Mariah's back in a big way
By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY
Reversing the trajectory of 15 No. 1 pop hits, the back-to-back bombs of 2001's Glitter and 2002's Charmbracelet sent Mariah Carey's meteoric career into a deep crater.

In fine form: Mariah Carey performs at the Live 8 concert in London.
By Jo Hale, Getty Images

The singer has not only climbed out, but she also has climbed up to her '90s peaks.

We Belong Together, Carey's 16th No. 1, reached record-setting radio audiences and is atop Nielsen BDS' national airplay chart for the eighth week. It's driving sales of The Emancipation of Mimi, No. 4 in Billboard after selling 2.3 million copies since April 12.

That's quite a rise from the Glitter gutter. The panned soundtrack sold 605,000 copies, piddling compared with 7.1 million for 1993's Music Box or 7.5 million for 1995's Daydream, according to Nielsen SoundScan. After Glitter tanked, EMI bought outCarey's contract, a lucrative but humiliating episode that further dimmed her star power.

Carey's remarkable rebound "is Houdini-like," says Joe Levy, Rolling Stone deputy managing editor. "It's rare enough to have a career that lasts 10 years in pop music, but once you've reached your peak, it's virtually impossible to get it back ... even without such a spectacular failure."

The turnaround mostly is a result of the '70s and '80s soul and disco on Mimi, "a stronger, looser and more musical record than she's made in a very long time," Levy says. Crucial is its adult tone, achieved "by being musically substantial rather than dull or sappy."

Carey's revival also might owe to ducking the spotlight long enough to let flops fade and erase flashbacks of that infamous MTV striptease.

"She was smart and went away for just the right period," says Zena Burns, Teen People's music editor. "She went to Capri and got her head together and got some peace.

"She's made classic songs that are part of the soundtrack of people's lives, so the public really wanted to welcome Mariah back. She did dig a deep hole. But Mariah is a survivor. Besides, the public forgives."

And it forgets. New fans "don't have to forgive Glitter," Levy says. "They didn't live through it."

never go to rolling stone for anything.....

tired or not, I still wouldn't have a chance at loving her body.

Her album has only been out for 3 months and her song is still #1 hardly last years news altho all the talk about a comeback is a bit old now, I have feeling when she releases her next album they will still be talking like it's a comeback
[Edited 7/6/05 20:52pm]

twink69 said:

It's a metaphor The album was a hit from the get-go. Is RS/USA Today only figuring that out now? I have their boarding passes ready.....
[Edited 7/6/05 21:03pm]

VoicesCarry said:

Her best album to date shockin the hell outta me. Why dont these yungins realise that makin R&B Music with real bands / 70's 80's style of music makes it better!!??

I am a bit surprised at how she has come back too, but not so surprised when I hear the quality of this new album. You could still say that 3 million copies is nowhere near 7 million copies but for how badly Glitter bombed, it's a miracle.

I concur with Joe Levy

CinisterCee said:

That just showed u how many REAL fans u got instead of folks just diggin u becuz of ya single

paisleypark4 said:

you mean everyone that bought Glitter and Charmbracelet?

CinisterCee said:

No one sells like they used to in the current market, though. So we can't expect 7 million. But so far she's had remarkable staying power - all 3 months in the Top 5!

isn't this album her fastest selling in USA so far? i'd expect it to sell at least 5million copies, when was the last time a major female recording artist from the 90's done that?

It has just been certified triple platinum, so 3 million sales is inevitable. Plus we are only on the 2nd single and its only been out for 11 weeks, there are at least another two singles planned and a world tour on the way. If it stays in the top five - top ten over the next month or two i see no reason why it wont sell at least five million in the US by the end of the tour.

Its also shooting back up the charts in the UK and is her most successful album in the UK since Music Box. We Belong Together is going to chart and either no 1 or no 2 this week in the UK and is also number one in Australia, Mariah is also massive in Japan and the Far East.

FunkyBrotha said:

The most recent midweeks put it at #1 with a 1000-copy lead on Tupac.

CinisterCee said:

Got that right.

More people only bought Charmbracelet based on "Through The Rain".

Glitter was a flop no way about it, Chrambracelet under performed, but I think for any established, hell any artist to sell 1 million in the states alone is pretty good, do u think? or should they be selling more?
.
[Edited 7/7/05 9:42am]

Mariah is ace! She might have fallen down but she just picked herself up again and came out with a brill album!

twink69 said:

I kinda think so, for how big her contract was

meltwithu said:

Boy are they dumb! The soundtrack wasn't panned...the movie was. I'm not a fan but I know most people talk about the CD itself fondly. You'd think this story came from the National Enquierer, who only puts things into the hit or miss catogery!

when did she strip? i dont remember

let flops fade and erase flashbacks of that infamous MTV striptease

i really liked Glitter(the soundtrack anyways coz the movie waz horrible ) i have no idea why ppl say it's garbage

Xavier24 said:

The movie was horrible, which I think ruined the chances of the soundtrack being a success. I acknowledge it as a commercial flop. But it was my favorite that year.

CinisterCee said:

Same here. The reviews were only talking about her behavior at the time of the release rather than the music.