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About Randy from USA: MC is my favorite artist of all time and I love her songwriting skills on her introspective songs. My favorite album: Butterfly. My favorite song: Right To Dream.

Swan song (96,026) by Randy from USA I have been a MC fan since the beginning. I was 10 years old when her debut album came out and I remember my father telling me shut the hell up as I belted out the last 30 seconds of Vision of Love. I had no idea of the intense pressure she was under from Tommy, her mother, her sister and her brother. I had no idea of the meanness that her childhood contained. The closest glimpse I got into all of that was when she would say in an interview many years later, I wouldn't write my life story because it's so screwed up no one would believe it. Well she has. And I am a bit disappointed. I probably should've followed Andrew's lead and not watched her promotional rounds, but after seeing that revealing interview on Oprah, I was excited for the book. That interview served, to me, as proof that this book would not be the vanity project that I prematurely predicted it would be. For me, that interview discussed the only things in the book that I didn't know. That was the reveal. Everything else was information that I knew. See I am a fan who has seen every American television interview she has ever done. Because of this, the book raised more questions than answers for me. How did she and the nephews maintain a close relationship although her relationship with their parents are strained? Who and where is Allison's husband now? What about Morgan's wife? What was the final break between the siblings? Why include Patricia on MCIIU after that incident at the government medal ceremony? Why did you not mention Walter Afanasieff at all or your falling out? He was your co-writer and you have relegated him to a pianist that you sang fully completed songs to. If that was the case then he wouldn't have co-writer status he would just be a musical director. Why has your voice changed? Why didn't you speak more about you and Nick's breakup? If your dalliance with Eminem was so insignificant, why write two songs about him and make a video parodying him? Why have your lawyers pressure him to not share the voicemails you left on his phone? Another thing that bothered me immensely was the Glitter retelling. See I was deep in lamb mode then and watched every interview she did around Charmbracelet and what I realize now was that she lied about what really happened in every television interview to protect Patricia. So how sacred is your relationship to the fans if we are the only real love you have ever known and you lie to us continuously when it serves you to do so? And look. I don't want to blame MC for doing so. It is an incredibly difficult thing to deal with a mother who's love you want and yet treats you terribly. I think as a fan what bothers me is everything seems so disingenuous now. And then what she wrote about Divas galled me. Firstly, Divas 98 was never a tribute to Aretha because they never said that it was. They didn't start that tribute shit until 2000. Aretha got her own Divas tribute from VH1 in 2001. Secondly, if you watch the whole 14 minute performance of Testimony, Aretha physically asked them to come on with her, if they would be so bold. Celine was the only one whose voice could match Aretha's. Mariah's voice was in tatters and she was embarrassed. Look at when Mariah tries to sing Jesus. That incident was not Celine grandstanding. Celine who still speaks very little English only understood what was going on at a literal level and she went in. Aretha was not embarrassed at all because she matched Celine note for note. What's my point? I feel that just like Mariah, I have changed. I am not the same boy I was in 1990 who hung on to every note. The funny thing is as long as MC had a helping hand in guiding her albums, I liked them. I think she is the Lamborghini of artists but she will always need a driver. Her last two albums without co-executive producers are my least favorite. Which brings me to The Rarities. There is not one song on the disc I love. But when I hear you all talk about how Out Here On My Own brings you to tears or that the original Loverboy was better than the released one, I can't relate. The critics love The Rarities, MIAMTEC and Caution. You all love all three albums as well. I don't think any of them are even close to Butterfly, Daydream, Music Box and Rainbow. So where does all of that leave me? Maybe I am in love with the nostalgia. And like a relic of the past I have decided to bow out gracefully. It's not just because of the book or any one thing. I have been feeling like I don't understand MC anymore since Triumphant. And while you all agreed with me that Triumphant, Infinity and I Don't were garbage, yall embraced MIAMTEC and Caution as quality work that sits amongst her best. I don't understand yall anymore than I do MC. I probably should've left with the fans that left after MOAIA but I held on thinking that we would get another Butterfly. We won't. That woman does not exist anymore. I love MC enough to hold onto the memories but not pressure her into making music that I like. I hate that Tommy had her locked up physically and my expectations were a lock-up of sorts as well. It breaks my heart that she felt that because she had success, she shouldn't have happiness. That is every human being's right. What is alarming me a bit right now is the MC I fell in love with never existed. Or maybe I fell in love with the pieces that enclosed a hollow formation. At any rate, it's time I take my leave from being a "real fan" and will treasure everything she gave us before 2012. I will not follow this board or criticize her anymore. I will not buy another MC album until I've heard it in its entirety first. I will not follow her press unless it coincidentally crosses my path. At 40 years old, it was kind of time for me to spend my time on my writing and repairing so much of my broken life anyway. I want to thank Eric for being so patient and open in allowing dissenting voices. Andrew for being a friend to me through some dark times off this board and everyone else I used to laugh with. Just know that I am somewhere out there listening to and believing that I have a right to dream there's more than this for me. God bless you all. (Thursday 8 October 2020; 19:09)

200 pages in (95,928) by Randy from USA One of the worst things about being a die hard fan is you really do know everything about an artist. What makes it bad when reading their memoir is that you have seen all the preliminary press. The book is written beautifully. But I'll be damned if it ain't nothing in it I don't already know. I'm giving myself a break now and will finish the rest tomorrow. (Saturday 3 October 2020; 04:08)

The Exoneration of Mimi (95,763) by Randy from USA Well. I just watched the Oprah interview. I firmly believe this book will not be an exercise in vanity. And my heart goes out to MC and what she's been through. I have been hard on MC. I have criticized her mercilessly over not so much the loss of her voice but the deception used. Over the last two years I have realized that she is a human with major insecurities so when the one thing celebrated about her faded, she wanted to still be special for as long as possible. My journey in Christ has also to show people care and not criticism. Until, I saw this interview, I had no idea of her trauma. And she was close to tears for most of it. So was I. This interview humanized her in a way for me that I can no longer criticize her for anything she does. She's just trying to make it through life the best way she can. And I know with the current state of my emotions, every day that I choose life is a win. So I try not to beat myself up for my mistakes. Even though MC doesn't make music for me anymore, I will always be a fan and give her repent for getting through tough times. And getting us through tough times. God bless us all. (Saturday 26 September 2020; 02:06)

Mariah is everywhere (95,714) by Randy from USA She's doing a sit down with Oprah tomorrow. And she's on [Entertainment Tonight]. This feels like the build up to TEOM. I'm all giddy. (Thursday 24 September 2020; 01:56)

Re: Happy and sad (95,631) (95,647) by Randy from USA Randy's theme. Whatever do you mean? You know what guys, I heard a MC track today for the first time this week and it should totally be on The Rarities. I don't know if you know this one. It's the saddest song about hope ever written in existence. People don't realize I actually write my own songs. Sing along if you know it. This is from my Tennessee album. I've never been there but it has recessed lighting which helps me sing through my nodules. I lay awake sometimes Scared to close my eyes And I wonder where I left myself And lost the will to fight And the night melts into morning Still it's cold beneath the sun 'Cause the fire in me is languishing And I'm too frozen to run And every once in a while There's a distant glimmer of hope I find somewhere deep inside Someone strong still resides And I know she's gonna be fine in time 'Cause, you see I've got a lot to dream There's more than this for me An angel lands with broken wings He warms me with his eyes And the ice that's sheathed around my heart Unravels as he smiles See I grew up locked in sorrow So I learn to block the pain But I won't give up tomorrow 'Cause I've come to life again And every once in a while There's a distant glimmer of hope I find somewhere deep inside Someone strong still resides And I know I'm gonna be fine, that's right 'Cause, for real I've got a right to dream There's more than this for me But I keep goin' 'cause every once in a while There's a distant glimmer of hope I find somewhere deep inside Someone strong still resides And I know she's gonna be fine in time 'Cause, you see I've got a right to dream There's more than this for me (Saturday 19 September 2020; 12:01)

Re: Randy / Babydoll (95,574) (95,583) by Randy from USA I said Timbaland's stuttering beat was all the rage and who better to recreate that sound than his partner Missy Elliot. Don't school me on anything related to Butterfly because you can't. (Thursday 17 September 2020; 16:36)

Butterfly turns 23 - my dissertation (95,571) by Randy from USA On this day 23 years ago I unwrapped the cellophane off of this CD in my father's basement and popped it in the disc changer. I was floored. I never before heard an album where every song is a single. Every verse reads like poetry. And every vocal is astounding. Rasp, falsetto, belting and whistles are all used here. My biggest issue with R&B music is artists always sing about romantic love or break ups. This Pop/R&B album includes songs about childhood pain and alienation. It is in one word stunning. I would like to wish a happy anniversary to the best album of all time by ranking and commenting on its tracks: 12. Whenever You Call - Last does not mean least on this one. This is a beautiful love song and I could see myself getting married to it. It's on my Love playlist. 11. Babydoll - This was at the beginning of Timbaland's stuttering beat craze so who better to capture that magic than his partner in crime Missy Elliot. A smooth track and I love her adlibs at the end. 10. Fly Away - I'm a closet lover of club remixes. Butterfly is Daydream's gutter twin and the dance interlude on both albums are very necessary. This gives the album a house cut. And one of the things that makes this album genius is it's ability to mix several genres seamlessly. 9. Fourth of July - Underneath the Stars part two. MC definitely has a way of making the familiar brand new. She also knows how to paint a story. This lyric and concept lasts long after the smoke from fireworks dissipate. 8. The Beautiful Ones - I love MC for doing this song justice. Prince screams on his version. Sisqó and MC wail and that makes the song more realistic. Reviewers hated this cut but I think this beats the original. Also MC never lets songs last this long. It's a slow build to a climax to a death and at almost 7 minutes I always want to relive it again. 7. The Roof - I love the story telling here. I love the sample as well. I've replaced the album cut with the longer rap versions available on the My All/Stay Awhile Maxi CD. 6. Breakdown - Mariah's use of rhythm here is ridiculous. I've replaced the album cut with the longer rap version as well. The only problem is the bird tweet after Fourth of July isn't seamless on that version as on the album's. Only die hards will know about that. 5. Honey - The saddest thing about this is that Puffy's versión should've been the original. I just hate that he removed the strings to make it sound more gutter. Mariah's 12th number one and a song she still performs to this day. I don't love that she's still doing the dance from the boat decades later. I love the two samples. 4. Outside - This is the most gospel song that's not gospel ever recorded. She sings her ass off but the lyric here is one of the things that really helped me with my sexuality. By 1997 people knew gay people but in my large family, I was the only gay person. I have 30 first cousins. Not one of them is openly gay. So I always felt different, alone, not good enough. This song put to music exactly what I felt at the time. 3. Close My Eyes - I saw too much as a child. Without going into specifics, when I was born my mother was 15. My father was 21. MC again put what was in my past into song. I will forever be grateful. This is on my Dark playlist. 2. My All - Only spending one week at number one to be dethroned by The Boy Is Mine for thirteen weeks. I love The Boy Is Mine but vocally, lyrically there is no contest. How does a pop diva sing a bare song over a Spanish guitar with words such as solitude, emblazoned, vividly. Sometimes when I'm listening to this I am still amazed this was a commercial success. And the vocal of the last hook is powerful. I think this songs deserves every bit of the accolades and fanfare of I Will Always Love You, Because You Loved Me, Unbreak My Heart, My Heart Will Go On and Someone Like You. I hate the way she sings it now - feel your body feel your body feel your body. It irritates me to my core. I also live and breathe for the classic club mix and My All/Stay Awhile remixes. This is on my Cry playlist. 1. Butterfly - Something to be said about a song that expresses your feelings about breaking up with your husband who is your boss. This is definitely the way to do it. Logically, sensitively, emotionally. Again MC was showing her vocabulary off with succumb, flourish, unbridled. I wish Sony would have released a commercial single but because Tommy was feeling small dicked and insecure he didn't give it its shot. Honestly to me this should be her signature tune. And what can be said about that vocal. The falsetto that's so sharp and crisp it could cut frozen glass. The stretched out high full voice wails are crazy. And there's a whistle over a ton of layers at the end. There are two great performances of this song. David Letterman and SNL. If you haven't seen them, they are some of the last performances by MC unassisted. (Wednesday 16 September 2020; 22:26)

Re: A list, for Bill (95,559) (95,567) by Randy from USA The best videos of all time: easily. 1. Honey 2. Heartbreaker 3. Obsessed 4. Someday 5. My All 6. Loverboy 7. Always Be My Baby 8. We Belong Together 9. It's Like That 10. Breakdown 11. Touch My Body (Wednesday 16 September 2020; 18:58)

Re: Negative Nancy (95,493) (95,502) by Randy from USA I gotta agree with you Edward. I didn't expect this many unheard songs. I def wish she had finished unfinished tracks and put them in because the three B sides are unnecessary. They are all over YouTube. Also I really wanted Crave. But I'm excited overall. And I gotta agree with you on my first listen of Butterfly. I remember exactly where I was that album was so monumental. This almost makes me rethink leaving the board. Almost. (Friday 11 September 2020; 17:39)

You probably thought you'd never hear this from me (95,450) by Randy from USA After seeing the track list today. I'm excited. (Wednesday 9 September 2020; 17:28)

Re: Mariah en Espanol (95,431) (95,438) by Randy from USA Edward you know the best Spanish album of all time is Christina Aguilera's Mi Reflejo. Yo soy Genio Atrapado. (Wednesday 9 September 2020; 02:24)

Re: Sweetheart non Rap (95,385) (95,392) by Randy from USA Stacey IDK if I agree with you. I like the rap included on the songs. I hate when she does an either or. Like Loverboy. You either get the rap or extended Cameo. On Thank God I Found You, you get more soulful instrumental moments or Nas. On the Bye Bye remix they took MC's whole first verse out to put Jay-Z on it and I would've liked his verse to extend the song. Even Fantasy was split in two. Although on the Bad Boy Mix you get the pop hook and ODB. It's my favorite version. And I hate to admit it but I love Gucci's verses on Obsessed so I wish she had defied us and put him on the song. P.S. I love all the Butterfly songs with the extended raps: The Roof, Breakdown and Honey. I just hate that Puffy took out the strings on the hook of the Bad Boy version. You have to listen closely. (Friday 4 September 2020; 21:26)

Re: Sweetheart non Rap (95,380) (95,383) by Randy from USA I'm surprised you haven't heard this before. When I bought #1s in 1998, they gave away the two track Sweetheart single with it for free. I think they had planned to release it as a single but they knew it wouldn't do well. (Friday 4 September 2020; 17:27)

The Meaning of Mariah's chapters leaked (95,372) by Randy from USA Omg I just found this in my daydreams. The leaked chapters of the memoir. Chapter 1: Vision of a White Mother and Afro-Venezuelan Father Chapter 2: Success Takes Time in Beauty School Chapter 3: Someday Tommy Will Become My Husband Chapter 4: I Don't Wanna Cry So I Left Tommy After I Didn't Win Any Grammys in 1996 Chapter 5: Emotions for Derek Chapter 6: I'll Be There To Introduce Rapping To Pop Hits Chapter 7: Dreamlover, Nick Cannon Chapter 8: Hero, Nick Cannon Chapter 9: Fantasy, A Marriage That Lasts Even After Kids Chapter 10: One Sweet Day Everyone Will Know I Am A Songwriter Chapter 11: Always Be A Baby, Eternally 12 Chapter 12: Honey Was Not James Packer Chapter 13: My All Was Entrusted To Stella Chapter 14: Heartbreaker. I Can't Trust Russians? Chapter 15: Thank God I Found NDAs Chapter 16: When You Lit The Awful Side of Me Chapter 17: Don't Forget About Nodules Chapter 18: Bryan Touches My Body Chapter 19: All I Want For Christmas Is A Man To Hold My Umbrella (Friday 4 September 2020; 03:18)

Mariah stays in midnight (95,332) by Randy from USA Stacey, I agree that I don't invest as much time in MC anymore. I know I stick around to see if she does an unplugged one instrument and powerful lyric album a la Jewel or Sarah McLachlan but I think that's gonna happen around the same time Lil Kim starts to melt. I read the article and didn't feel as though she came off any different than she has since TEOM success made her decide to be a caricature of the public's perception. I do want to hear about her family. I do want to hear about the grenade that exploded in her throat in 1997. I do want to hear about being at Sony post divorce and I do want to hear about romance between Tommy and Nick. The sad thing is Bill is right when he says it's not on her brand to write a tell all. And I'm beginning to realize Andrew was right that this memoir is an exercise in vanity. And if you've watched every single US Mariah interview as I have, you already know what's in the book. Which makes me more disinterested in MC as a whole. Guess I'll be sailing off into the sunset after I read the Self-Written Definition of What I Want People To Know And Think About Mariah Carey. And no need to say it We-Are-Lambily, I know you wish me good riddance. (Tuesday 1 September 2020; 23:44)

Re: Dear Delulons (95,273) (95,283) by Randy from USA The documentary you posted had me until he spoke about 1997-2001 and didn't mention her lipping for the first time because of vocal stress. She lip synced 90% of Butterfly on Oprah and then was able to sing it wonderfully, though struggling, on SNL and David Letterman. In 1998 everything was live and raspy. In 1999 and 2000 all high belts were lip synced to the record as well as most whistles. In 2001, post breakdown she sounded smurfing amazing at the "A home for the holidays and the Radio City Music Hall show. I think her voice had a lot of rest. But for Charmbracelet she was back to all high belts being lip synced to the record as well as most whistles. That was the first and last time I would see MC in concert because I felt she was like the Wizard of Oz. For TEOM and beyond the strategy has been to lip sync the belts using a recorded raspy track that doesn't sound like the record so she's more inconspicuous. That 2006 Grammy performance is the most masterful cut and paste lip sync I have ever seen. I stand by all of this observation except one curious outlier. Her impromptu for the fans at Jimmy Fallon in 2014. She sounded smurfing amazing. And for the first time I thought it's not just vocal deterioration but maybe nerves playing into awful live performances. Overall though, I hope and wish MC will address the voice in her memoir. But something tells me vanity will overpower her willingness to be truthful about it. (Sunday 30 August 2020; 13:19)

Re: Dear Delulons (95,236) (95,253) by Randy from USA One of the best posts on here ever. I love MC and want her to win. That doesn't mean she will never strike out during the game. (Friday 28 August 2020; 14:07)

Re: Another take on the voice (95,220) (95,227) by Randy from USA Nikki you are wrong on so many levels. It's not about hits. It's about preserving the God-given gift you were given. I've seen Roberta Flack two years ago at 81 and she sounded better than unassisted MC does. Stevie, Aretha and Patti all sounded wonderful past 60. No they weren't their 1970s self, but they weren't embarrassing either. The Rockefeller foolishness, the GMA Touch My Body, the NYE performance, singing at MJ's funeral are things that never would've happened to them in their 40s. I love MC and I'm only here for more Languishings, Portraits and Right To Dreams. But in my opinion she has had the worst vocal decline ever in popular music. 8 years is all it took to go from the best voice in the world to sounding like she's been smoking Newport's and swallowing glass. Of course I'm talking about live. Never Too Far, Lead The Way and Through The Rain sound fantastic. I know I'm not the only one that is in knots before she steps on stage. Because I guess I live in the real world and my Facebook friends are fans of all divas and I can't defend her. I don't have ya'll rose colored glasses. Andrew and RJ112 think I repeat myself so I'll leave you with this. I'll leave you with this. Look up Patti Labelle's 2004 performance on Divas Live when she sang Love Need Want You and You'll Never Walk Alone. She was 60. What will MC sound like in ten years... unassisted? (Thursday 27 August 2020; 00:52)

Deniece Williams (Lee and This is GHM) (95,173) by Randy from USA I was kind of surprised when Eric (webmaster) didn't post that story about Deniece Williams. Here's my thing, MC's voice started a massive decline in 1998 so it trips me out people keep talking about "30 years in the business". My issue isn't the vocal decline, it's the deceit. The singing on records highly engineered that she has no hope of replicating live and then using a backing track when she sings live. Sometimes even recording a raspy backing track so it's not so obvious. I love MC and yes Whitney and Amy had their own struggles but Whitney sang live all the time no matter how bad a shape her voice was. If you are paid to do a job, do it. Teachers are paid to teach. Police officers are paid to police. Singers are paid to sing. And MC is considered one of the all time greats. If you are interested in the Deniece Williams article you can view it here. (Monday 24 August 2020; 14:41)

Re: Andrew (95,037) (95,104) by Randy from USA JT. This board is meant for everyone that has love for MC. If Andrew criticizes MC, it's because he knows she's capable of more and he wants her to win. Loving someone is not allowing them to run amok recklessly with their talent. Would you handle a crystal meth addict with kid gloves? It's ok that you're eating out of the garbage as long as you're still eating. That's what matters. To say Andrew has mental issues is making a mockery of the mental issue subject. And yes I'm diagnosed bipolar mixed type. But I am an award winning school teacher, a brother, an uncle and a son. I have three degrees, am a published poet and live in NYC. I'm hardly embarrassed. The way I see it, this board is meant for the entire spectrum of sexuality (gay to straight), the entire spectrum of mental health (normal to schizo), the entire spectrum politically (Trump to Sanders). Terna and We Are Lambily irritate the hell out of me with their "Mariah has never done anything wrong; she's never even stepped on an ant." But this is a place for them as they are on that side of the MC fandom spectrum. Andrew and I are on the frustrated side of the MC fandom spectrum. But we're all a family. And none of us are about to leave. The only one who may need to leave is he who does not understand differing opinions. That's you in case I was too subtle. Hey it's a "Subtle Invitation" for you to leave. (Saturday 22 August 2020; 04:03)

Re: STD is epic (95,091) (95,103) by Randy from USA You've got to be kidding me. As an English teacher, I deal with the criticism that we over interpret things. If the heroine has blue curtains in a novel, it doesn't mean she's depressed. If a superhero spills ketchup on his suit while eating a hot dog, it doesn't mean he's about to explode with anger. I love that you hear great moments in the song but to analyze it down to its sections and then relate it to the world's ills today is reaching. Like a rubber band reaching to connect the United States to Great Britain because we miss being under the crown. (Saturday 22 August 2020; 03:52)

Save The Day (first listen) (95,043) by Randy from USA Chile this coulda stayed in the vault. (Friday 21 August 2020; 07:18)

Re: How is everybody? (95,018) (95,020) by Randy from USA I'm glad you asked. We're suffering in the USA. I feel like everything is exhausting. You can't live carefree. Going to the supermarket is a chore. Trying to meet with friends is a chore. Trying to see family is a chore. I've had two emotional breakdowns. What I've had to do is daily keep reminding myself of all the things I have that others don't and be grateful. (Thursday 20 August 2020; 18:24)

Mariah on GMA (94,981) by Randy from USA So I watched MC on YouTube since I slept in this morning. I gotta say she looks and sounds great. Here's my issue. I never feel comfortable giving her credit for a good performance because I'm always thinking she lip synced it. I made peace a long time ago with MC's voice suffering irreparable damage at some point and for whatever reason she still writes and sings with an engineer's help to make it seem like she's still the greatest vocalist of our generation. I've learned to love MC through the rasp and deception. I want her to win. There's just always a small part of me that wants her to be honest with us and with herself. But I'm sure die-hard delusional will say "she sung live" or "she didn't sing live because she was nervous there was no audience, her implants were inhibiting her from breathing, the air conditioning was on, the heat was on, her nodules were inflamed, her nodules were laid off, dem babies were sleeping in the next room and she didn't want to wake them, her voice is social distancing or she was campaigning for Biden and trying to sequence The Rarities so she was distracted". (Wednesday 19 August 2020; 17:23)

Re: Name game (94,954) (94,966) by Randy from USA I have a Right To Dream that y'all will love that song someday. (Wednesday 19 August 2020; 11:07)

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