Here is the second installment of my Mariah Carey special post:
"Dreamlover" (1993) - For many reasons, "Dreamlover" is a favorite of many Mariah Carey fans. It is one of her most creative efforts (the choir piano being worked in was a stroke of genius), and for the first time, her vocals were not the focus. She had fun with the song, not worrying about how many high notes she can hit. Fans were able to tell, and rewarded her for it; it sat atop the charts for 9 weeks. Rating: 9/10
"Hero" (1993) - Her first chart-topping ballad since "I Don't Wanna Cry", this song is one of her signature songs. Again, Mariah sang with a conviction and passion that had surprised the critics who accused her of doing the exact opposite. The inspirational song is a perennial favorite of mine, and many more, selling 3 million copies worldwide. Rating: 9.5/10
"Fantasy" (1995) - This song marked a transformation for Mariah. In place of her conservative look and MOR Pop style, the diva sailed into the #1 position with this upbeat R&B song. It became the second song in history to debut at #1 and sat there for 8 weeks. The inspired song revitalized Mariah's music and help the album Daydream sell 25 million copies worldwide. Rating: 9/10
"One Sweet Day" (1995) - Her duet with Boyz II Men was a hugely successful song. It debuted at #1 and stayed there for a mind-blowing 16 weeks, becoming Mariah's 10th chart-topper. It is a beautiful song that gave comfort to those who lost their loved ones. Wisely, Mariah restrains her vocals to match the R&B supergroup, creating a stunning vocal. Rating: 10/10
"Always Be My Baby" (1996) - It's with this song where I noticed a vocal change with Mariah. During the verses, she employed a softer tone than many of her full-voiced singles. The new technique really fit this song. The song had a smooth groove than her songs in the past, furthering her shift into R&B. It, again, is one of her best (with the catchiest chorus). Rating: 9/10
"Honey" (1997) - "Honey" was a breaking point for the diva. Gone was the ballads and uptemo pop songs of the past. Here, a stronger, sexier Mariah burst out with this hip-hop influenced jam. The overt vocal power that propelled those songs also began to dim, making the songstress even sultrier. The change was welcome; the song debuted at #1 and stayed there for three weeks. Rating: 8/10
"My All" (1998) - Just like "Honey" was, the single was accompanied with a very sexy video. However, that and the Latin-tinged background couldn't help this song from being a disappointment. Her last 5 or so songs stayed on top for multiple weeks. This one only charted for 1 week, before slipping to #2. Honestly, it was her weakest song since "I Don't Wanna Cry". Rating: 7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment