kitbradley said:

I was going thru the Sunday sales papers today and neither Target (which will include one bonus track) nor Best Buy had it listed for a Tuesday release. I'm looking online and all of the sites are still saying May 27 so I'm wondering what's going on with the promo and advertising?

There might be some issues that are going on behind the scenes. In the music industry, it could be anything tying up the promotion of the album.

I rather like the cover art chosen for the Target deluxe edition.

kitbradley said:

I was going thru the Sunday sales papers today and neither Target (which will include one bonus track) nor Best Buy had it listed for a Tuesday release. I'm looking online and all of the sites are still saying May 27 so I'm wondering what's going on with the promo and advertising?

Well if they push it back they are even dumber than i thought, the album is streaming and is ALL OVER the net which means its out because the sales have already been cut into, DUMB to stream albums REAL DUMB and i have been saying this forever, regardless of who you are this cuts into sales, because the software exists to rip streams off of amazon and itunes. So i doubt they push the album back, i still dont know HOW this is "Beyonce" like since we all know its coming out, its streaming, its leaked, there is no dvd that we know of, so once again TALK HYPE to cash in on some sales you arent going to get anyway. Its an OK record best she has made in almost 20 years.

kitbradley said:

I was going thru the Sunday sales papers today and neither Target (which will include one bonus track) nor Best Buy had it listed for a Tuesday release. I'm looking online and all of the sites are still saying May 27 so I'm wondering what's going on with the promo and advertising?

Do any of you know if she has ever worked with Pharrell in the past? It might be a worthwhile thing to do.

[Edited 5/25/14 11:29am]

Pharrell co-composed and co-produced the single, "Say Somethin', from the Emancipation of Mimi album.

Identity said:

Pharrell co-composed and co-produced the single, "Say Somethin', from the Emancipation of Mimi album.

Thanks I wasn't completely sure. I actually liked that song. She should work with him more often. Or maybe Pharrell is super expensive to have produce an album?

^^Pharrell produced Jennifer Hudson's new single "I Can't Describe" and I think it's better than any of these new Mariah tunes.

SoulAlive said:

^^Pharrell produced Jennifer Hudson's new single "I Can't Describe" and I think it's better than any of these new Mariah tunes.

Yeah he's got amazing skills. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how does Mariah's album measure up?

SoulAlive said:

^^Pharrell produced Jennifer Hudson's new single "I Can't Describe" and I think it's better than any of these new Mariah tunes.

Love "I Can't Describe," Soul! Sad that it was an instant flop tho. It's a real banger! In fact, I think Mariah could've killed it had it been given 2 her instead, but Jenny absolutely kills it anyway herself!

Identity said:

Pharrell co-composed and co-produced the single, "Say Somethin', from the Emancipation of Mimi album.

I love that track!

Mariah Carey Participates in Twitter Q&A Ahead of Album Release
May 26, 2014

Link

On Tuesday, Mariah Carey will release her 14th album Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse. To get fans more excited, the singer participated in a Twitter Q&A, in which she discussed the recording process.

When asked how she would describe her album, Mi Mi replied, "It is a body of work that is the outcome of the journey I've been through in the past 3 years personally and musically."

The singer shared her growing anticipation to release her long-awaited disc. "Cheers to all my fans, I'm elated to celebrate & share this moment w/ you. "You'll always be a part of me, I'm part of you indefinitely," she tweeted.

Mariah also spoke about her guest features, which includes Nas, Wale, Fabolous and more. "I love when the collaborations happen organically and the ones on this album are some of my favorites, ever," she said. "I've been blessed to work with the greatest in the business in almost every genre from hip-hop to classical."

She later told a fan, "I put my everything in making this album, so I'm humbled & full of gratitude."

The set also includes contributions from Hit-Boy, Jermaine Dupri, Mike WiLL Made It, and Q-Tip.

Identity said:

Mariah Carey Participates in Twitter Q&A Ahead of Album Release
May 26, 2014

Link

On Tuesday, Mariah Carey will release her 14th album Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse. To get fans more excited, the singer participated in a Twitter Q&A, in which she discussed the recording process.

When asked how she would describe her album, Mi Mi replied, "It is a body of work that is the outcome of the journey I've been through in the past 3 years personally and musically."

The singer shared her growing anticipation to release her long-awaited disc. "Cheers to all my fans, I'm elated to celebrate & share this moment w/ you. "You'll always be a part of me, I'm part of you indefinitely," she tweeted.

Mariah also spoke about her guest features, which includes Nas, Wale, Fabolous and more. "I love when the collaborations happen organically and the ones on this album are some of my favorites, ever," she said. "I've been blessed to work with the greatest in the business in almost every genre from hip-hop to classical."

She later told a fan, "I put my everything in making this album, so I'm humbled & full of gratitude."

The set also includes contributions from Hit-Boy, Jermaine Dupri, Mike WiLL Made It, and Q-Tip.

Seems like she has some top notch collaborators/producers but I wonder if that means her album will be a hit. I remember months back seeing a photo of Mariah, Nas and some other dudes drinking champagne in the studio. Looks like they were having fun. We'll see if that translates into her album. I also wonder how Nick Cannon's album fared. Anybody know?

Identity said:

I believe this is the first professional photo I've ever seen of her in less makeup. I, too, could see this as album cover art.

thedoorkeeper said:

I like the Billboard cover shot.

Would make a nice cd cover.

I have never seen her look so made down either. But it is very refreshing I feel! And I love the ring that she is sporting..

SeventeenDayze said:

I also wonder how Nick Cannon's album fared. Anybody know?

Soundscan couldn't be bothered to provide the total sales count.

Identity said:

SeventeenDayze said:

I also wonder how Nick Cannon's album fared. Anybody know?

Soundscan couldn't be bothered to provide the total sales count.

Oh man are you serious? LOL! He was on everyone's TV show for like two weeks straight promoting the album and doing a bunch of publicity stunts such as the hair color stuff and his opening up about all the women he was with before MC

Identity said:

I rather like the cover art chosen for the Target deluxe edition.

Hey I just noticed the parental advisor label on this album. What gives? Anybody know why they slapped that advisory on there?

[Edited 5/26/14 21:19pm]

SeventeenDayze said:

Identity said:

I rather like the cover art chosen for the Target deluxe edition.

Hey I just noticed the parental advisor label on this album. What gives? Anybody know why they slapped that advisory on there?

[Edited 5/26/14 21:19pm]

To try and stimulate more sales?

SeventeenDayze said:

Identity said:

Soundscan couldn't be bothered to provide the total sales count.

Oh man are you serious? LOL! He was on everyone's TV show for like two weeks straight promoting the album and doing a bunch of publicity stunts such as the hair color stuff and his opening up about all the women he was with before MC

No, I'm only being facetious. But I'm sure the number of units Nick sold were lackluster, unsurprisingly.

[Edited 5/27/14 5:46am]

whitechocolatebrotha said:

SoulAlive said:

^^Pharrell produced Jennifer Hudson's new single "I Can't Describe" and I think it's better than any of these new Mariah tunes.

Love "I Can't Describe," Soul! Sad that it was an instant flop tho. It's a real banger! In fact, I think Mariah could've killed it had it been given 2 her instead, but Jenny absolutely kills it anyway herself!

Some Jennifer haters were knocking the song but I loved it! I don't understand why it was ignored.

Identity said:

SeventeenDayze said:

Oh man are you serious? LOL! He was on everyone's TV show for like two weeks straight promoting the album and doing a bunch of publicity stunts such as the hair color stuff and his opening up about all the women he was with before MC

No, I'm only being facetious. But I'm sure the number of units Nick sold were lackluster, unsurprisingly.

[Edited 5/27/14 5:46am]

On the shows that he performed, I was wondering if it was me or if the sound was a bit off. But, in general, doesn't rap music that's performed live suck anyway? I don't hate rap but the majority of the time it sounds awful when done live.

SeventeenDayze said:

Identity said:

No, I'm only being facetious. But I'm sure the number of units Nick sold were lackluster, unsurprisingly.

[Edited 5/27/14 5:46am]

On the shows that he performed, I was wondering if it was me or if the sound was a bit off. But, in general, doesn't rap music that's performed live suck anyway? I don't hate rap but the majority of the time it sounds awful when done live.

Yes.

Cinny said:

SeventeenDayze said:

On the shows that he performed, I was wondering if it was me or if the sound was a bit off. But, in general, doesn't rap music that's performed live suck anyway? I don't hate rap but the majority of the time it sounds awful when done live.

Yes.

Yeah, I just don't know what it is that makes rap so terrible live. It always seems like they are out of breath and trying to sing over the band. Maybe some people go to rap shows because they just enjoy the experience rather than expecting someone to "rap", more or less. There's always the potential for fights and other shenanigans that break out at rap shows, so it's par for the course. This gives people and excuse to get on social media and rehash the whole situation.

[Edited 5/27/14 13:00pm]

SeventeenDayze said:

Cinny said:

Yes.

Yeah, I just don't know what it is that makes rap so terrible live. It always seems like they are out of breath and trying to sing over the band. Maybe some people go to rap shows because they just enjoy the experience rather than expecting someone to "rap", more or less. There's always the potential for fights and other shenanigans that break out at rap shows, so it's par for the course. This gives people and excuse to get on social media and rehash the whole situation.

This might give you some insight to my other opinions, but I produced rap beats in the past. You can't take the same mix that sounds great in a Jeep or headphones, and play it as a backing track on stage expecting it to sound the same. Live vocals on top are never the right volume compared to the backing track. I can see this is why singing acts lipsync too. Often the studio mix the rapper is laid back like Rakim, but when they get on stage they are yelling due to the noise level in the room. I find that all you get it loud voices, or too quiet voices, and nothing but bass on the beats. See Saturday Night Live over and over for these same problems.

Cinny said:

SeventeenDayze said:

Yeah, I just don't know what it is that makes rap so terrible live. It always seems like they are out of breath and trying to sing over the band. Maybe some people go to rap shows because they just enjoy the experience rather than expecting someone to "rap", more or less. There's always the potential for fights and other shenanigans that break out at rap shows, so it's par for the course. This gives people and excuse to get on social media and rehash the whole situation.

This might give you some insight to my other opinions, but I produced rap beats in the past. You can't take the same mix that sounds great in a Jeep or headphones, and play it as a backing track on stage expecting it to sound the same. Live vocals on top are never the right volume compared to the backing track. I can see this is why singing acts lipsync too. Often the studio mix the rapper is laid back like Rakim, but when they get on stage they are yelling due to the noise level in the room. I find that all you get it loud voices, or too quiet voices, and nothing but bass on the beats. See Saturday Night Live over and over for these same problems.

Do they use backing tracks on SNL? I also think Pharrell uses back tracks as well. I guess Pharrell sings in falsetto so maybe he's worried about losing his voice? Another one is Snoop. I have rarely, if ever, heard him do something live without a backing track.

Identity said:

I rather like the cover art chosen for the Target deluxe edition.

I'm checking for this tonight.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/jqVcOEN.jpg[/img:$uid]

Mariah @ the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Tuesday.

She looks nice in that dress. Anybody know which song she performed?

She performed a new song, “Meteorite.”

Wow! I wasn't expecting these types of reviews. Can't wait for my CD to arrive in the mail!

From Soultracks.com

Mariah Carey was in her late teens in 1987 when George Michael dropped one of decade’s best albums, Faith. Michael was the Robin Thicke of his era – or if we don’t want to be gender specific, the Adele of his era - because he was an artist from another country with big crossover appeal. Michael recorded and performed in an industry that is different than the one that artists such as Carey currently encounter. Radio, even urban radio, was far more diverse than it is now. A performer such as Michael shared the R&B airwaves with Public Enemy, Dianne Reeves and Denise LaSalle in the late 1980s. That is where Mimi spent her formative years. She grew up listening to the second generation of female pop megastars such as Madonna, Anita Baker, Patti LaBelle. Hip hop was in the middle of its golden period and producers such as Teddy Riley fused hip-hop production techniques and swagger to create a hybrid R&B subgenre called “New Jack Swing.”

So as Carey’s career evolved from the young beauty who wowed us with her Minnie Riperton vocal range on “Vision of Love,” she always had to deal with living up to the expectations to become the artist that others wanted her to be. The disappointment was often palpable when Carey didn’t meet those expectations. She often made music that appealed to the younger demographic rather than to go totally in on more adult oriented pop and soul that seemed a natural fit for her considerable talent. Despite what others wanted, Carey the artist refused to ignore commercial considerations and her love of dance music and hip-hop.

Musical tastes and the music industry itself underwent a generational change starting in the 1990s. Carey’s primary competition wasn’t LaBelle, Baker or Madonna. It was Mary J. Blige, TLC and other artists fluent in R&B and hip-hop. Ultimately she made a business decision, and the results have been mixed over the past twenty years. And there was often a tension between the power ballads that many thought fit and stretched Carey's multi-octave voice and the hotter, more heavily-produced, less vocally challenging tracks that radio favored.

Carey’s new album, Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse, contains material that more often than not strikes the balance between those modern hip-hop influenced production techniques and the soulful understatement that provides space for next level vocal talent to shine.

That allows us to circle back to George Michael and Faith. Carey covers “One More Try,” one of tracks off Faith that received considerable airplay in 1988. Carey’s virtues as an artist who can pay respect to a pop classic while also putting her imprint on the tune is evident. Although her version of “One More Try” has the same pace as the original, Carey’s arrangement plays up the soul/blues element with drummer’s steady pounding on the high hat. That’s a little Stax right there. Of course, Carey’s vocals carry the freight. She riffs and hits those high notes for which she is famous.

Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse feeds fans a good helping of slow songs. “Camouflage” is the type of intimate and sparse ballad that critics believe Carey should sing more often. With a piano serving as her only instrumental accompaniment, Carey sheds the glamour and glitz that comes with her diva status and displays her honest and vulnerable side on a song about a woman who hides her pain and confusion behind a mask.

Carey struggles against temptation in the form of that brother her mother warned her about on “Make It Look Good,” a blue light slow jam that includes an allusion to the O’Jays classic “Let Me Make Love to You.” Carey is in total control of her vocal instrument even as she sings a song that tells the story of a woman who might not be in total control of her emotions. Carey’s vocals combine a youthful innocence even as the song’s reveal a mature awareness of the feelings this man elicits.

Still, a Mariah Carey album would not be a Mariah Carey album without a few dance numbers. “Beautiful,” featuring Miguel, is a summer anthem (even with Miguel’s frequent F-bomb dropping) sporting a bouncy pop arrangement from the Beach Boys styled guitar riff that opens the song to the synthesized percussion that contrasts with the funk influenced bass line.

“You Don’t Know What to Do,” is a 1980s styled funk number that finds Carey giving her indecisive man his walking papers. She is paired with rapper Wale, and the two have a nice rapport. Wale’s player swag and clever wordplay and Carey’s sassy retorts on the hook give the tune the feel to two people having an actual conversation.

Me. I Am Mariah is not a perfect album. With 16 tracks it’s probably three or four songs longer than it needs to be. The album loses steam after Carey’s stirring rendition “Heavenly (No Ways Tired). “Thirsty,” the album’s one fully contemporary R&B track pales in comparison to “Beautiful” and “Make it Look Good,” tracks that sandwich it. Still, even as it continues the struggle that has been the hallmark of Mariah Carey's career, this is an album that will remind listeners that Carey is a mature artist who can easily handle any song in any genre. Recommended.

kitbradley said:

Wow! I wasn't expecting these types of reviews. Can't wait for my CD to arrive in the mail!

From Soultracks.com

Mariah Carey was in her late teens in 1987 when George Michael dropped one of decade’s best albums, Faith. Michael was the Robin Thicke of his era – or if we don’t want to be gender specific, the Adele of his era - because he was an artist from another country with big crossover appeal. Michael recorded and performed in an industry that is different than the one that artists such as Carey currently encounter. Radio, even urban radio, was far more diverse than it is now. A performer such as Michael shared the R&B airwaves with Public Enemy, Dianne Reeves and Denise LaSalle in the late 1980s. That is where Mimi spent her formative years. She grew up listening to the second generation of female pop megastars such as Madonna, Anita Baker, Patti LaBelle. Hip hop was in the middle of its golden period and producers such as Teddy Riley fused hip-hop production techniques and swagger to create a hybrid R&B subgenre called “New Jack Swing.”

So as Carey’s career evolved from the young beauty who wowed us with her Minnie Riperton vocal range on “Vision of Love,” she always had to deal with living up to the expectations to become the artist that others wanted her to be. The disappointment was often palpable when Carey didn’t meet those expectations. She often made music that appealed to the younger demographic rather than to go totally in on more adult oriented pop and soul that seemed a natural fit for her considerable talent. Despite what others wanted, Carey the artist refused to ignore commercial considerations and her love of dance music and hip-hop.

Musical tastes and the music industry itself underwent a generational change starting in the 1990s. Carey’s primary competition wasn’t LaBelle, Baker or Madonna. It was Mary J. Blige, TLC and other artists fluent in R&B and hip-hop. Ultimately she made a business decision, and the results have been mixed over the past twenty years. And there was often a tension between the power ballads that many thought fit and stretched Carey's multi-octave voice and the hotter, more heavily-produced, less vocally challenging tracks that radio favored.

Carey’s new album, Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse, contains material that more often than not strikes the balance between those modern hip-hop influenced production techniques and the soulful understatement that provides space for next level vocal talent to shine.

That allows us to circle back to George Michael and Faith. Carey covers “One More Try,” one of tracks off Faith that received considerable airplay in 1988. Carey’s virtues as an artist who can pay respect to a pop classic while also putting her imprint on the tune is evident. Although her version of “One More Try” has the same pace as the original, Carey’s arrangement plays up the soul/blues element with drummer’s steady pounding on the high hat. That’s a little Stax right there. Of course, Carey’s vocals carry the freight. She riffs and hits those high notes for which she is famous.

Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse feeds fans a good helping of slow songs. “Camouflage” is the type of intimate and sparse ballad that critics believe Carey should sing more often. With a piano serving as her only instrumental accompaniment, Carey sheds the glamour and glitz that comes with her diva status and displays her honest and vulnerable side on a song about a woman who hides her pain and confusion behind a mask.

Carey struggles against temptation in the form of that brother her mother warned her about on “Make It Look Good,” a blue light slow jam that includes an allusion to the O’Jays classic “Let Me Make Love to You.” Carey is in total control of her vocal instrument even as she sings a song that tells the story of a woman who might not be in total control of her emotions. Carey’s vocals combine a youthful innocence even as the song’s reveal a mature awareness of the feelings this man elicits.

Still, a Mariah Carey album would not be a Mariah Carey album without a few dance numbers. “Beautiful,” featuring Miguel, is a summer anthem (even with Miguel’s frequent F-bomb dropping) sporting a bouncy pop arrangement from the Beach Boys styled guitar riff that opens the song to the synthesized percussion that contrasts with the funk influenced bass line.

“You Don’t Know What to Do,” is a 1980s styled funk number that finds Carey giving her indecisive man his walking papers. She is paired with rapper Wale, and the two have a nice rapport. Wale’s player swag and clever wordplay and Carey’s sassy retorts on the hook give the tune the feel to two people having an actual conversation.

Me. I Am Mariah is not a perfect album. With 16 tracks it’s probably three or four songs longer than it needs to be. The album loses steam after Carey’s stirring rendition “Heavenly (No Ways Tired). “Thirsty,” the album’s one fully contemporary R&B track pales in comparison to “Beautiful” and “Make it Look Good,” tracks that sandwich it. Still, even as it continues the struggle that has been the hallmark of Mariah Carey's career, this is an album that will remind listeners that Carey is a mature artist who can easily handle any song in any genre. Recommended.

Glad you're happy about this album but how the HELL are they putting Robin Thicke on Michael Jackson's level? I wonder about these folks that write non-sense like this. I think she'll have a great album though. Wish I could say the same for Nick Cannon's album!