Looking out for #1

MTV: The single that's being released for Christmas, how did that come about?

Mariah: I started doing different charity events where I did a combination of "Never Too Far" and "Hero". We made it into a medley and put them in the same key and made it work. People responded really well to it. It's been interesting for me, since the events of September 11, the way people have been playing "Hero" and really even talking to me about "Never Too Far", 'cause that song is also about loss. I figured that it would be a nice thing to do, to put them both out for Christmas. There's also an unreleased track on the B-side, which is called "There for Me" which kind of has the same sentiment. The proceeds from "Never Too Far" and "Hero" and "There for Me" are going to go to the Heroes Fund, and it's going to benefit police officers' families, relief workers' families.

MTV: Let's talk about "Ally McBeal". How did that come about?

Mariah: They just called me and asked me if I wanted to do it and I said, "Hey, got a little extra time, might as well." It's fun. It's a little scene. A cute character named Candy, that's who I play.

MTV: You actually sing on the show?

Mariah: I sing at the end of the show, but in the beginning I'm in a courtroom skit. The character I'm playing in the courtroom scene isn't a music character. She's kind of out there. It's funny.

MTV: How do you feel about acting?

Mariah: It's very different than singing. To express myself creatively as a singer, a songwriter and a producer is one thing, and then being able to act is a whole other side of my creative self. I think separating the two is probably the best thing for me. I did a movie called Wise Girls this past year with Mira Sorvino and Melora Walters, and that's a character that's completely the opposite of me in some ways. I really enjoyed doing that, because to jump back into music after doing that, your creative self is fully satisfied.

MTV: What are the differences between doing a music video and doing a movie for you?

Mariah: For me, a music video is about the editing and big concepts. Basically you could pluck anyone off the street and put them in a video. Write a song, put a group together, and here you go, superstar. But acting is different, 'cause it's not about the lighting and the hoopla. You have to let go of that stuff and be in the moment and be available emotionally, which you really don't have to in singing. I mean, some people are naturally in their music, and some people are just in the moment of living in their hairstyle.

MTV: You put yourself into your music, though. You're definitely feeling it. When you're watching a music video, you can see it in your eyes.

Mariah: I love making videos now that I'm in charge of the videos I make. When I was just told, "You are going to make a video today, and you're going to be wearing a turtleneck and a jacket that covers it and also probably some pants down to the floor, and some boots that come up to the knee under the pants," I was a little bit distraught. Basically I like to be able to express myself. I have a lot of fun doing this. It's like playing dressup for me. Today we did "Cribs". I changed my outfit, like, six times. What's the point if you can't laugh through stuff? People take life and situations and the press and all that drama so seriously, when half the time it's 90% untrue. If I don't laugh at it, it takes you under. You have to laugh at it.

MTV: It's good you can have a sense of humor about it.

Mariah: Sometimes it takes a minute to get your sense of humor back, but it's what's driven me and carried me throughout my whole life, 'cause I had a very dysfunctional childhood. I had a lot of problems growing up, but I made up characters. I made up different things. I acted out as a class clown, and I made up song lyrics and I sang and wrote poetry, and that's what got me through. You've always got to be able to laugh. Like it says in "Loverboy", "You can laugh now or cry later".

MTV: You've got Mariah Carey's Greatest Hits coming out. Just a couple years ago you had the #1's album. What are the differences between them?

Mariah: The #1's record only had #1 [hits] on it. Therefore I wouldn't let them call it a greatest-hits [album], and I made a huge deal out of it. I think people are going to like Greatest Hits, because there are songs on it that were not necessarily singles. Songs that, if you're a fan, you know them, but if you're someone that's maybe a fan - not a fan that buys every record or that knows every album cut, but they know just the big hits - these are songs that need to be really heard. I'm happy about it. There's a song "Vanishing" that's on the record that I really love, and there's a song called "Underneath the Stars" that I always kind of fought for and was like, "How could you not put this song out?" There's a lot of songs that I'm happy are going to see the light of day this way. I would have added a few extra, different ones, but I'm not always in charge.

MTV: What are your personal favorites on this one?

Mariah: I always loved "Fantasy" and "One Sweet Day" and those are songs on this that weren't on #1's. "Heartbreaker" was not on #1's, and it's on this. "Thank God I Found You" as well. And I love that song "Underneath the Stars". It's something very different. I was so distraught that was never released, 'cause people always have these criticisms: "Oh, she always does these big ballads, she never does these different, quirkier styles of records." It's like, "Then let them release some of the songs that are like that." People will buy these records, and if they like them, maybe they'll go back and listen to the records that they came from and see some of the things that are a little bit different than [what] I'm traditionally known for.

MTV: Do you like greatest-hits records? Do you buy them?

Mariah: I buy them. I just bought Deniece Williams' greatest hits, 'cause I wanted to hear that song "Free" and "Black Butterfly".

MTV: What do you think makes a good greatest-hits record as opposed to a not-so-great greatest-hits record?

Mariah: I have no freaking idea, to be honest with you.

MTV: Let's talk about some of the videos you've got going on. I understand you have a lot more involvement in them now.

Mariah: I just did a medley of "Never Too Far" and "Hero," and it was live from the RFK special ["United We Stand - What More Can I Give" in Washington, D.C. on October 21]. It's basically a shot of the crowd and shots of me onstage, but it's got a really warm feeling 'cause everybody there had come together for one cause, and I know a lot of people were scared to be in that type of venue with what was going on. It's nice to watch. Some of the things are kind of sad, when you see people holding up pictures of people that they lost. But I think that it's got a really strong sentiment. It's emotional, but I think people are going to come out of it feeling stronger.

MTV: Has anything changed for you, Mariah, in light of September 11?

Mariah: [The last] six months [have] been a learning experience, and I have learned to slow down in some ways and focus more in others, even though I've always been very focused and a very driven person and a workaholic. I've learned that if I don't take care of myself, there's really nobody that's going to take care of me. There's not some superhero that's going to fly up and carry me off and take care of me, 'cause that doesn't really exist. That's kind of the way it is to me, in terms of the changing world. We all have to do our part, 'cause there's not some magical entity that just arrives and sweeps everything under the rug. People are in dire straits all over the world, so I think that's why a lot of artists are coming together and trying to do different things. Doing whatever they can to help make a difference.

MTV: Talk about your new apartment.

Mariah: I just moved in, so it's kind of bittersweet. [I have] panoramic views of the city, and I used to see the twin towers perfectly, right outside my window. Now I look and it's just emptiness. It looks just like smoke and nothing. That's very different and difficult, but basically, I'm here. I'm a New Yorker, and I'm staying.

MTV: Glad to be here?

Mariah: Still just happy to be here.

(MTV Online)