Love is the subject of the majority of Carey's lyrics, although she has written about themes such as loss, sex, race, abuse and spirituality. She has said that much of her work is partly autobiographical, but "Time" magazine's Christopher John Farley wrote: "If only Mariah Carey's music had the drama of her life. Her songs are often sugary and artificial—NutraSweet soul. But her life has passion and conflict," applying it to the first stages of her career. He commented that as her albums progressed, so too her songwriting and music blossomed into more mature and meaningful material. Jim Faber of the "New York Daily News", made similar comments, "For Carey, vocalizing is all about the performance, not the emotions that inspired it.
Musical style
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey | Musical style
Love is the subject of the majority of Carey's lyrics, although she has written about themes such as loss, sex, race, abuse and spirituality. She is known or her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style, and signature use of the whistle register Five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style. Love is the subject of the majority of Carey's lyrics, although she has written about themes such as loss, sex, race, abuse and spirituality
who sang all i want for christmas in 1995
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Mariah Carey.
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who is she?
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She is an American singer-songwriter and actress.
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what was her early days like?
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Racial tensions prevented the Carey family from integrating into their community though she excelled in the arts, such as music and literature in school.
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what are some famous songs she performed during 2010?
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Oh Santa! and Auld Lang Syne (The New Year's Anthem).
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who composed the former mentioned one?
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Mariah Carey.
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how did it perform in the charts?
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It became a record-breaking entry on the "Billboard" Adult Contemporary songs chart.
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how was it received critically?
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There were mixed reviews.
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what was her other song about?
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It is a re-write of "Auld Lang Syne" and Robert Burns and Mariah Carey had re-composed the poem into a house song.
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how was it received critically?
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Negative responses from critics.
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what are some philanthropic activities this singer is associated with?
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The Fresh Air Fund and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
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what does the latter mentioned foundation do?
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They help fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of 2 and 18 years old.
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what is her style of music?
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Nowadays it's the Christina Aguileras and Jessica Simpsons who awkwardly oversing, while the women with roof-raising lung power keep it in check when tune or lyric demands." Carey's output makes use of electronic instruments such as drum machines, keyboards and synthesizers. Many of her songs contain piano-driven melodies, as she was given piano lessons when she was six years old. Carey said that she cannot read sheet music and prefers to collaborate with a pianist when composing her material, but feels that it is easier to experiment with faster and less-conventional melodies and chord progressions using this technique. While Carey learned to play the piano at a young age, and incorporates several ranges of production and instrumentation into her music, she has maintained that her voice has always been her most important asset: "My voice is my instrument; it always has been." Carey began commissioning remixes of her material early in her career and helped to spearhead the practice of recording entirely new vocals for remixes.
Mariah Carey | Musical style
Singing, to her, represents a physical challenge, not an emotional unburdening." While reviewing "Music Box", Stephen Holden from "Rolling Stone" commented that Carey sang with "sustained passion," while Arion Berger of "Entertainment Weekly" wrote that during some vocal moments, Carey becomes "too overwhelmed to put her passion into words." In 2001, "The Village Voice" wrote in regards to what they considered Carey's "centerless ballads," writing, "Carey's Strawberry Shortcake soul still provides the template with which teen-pop cuties draw curlicues around those centerless [Diane] Warren ballads [...] it's largely because of [Blige] that the new R&B demands a greater range of emotional expression, smarter poetry, more from-the-gut testifying, and less [sic] unnecessary notes than the squeaky-clean and just plain squeaky Mariah era.
Mariah Carey | Musical style
Love is the subject of the majority of Carey's lyrics, although she has written about themes such as loss, sex, race, abuse and spirituality. She has said that much of her work is partly autobiographical, but "Time" magazine's Christopher John Farley wrote: "If only Mariah Carey's music had the drama of her life. Her songs are often sugary and artificial—NutraSweet soul. But her life has passion and conflict," applying it to the first stages of her career. He commented that as her albums progressed, so too her songwriting and music blossomed into more mature and meaningful material. Jim Faber of the "New York Daily News", made similar comments, "For Carey, vocalizing is all about the performance, not the emotions that inspired it.
Mariah Carey | Musical style
Combs said that Carey "knows the importance of mixes, so you feel like you're with an artist who appreciates your work—an artist who wants to come up with something with you."
Mariah Carey | Musical style
Her musical style is a mixture of pop and dream pop very similar to artists such as M2M, Natalie Imbruglia, Michelle Branch, Jewel, and The Cranberries.
Maria Arredondo | Musical style
Carey's vocal style, as well as her singing ability, have significantly impacted popular and contemporary music. She has consistently been cited as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists of all time. As music critic G. Brown from "The Denver Post" wrote, "For better or worse, Mariah Carey's five-octave range and melismatic style have influenced a generation of pop singers." According to "Rolling Stone", "Her mastery of melisma, the fluttering strings of notes that decorate songs like 'Vision of Love', inspired the entire "American Idol" vocal school, for better or worse, and virtually every other female R&B singer since the Nineties." In 2008, Jody Rosen of "Slate" wrote of Carey's influence in modern music, calling her the most influential vocal stylist of the last two decades, the person who made rococo melismatic singing.
Mariah Carey | Legacy
Carey has said that from childhood she has been influenced by Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and R&B and soul musicians such as Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin. Her music contains strong influences of gospel music, and she credits the Clark Sisters, Shirley Caesar and Edwin Hawkins as the most influential in her early years. When Carey incorporated hip hop into her sound, speculation arose that she was making an attempt to take advantage of the genre's popularity, but she told "Newsweek", "People just don't understand. I grew up with this music." She has expressed appreciation for rappers such as the Sugarhill Gang, Eric B.
Mariah Carey | Influences
Crazy personal," Henderson continued calling the album's lyrical content an "deliberately confusing innocence with insight, obliviousness with bliss." Carey's voice on the album was described by Elysa Gardner of "USA Today", as "artful melisma, robust belting and decorative high notes." Gardner continued, noting Mariah's use of her "supple middle and lower registers to convey feeling simply and directly."
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse | Music and lyrics
Carey began writing poetry and lyrics while attending Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York, where she graduated in 1987. Carey began vocal training under the tutelage of her mother. Though a classically trained opera singer, Patricia never pressured her daughter to pursue a career in classical opera. Carey recalled that she had "never been a pushy mom. She never said, 'Give it more of an operatic feel.' I respect opera like crazy, but it didn't influence me." In high-school, she was frequently absent because of her work as a demo singer; her classmates consequently gave her the nickname Mirage.
Mariah Carey | Early life
Carey claims that she has had nodules in her vocal cords since childhood, due to which she can sing in a higher register than others. However, tiredness and sleep deprivation can affect her vocals due to the nodules, and Carey explained that she went through a lot of practice to maintain a balance during singing. Jon Pareles of "The New York Times" described Carey's lower register as a "rich, husky alto" that extends to "dog-whistle high notes." Additionally, towards the late 1990s, Carey began incorporating breathy vocals into her material. Tim Levell from the BBC News described her vocals as "sultry close-to-the-mic breathiness," while "USA Today"s Elysa Gardner wrote "it's impossible to deny the impact her vocal style, a florid blend of breathy riffing and resonant belting, has had on today's young pop and R&B stars."
Mariah Carey | Voice and timbre
Additionally, he described its content and instrumentation: As a song full of gospel and soulful influences, it allowed Mariah to really tear loose and show what she could do – which in reality was far more than the vocal gymnastics that seemed to comprise her reputation so far. From a deep rumble to a high wail, she covered five octaves wonderfully, as the power of the tune built. The backing vocals – which once again had those churchy harmonies – filled out the spare melody, as did the stately horns, which entered towards the end. The song was truly a vocal showcase for Mariah.
Emotions (Mariah Carey album) | Music and lyrics
Her current style is a mix of religious and non-religious themed songs that draw from her Catholic faith as well as from her love of literature and poetry. A majority of her religious songs are written in a way that emphasizes being sung to God rather than about God.
Audrey Assad | Musical style and themes
Its is about self-confidence, don't be afraid to dream." After the last girl reads her message, Carey is shown lying on pillows on the floor of her sparse living room, watching television. As she tearfully sings, she watches as different empowering messages and events are shown on the screen. Towards the end of the musical bridge, Carey stands up from the floor and exits onto a large balcony overlooking the city. Rain begins to fall as Carey waves her arms and cries out singing the song's climax. Her depression is resolved when the rain stops and a rainbow forms, prompting her to smile.
Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) | Music videos and remixes
Ann Powers, also in the "Times", wrote of Hersh's musical style: "Her plastic, sometimes obsessively circular song structures emphasize staggered rhythms and extreme dynamic shifts, and her voice, a carnal cry that pushes through her body gathering up air, lends her often oblique lyrics an oracular veneer."
Kristin Hersh | Themes and style
& Rakim, the Wu-Tang Clan, The Notorious B.I.G. and Mobb Deep, with whom she collaborated on the single "The Roof (Back in Time)" (1998). Carey was heavily influenced by Minnie Riperton, and began experimenting with the whistle register due to her original practice of the range. She has also called Marilyn Monroe one of her idols. During Carey's career, her vocal and musical style, along with her level of success, has been compared to Whitney Houston, whom she has also cited as an influence, and Celine Dion. Carey and her peers, according to Garry Mulholland, are "the princesses of wails [...] virtuoso vocalists who blend chart-oriented pop with mature MOR torch song." Author and writer Lucy O'Brien attributed the comeback of Barbra Streisand's "old-fashioned showgirl" to Carey and Dion, and described them and Houston as "groomed, airbrushed and overblown to perfection." Carey's musical transition and use of more revealing clothing during the late 1990s were, in part, initiated to distance herself from this image, and she subsequently said that most of her early work was "schmaltzy MOR." Some have noted that unlike Houston and Dion, Carey writes and produces her own music.
Mariah Carey | Influences
As with 'The Roof', Carey lunges toward musical maturity by embracing, not shunning hip-hop. This is the height of her elegance and maybe hip-hop-soul's, too."
Breakdown (Mariah Carey song) | Critical reception
While living in Huntington, neighbors poisoned the family dog and set fire to their car. After her parents' divorce, Carey had little contact with her father, and her mother worked several jobs to support the family. Carey spent much of her time at home alone and began singing at the age of three, often imitating her mother's take on Verdi's opera "Rigoletto" in Italian. While her elder sister Alison moved in with their father, Mariah and her older brother Morgan remained with their mother. During her years in elementary school, she excelled in the arts, such as music and literature.
Mariah Carey | Early life
Hallim cites Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Sam Cooke, Sade, Amy Winehouse, India.Arie, Patsy Cline and Bob Marley as her musical influences. Furthermore she mentioned Brandy as major inspiration, naming her the only artist that had her starstruck next to Prince. She also cited Janet Jackson's career as inspirational, who she called an icon. She called Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" the album that changed her perspective, calling it an "amazing body of work". She attributes her parents for her vintage sound. Her father was a guitarist in a band, while her mother would sing around the house.
Melanie Fiona | Musical style and influences
Meet the new Mariah, almost exactly the same as the old . . . 'Mimi'!"
E=MC² (Mariah Carey album) | Style and structure
It was meant to be a continuation, or a second part of her tenth studio album, "The Emancipation of Mimi" (2005). Although it shared similar vocal production as well as an inclination to her signature pop and R&B ballads, the album also encompassed a variety of dance-oriented and uptempo styles. Carey collaborated with a number of artists on the album, including T-Pain, Damian Marley and Young Jeezy. Though considered by critics very similar to the formula its predecessor had been built on, "E=MC²" included other genres she had never explored, such as reggae, and her continued recording of gospel-influenced hymns.
E=MC² (Mariah Carey album) | Introduction
"Breakdown" is a slow and sultry song which blends R&B and hip hop genres. It incorporates drum notes, including heavy beats and grooves. The song features rap verses by Krayzie and Wish Bone. As part of "layering the song," background vocals are featured throughout the chorus and sections of the bridge. It is set in the signature common time and is written in the key of E major. It features a basic chord progression of A-F-. Carey's vocal range in the song spans from the note of B to the high note of F; the piano and guitar pieces range from F to G as well.
Breakdown (Mariah Carey song) | Composition
Instead, he wrote in "Entertainment Weekly", she "drips over them like syrup instead of overpowering them; she lets the melodies speak for themselves." Dennis Hunt was particularly critical in the "Los Angeles Times", writing that Carey's pop-soul songs still lacked emotion even though she had "toned down her vocal showboating". He accused "Music Box" of being geared toward an adult contemporary audience that "likes its soul whitewashed and in small doses". "Village Voice" critic Robert Christgau labeled it a "dud", indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought". In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Ron Wynn deemed "Music Box" "partly successful" and believed it was smart of Carey to explore her vocal approach differently, but she ended up sounding "detached on several selections".
Music Box (Mariah Carey album) | Critical reception
She's very expressive. She gives a lot of meaning to what she sings." After recording "If It's Over," Carey expressed the musical connection she shared with Afanasieff, as well as the creative format in which she wrote and produced her music when with him, or working with C+C Music Factory. When working with Afanasieff, the duo would sit by a piano, and lead each other vocally and musically, until they would reach the right note and arrangement. During an interview in 1992, Afanasieff described how Carey would stand next to him, and begin singing different notes and tunes she was thinking of, while he would follow her with the piano.
Emotions (Mariah Carey album) | Recording
Ria Ritchie's style of music yearned from when she started singing from the age of 12. She taught herself the guitar from the age of 17. She grew up listening to a lot of Motown and soul music and her music is influenced by artists such as Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Keisha White, John Legend, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Plan B, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green. She has done a few covers from some of these artists on her YouTube page.
Ria Ritchie | Musical style
It features a basic chord progression of A-F. Carey's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of E to the high note of F; the piano and guitar pieces range from F to G as well. The song contains choral lyrics written by Carey, who produced the song's melody and chorus as well. Aside from assisting with its chord progression, Cory Rooney co-arranged and produced the track as well. Author Chris Nickson felt the song was extremely important for Carey's musical transition, writing "Lyrically, this was some of her best work ever, the melody slinky and overtly sexy, confirmation – as if any was needed at this point! – that this was the new Mariah."
The Roof (Back in Time) | Composition
Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1969 or 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Known for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style, and signature use of the whistle register, she is referred to as the "Songbird Supreme" by "Guinness World Records". She rose to fame in 1990 with her eponymous debut album, released under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, who married her three years later. Carey is the first artist in history to have their first five singles reach number one on the "Billboard" Hot 100, from "Vision of Love" to "Emotions". She achieved worldwide success with follow-up albums "Music Box" (1993), "Merry Christmas" (1994), and "Daydream" (1995).
Mariah Carey | Introduction
Music critics compared "E=MC²" heavily to Carey's previous album, "The Emancipation of Mimi", and felt it followed the same formula of ballads and dance-able tracks. Freedom De Luc of "The Washington Post" felt that after experiencing strong success for the first time in the 2000s with "Mimi", Carey tried to create "E=MC²" with the same formula, although possibly a little improved: "Having found that winning formula of coquettish club bangers, emotional ballads and frisky, mid-tempo coos, the diva with the golden tone has eschewed radical experimentalism here for stasis. 'E=MC²' is mostly more of the same, then, with the '2' representing something sequential rather than exponential.
E=MC² (Mariah Carey album) | Style and structure
Rachel B cited as inspiration Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Minnie Riperton, as well as contemporaries like Robyn, Mark Ronson and Corinne Bailey Rae. Her own style has been described as pop, jazz, and soul combined, while herself called it "soulful empowerment pop", derived from her set of classic influences. She has earned praise for the sassy, imaginative and energetic character of her songs and compared favorably to Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse.
Rachel Borovik | Musical style
press delete') and no major hook [that']s never going to set the charts alight, but something tells us Carey is more than aware of this." Copsey also praised her for "adopt[ing] a welcomely serene approach and stripped it back to the core basics of her earlier work: old-school soul that culminates in a stunning finale that only Mariah knows how." Both Jeff Benjamin of "Fuse" and Carolyn Menyes of "Music Times" complimented Carey's vocals, with Benjamin noting that the song has "a full-out showcase of Mariah's legendary vocals," while Menyes noted that her vocals " are high up in the mix, allowing her one-of-a-kind voice to penetrate the listener's ear." Alexa Camp of "Slant Magazine" noted that during the song "she shows off her less-fêted lower range throughout and takes it to church in the song's final minute.
The Art of Letting Go | Critical reception
R&B singer Beyoncé said that she began doing vocal "runs" after listening to "Vision of Love" for the first time, stating that it inspired her to follow a path into the music industry. Christina Aguilera has also stated how Carey's album had the biggest influence on her vocal stylings and delivery. According to the Pier Dominguez, author of "Christina Aguilera: A Star is Made", Carey's carefully choreographed image of a grown woman struck a chord with Aguilera, whose influence also stemmed from the fact that both were of mixed heritage. Carey's two wins at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards was also commented upon by critics, particularly in regards to the lip-syncing controversy surrounding Milli Vanilli the prior year.
Mariah Carey (album) | Legacy
Chisholm's music is generally pop and rock. She also released an album of show tunes. Her vocal range is identified as mezzo-soprano.
Melanie C | Musical style
Tinashe said she writes her songs and is open to writing collaborations with other artists. Her writing consists of "things that are relative to me and my life; whether that's relationships I've had or relationships that people I know are in, because I can put myself into other people's mindstates and write from that point of view too". She also likes to write about society; "different things that affect me day to day from more of a philosophical standpoint rather than just the obvious stuff." Regarding her musical style, she is "really inspired by R&B, hip-hop, and alternative music". Tinashe said in 2016 she feels she does not "fit into any particular genre." She later said she considers herself "a pop artist who makes R&B-tinged pop music".
Tinashe | Musical style and influences
Francois music falls within the Christian/gospel genre of the library of music. She places emphasis mainly on vocals in her songs, of which she writes herself. She also uses acoustic accompanists in her compilations when applicable. Guitar, keyboard, percussion, and vocals are the prominent instruments, providing the acoustic and mellow tone to listeners.
Jackie Francois | Style
"Emotions" contains influences from mostly 1950s, 1960s and 1970s balladry and gospel, as well as her continued work of R&B and soul. The album, while praised by some as more mature and raw, failed to reach the critical or commercial heights of her debut effort, while selling far less and failed to introduce Carey into a different market. Following these events, Columbia decided to try to market Carey in a similar fashion to her debut, only having her produce a more commercial and radio-friendly album. Their plans were to tone down Carey's vocals, and soften the album's production, leaving a more contemporary pop/R&B record.
Music Box (Mariah Carey album) | Music and lyrics
Arzutra Garielle's greatest musical influences have been Lata Mangeshkar and Shreya Ghoshal from the East. This is evident in her musical works where she has attempted to adopt the Bollywood style in her own music. Her main western influence is Mariah Carey. She has managed to garner a classy melodic pop sound. Her music is Bollywood-inspired. Her debut album "Woh Pal" has various genres: dance, acoustic, ambient lounge & romantic.
Arzutra Garielle | Musical style
She possesses a three-octave mezzo-soprano vocal range. Her vocal range is (from A to F♯). Jones has cited as her biggest musical influences some artists include Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Celine Dion, Etta James, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, CeCe Winans, and Mary J. Blige.
Coco Jones | Artistry
Creuzot describes her musical style as a blend of “R&B soul and pop.” The subject matter of most of her songs centers around topics such as female empowerment, relationships, love, and heartache. Creuzot explains in a recent interview “I draw off of things that go on in my life (past, present and my hopes for the future), and my outlet is to write and sing about it …You have to figure out how to channel things in a positive way.”
Coline Creuzot | Musical style
Interestingly, her vocal approach here is almost emo, as she hits her rock-solid middle register and refuses to be held captive by the demons of her past." MTV News writer Jennifer Vineyard described the song in detail:
E=MC² (Mariah Carey album) | Songs and lyrics
Carey possesses a five-octave vocal range, and has the ability to hit notes beyond the seventh octave. Referred to as the "Songbird Supreme" by the "Guinness World Records", she was ranked first in a 2003 MTV and "Blender" magazine countdown of the 22 Greatest Voices in Music, as voted by fans and readers in an online poll. Carey said of the poll: "What it really means is voice of the MTV generation. Of course, it's an enormous compliment, but I don't feel that way about myself." She also placed second in "Cove" magazine's list of "The 100 Outstanding Pop Vocalists." Regarding her voice type, Carey said that she is an alto, though several critics have described her as a coloratura soprano.
Mariah Carey | Voice and timbre
Carey won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and also received the award for Best New Artist. In "The Rolling Stone Album Guide" (2004), Arion Berger later wrote that "Carey debuted with an album of uplifting dance pop and R&B ballads, each song's composition co-credited to Carey and each providing an opportunity to unleash her wide vocal range." Ashley S. Battel from AllMusic found the record "extremely impressive" and described the songs as "smooth-sounding ballads and uplifting dance/R&B cuts" on an album that served "as a springboard for future successes". "Carey establishes a strong standard of comparison for other breakthrough artists of this genre", Battel concluded.
Mariah Carey (album) | Critical reception
"Music Box" received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom found the performances uninvolved and devoid of substantial songwriting. In "Rolling Stone", Stephen Holden said the lyrics were "made up entirely of pop and soul clichés" on an album "so precisely calculated to be a blockbuster that its impact is ultimately a little unnerving". Christopher John Farley from "Time" called it "perfunctory and almost passionless" in spite of highlights in "Anytime You Need a Friend" and the title track. In "Entertainment Weekly", David Browne found Carey's performance low on energy and her voice no longer soaring above the backup chorus.
Music Box (Mariah Carey album) | Critical reception
Kenneth Partridge of "Billboard" rated the album a 77 out of 100, writing how Mariah has found her musical niche that her fans have come to expect that is a "mix of pop-classicist balladry and hip-hop-tinged summer jamming". At "Entertainment Weekly", Melissa Maerz graded the album a B, saying how the release proves that her voice has been put through its paces, which she writes when Mariah is "trying to power through a note where it sounds like digital technology might be holding her up by the straps of that crocheted swimsuit." According to Gardner however, Mariah's vocal is "relaxed and confident".
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse | Critical reception
Carey gave "Billboard" an exclusive interview in their March 9, 2013 issue, stating: "It's about making sure I have tons of good music, because at the end of the day, that's the most important thing... There are a lot more raw ballads than people might expect... there are also uptempo and signature-type songs that represent [my] different facets as an artist... Wherever we go with this project, I've tried to keep the soul and heart in it." "Billboard" also asked Carey about the title of the album, but she declined to reveal it. In late March 2013, Carey stated that she "has more than enough songs" but "she's in the process of finishing things and mixing and all that".
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse | Recording
During her solo career, Paparizou has changed her musical style from laiko, to pop and rock-inspired styles on a whim. Some critics attribute this to a lack of personal style and following trends for commercial success rather than as an artistic expression. Paparizou has been known to follow the trends of international female pop stars; music critics have compared songs like "The Light in Our Soul" to Celine Dion, "Let's Get Wild" to Anastacia, "Gigolo" and "Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)" to Shakira, "Somebody's Burning (Put the Fire Out)" to Beyoncé Knowles, and "Dancing Without Music" to Kylie Minogue c.
Helena Paparizou | Music and themes
Sonically, Sullivan's voice alternates between "modern productions" and a "1980s-influenced sound" which music critics say gives her "old-school hip hop sound". Her vocal range is identified as mezzo-soprano. Her voice has a solid agility in all registers and is well connected between an A2 and a G5. InStyle said that she has a "raspy voice". She describes her writing style as "flashbacks", in reference to her songs about failed relationships that were both physically and emotionally abusive. Her music displays her responses to these relationships famously with her song "Bust Your Windows". She likes to write about how she is feeling, which in turn, taking a day or up to a month to complete.
Jazmine Sullivan | Musical style and artistry
Music Box is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter and producer Mariah Carey. It was released by Columbia Records on August 31, 1993, in North America. The album comprises ballads primarily written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, with whom she had previously worked on "Emotions" (1991), and a few urban dance tracks. During the course of the album's development, Carey wanted to broaden her audience, choosing a more pop/R&B oriented sound. During this time frame, she experimented with different musical instruments, leading the album's sound away from her more contemporary previous two efforts. Two additional tracks from the album sessions were released, with "Do You Think of Me" serving as the b-side to "Dreamlover" and "Everything Fades Away" being featured on international editions of the "Music Box" album.
Music Box (Mariah Carey album) | Introduction
With the exception "Hero" and "Dreamlover", the other songs lacked her usual "personality and intensity", according to Wynn. "Q" was more impressed by the record, writing that "this 1993 celebration of the all-conquering power of love was her defining moment".
Music Box (Mariah Carey album) | Critical reception
"Can't Let Go" is written in the key of F major (with minor interminglings), ascending up to F major (with similar qualities) to close the song out — a common pop tonal effect. Mariah's vocals range from the low note of F to the high note of B, at a moderately slow tempo of 81 beats per minute, according to Musicnotes.com.
Can't Let Go (Mariah Carey song) | Music and lyrics
As a musical artist, Lloyd has been described as an "expressive, playful R&B" artist, with a "unique blend of pop smarts and urban attitude." She stated in a "BBC" article that, "I feel like I've finally entered this new phase of my career where it's totally authentic" in regards to her music career. "When you enter the music industry at such a young age [...] I had to grow up and discover who I was and how I want to be heard. I've got nothing to hide any more. My music is 100% me. It's been me going into sessions and me writing the songs.
Cher Lloyd | Musical style
Costa has been influenced by musicians such as Tracy Chapman and soul singer Jazmine Sullivan. Many of her lyrical themes center around family, personal experiences, and literature, and has stated "For me, writing a song is like bottling an emotion in its most potent form." According to the "Columbia Spectator", Costa more closely identifies with gospel singers using their intuition, as compared to classically trained musicians. "I'm afraid that by taking a music theory class, I'm not going to be as creative," she said. "Not knowing what's right or wrong or what's typical composition-wise makes my music more free in the sense that I'm not trying to assume an ABA-structure or something like that."
Antoniette Costa | Style
Carey filmed a music video for "I Want to Know What Love Is" in September 2009 in New York City, directed by Hype Williams. The video premiered on Mariah's official website on November 13, 2009. The video features Carey singing in Yankee Stadium, intercut with shots of the audience, often accompanied by loved ones, and some glimpses into the tough times in their past, as they grow emotional from the song's performance. A gospel choir joins Carey at the center of the stadium at the video's end. Carey wears the signature curly hairstyle from the initial stages of her career circa 1990–1993, maintaining the "Memoirs" theme of the album.
I Want to Know What Love Is | Music video
While making a strong impact on pop music, Carey became interested in altering her sound, and deviating from pop music for her second studio effort, "Emotions" (1991). Following the success of her debut, Columbia allowed her to take more control over her musical departure, enabling her to change her genre infusions, melodies and production. With Carey in the captain's chair, having more control than she had on any other album, she took the album in a new direction, alongside Afanasieff. For Carey's third studio effort, she enrolled the help of a range of songwriters, as well as record producers. Aside from Afanasieff, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, a man who would collaborate with Carey often in the near future, also took part in the project.
Music Box (Mariah Carey album) | Background and development
In the April 2012 issue of "Shape" magazine, Carey stated: "I've started writing songs for a new album, which I hope will come out in 2012. Getting back in the studio and making music again-which I truly love doing-is the best way to end this crazy year". In August 2012, Carey's then-manager Randy Jackson told "Billboard" that the album was set for release in March 2013. Carey told Ryan Seacrest in September 2012: "I want[ed] [it] to [be released] sooner, but I guess it wouldn't be ready until around January 2013, somewhere around there. I wanted to put another single out, a ballad.
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse | Release
He went on to say negatively that, "there are a few clunkers like her messy live take on the jazz classic "Lullaby of Birdland" [...] there should be a method to the madness. Unfortunately, Mariah’s take on jazz chanteuse is more madness than method; suffice it to say she’s no Sarah Vaughan." He also criticized "Save the Day" stating that "Ms. Lauryn Hill’s vocals have been cleverly interpolated" but called it a "rare lyrical misstep" saying that "what the world needs now is something more probing and specific than another string of peace homilies." "Los Angeles Times" pop-music critic Mikael Wood also praised the album stating that the only negative aspect was that it did not "include anything from the out-of-print [...] alt-rock album that Carey secretly made in 1995 under the band name Chick." He praised the song "Here We Go Around Again" stating that her vocals were "precise as always" and praised her writing style saying that it was "already in a tune whose darting melody evokes the comings and goings of a guy who can’t make up his mind about her." Idolator writer Mike Wass also praised the album saying that "a collection of unreleased songs and B-Sides has no right being this good".
The Rarities (Mariah Carey album) | Critical reception
In doing her works, she sometimes gets ideas and starts one on impulse. At other times, however, she researches first on the subject before making a composition and proceeding with doing her work. Music is also a big influence on her, choosing to listen to various tunes while creating her works. She has said that, "You have to have an idea first and then let the music enhance that. You can't depend on it. You can't say that you have to listen to music before you start your work. That leads to you being dependent on it, which will not be good in the future.
Maria Rita Teresa Batalla-Laforteza | Style
"The Guardian" called her image "doll-like and decidedly emo...hyperreal", and described her music as "part-nursery rhyme, part tragic life story".
Melanie Martinez | Musical style
As a child, Carey lived with her mother Patricia in a small apartment on Long Island, New York. They were poor and had to move several times as Patricia found different jobs. As a result, Carey frequently transferred into different schools, and at the age of seventeen, she moved into a small Manhattan studio with other young women to pursue a career in music. She had already begun working on her demo tape with Ben Margulies, a classmate at her school in Huntington, Long Island. During this period, she lived a lifestyle of poverty, often sharing a box of spaghetti with her five roommates and wearing torn shoes.
Make It Happen (Mariah Carey song) | Background
You have to have the idea created in your head first, and then while making your work, you let the music be your support and you let it enhance your artwork and help you finish it. That's the right way to do it,". She believes that one should be taken by the emotions through the music, not by the music itself.
Maria Rita Teresa Batalla-Laforteza | Style
Max has been labeled as a pop and dance-pop singer. She grew up listening to artists such as Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Fugees, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. She has also cited Beyoncé, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Fergie, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Lady Gaga as some of her influences. She stated that Carey is her biggest influence, recalling how she grew up listening to her music on loop, such as "Vision of Love" (1990).
Ava Max | Musical style and influences
"Say Somethin'" is a mid-tempo song lasting three minutes and forty-four seconds, while drawing influence from R&B and hip-hop music genres. It incorporates its beat from several musical instruments, including the organ, bass drum and several electronic and computerized sound effects. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is set in common time with a moderate tempo of 88 beats per minute. Written by Carey, Snoop Dogg, Chad Hugo, and Pharrell Williams, and produced by The Neptunes, the song is composed in the key of E minor, with Carey's vocal range spanning from the low-note of F to the high-note of B.
Say Somethin' (Mariah Carey song) | Composition
Rosen further exemplified Carey's influence by drawing a parallel with American Idol, which to her, "often played out as a clash of melisma-mad Mariah wannabes. And, today, nearly 20 years after Carey's debut, major labels continue to bet the farm on young stars such as the winner of Britain's X Factor show, Leona Lewis, with her Generation Next gloss on Mariah's big voice and big hair." "New York Magazine's" editor Roger Deckker further commented that "Whitney Houston may have introduced melisma (the vocally acrobatic style of lending a word an extra syllable or twenty) to the charts, but it was Mariah—with her jaw-dropping range—who made it into America's default sound." Deckker also added that "Every time you turn on American Idol, you are watching her children." As Professor Katherine L.
Mariah Carey | Legacy
Carey denied taking a radically new direction, and insisted that the musical style of her new album was of her own choosing. Nevertheless, Carey resented the control that Sony, whose president was Mottola, exercised over her music, preventing her making music about which she was passionate. In contrast, Sony were concerned Carey, their best-selling act, could jeopardize her future success through her actions. The pressure of the separation and constant press attention began to take its toll of Carey. Growing creative differences with producer Walter Afanasieff ended their working relationship, after collaborating on most of Carey's previous output. The breaking point came after a heated argument during a long recording session, over the album's musical direction.
Close My Eyes (Mariah Carey song) | Background
Author Chris Nickson wrote the following regarding the song, its lyrics and composition: That wasn't just a faith in herself and her talent, but also the ability to let herself go, to pray to God, and to trust in what would happen. These were, by far, her most inspiring words to date, letting others know that no matter what they were doing, no matter how difficult things were, with help they would win through. Musically, the piece had a restrained dance beat, very Mowtownish, that owed a little more to gospel, with a chorus - sung by Mariah, Trey and Patrique - that rose gloriously from the verse to repeat and drive and its very positive message home.
Make It Happen (Mariah Carey song) | Composition
In an interview with "Entertainment Weekly", Carey openly spoke of her issues with Columbia: "Everybody was like 'What, are you crazy?' They're nervous about breaking the formula. It works to have me sing a ballad on stage in a long dress with my hair up." While Carey's new musical direction caused tension between her and Columbia, it began to severely strain her relationship with her husband at the time, Tommy Mottola. Mottola had always been involved in Carey's career, because he was the head of Sony Music, the parent company of her label. Since the time of Carey's debut, Mottola had controlled nearly every aspect of her career, keeping her sound carefully regulated and insisting that she continue recording middle-of-the-road pop music, despite her interest in hip hop.
Daydream (Mariah Carey album) | Background
"Hero" is a mid-tempo ballad. It was written and produced by Carey and Afanasieff, and was released as the second single from her third studio album, "Music Box". It incorporates music from several musical instruments, including the piano, guitar and organ. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music Publishing, the song is set in common time with a moderate tempo of 62 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of E major with Carey's vocal range spanning from the low-note of G to the high-note of E. The song's chorus has a basic chord progression of G–G–G/F–Em–G/D–C-G/B–Am.
Hero (Mariah Carey song) | Composition and lyrical content
The chorus was sophisticated and natural, with each following line "cascading onto one another", something that would have proved difficult for a "less skilled vocalist". Carey started leaning away from the "standard Celine Dion ballad" and more towards R&B jams. However, she was not going to completely abandon the type of songs that made her famous. For this reason, Carey wrote "When I Saw You" with Afanasieff, a song that would truly embody some of her earlier work, as well as show off her powerful vocals. Returning to her R&B territory, Carey recorded "Long Ago", the second song she wrote alongside Dupri and Seal which contains a strong hip hop background.
Daydream (Mariah Carey album) | Conception and composition
When discussing her musical style in an interview with Billboard, INOJ stated that she doesn't identify with one particular genre of music. According to her " I try not to classify my sound, but I think I would call myself rhythm and pop instead of R&B". She continued saying, "R&B is more street today than rhythm and blues, and i'm definitely not urban, so I guess i've come up with a new category of my own".
INOJ | Style
"Breakdown" garnered generally positive reviews from music critics. David Browne from "Entertainment Weekly" praised the song, writing "for most of the album she keeps her notorious octave-climbing chops at bay. Showing some admirable restraint, she nestles herself into downy-soft beats. In 'Breakdown', she demonstrates she can match the staccato, lite-reggae phrasing of her guests, two members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony." Rich Juzwiak from "Slant" called "Breakdown" "the song of Carey's career," noting its "lyrical strokes as broad and obvious as they are naked. Mariah the chanter flawlessly adapts to their singsong style, largely boxing her multi-octave range into a sly, hypnotic melody so that when she really wails at the end, you really feel it.
Breakdown (Mariah Carey song) | Critical reception
Amy Linden from "Vibe" also reviewed the song positively, calling Carey's vocal performance in the song "emotional" and "graceful." Additionally, Linden wrote "It could very well be Carey's version of Nas' "Hate Me Now"; she makes it through all the trials and tribulations undaunted."
Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) | Critical reception
Margaret's musical style is a mellow mix of soul, pop and jazz. Margaret has released some unofficial music videos and audio files on her official YouTube and Facebook accounts.
Margaret Ortega | Music
He further wrote that when he put his headphones into his computer, he was worried that Carey would sing the word "hashtag" in the lyrics, but after listening to the song in its entirety, he proclaimed it as a "perfect pop song". He was complimentary of the songs instrumental and production, and described it as "seductive". Roberts also wrote that although Carey does not enter the song until a third of the way through, she matches Miguel's "glorious tone with the confidence of someone who knows she can lift her verse to equal whatever comes her way" with a "glorious tone".
Beautiful (Mariah Carey song) | Critical reception
Continually experiment with new musical ideas and images, von Schöneberg's live performance style mixes music, art and fashion. She describes herself as a musician who expresses her feelings and emotion and her music as a meadow full of colorful wild flowers and insects. She is inspired by rock,pop and ethnic artists like David Bowie, Queen, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Ravi Shankar.
Stella von Schöneberg | Musical style
During her five-month stay, she began to write a new studio album, using experiences she had gone through in recent months as inspirational themes. After being signed by Island Records and starting her own imprint, MonarC Entertainment, Carey released her intended "comeback" album "Charmbracelet" (2002). However, the album failed to revive her career, receiving mixed reviews and failing to spawning a hit in the US, but sold considerably well. After enduring three years of "carping" from critics, Carey planned her return to music. On November 18, 2004, she revealed on her website that she would return to music and announced that the album would be called "The Emancipation of Mimi", stating, "For the first time in my life, I feel free and unashamed to be who I really am," she wrote.
It's Like That (Mariah Carey song) | Background
Mauboy grew up listening to country singers Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Slim Dusty; she credits country music as her first love of music, saying the genre "is who I really, really am deeply." Mauboy also grew up listening to hip-hop rappers Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Mauboy cites Mariah Carey as her main influence and inspiration, stating that she has "drawn a lot of inspiration from watching and listening to her live performances". She grew up listening to many of Carey's songs and was inspired by her vocal style and songwriting, "I loved 'Dreamlover' and 'Fantasy' – and picked up loads of tips from her style of singing.
Jessica Mauboy | Influences
Her style has been compared to Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, and James Blake. Tinashe was inspired by the music her parents would play in the house when she was young. She considers Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Sade, Christina Aguilera, James Blake, the xx, and SBTRKT as significant influences on her.
Tinashe | Musical style and influences
Carey's vocal range spans from the low-note of C to the high-note of G, while the song's chorus follows a chord progression of G–G–G/F–Em–G/D–C–G/B–Am.
Make It Happen (Mariah Carey song) | Composition
Grinels' music is characterized by acoustic guitar and powerful vocals. Her vocal delivery has elements of folk, pop rock, jazz, and blues.
Jenn Grinels | Musical style
It was because of this, he writes, that despite Carey having a vocal ability that is "worth watching," what she is singing vocally is more interesting than what she is singing lyrically, having not yet found her own style.
There's Got to Be a Way | Critical reception
"Fantasy" is an up-tempo song with modern R&B and dance-pop genres within its composition, which blends elements of funk music, hip hop, and bubblegum pop. "Fantasy" moves at a tempo of 102 beats per minute. The remix, which features rap verses from O.D.B, also incorporates hip-hop into the bridge. The song uses heavy bass and percussion, as well as a sample from "Genius of Love". The song is set in the signature common time, and is written in the key of G major. It features a basic chord progression of A-F-. Carey's vocal range in the song spans from the note of D to the high note of F; the piano and guitar pieces range from D to E as well.
Fantasy (Mariah Carey song) | Composition
Fahl has stated that she grew up listening heavily to her brothers' Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd records, as well as her sisters' Joni Mitchell and Dusty Springfield albums. She's specifically cited Joni Mitchell as being highly influential in her music. She's also referenced Nico and various film scores. Reviewers regularly have compared her to Enya, saying "both have a vocal grace and rich melodic sense that verges on Classical Music." Fahl has stated she and Enya are not really alike, as Enya is a mezzo-soprano, while Fahl's voice is "earthier, a dusky contralto. Her sound is more wordless vocals, my material is much more rooted in the storytelling, singer/songwriter tradition."
Mary Fahl | Musical style, influences
Nina has cited Mariah Carey as major influence in her singing career, notably in her debut album "Heaven" (2002). She is known to have a similar vocal range, musical style and prominent use of the whistle register. She has performed Carey's songs both in her arena concerts and small venue live shows. Early in her career, Nina admitted that she never attempted to watch concerts before she became a recording artist until Carey's in Manila. In an interview, she stressed the originality of her sound, saying "It's not like I want my career to imitate or even be compared with [Carey]'s.
Nina Girado | Influences
I had to make my exit and say 'Mariah, you need to redefine yourself, that's fine. I'm here doing what I do and if and when you want to come back and do it again, I'm here. "My All" was written in Carey's home-studio in upstate New York, and was recorded in Afanasieff's recording studio in San Francisco. After she presented him with the melody she had developed in Puerto Rico, he began playing chords on the piano, while Carey sang the tune and directed him. After they produced the chorus, Carey wrote the lyrics, while he added a drum groove to the basic melody.
My All | Recording
Agreeing to the change, Carey and Afanasieff began writing and recording material for her third studio effort, "Music Box". One of the noticeable differences from "Music Box" and Carey's previous albums is its sound. The album was described by Afanasieff as a softer and more pop-oriented album, "filling the songs with air", and allowing far more space in the overall sound. Another noticeable change is in the album's production. When "Mariah Carey" was released, critics took notice of its "overly produced" and "studio perfect" quality, where in comparison, "Emotions" maintains a "raw, live sound." "Music Box" however, falls in between the two, a decision made by Carey during the album's production.
Music Box (Mariah Carey album) | Music and lyrics
She owns a thin, light and clear voice so it's suitable for her to perform soft ballad songs. After getting married, she changed her image into more mature one.
Phạm Quỳnh Anh | Music style
After Afanasieff presented Carey with the melody he had discovered, it inspired her to write the melody and lyrics, which told of a friend that perished in a drunk-driving accident. Musically, the album fulfilled its greatest challenge, according to critics. It had helped master Carey's usage and infusion of several genres which she had not tapped into during the recording of her debut.
Emotions (Mariah Carey album) | Music and lyrics
In an interview with "Newsweek", Carey described how she felt regarding the song: "You're right. It is a totally different approach for me musically. When I heard it at first I thought it was a cool and interesting track, but I didn't know if it was very me." Additionally, Carey outed the lines "Something like volcanic / You and me seems organic / Just like stars and planets" as "nonsense", but claimed she "loved it".
Say Somethin' (Mariah Carey song) | Composition
Mariah discovered singing when she joined her elementary school chorus. She began writing songs while attending St. John's University in New York on a biology scholarship, an interest that inspired her stage name. She also took music classes at St. John's. In 2018, after three years, she left college to concentrate on her music career. She released her debut EP, the six-track "To Die For", on SoundCloud in January 2018. Her music was discovered by Tory Lanez, signing to his One Umbrella label imprint. She later went on to tour with him, while honing her sound in preparation for releasing her major-label debut.
Mariah the Scientist | Musical career
Critics have analyzed and scrutinized Gaga's musical and performance style, as she has experimented with new ideas and images throughout her career. She says the continual reinvention is "liberating" herself, which she has been drawn to since childhood. Gaga is a contralto with a range spanning from B♭ to B. She has changed her vocal style regularly, and considers "Born This Way" "much more vocally up to par with what I've always been capable of". In summing up her voice, "Entertainment Weekly" wrote: "There's an immense emotional intelligence behind the way she uses her voice. Almost never does she overwhelm a song with her vocal ability, recognizing instead that artistry is to be found in nuance rather than lung power." Gaga's songs have been called "depthless" by writer Camille Paglia in "The Sunday Times", but according to Evan Sawdey of "PopMatters", she "does manage to get you moving and grooving at an almost effortless pace".
Lady Gaga | Musical style and themes
She doesn't pursue only one music genre as she wanted to achieve multi-genre singer. She was one of a few singers that could balance well between artistic and entertainment. People often considered her to be singing deep ballad songs. Her medium vocal was feminine, soft and she often adjusted her voice to fit any song.
Hiền Thục | 2010-now
Carey's subsequent musical releases followed the trend that began with "Daydream". Her music began relying less on pop and adult contemporary-tinged balladry and instead incorporating heavy elements of hip-hop and R&B. On "Butterfly", Carey collaborated with a bevy of producers other than Afanasieff, such as Sean Combs, Q-Tip, Missy Elliott and Jean Claude Oliver and Samuel Barnes from Trackmasters. In mid-1997, after four years of marriage, Carey and Mottola separated. Carey described Mottola as increasingly controlling, and viewed her newfound independence as a new lease on life. In the booklet of her twelfth studio album, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" (2009), Carey wrote that she considers "Butterfly" her "magnum opus" and a turning point in both her life and career.
Mariah Carey | 1997–2000: New image and independence, "Butterfly", and "Rainbow"
Her musical style is a mix of pop rock, power pop and pop punk with Christian based lyrics. Her musical influences include Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne, Stacie Orrico, Evanescence and Kelly Clarkson.
Jessie Daniels | Musical style and influences
It is performed in the key of A major with a tempo of 74 beats per minute in common time. "With You" follows a chord progression of A – C/G – Fm – Em – D – E, and Carey's vocals span from E to E.
With You (Mariah Carey song) | Background and composition
Similarly, "The Michigan Daily"s Chris Gaerig criticized Carey's "airy vocals" and wrote "Carey sounds like a 13-year-old boy going through puberty, singing love songs to a grade school crush."
Shake It Off (Mariah Carey song) | Critical reception
The album opens with "Cry", a gospel song built over a piano, "simmering vocals and full-bodied runs" containing "swirling organs and scaling ad-lib." Described by "Billboard" magazine as being one of the album's most "heaviest moments," lyrically the song discusses Carey's desire to hold a lover until they both start "bawling." "Faded" is a "luscious" R&B song produced by Mike Will Made It, the song and Carey's vocals feature "climaxes" with the song taking influence from R&B hip-hop and pop genres. "Dedicated" features American rapper Nas, the song contains a sample from "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" as performed by Wu-Tang Clan and lyrically discusses nostalgia, with Mariah and Nas looking back at their past relationships and how they have shaped their lives.
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse | Composition
Emayla describes her music as a fusion of pop and soul. She cites Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone, Jhené Aiko and Tracy Chapman as influences when she was younger. Some of her early stages' work has been compared to Laura Pausini.
Emayla | Musical style and influences
"Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" is a slow tempo song that blends pop and R&B beats. Additionally, it incorporates its sound from several instruments including the violin, piano and organ. The ballad is set in the signature of common time, with a slowly tempo of 52 beats per minute. It is written in the key of A major, with Carey's vocals spanning almost three octaves, from the low note of A to the high note of F#. The song was written by Carey and Diane Warren. Although there were no conflicts during the recording process, the pair had minor disagreements during the songwriting stages: Carey said that Warren liked to repeat lyrical phrases often.
Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) | Composition and lyrical content
Page's original music blends ethereal vocals with piano-driven, atmospheric soundscapes. She attributes her ethereal sound to her use of reverb, delay, and layering techniques in post production. Page's primary instruments are the piano and synthesizer with production and beat creation in Logic Pro.
Mimi Page | Musical style
After "Emotions" failed to achieve the commercial heights of her debut album, Carey's subsequent release was to be marketed as adult contemporary and pop-friendly. "Music Box" was produced by Carey and Afanasieff, and began a songwriting partnership that would extend until 1997's "Butterfly". The album was released on August 31, 1993 to mixed reviews from music critics. Carey's songwriting was derided as clichéd and her vocal performances were described as less emotive and lazier in their delivery. In his review of the album, AllMusic's Ron Wynn concluded: "sometimes excessive spirit is preferable to an absence of passion." In promotion of the album, Carey embarked on her debut tour, a six date concert series, the Music Box Tour.
Mariah Carey | 1993–1996: "Music Box", "Merry Christmas", and "Daydream"
It also became Carey's 16th top ten album in the United States. The album debuted at number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, making it only the second Christmas album to top this chart. Following the birth of her children, Carey began work on her fourteenth studio album.
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse | Background
"I Pray" was described by "The New York Post" writer Chuck Arnold, as "one of the most straight-up spiritual things Carey has ever done, with a choir helping her to take it all the way to church." "Cool On You" continues the R&B sound and "stems from "E=MC²" era and finds [Carey] in full club mode [...] It’s light and feathery fun that gets stuck in your head after the very first listen." "Mesmerized" is a "curiously sedate mid-tempo that was supposed to appear in "The Paperboy"."
The Rarities (Mariah Carey album) | Composition