Whats happening with Mariah Carey?

[Belair]

I used to be a Mariah Carey fan,I always thought she could sing but I dont like her new style.I was just listening to her single 'Its Like That' and its really pathetic,and doesn't show off Mariah's talent.I wonder why Mariah has gone so downhill?

[Dean Winchester]

you're kidding, right? It's Like That is easily (IMO) Mariah's best single in nearly a decade. She's BEEN downhill since the Butterfly record, now she's bouncing back.

[Janice]

Mariah Carey's 'Mimi' to Debut Over 'Rainbow'

By Keith Caulfield, Reuters

Mariah Carey's latest single 'It's Like That' is her biggest radio hit since 1999.

NEW YORK (April 18) - Go ahead and call it a comeback. Mariah Carey is on course to land her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 since 1997 -- and with her biggest opening week ever.

First-day sales of Carey's new "The Emancipation of Mimi" (Island/IDJMG) suggest that her eighth studio album could surpass 350,000 units, easily placing it at No. 1 on the big chart.

With a busy promotional schedule during release week -- including visits to "Good Morning America," "TRL," "Live With Regis and Kelly" and "Late Show With David Letterman" -- chart prognosticators suggest Carey's number may rise even higher.

Her last No. 1, "Butterfly" (Columbia/Sony Music), bowed with 235,000 in 1997. Her 1999 set "Rainbow" (Columbia/Sony Music) holds the record for the singer's biggest opening week, having bowed at No. 2 with 323,000 units.

Also heading for a record-high sales week and chart bow is Mudvayne, as its "Lost and Found" (Epic/Sony Music) could do upwards of 150,000 units, ensuring the band its highest debut yet. The act's last album, "The End of All Things to Come," started at No. 17 with 79,000 units in 2002.

Garbage's fourth effort, "Bleed Like Me" (Almo Sounds/Geffen), may sell as much as 75,000 units in its first week. If that number holds, the group will earn its first top 10 album. The set's lead single, "Why Do You Love Me," has already entered the top 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

[HuntingtonM15]

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

you're kidding, right? It's Like That is easily (IMO) Mariah's best single in nearly a decade. She's BEEN downhill since the Butterfly record, now she's bouncing back.

Yeah really. I'd say that song is FAR from pathetic. I'm really happy that she's finally able to make a comeback. I must admit, I wasn't expecting too much from this new album considering her last 3, but I was very surprised. I like nearly every song on it. There's many more strong vocals than her "whisper" singing.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

Yeah really. I'd say that song is FAR from pathetic. I'm really happy that she's finally able to make a comeback. I must admit, I wasn't expecting too much from this new album considering her last 3, but I was very surprised. I like nearly every song on it. There's many more strong vocals than her "whisper" singing.

even tho I have vocally not been a fan of her hip hop inspired music, but I feel that the difference with the new stuff and what she's been doing the past 7 or 8 years, is that she actually is in charge. Songs like Honey and Boy (I Need You) don't sound like Mariah, but instead sounded like songs by P. Diddy and (whoever did Boy) featuring special guest Mariah. It's Like That however is basically the sound of Mariah taking it back.

Honestly, I like her now for the first time that I've liked her in about 9 years. I still think nothing will ever top her first album though. Now that was a GOOD album.

[Superstar]

I think the song is decent, a little annoying at times but not bad. I wouldn't buy the album though.

[HuntingtonM15]

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

even tho I have vocally not been a fan of her hip hop inspired music, but I feel that the difference with the new stuff and what she's been doing the past 7 or 8 years, is that she actually is in charge. Songs like Honey and Boy (I Need You) don't sound like Mariah, but instead sounded like songs by P. Diddy and (whoever did Boy) featuring special guest Mariah. It's Like That however is basically the sound of Mariah taking it back.

Honestly, I like her now for the first time that I've liked her in about 9 years. I still think nothing will ever top her first album though. Now that was a GOOD album.

I am basically a fan of every song she recorded up until Rainbow. There's a few songs on Rainbow that I can't even listen to, because they are so bad. I do like Honey, but yeah, I can't say that I like Boy (I Need You). Charmbracelet was an even bigger mess than Rainbow. I do like some of the songs on it, but many of them are WELL below what she is capable of. Too many of them sound the same and are very whispery. That's why I wasn't really expecting much with this new album, but I was and still am VERY surprised by it. It's great to see her strong vocals back. I agree about her first album. I would love more songs like "Someday" and "I Don't Wanna Cry" but I doubt they could hold up on the charts today.

[TJL]

I don't know why Mariah is still doing the collaborations with the hip hop guys. To me, it looks like she's trying to be "with it" with the younger crowd. It must be tough for female artists when they reach this phase of their career - are you still MTV or are you now VH-1?

Oh and Mariah - stop dressing like a stripper. You're a millionaire. Step away from the tube tops!

[Janice]

Originally Posted by TJL

Oh and - stop dressing like a stripper.

I hope this isn't one of your pickup lines.

[TJL]

Originally Posted by Janice

I hope this isn't one of your pickup lines.

Let's just say things were really interesting at TJL's house last Thanksgiving...

[MissZero]

I [heart] that song!!!! I think Mariah has more vocal potential than what the song shows but I'm sure the rest comes out in her album

[Belair]

I am really only a fan of her ballads.Its Like That is popular because thats what is mainstream at the moment,but I dont think it does her any favours vocally.

[SBTB Geek]

I agree with BuffySlayer, Mariah's newest album is actually the best thing she has put out since Butterfly or even Daydream. I like the Emancipation of Mimi-- it compliments her voice without the help of endless boring ballads, in upbeat songs like "Say Something" she still manages to showcase her voice.

And the amazing thing is that her upbeat songs aren't horrible imitations of some rappers work. In this album she is finally no longer playing the co-star role- she knows who is boss.

This album is a very good effort and congrats to her, midweek sales report show she is already over 400,000 copies, very close to half a mil now. Wow.

[Belair]

I loved her Rainbow album the most personally.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by SBTB Geek

And the amazing thing is that her upbeat songs aren't horrible imitations of some rappers work. In this album she is finally no longer playing the co-star role- she knows who is boss.

This album is a very good effort and congrats to her, midweek sales report show she is already over 400,000 copies, very close to half a mil now. Wow.

precisely. I think I might've championed her earlier hip-hop driven material if it was more like this. I had the misfortune of listening to Glitter once from a friend who had a copy of it (yes, I knew that one person, lol) and 75% of the album played like a various artists compilation of hip hop tracks that just happened to have Mariah singing in the background in common. She was being way too passive and letting the other producers and guests take charge on HER album. Now it is like she's telling people like JD that she loves them but that it is her album and she's going to make the most of it.

I almost wonder if the success of Mimi will send people to record stores to buy Glitter now, since it's sold 2/3 what Glitter did in a mere week.