She has a few under her belt, what do you think is her best album and what song stands out the most??

I going to say "Daydream" from 1995, you had "Fantasy", "One sweet day", and "Always be my baby" as singles. But I think the song "Forever" is the best song on the album, it is beautifully written and composed. I really shows Mariah's vocal skills.

Alot of people may not like her now, but at that time she was untouchable, and one hell of a song writer.

I like a lot of Mariah's pre-1999 material. Rainbow was where she started going downhill, and from there on out it is unlistenable to me.

Her best album, to me, is Daydream, which really is an impeccable pop album. Music Box runs a close second. As you mentioned, you've got "Fantasy" (which smooths out the hook and elevates "Genius Of Love" to a kind of anthemic endorphin-rush bliss that is the hallmark of the best pop singles), "One Sweet Day" (very overplayed, but still a great track), and "Always Be My Baby" (great hook, instrumental, vocals). Other standout tracks include "Long Ago" (nice slow groove and silky performance), "Melt Away" and "Forever". Trademark ballads "Underneath The Stars", "I Am Free" and "When I Saw You" are very pretty and melodic. Finally, "Looking In" is a nice album closer. This is the album for which she developed the formula that she has not strayed from since. There's even the throwaway remix at the end (what the hell is Fantasy Sweet Dub Mix doing there?). Only song I don't really care is "Open Arms".

This is her peak, vocally. She started sounding tired on Butterfly, I think. The spark wasn't there. Now her voice seems irreversibly damaged. I don't know what it was, but very tragic. I'm afraid it's true but Mariah is OVER, FINISHED, DONE, at least vocally.

Some formulaic elements became evident when Butterfly came out:

-Uptempo first single with 80's sample ("Heartbreaker" is so fucking ridiculous, it sounds like a demo version of "Fantasy")
-"Fourth Of July"/"Bliss"/"Yours" AKA "Underneath The Stars" Pts. 2,3 & 4
-Pointless tacked-on remix (Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise), Heartbreaker (Remix),Loverboy (Remix), Through The Rain (Remix))

Butterfly is also a very good record, but too similar to Daydream for me to rate as her best. Daydream is the first, the prototype. At the time it was beautiful, but I think its appeal has dimmed somehwat because she copied it so many damn times. It is worth noting that Butterfly does contain "Breakdown" and "The Roof", which I think are two of her all-time best. You can argue that these are merely extensions of "Long Ago", however.
[Edited 12/31/04 20:55pm]

Emotions. Even though she was still doing the vocal acrobatics at this point, this was easily her best for me, and her voice was in top form. Every damn single from this was perfectly tuned for radio, and it worked. Though I also like Butterfly to some extent, that was when she really started overusing that whispered vocal that I cannot stand. Her voice is in sad shape these days. But those are the only two albums of hers that I like. I just like a track here and there on the others.
[Edited 12/31/04 20:53pm]

#1 - Butterfly ****1/2 a good commercial and memorable album. Though this is the point she lost some of her vocals..the songs were killer.Honey
My All
Butterfly
The Roof
Breakdown
4th Of july
babydoll
Whenever U Call


#2 - Mariah Carey ****1/2 a very solid debut and some very nice memorable songs to matchVision Of Love
Someday
I Dont Wanna Cry
Vanishing
All In Your Mind
Love Takes Time


#3 - Rain *** a little too commercial but the 'concept' of her tribulations with dating reflected on that album, and turned out nice.Heartbreaker
Bliss
Cant Take That Away
Thank God I Found You
Petals


Personal Favorite though..

Glitter; ****1/2 a very 80's record and the slow jams were awesome. First off the remake of "I Didnt Mean To Turn You On" was hot, and she did it justice. Second, Rick James gave Mariah a very good track and she pulled it off just as if Teena Marie was singing it in 1982 or something!! The slow jams...she blew it away. The album had it's rapper flaws which was the ONLY problem.
Lead The Way
All My Life
Reflections
Want you
Never Too Far
I Didnt mean To Turn You On

her best album??? erm..... I don't think she'll ever record a best album ever

Lennon said:

Her best album should be something like this:

-Maximum 8 songs
-No high notes
-No rappers
-No butterflies or rainbow on the cover

It's a tie between Music Box and Daydream for me. I'm not a big Mariah fan, but I do really like both of those albums alot.

whichever one she holds her ear when she hits the high note...but seriously, Breakdown with Bones Thugs and Harmony is an underrated classic...

Her first two albums "Mariah Carey" and "Emotions" are really her best and my favorites, but "Daydream", "Butterfly", and "Glitter" are all pretty solid as well. Other albums have good moments sprinkled throughout, with "Rainbow" being the worst of them....

Her best album would be one that she's not singing on.

I'd personally feel the safest with this set...



...Mariah Carey/Emotions/Music Box

This was the "voice" that showed so much potential and got to me.
I'm not that familiar with Daydream but I trust VC's opinion.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

The Wind-From Emotions

Thats the most underrated gem she eva delievered,,,It reminds me of Chaka Khan's rendition of "End Of A Love Affair".

Looking In-From Dadydream

This haunting lament song reminds me alot of Stevie Wonder's classic "They Won't Go When I Go".

I like "Daydream" too
don't care for her later work

vainandy said:

better hope Twink69 doesn't see this.

I personally like her Unplugged Album.

Emotions.

paisleypark4 said:

I've got to agree with you on that one. I downloaded it a long time ago
and listened to it over and over and over and over again.

Especially "The Roof" was an instant favorite of mine. I thought the
rest of the album was very good as well.

But don't let anybody find out I said so many praiseworthy things of
Mariah

My favorite is definitely Butterfly. I listen to that CD regularly to this day.

For me two first albums + Unplugged are her best. They had all I like. Some 80's, some early 90's dance, some jazz and some good ol' r&b (btw am i the only one who thinks vision of love is based on blues chord progression?). And man I really loved her image back then. She was foxy all right. Just look at those videos.

Later she got veeeery pop but it was good POP/R&B --> amazing vocals, superb melodies, great production, AC

Butterfly - very good, expensive videos, some of her best lyrics. something's up with her voice

After #1s things went worng. Actually it's her voice that went downhill.
Nevertheless, think she did have solid track or two after 98. "Crybaby" (that sample was used to perfection) "Lead the way" (she does like 18 notes in 3 second in that song) "All my life" "I Didn't mean to..." "Petals" "Twister"

CB is simply one of the worst albums I've heared...ever. The formula is plain wrong: Whisper Squeak Whisper Squeak Pointelss Run, Rapper Rapper Rapper Pointless Run Rapper Sueak Laughter Rapper and! Whisper Squeak SqueEEEeeEEEeeeEEEeeak.

I hope that THE voice gets back...

Butterfly

Hands Down!!!! I played the whole album without even skipping a song. A masterpiece.

I wouls have to say "Butterfly" for me as well it was an equal balance of hip hop/Soul crossover and early Mariah...however now that alot of you made mention,I do notice a difference in her voice compared to her earlier work...I can't say other then "Butterfly" I have another fave Mariah album more like songs..


1. Can't let go

2. Vision of love

3. Love takes time

4. Always be my baby

5. Slipping away (a B-side that never made it on an album)

Probabley rainbow or Butterfly. I favour Rainbow more myself. On Butterfly she covered one of Prince's Songs didnt she? It was a duet with Dru Hill.
[Edited 1/2/05 14:55pm]

threat said:

Yes, and it was criminally bad. Not only did she re-do one of my favorite Prince tracks - Beautiful Ones - she turned it into a duet. It was a sad day in music history lol

Daydream.


Lately though,her albums have been interchangeable,beginning with 'Rainbow'.