Wonder woman of the 90's
Mariah doesn't forget our small country, in spite of her hectic and jam-packed agenda. During a very fast stop (23 minutes!) the most successful singer of the nineties talked with us about her new album Rainbow, her film career and her private life.
On Rainbow are duets with Jay-Z, Usher, Da Brat, Missy Elliott, Snoop Dog...
I prefer not to call them duets, but guest vocalists. I find it very important to work with other artists, because it is a challenge. And not to forget, it is fun and exciting, because you'll never know how it turns out to be. On my first four albums there were no songs with other artists because I was not allowed to. But now that I decide what I do, I ask everybody to join me on my record.
Snoop is not an obvious choice.
But the track with Snoop is one of my favourites. I'm a huge fan of his easy way of singing. Snoop is really nice and really cool, so he said yes and sang his part through the phone. I wanted to loose my image as popdiva with that song. I mean, which popdiva records a track with Snoop?
But there are many typical Mariah-covers on Rainbow.
Not too much, I hope? It's fifty-fifty. But of course I have enormous many fans who love my ballads, for them for example I recorded a cover of Against All Odds. The R&B and hiphop lovers will also find something they like, don't worry.
What is your favourite song?
Petals, I think. It is the most emotional song I've ever recorded. Close My Eyes on Butterfly was also very emotional, but Petals goes one step further. It is meant for all the people with whom I can't talk, because of circumstances. It is absolute autobiographic.
You've achieved everything that can be achieved. Is a new album still a challenge?
Absolutely. I want to get even better all the time, I want to keep growing. When I listen to my records, I realise that I've not stopped in my development as an artist. So every new album is certainly a challenge.
And all the awards you get?
Well, it is nice to get awards, but those things don't mean that much to me. Besides that, I keep losing them! [laughs] More important is the fact that my fans are happy with my music. When I hear that fans have spent two days in front of this hotel just to see me... you see, that is important. That touches me. No award is a match against that kind of reward.
Some time ago, you've told us about your movie plans, but lately we don't hear much about them.
I have good news for you, because the script of All That Glitters is finished. After two years of uncertainty finally something happened. We will start shooting in spring and the movie should be released with Christmas 2000.
What is your part?
An orphan girl who starts singing in a band, but the people behind the band want to emphasize other qualities than her singing. A kind of Vanity 6, but different. Later it turns out that the girl can sing very well. It all sounds very dramatic, but it will be a comedy and I can't wait till we'll start. Especially because the movie plays in the eighties and I grew up with the music that was popular in those days. Alexander O'Neal, Sherelle, SOS Band, Rick James, you name them.
Are you gonna record a soundtrack?
I will be the executive producer, what means that I am responsible for the soundtrack. Of course, I will supply some songs, but others will also. On the soundtrack will definetely be a remix of Heartbreaker, but I'm still busy with it.
Did you start acting because you've reached your limit as a singer?
By no means! I find it exciting to expand my limits and I want to know if I can learn how to act. I find it very funny to play a different character, like I did in the Heartbreaker clip. And it seems I can act, because a journalist did not know I was the black-haired female. [laughs]
With which actor would you like to do a movie?
Pfff, that's difficult, because I like many actors. But Gary Oldman is one of my favourite actors.
You travel non-stop around the world, you're in the spotlights constantly and you barely have a private life. Do you never have enough of that?
Well, you get used to it. I have no private life, because whatever I do, nothing is private. Even if I wouldn't record an album for three, four years, people will keep following me. So I can better record an album. [laughs] Besides, I want be bored to death if I wouldn't do a thing for such a period...
Many people find comfort in your records during the hard times. What do you do when you're feeling down?
I take care that I'm not alone. I call a friend and ask if she would like to visit me. If she can't, I will start playing with my dos, that helps also. Or I will write a song, that is the best medicine for a bad mood!
Mariah's new album Rainbow will be in stores on November 11. (BreakOut!)
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