On Friday (August 25), French Montana released his "Unforgettable (Remix)" featuring Swae Lee and R&B diva Mariah Carey. The singer's pristine vocals provides good vibrations to the summery track. On the acoustic version, Carey injects her sultry touch and proves why she's still a powerhouse on the R&B circuit. With French and Swae Lee keeping their vocals untouched, Carey glides in and connects on every ad-lib with surgical precision.
Aside from the remix, Carey has been in tour mode all summer. Since July, she has been on the road with Lionel Richie as part of their All the Hits Tour. So far, they have touched down in such cities as Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York.
Despite her busy schedule, the "One Sweet Day" legend has been plotting behind the scenes. With two Christmas movies - including one with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry titled The Star - and her All I Want for Christmas Is You concert series, Carey's ambitious attempt of usurping Kris Kringle as the holiday's most altruistic figure is quickly gaining steam.
Billboard spoke with Carey in between her tour stops about teaming up with French Montana for the "Unforgettable (Remix)", her upcoming Christmas movies, and touring with Lionel Richie.
How did you and French Montana hook up for the "Unforgettable (Remix)"?
I believe it was awhile ago. French and the label really wanted to cut it and for it to happen. We were just doing it for laughs, just to have a good time. I love French. We were in the studio just playing around and not really doing much. Then, we started with the whole "Unforgettable" thing. I love doing stuff like that. I love remixes. Not too many people do enough remixes anymore.
Would you consider doing an entire new project based off remixes?
I would love to. I actually have one from back in the day, where one side was kind of like with house music and EDM, and then the other side was more of the hip-hop remixes that I had.
If you can handpick two songs to remix right now, which ones would you choose and why?
Oooh! Oh my God. I knew you were gonna hit me with something like that! Hmmm. I'm trying to think. You know, it's just the way this one happened that it was just... it was just in the beginning when everybody started knowing it, you know what I mean? So it just happened. When I do stuff, it either just happens that way, or it's, "OK. Let's get in the studio and do something."
Like another time, I was working with French and I have this song called "Infinity". We weren't really even working. He was just in the studio and I was in there and then Justin Bieber came in. We just did this remix which was, "Baby why you mad, go and tell me why you're mad?" (singing) But we didn't get to release it because the label was like, "We don't know", you know what I mean? So, sometimes, it just happens.
We should talk to labels about expediting the process so they can release that record. (laughs)
Yes. I would love to do that. Let's talk to them. I have some things coming up for Christmas, shockingly, but I love Christmas. (laughs) We're doing this song called "The Star". It's a movie called The Star with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry.
We heard that you do have two Christmas films coming out. Can you talk about the other one?
Yeah, there's two, because one is for Universal Pictures Animation. I did a book called All I Want for Christmas Is You, so it's an animated version of the book, you know? There's a new song that I wrote for that, and the other one is for The Star. I'm very excited about that because it's a big movie.
What's been your favorite moment during your tour with Lionel Richie?
You know what? I really had a good time last night in Toronto. I know that sounds like a cop out, but it's true. After that performance in New York, I went to dinner and I saw Lionel at the restaurant. And this is the second time that's happened to me. It was so funny.
(Billboard)
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