Even though I'm not a diehard fan of Mariah, I have to cut the girl some slack. Her soundtrack album "Glitter" doomed from the beginning. It was released on one of the most tragic days in American history (September 11). Plus, Tommy Mottola had it out for the girl since their divorce. We all know how big Tommy is. He basically dictates who is hot and who is not. Just look at Michael. MJ dissed Tommy, the same man who was the head of Sony Music and owns CLEAR CHANNEL. Clear Channel basically runs mainstream radio and are affliated with so many things dealing with promotion. I'm thinking maybe Mariah Carey was set up during the Glitter era by Tommy Mottola and she fell because of the conspiracies around her (the song "I'm Real (Remix)" by J.Lo was originally intended for Mariah, who was going to work with Ja Rule, but somebody pulled some strings and cleared the sample in favor of J.Lo's team. I don't have all the facts jet-line straight, but the music industry is mad shady so I wouldn't doubt the validity of many of these things.

But, to play devil's advocate for a second, something tells me that Mariah's huge record sales during the '90s were due to her union with Tommy. I think Tommy was pulling a Paula Abdul (buying records, claiming promotional copies as "sales," lowering singles prices for #1's).

Conspiracy or not, something is going on behind the scenes that goes way beyond the accusations of the girl being a "slut." Plus, she's on Eminem's bad side, and you know how he can ruin people in white boys' eyes (i.e. Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit, Moby, NSYNC, Will Smith, Lauryn Hill, etc.). I'm not saying Eminem holds the power to make or break an artist, but he sure can steer people in one director or another (just look at his protegé 50 Cent and his astronomical sales.

I cannot name even 1 song i have liked on Glitter. Terrible. i can indeed name Hero and some of the early 1s because they were good. I won't deny that. To fans, those songs were rightfully brilliant. Lately, (and i say 'lately' as half a decade or so) she has not made anything resembling that. Some of the stuff was so bad, she hardly sang at all...just squeeled like a pig...having a voice like that and not using it or hitting the high notes alll the time. Lets hope 4 the fans she picks her shit up. Glitter was horrible and the previous effort b4 was much the same. Do more than shake those 'boobs'. Seriously though, i think after the 'job' she seemed 2 become just so empty headed. I am sorry, but i remember she was more 'down to earth' b4 she got those 'boobs'.

Glitter is the MOST underrated LP eva done by the woman, how come some ppl say the LUUUV 80's music and don't like this? Its not a QUINCY JONES produced cut but it has some great moments, like:

1.All My Life-Pure 80's produced by Rick James

2.Want U(W/Eric Benet)-Which is a tribute 2 Alexander O'Neal & Cherrelle/S.O.S Band.

3.I Didn't Mean To Turn You Own-Which is a tribute 2 Cherrelle & the whole MPLS crew.

-Slow jams-

Never Too Far & Lead The Way


If you listen to the actual soundtrack without picking on the artist, then you'll find great moments.

Harlepolis said:

Sorry. Perhaps i should listen 2 it 1 more time. U know i just cannot get the 'pig squeel' of hers in that video where she does absolutely no singing...i hate it...i think 'hero' and then i see this crap...hip hop hop hop away Mariah.

agentmonday said:

Loverboy was bullshit I agree lol but actualy the rest is cool.

I 4got to mention she cover "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life". Now the song could've been great if Busta weren't shouting like he's about to give a birth!

Harlepolis said:

I just think that somethin' happened there with her...i won't blame the 'boobs' or whatever, but it was around that time that she started 2 go weird...in the way she spoke and what she said...she really did seem like an 'airhead', and the songs themeselves started 2 fuse so much with hip hop that i just couldn't listen 2 her anymore...her high pitched notes became such a staple of her songs that i found that difficult 2...i mean i know she can sing well without that pitch and that is why i liked her early stuff. As far as Glitter...well i don't know...i just do not like it...mayb a few more listens...mayb it will grow on me over the years or somethin' Not a real fan (so i may get this wrong) but Through The Rain (is that the title? ain't 2 bad.

agentmonday said:

Lemme help you out: The BOTTOM is she started to lose her glow when she parted from her longtime writing partner "Walter A." Now we're talking about a bad ass instrumentalist. But the man was a backstabbing bastard as far as I'm concern thats why I don't judge her 4 making that move.

Harlepolis said:

That was a tragic move tho u have 2 admit?

Well, ACCORDING to my very own Mr. Whacksie Jacksie, Mariah came crying to him saying that Mottola was tapping her phones and getting private investigators to stalk her etc. - this was in the very first "Tommy is the devil" speech which I was personally present at )

Oh BTW, I'm no Mariah fan, but I think her cover of 'Didn't Mean To Turn You On' is excellent.

I like Glitter a lot, and I usually hate all those guest rapper crap that they sling on albums to make them appeal to a wider audience.

The Cherrelle cover is spot on - I presume they just took out her vocals and slipped in Mariah's cuz the music is identical.

And the Rick James track is classic!

I love Mariah to Death and all of her music. She has been through some tough times and we all "fans" gots to support her. So please go see her tour this summer and support her and her music.

Gosh the real stuff that goes on will anyone ever know...I truly admire Mariah in every song she does, I'm in love with her voice, I love her music, and I like how she writes. It saddens me when I see her dressing like 'hoochi mamas' because she's above all that, and it makes me wonder, is it the markteting, or is it really her, just like Tony Braxton in the videos, which is why I say 'the things we might not ever know', and also, the recent rumor about her vocal chords not being as they were, which is why she doesn't sing like she used to......the music business, and the people in it, boy do they need to get 'saved', they need a spiritual awakening for real, but I sincerely believe Mariah has something real inside, because it comes out in her music, which is why I stick on her side. I've yet to hear Glitter, and will give it a shot, although I was not feeling the movie at all, but 'Charmbracelet' is definetely the next one on my list, but I'm going to wait until she adds the 4 tracks in July...set up, fighting back, go on Mariah, and please continue to sing also...like you used to......
[This message was edited Fri May 30 21:57:52 PDT 2003 by Starmist7]

The last Mariah Carey album I actually went out and bought was Butterfly. I didn't cop anything else after that. Charmbracelet is an okay album (love "Subtle Invitation" and "Yours"), but wasn't worthy of my dollars -- a lot of records came out at the time of Charmbracelet's release, so that kind of hindered sales.

Starmist7 said:

What an isult 4 Toni Braxton 2 b mentioned in the same breath as Mariah.

agentmonday said:

Say what?! You can say they're two of a kind. Check out Toni's new video. And they're TWO of ONE of my FAVORITE ARTISTS.

Starmist7 said:

LOL betta yet, check out Toni's cameo in Aaliyah's "miss you" video that bitch have lost her damn mind looong ago

Harlepolis said:

Do you know what it really seems like? That sometimes they should stick to whatever 'image' they 'supposedely' (at times are forced to take) when they come out with their first albums, when they are sometimes at their best, because after that...forget it! They get all whacked out, or were they always like that???...the things people would do for money, or how true colors begin to show just because of it......
[This message was edited Sat May 31 13:57:51 PDT 2003 by Starmist7]

Starmist7 said:

Maan, I couldn't give a frog's fat ass anymore!

Back in the day I used to judge 'em so harsh 4 dressing up like down the broadway street hiefers but after awhile I said to myself, why?

If you're grown enough to handle what you're gonna face at the end of the day then do the do, girlfriend! I couldn't give a damn if they danced their pony tails in the middle of downtown's NYC. As long as they can please my musical intrest then its enough 4 me 2 accept them! plus they're in their middle 30's and America so,,,what the hell!

Shoot,,I still like Blu Cantrell even tho she did a spread in Black tail and will do another in Playboy magazine. What they do in their personal lives is their "own" mess not mine.

But I know exactly what were you saying!

Harlepolis said:

Yes, I AM grown enough to realize, and recognize, that I NEED NOT to live in any 'pop artist' or anyone else's image, nor do I have to make it the most important aspect of an artist I happen to be fond of, but one has to care, in the sense that it's an obvious social and artistic issue, that shouldn't be ignored just because 'that's the way things are', nor can it even be avoided, although I simply like or love their music, which is a bottom line...I know that they're grown women in their 30's stripping for a hip-hop, teenage to young adult targeted audience, and whenever I'm to watch my videos on BET, I will see them, and that cannot be avoided, so my opinion will be heard, although it may not get to Mariah or Toni...The image of an artist is sometimes reflected in their music, because you hear them, and then you see them, and the 'image' they project sometimes plays a factor in why one likes a particular artist, sometimes more, sometimes less, or maybe just the same, and that goes without denying, since American societal standards influences image to be so important, although other things may play in a person's individuality, preference, and/or style, which in turn, what you like and listen to is, or becomes, a reflection of yourself...but ofcourse it just boils down to the music, because then I wouldn't even buy and listen to their CDs... but the hip-hop world isn't the only ones with these 'acts', or who have women voluntarily showing their bodies and dancing provacatively in ways that overpower the MUSIC, but since hip-hop is what's 'hot', apparently, that's what artists like Mariah and Toni are going to get into, even when THEY DON'T NEED TO...and that was my point...
[This message was edited Sat May 31 21:00:43 PDT 2003 by Starmist7]

conspiracies?


it was a conspiracy that put her at the top. when she was left to fly on her own, she fell flat on her face.


i have more brainpower in some of my farts than that woman does in her head.

From the 'Glitter' soundtrack,I love the song "Twister".But I admit,the rest of the CD isn't that great.I think Mariah's best work was the 'Butterfly' album.So many great songs on that one!

DavidEye said:

Agreed! I feel that Butterfly was a brilliant album that was really well-compiled. In my opinion, it is Mariah's best project to date, and one of the few truly good albums she has released.

gotta disagree about Butterfly.


it was the beginning of the end. all of the trappings that have turned her from a great singer of good songs, into what she is today became evident with that album.

the whole am-i-or-aren't-i-dating-him guest rapper on the lead single, the cover-that-didn't-need-to-be-done (something that's been done on all of her albums since Daydream, but they've all been really idiotic since that one, starting with the Beautiful Ones).

the trendy, lightweight "r&b" replacing soul songs. watered-down production in place of classic arrangements on the AC ballads. a top-notch singing voice replaced by... well, whatever that is she does now. i know it isn't singing. it's caterwalling along with a tune.

she's never topped her first 2 albums. great tunes, great production, great singing, not resorting to gimmicks. half of Music Box was good too. and the other half... was okay, but it sounded like the ugly twin of the good half. from Daydream it's been Mariah-by-the-numbers. Just add rapper...

AaronSuperior said:

I think if u looked into Mariah's ear u would c into the next room easily.

Glitter is my favorite Mariah Carey album. It had THE BEST slow jams she has given on a disc. And tributed 2 the 80's. So I hav 2 agree w. Harepolis.

Don't overlook 'Daydream' AND 'Rainbow', these were among her best as well, and the others...I just think they're All Good... ...
[This message was edited Mon Jun 2 10:43:04 PDT 2003 by Starmist7]

Starmist7 said:

I think Rainbow has some cool moments(Bliss which I really love) but overall, it was done in a rush like she wanna get outta Sony, thats why its not that good. However, "Daydream" is bad.

But on the humble? The maturest LPs she eva did are her 1st 2 LPs

Harlepolis said:

I DAYDREAM, and I don't get the indication that RAINBOW was 'rushed'. Those albums have its moments too, for instance, 'Underneath the Stars', 'When I saw you', and 'Fantasy' are highlights, just as 'Hearbreaker', 'Petals' and 'Against all odds', flows nicely with the rest of RAINBOW.
[This message was edited Wed Jun 4 1:05:38 PDT 2003 by Starmist7]