Mariah divides both critics and fans with "Obsessed"
The new Mariah Carey single - "Obsessed" - released Tuesday has divided both music critics and fans alike. In the sassy song, Carey raps of her disdain for Eminem, dismissing him by saying, "You're a mom and pop, I'm a corporation." This track is the first off of her album "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" due out Aug. 25, just six days before the cut-off of the Grammy Awards eligibility period.
Whether "Obsessed" will reap Carey a fourth record of the year bid at the Grammys is up for debate. The critical response to the single was mixed. Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times said the song, "is certainly more lively than her earlier work with The-Dream (the bedroom slow-dance 'My Love'). Unfortunately, it's an even more anonymous Carey than ever before. One of the biggest selling points of 'E=MC2' was Carey dropping the over-the-top howling, and learning how to sing with a more restrained range. She thankfully left the showboating to the 'American Idol' kids, and stayed closer to the rhythms. Yet 'Obsessed' again sells out the songbird to her producers."
However, for Melinda Newman of HitFix, "The song is a rhythmically-driven, mid-tempo slice of summer delight, full of insults delivered in a innocent, sugary sweet questioning way by Carey, which only adds to its appeal." And Glenn Gamboa of Newsday thought, "Carey plays it cool on the track that she co-wrote with The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. She coos confidently, riding the laid-back beat, probably holding back the laughs as she insults again."
Mariah Carey's last studio album - "E=MC2" - included the track "Touch My Body" which was her 18th No. 1 single. That achievement broke the record long held by Elvis Presley for a solo artist. Mariah Carey now sits just two songs away from The Beatles who piled up 20 chart-toppers in their career. The prospect of "Obsessed" becoming her 19th number one is being hotly discussed in our forums. (Los Angeles Times)
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