REVIEW: Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi - Page 3

Goes back to the "Mine Again" production of featuring the voice (why hide it?). The voice drives the song forward rather than the bass.

She laments, again, why she sticks with someone who hurts her. "I just keep going around and around and around. Circles keep on tumbling down ... ... Everything is you ... my heart is consumed. I'm .. so .. confused. Still caught up in you. Love can be so cruel."

Through her songs, anyway, Mariah seems to pick men she does care about but they fade out in importance and devotion.

A nice female chorus ends the piece, harmonizing, "Running around in circles."

"Your Girl." 2:46 minutes. It's the first mention of "naughty thoughts" and "rocking your world." Yum.

"I used to be so shy. Sit at home and fantasize. I ain't wasting no more time. Cause I got to make you mine."

An elegant, "I'm going to straddle you and ..... " song.

"I Wish You Knew." I've never been one for too many love songs. I wish the theme was different by this time, and looking ahead "To The Floor" with Nelly promises a different subject. In the meantime, the words of this song come across the clearest. An enunciation solution that makes me appreciate the song more.

A jangling piano is the backdrop to a dream that seems destined for a short-term relationship. And more an infatuation than even in-the-sack satisfying.

"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.

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Article Author: Temple Stark

A graphic designing wordsmith, with a decade-plus career in community journalism behind me. Take a mean photo, have a new camera, and have been riding the wave of Twitter for more than a year.

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  • Emancipation of Mimi Emancipation of Mimi

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Article comments

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  • 1 - javier

    Apr 13, 2005 at 3:50 pm

    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!!!

  • 2 - Temple Stark

    Apr 13, 2005 at 4:20 pm

    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)

  • 3 - Jenn Bogard

    Apr 13, 2005 at 11:25 pm

    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

  • 4 - rty

    Apr 14, 2005 at 2:47 am

    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.

  • 5 - ihateoreilly

    Apr 14, 2005 at 3:17 am

    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.

  • 6 - Temple Stark

    Apr 14, 2005 at 11:14 am

    Probably right on the "best-selling" not on much else, though. Popularity does not = good.

  • 7 - cd

    Apr 21, 2005 at 1:50 pm

    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.

  • 8 - Temple Stark

    Apr 21, 2005 at 2:01 pm

    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.

  • 9 - welly

    Apr 26, 2005 at 9:51 am

    I love Mariah, especially in this album, She's doing great!!!

  • 10 - John

    May 05, 2005 at 1:30 am

    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".

  • 11 - james mclafferty

    May 16, 2005 at 7:32 am

    Mariah is a goddess and long may she rule,she's also a hotty i've just seen her fhm pics yuuuum.:-)

  • 12 - Eric Olsen

    May 16, 2005 at 8:28 am

    oh James, and here I was learning to trust your judgment

  • 13 - james mclafferty

    May 17, 2005 at 1:18 pm

    ERIC,we all have our weaknesses mate ,(lol);-),

  • 14 - james mclafferty

    May 17, 2005 at 1:28 pm

    ERIC,so you'll let me off with this one then?,(smile),apart from your lovely wife of course who do you prefer?

  • 15 - james mclafferty

    May 18, 2005 at 1:20 pm

    Eric,have you let me off with the whole mariah thing yet mate?.(lol).

  • 16 - Temple Stark

    May 18, 2005 at 1:48 pm

    If he hasn't, I have.

  • 17 - Temple Stark

    May 23, 2005 at 7:41 pm

    Hey there used to be lots of comments here. What happened?

  • 18 - Temple Stark

    May 23, 2005 at 7:42 pm

    Sorry, I came here and none of the comments were here. Weird.

  • 19 - Latameccia

    Aug 02, 2005 at 11:38 am

    I really want to know what is your email address i am the biggest fan in the hole wide world i love you mariah

  • 20 - Latameccia

    Aug 02, 2005 at 11:41 am

    i want your email my big fan plese email me your email address

  • 21 - Sami

    Aug 07, 2005 at 11:57 pm

    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!!

  • 22 - DR. A.W Chase

    Aug 17, 2005 at 11:27 pm

    mariah rules she looks so good i would eat her shit!

  • 23 - DR. A.W Chase

    Aug 17, 2005 at 11:29 pm

    mariah carey looks so good i would eat her shit!

  • 24 - Al Barger

    Aug 17, 2005 at 11:34 pm

    Dr Chase, if you actually bought this crappy album, then you pretty much already HAVE eaten her poo.

  • 25 - Temple Stark

    Aug 17, 2005 at 11:35 pm

    eeeeeeeeeew. No. Just no.


    I'm out of the room when she needs to go.

    LOL

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