);-),
ERIC,so you'll let me off with this one then?,(smile),apart from your lovely wife of course who do you prefer?
Eric,have you let me off with the whole mariah thing yet mate?.(lol).
Hey there used to be lots of comments here. What happened?
Sorry, I came here and none of the comments were here. Weird.
I really want to know what is your email address i am the biggest fan in the hole wide world i love you mariah
i want your email my big fan plese email me your email address
ok i have just a couple of things to say.. to say madanna is better then mariah carey? u have no brain.. i hate maddanna .. or how ever spell her name! .. mariah carey has come baq.. and has liek the highest voice ever!! shes not sqeaky.. yes she has had ups and owns.. but she has been able to come baq after that last mental break down.. but to say she should have killed her self? umm u must not no how it feels to b in that position.. and i feel srri for her bc he dad died! ok? so i would b upswt aot to if my dad died.. soo ya'll need to shut up.. i mean only ppl come on here to start stuff and its stupid.. u only want attention.. but u need to stop.. leave her alone!!
mariah rules she looks so good i would eat her shit!
mariah carey looks so good i would eat her shit!
Dr Chase, if you actually bought this crappy album, then you pretty much already HAVE eaten her poo.
eeeeeeeeeew. No. Just no.
I'm out of the room when she needs to go.
LOL
Perhaps Dr Chase has given us, indeed, the key clue to understanding the popularity of this utterly crappy record: Her lambs like the taste of poo.
now remember I like record so that makes no sense.
I wish all you mimi haters an eternity burning in hell for all the nonsense ya'll have writen about her. It's absolute rubbish to say that Mariah Carey is all hype and no talent, she can knock the socks off Madonna's poor excuse for a singing voice any day. She really is the biggest selling female artist of all time(get ur facts straight- Madonna wishes she could have sold as many albums as Mariah and as much as i like Barbra Strisand's work, there is no way in hell that she could have gotten anywhere near the success of mimi). Although the Emancipation of Mimi is a notably different album to what we as mariah's fans are used to, it is still a brilliant piece of work. What we as the public need to remember is that Mariah has changed, she has finally broken away from all the drama that was holding her down and she finally got over her issues with herself. I think that it's safe to say that she has evolved as a person and it's only fitting that she evolve as an artist too and that we, as her real fans(and i'm not talking about those who like her when she's topping the charts and forget about her when she's having trouble i her personal life)need to acknowledge that evolution and embrace it. In my opinion, mariah is, has been and always will be the best, no one to my knowledge has a voice that surpasses hers. She is the personification of talent,beauty, elegance, grace and humility. Haters quit hating and appreciate!
ihateoreilly ----- you are so.. STUPID!!! You better .. read again what you have written in the future.. HOW CAN YOU BE SO.. DAMN STUPID? How could you write those horrible things?
i think that mariah carey is the greatest ever female singer without doubt, i dont care what any1 else says. ive just recently started listening 2 the mariah of the 90s with the likes of HERO! which is my favourite song at the minute its beautiful and i really wish that 1day we can hear some more songs like that from mariah i cant get enough of them, also the likes of when u believe and always be my baby, i dont know how any1 can ay shes rubbish, i love her. 1day i just wish she can do some more songs like the 1s from the 90s but other than that keep going mariah, ur my hero
ye i totally agree, whitney is exactly the same her voice is stunning aswel, but mariah is unbelievable her voice gives me goosebumps its that nice it makes me want 2 cry because its so nice i always have tears in my eyes, hero is a great song one of my all time favourites, aslo i cant live, with that song she show just how much of a great voice she has, i wud also like to see her bring bk those days of sheer brillaince, mariah i love u and always will do ur songs atm r good but as mike said yes it would b a dream again to hear you hit them vocals and them beautiful songs u have created in the past, mariah i cant have enough praise for you i love you keep going and to finish off i just want 2 say these magic words, and then a hero comes along, with the strength 2 carry on and you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive so when you feel like hope is gone look inside you and be strong, and you'll finally see the truth that a hero lies in uuuuuu:D, thank you so much mariah xxx
Madonna has sold more than Mariah, Mariah is not even ahead of mADONNA in the USA. Madonna is way bigger internationally
mariah carey has sold 160m albums compared to madonna 152m.
I think u r one of the best singers in this world and I really admire u youre voice
mariah has a beautiful voice.and she has sold more albums than madonna.believe me im related to her shes my 2nd cousin.and if you dont believe me than fuck you.besides you ask my family.
check out my website people Mariah you r the best woman solo singer ive heard please tell me ur email address
so u MIMI haters how are you feeling now that THE EMANCIPATION OF MIMI is now 5X Platinum in the U.S. and selling 7 millions (and counting) in the world market? The Emancipation ..... is the biggest selling album in the whole world and how about her record breaking WE BELONG TOGETHER? 14 weeks at number one! what a success! and lets not forget the awards she recieved from the AMA, VIBE, BILLBOARD among others and her recent 8 nominations at the GRAMMYS? it only proves that neither Madonna nor Whitney can't be MARIAH because she is MIMI!!! HAHAHAHA
girl I love Mariah she`s the best person ever.she`s the reason I want to become a singer
Congrats !!! What styles are you going to sing?
(note - the URL won't quit.)
Whatever!!!! To all the jealous haters!! I don't see your ass on tv or on the radio or cashing in like Mariah does!! HA, whatever!!! She is the best female vocalist of all time and it would be a miracle for anyone to top the talent she possesses and the money she's made from her blessing, her "voice!" By the way, in case you haven't noticed, she don't need your approval!! She has and is and will be alright regardless of your hateful comments! The stuff you wrote, and you know who you are, is just plain evil. Remember, God is watching how we live and that is not the way to be. Focus on your dreams and goals and stop waiting to see someone else's demise!! Karma is a Bitchhhhh!! Don't u 4get it! I Love Mariah and thanks for sharing your talent with the world!! You're the BEST!!!
Mariah - We were meant to be together! Please look at the stars at night... I am your shining star. Remember I told you, I am the chosen one! God spoke to me when I was a child. He chose me as his only begotten son. You should see this by now. Please go to Timothy Cullen.
Cullen - I'd be more inclined to believe the whole, chosen, begotten son bit if you were a little more tech-savvy. I know it may be too much to ask for a mere son of god, but you screwed up your first link and couldn't spell your name in the second link attempt today.
Peace be unto you because your link love is absent. Temple
Grow up, people.











Being a fan of different varieties of music this is what I thought after buying Mimi's (Mariah) new CD.
Mariah has had her ups and downs. She was down for a bit there, but now she's back!I agree with your review. I heard it the first time and it was different. But listening to a few times now and I've come to really like it. No American Idol wanna-be's or "Britney like" image. She can really sing!
For those of us who know what its like to be at the bottom then make it back up, you can feel her!
Mariah is back!!!