Mariah needs to collaborate (50,069)
by jaker20 from US
It's not about having another no. 1. It's about growing as an artist. And everyone even the greats needs to grow. When they hit their peak, they have nowhere to go but down. But if you climb a different mountain then you have a new peak to climb. MC needs to collab to show she is a team player. Rihanna does not have MC's vocal abilities and songwriting genius. But Rihanna works well with music peers. Like any other professions, sometimes working well with others wins over talent. Talent can only go too far. Your peers up your game and bring you to another level. During her 90s peak, she's fearless with collabing. But now I think MC is a little scared of teaming with major artists. Fear comes with age and insecurity. I mean how can she team with Lady Gaga or Madonna, MC can't dance. How can MC team with Maroon 5? But a true artist finds a way to make things work. MC is so far from over. It is all up to her. How about a duet with Sam Hunt or Luke Bryan to gain country fans. She has to change gears, the 90s pop overstayed its welcome. There's so many creative and musical avenues she can explore. It's not always about another number but just letting creative juices flow. She can only sing VOL so many times. And for the most part she sings it so bad it just reminds comparison to her past glory she can't reach as high. Climb new mountains. (Thursday 12 February 2015; 23:44)
Rihanna (50,037)
by jaker20 from US
Rihanna has nothing but great things to say about MC, calls her voice "freak of nature", and name her as a main influence. Yet some fans are so insecure and defensive when Rihanna's name is brought up. No one says Rihanna is more talented, probably even Rihanna will say that. I mean come on, let's face it, MC played the charts too, just like everybody else, so let's not act as if Rihanna doesn't deserve her accomplishments. What goes around comes around. Honestly, I think this is partly why MC is on downward slope to full-time has-been. MC fans are so spoiled by MC's 90s success. They are nasty against other artists, that MC seem to gain more haters than fans each passing year until she's got no more fans left. And unlike Madonna or Beyonce, it doesn't help that MC doesn't seem to get along with new artists. She's in her own diva-I-am-better-than-everyone world and hardly compliments other artists. Just for full disclosure, I do love Rihanna, but she's nowhere near as talented as MC vocally. But mediocre as Rihanna's voice is, at least she sang 100% live last weekend at the Grammy's. Something I can't say about MC's 2006 Grammy performance, and that was supposedly one of MC's banner years. Yes, time to admit it, MC's peformance of Fly Like A Bird was not 100% live, let's stop fooling ourselves. I love MC but I call it as it is. (Wednesday 11 February 2015; 21:03)
The Grammy's (49,996)
by jaker20 from US
The whole time I'm watching the show, I was thinking of MC. It's so weird. Not because I know MC is more talented than most people in that room, but I also kept thinking that MC has not really given a mind-blowing performance in a big stage such as The Grammy's since 2006 after her TEOM year. I feel MC has really hit rock bottom these past few years. Rihanna was there singing her heart out. She can never touch MC's voice, but she was there singing live and performing. Madonna was there. She arrived and ruled the charts for a full decade before MC, yet she's also outlived MC's career. Beyonce was there, she arrived in the music scene a mere 7 years after MC, yet there she is closing the biggest show in music, nominated for multiple categories and still very much a major player. MC's career is not irreparable, not everything is lost. But it definitely makes me think MC's career sunk faster and sooner than I though it would. (Tuesday 10 February 2015; 3:32)
I can watch MC do this the whole day (49,774)
by jaker20 from US
See, there's no crazy belts there. Some high notes yeah, but not Emotions, VOL high notes which is crazy for anyone even for her. Yeah, sure it's a whole lots of breathy singing, but the vocals are lovely, and her signature whistle is still there. And it's all live. I notice MC can do the whistle notes in her sleep easier, but struggles on sing on high notes. I dont know why that is, I'm not a singer so I don't know why that is the case. But I know MC can pretty much sing like that on the video the whole day and I will watch her. I will not watch her sing VOL, and WTB because I know she will lip it or parts of it. See the difference? Its just set-list collection, singing to the level of her current voice. Some may say, "well, she struggles singing Fantasy whch isn't exactly high notes". Well, it was arrange at a time when she can sing like that, so even if it's not crazy high notes the arrangement is still difficult to sing. I think she'll have another major success if she just fine tune the direction of her career, and leave the high notes singing behind her. (Wednesday 4 February 2015; 23:52)
Jamaica Jazz is not just a small concert (49,756)
by jaker20 from US
Someone tried to brush aside this new scandal. FYI, there's no small concert in this age of social media, YouTube and Twitter. This so-called small news is so bad it was on Yahoo front page the other day, it was trending on Twitter, it's on Billboard.com, Entertainment Tonight, ABC among others. MC is full of fresh TMZ-worthy material lately it looks like she is also gunning for Britney's low point years ago. Not to mention it's all over YouTube and Twitter for your babies and your babies' babies to watch for generations. It's as if MC is starting a new musical history of embarrassments so that it can be put into historical record for future generations to mock. The vocalists of the past didn't destroy their legacy this way. Whitney maybe, but it's annotated with her drug problem. MC has no excuse because in case you don't notice, this has been going on for awhile now, all recorded on video. In fact, she's not finished yet, she is still working so has more lip fails to put into YouTube and pop culture's entertainment. Enough. Just enough. Now you see why some MC's fans want her to retire. Because it's painful to watch. I personally don't want her to retire, but I understand, but I understand why some fans feel this way. And even more painful to accept is that the artist you once adored is on a path to destroy that same legacy you once adored. Remember, MC is not yet retired. Is she putting together a greatest hits of embarrassments? (Wednesday 4 February 2015; 17:31)
Changing her catalog (49,755)
by jaker20 from US
I can't stress this enough. Retirement is not the answer. MC just needs to change her catalog. Enough with VOL, WTB and Emotion, songs she can't give justice to anymore. She's just destroying her legacy and the legacy of those songs. She should sing more of her breathy songs, mid-tempo and on lower register. Fans will not like it because they want the big songs and cheer until her demise. But new people will say "oh I've not heard that, that's cool". Madonna does that, she takes risks singing unknown songs in her back catalog. MC is also at that stage now where she should be confident singing unrecognizable songs. They may be unrecognizable and unpopular, but she can at least give them justice, expose her songs to new audience, and she will not be destroying her legacy. MC's whistle is still there, her mid-range is also still very strong. It's the upper register that sounds like she choked on popcorn. She then try to improvise and by doing so, people are reminded "yeah she can't sing that note anymore". What if she sings a song she has not sung live, not hard to sing, and then slay it. That's the way to maintain your legacy and gain new fans. Her voice is no longer the same but it's still better than most. Well then sing songs that fit that new voice, and not songs from the last century, like you don't wear clothes when you were 19 years old. (Wednesday 4 February 2015; 17:08)
Las Vegas here we come (49,735)
by jaker20 from US
I knew this was gonna happen, some of you should read up my posts when Vegas was announced. She can't do it. With what we've seen, it's just not physically possible to turn back time. What she needs to do is change her catalog, or stop that Vegas residency completely or she will completely lose what is remaining of her voice once and for all. This Vegas deal with related to her emotional turmoil, to forget her heartbreak. She is listening to yes people behind her. This is not the right way to go. Sure, accuse me for acting like I know MC. But you don't know her either. All we know is that this is not working. Her voice is too fragile. Vegas will be her end. Instead, she should concentrate on recording new material where she is not belting. Will that cost her fans? Most definitely it will. Because fans just want her to belt until her voice is gone. But, she will gain new ones. And at least she will be able to continue to work, because at the rate she's going, the end of her voice and career is fast approaching into one of the most massive career embarrassments of all time. This is why some fans call for her retirement because her decline is so painful to watch. (Wednesday 4 February 2015; 7:17)
Kind and soft retirement advice (49,734)
by jaker20 from US
This retirement topic has been brought up long before this - yet another - lip-syncing embarrassment. I've said it before and I'll say it again: MC should stop singing her oldies she can't sing live. She has a big catalog where she doesn't have to belt. Will people recognize the songs? No, maybe not. But that is a better alternative than constantly lipping and backtracking. Because right now, she herself has brought her lip synching into public knowledge. Before, it was just fans who notice it. Now it's practically on the mainstream, not just now, but repeatedly, over and over she expose herself to embarrassment. Then she slays live like the Christmas concert but nobody notice, because her low is so low and embarrassing, no one cares anymore if she's good when she's good. MC doesn't need to retire, she just needs to chance her catalog. People won't recognize the songs, but they will at least appreciate her, she's not destroying her legacy and she's not embarassing herself. Enough is enough with WTB, VOL and those belt songs we all know she's lipping. Her ego can't admit she can't sing them anymore. She's scared no one will sing along to her unknown songs. But that's not true. People will love her more for trying. (Wednesday 4 February 2015; 7:09)
No. 1's my ranking (49,303)
by jaker20 from US
Very uneven. MC's epic vocals save them. 18. Thank God I Found You 17. One Sweet Day 16. Hero Here because it's a live-only cover. 15. I'll Be There They all kind of sound the same but great bops. 14. Someday 13. Heartbreaker 12. Fantasy 11. Dreamlover Inspired composition. 10. Touch My Body 09. Always Be My Baby 08. Vision of Love 07. Love Takes Time 06. Honey Genius composition and arrangement. 05. Emotions 04. I Dont Wanna Cry 03. Don't Forget About Us 02. My All 01. We Belong Together (Monday 19 January 2015; 23:39)
Mariah the businesswoman is Vegas? (49,082)
by jaker20 from US
I don't get that reasoning that she has to do Vegas because a lot of mouths depend on her. That is the absolute worst reasoning to do Vegas, because that is a reasoning based on money. And money not even for her sake but for the sake of people around her who pressure her to do it. After her breakdown 13 years ago, I thought she released herself from these sycophants who made her work like a horse for their job security. She should be more mature, secure with her money, and be more comfortable to do what she wants. Like Streisand after her peak. Like Madonna after her peak. I am more concerned about MC than the people around her, because the people around her will overwork her until her voice is shut and they can't take anything from her anymore. Vegas will be the end of MC on radio, charts and TV you can guarantee that. There is absolutely no way she can write and be inspired and record great and inspiring songs while she is in Vegas. It's just not physically possible. Hence the fallen stars who go to Vegas and never recovered. Vegas is an admission that she's no longer a pop musician. And I don't believe that. I believe she has more great music to give. I believe she can still be relevant and have another comeback. She is pushing 50, so every remaining ounce of her voice could be put to better use than Vegas. (Saturday 10 January 2015; 0:30)
Celine in Vegas (49,066)
by jaker20 from US
Her voice went completely downhill after her Vegas residency. And her voice was in a much better state then than MC now. My only concern right now is MC's fragile voice at the moment. Once you sign that dotted line those sharks in Vegas will squeeze every ounce of you. It is more grueling then touring actually. It's pretty much goodbye pop music career. I still think MC has a few more great albums and singles left, but a Vegas residency would be her saying bye bye to her voice, the charts and pop music. Vegas is residency is 50 to 70 shows per year. And I've not really heard a one year residency. That's more or less 2 to 3 years. Look at what happened to Celine. And her voice isn't even in worse shape as MC now. I can only imagine what it will do to her already fragile voice. You know why for some reason you notice a certain artist disappears from pop music landscape? From radio, music videos, and tv and everything else? That's because they're raking the dollars in Vegas. They have no time to concentrate on a good album and singles and all that stuff. Once they sign that dotted Vegas line, they will be slaving away for Vegas sharks for many years. Unless you travel to Vegas, you simply won't hear anything from her except on Youtube. No new music and album for a couple of years, and if she does, it'll be a lazy uninspired album. Forget about her voice getting shut after 50 to 70 shows per year. Her body and mind will be shut. Let's face it, MC is doing this to forget Nick. I would rather her be busy and focused with song writing and recording again. Sorry, but Vegas is not only for has-been, but for has-been who admit they are one. It's so weird that even Madonna won't sign a billion dollar contract she was offered a few years ago for a Vegas residency, when her strip club act is more fitting there. Yet her is MC needing it to get through her issues. (Friday 9 January 2015; 17:26)
Vegas would be bad for MC (49,027)
by jaker20 from US
A few shows is probably ok. But a "residency" will end what is remaining of her voice. MC's voice started deteriorating when she started touring. And Vegas residency is even worse with even more demanding schedule. I think it's going to be a mix or live and lip and that will tarnish both her reputation and ticket sales. I think Vegas is more suited to performers, those who dance, have huge backup dancers and transforms the stage into a strip club. Like Madonna, Britney or JLo. But if you're a vocalist that will end your voice. Look what happened to Celine after her Vegas stint. Don't get me wrong, I will probably most likely be there and watch a show. Vegas isn't very far from me. But given the state of her voice, I would rather her continue writing and find her next hit song, then play smaller venues in less demanding schedules. I think she's still capable of a couple of hit albums and songs. (Thursday 8 January 2015; 0:49)
MC just needs the right single and image (48,869)
by jaker20 from US
It's not as simple as giving her A-game. It's something we can't easily figure out. Cher was 52 when she had the greatest year/album/single of her career and I think MC is a much more well-rounded talent than Cher. Madonna was 54 when she scored another top 10 two years ago. MC was hardly in her A-game during TEOM yet come on, let's face it, she lipped her way through that era. Yet that's one of her banner years. Why? Because the songs just simply rock. Right time, right place. One of the most perfect blends of R&B/Pop/HipHop/Soul ever. When I first heard WTB I knew it was gonna be massive. It's always about the song. Cher didn't know Believe was going to be massive, and when it did she run with it. There's some formula in pop music (and art in general) that cannot be easily be manufactured, especailly for someone who's been in the game for so long. I've been hard on MC too these last few year, but I honestly think she's getting more inspired now than the last few years. I honestly think she got stiffed by mommy-hood and Nick. She was simply not into it anymore and more about the family. That's all good for her family, but all bad for her career and fans waiting for her to get inspired again. But watching these concerts I think she's finally getting her groove back in ways I've not seen since TEOM. She just need that one spark, that special song to get it started. I still think she's gonna surprise us one more and then she'll run with it. (Thursday 1 January 2015; 2:34)
Re: Big Boy / Nick (48,814)
by jaker20 from US
I've said it when they got married, I said it when MC had a baby, and I'll say it again now. Nick Cannon is a user and took advantage of Mariah from the start. The Big Boy interview simply exposed what he really is about. Why put blame on interviewers like Big Boy or Howard Stern? Trash is their job and they know trash when they see one. That's like going to a strip club and blaming the stripper for the guy who slipped money on her panty. Even though I think they were already about separated during that time, I think this is what Nick really is. I can never in my life imagine any of my relatives talking like that to their wives. Ever. It was like Nick's public humiliation of MC. It was repulsive and disgusting anyway you cut it and I don't think MC and Nick should reconcile for that reason alone. Sure, I can't judge them, but if MC can stand such repugnant person then I guess she is worse. But I don't see them getting together again and rightfully so. I always thought MC is a class act and don't deserve to be with such who is both a user and a loser. Oh, also MC has always told Nick to watch his mouth when he's on interviews. Which means he really is like that in real life. That is MC practically saying "you can humiliate me, but not in public". Can you imagine being married to an immature loser like that? She's endured enough, time to move on. (Monday 29 December 2014; 2:54)
Re: R-E-S-P-E-C-T (48,561)
by jaker20 from US
Those are all going points. But my only problem there is your last sentence. I don't know if she should be herself, that "she needs herself truly shown". Because the last time we saw that was in AI and I didn't like what I saw. I think she is naturally weird, quirky and, I'm going to get a lot of flack for this, she's full of herself. And how can she not, she's been praise to the high heavens with some of the greatest compliments a person can get including legendary status. That's gonna mess anyone up on the head, and seriously, I thinks he already is. She's kind, philantrophic, and giving. But she doesn't view herself as "one of us". MC is most successful in her career when her real self is hidden from us. When she's handled with an iron grip manager. It's a terrible choice to live, but works for her career. Well, I'm glad she chose to control her life and be happy with what she got. If she's got nothing to prove, I think she should go away, for awhile, before she completely ruin her legacy. Streisand did that decades ago and came back stronger than ever. MC should take long leave, regroup, come back big and hard, then go away again. Don't phone it in. Right now, it's just one embarrassment after another. Lambs might have forgotten this has been going on for years now. (Wednesday 17 December 2014; 4:29)
Re: Andrew "Don't act unlikeable or unrelatable" (48,547)
by jaker20 from US
You hit the nail on the head. I think after TEOM, MC went from cute diva to completely annoying diva. There was a period after that when I thought maybe it was an act, especially after her marriage to Nick. But we're seeing more and more evidence that her success really went into her mind. Now that is a part that only a psychiatrist can reverse and it's not like she'll visit one anytime soon. I thinks she kind of lost her way after her father died, that's when she went all over the place. TEOM was her last attempt and it was all phoned in afterwards. 18 no. 1s is a very tempting achievement and she went for it. Once Rihanna passes that, it will hit her like a ton of bricks. I'm not saying Rihanna is better than her. Not even in a million years. But better does not equate success, and in the music industry that thrives on records, publicities, and write ups (I mean how many more times do we need to hear "more no. 1 than any female...). So going back to my original point. MC came from a different time, a time when ego and divaness can be equated with talent and success and respect. But this is the "me" generation. If people can't relate to you, they mock you. MC is like Robert DeNiro now, super successful, legendary, but phones in every performance. It's kind of sad to watch actually. The decline went faster than I thought. (Tuesday 16 December 2014; 20:55)
Re: Mariah, the queen of shade (48,545)
by jaker20 from US
I can't watch that video anymore. Another reminder why the AI gig is one of the worst decisions MC made in her career. After that season, she lost her sense of mystery, because her quirks and insecurities became public. I know MC fans generally find that entertaining, but personally, the way she responded to Nikki there made her look insecure, embarrassing and unprofessional. It certainly doesn't make her endearing to the public the way she use to be. Nikki is just as terrible but why go there? Especially in front of the camera. I think MC's career slide lately and Nikki's "success" is partly a result of that period which I wish didn't happen. That video just makes me squirm on my seat, hoping I was one of the technicians and shut off MC's microphone. (Tuesday 16 December 2014; 20:41)
"Queen of Christmas" (48,496)
by jaker20 from US
It's both a blessing and a curse. Blessing because she has the Christmas season to look forward to every year. Curse because by end of the year she's gone. MC is existing the pop music phase and entering that standard phase of her career (for better or worse). (Saturday 13 December 2014; 20:10)
MC should sing new songs in concerts, not old songs (47,510)
by jaker20 from US
New songs as in (1) songs on her current album, (2) songs that she can actually sing. She can't sing songs from the 90s anymore. It's a different time, different vocal abilities. I would rather hear her sing songs she can sing, than lip old "hits". During the concerts, people seem to dig her new songs too. And the reason is because they know it's live. It's like as soon as WTB plays, you know full well the belt is going to be lipped. Besides, why should she sing oldies? I just makes her look old has-been. Look at Madonna. You won't see her sing old popular hits unless it's completely re-done, re-mixed. That's why her concerts are always full-house. I just couldn't stand her butcher her own songs. She can sing her new songs because they're recorded recently to fit her voice. She simply can't sing Vision Of Love anymore and give it justice. You'll just get either sub-part, lipped, semi-lipped, or heavily-backtracked. (Monday 20 October 2014; 4:07)
Silence is class (46,419)
by jaker20 from US
I'm surprised some of you consider MC's silence to be a problem. Who cares what people say? There's news every day and not all of them is true, and its constantly changing. She's this and that today, and then tomorrow, it's another. No one cares except tabloid consumers who take everything as factual. No one. MC's silence shows that her concern is not to be holy in the public eye, but her kids. One day, these kids will know their father was badmouthing their mom, and his father wrote a book about it to cash in. Like father, like son, both losers. This is almost unforgivable. No one wants their mother to be humiliated, no one, and especially not in public. Even if their mother isn't perfect. The situation is completely different from Motolla. She's got kids now to protect. (Wednesday 27 August 2014; 5:03)
Now we know the kind MC married into (46,350)
by jaker20 from US
Not only is Nick going to talk, it looks to me that his family is just like him. And most likely cash in on her failed married. Yeah, I'll be a broken record to say I never liked Nick, but here it is for the world to see why, unfolding right before our eyes. Guess what, MC is classy enough not to bring this family matter to the media and public. Unfortunately the other half isn't like her. (Monday 25 August 2014; 2:21)
Well, Nick himself confirmed it on The Insider (46,332)
by jaker20 from US
What other proof some of you guys want? They're not entitled to explain us the details in a tell-all interview on CNN or some sort. Nick himself said The Insider that they've been living apart for awhile now and there's trouble in paradise. That's straight from him and his big mouth and that should be more than enough. If the separation isn't true, he would be outright denying it or at least working on fixing his marriage right about now, and say something along those lines: "We're working things out." Making an official announcement of a divorce is tacky and tasteless especially when there's kids involved. If this is indeed true, I would rather this issue kind of just fade away without media hoopla, so the paps, media and fans would leave them alone until they are comfortable to talk. But I know that'll be difficult, because clearly Nick is itching to give us more information than we need. (Sunday 24 August 2014; 6:38)
MC is strong, she can handle this without sweat (46,206)
by jaker20 from US
Don't underestimate MC as if she's the weak kind. MC's been through worse than this, and at a time when she was younger and weaker. MC fell in love, like everyone else. But she's strong to pick herself up. MC is always better when she's down. She's can get through this. Easily. I just know it. (Friday 22 August 2014; 1:10)
I never really liked Nick (46,205)
by jaker20 from US
Truth be told, and I know this is all still fresh, but I never liked Nick. Starting from the fact that he took over MC's career and got way too involved. From being able to direct her videos, that just shows he's definitely had too much influence on her decisions. She was taken away by her love for him, and he took advance. Then MC helped him get that America's Got Talent hosting job. It's there for everyone to see, she's very instrumental in this, and I thought she's lost her mind. He was a nobody. But the last straw was him disrespecting her in interviews, and talking about everyone you slept with. They can separate if that is what he wants, but that's just uncalled for. I know some of you like this guy. But I'm not hiding my feelings for him. He's a user, and he got away with it. (Friday 22 August 2014; 1:07)
E=MC2 is a great album (45,486)
by jaker20 from US
But the promo is terrible, and it's partly due to the timing of the album with her marriage to Nick. As soon as Bye Bye dropped, her career also went bye bye. I'm not blaming Nick for her failed career since. I'm just stating facts. (Tuesday 22 July 2014; 3:43)
