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About Matthew from USA: Longtime MC fan from Miami, FL.

Rap features (106,801) by Matthew from USA

It depends on the rap. On MIAM, Nas does a rap feature on Dedicated, where she reminisces about falling in love with rap music, which was age appropriate. There are also more philosophical rappers like Lauryn Hill or Floetry that would work. I also don't think anyone could be mad if Busta Rhymes or Bone Thugs come through for their 3rd collabs - those rappers are aging with Mariah so I don't think that would be a big deal. It might be an issue if she tries to get with a rapper that is much younger, but maybe not. After all, she did have a song with Gunna on Caution that was cute.

Ultimately, I think hip-hop and Mariah go back like babies and pacifiers. She is one of the pioneers of "hip-pop". So it would be more outrageous if she abandoned rap altogether. I don't think she will, especially since rap-singing is in right now and it's not too vocally demanding. I'd be more surprised if she decided to do a whole album of difficult ballads. So I think rap features and "Rapriah" are here to stay.

(Monday 24 June 2024; 04:47)


this is a reply to message		106,797

Re: Just a thought, let's be kind (101,420) (101,430) by Matthew from USA

Hey Robert. I think Mariah is a polished performer, just not the most exciting. So I will listen to a Beyonce album and go, meh. Then I will see her live and be like, ok, now I get it. Whereas with Mariah, I will see her live, and think, well, that was okay. And then I will listen to the album, the lyrics, arrangement, the different tones and vocal moments, and I'm like, this woman is a genius!

So I was basically saying that if she is going to make new music, I think she should focus on her strength, which I think is her prowess in the studio. Keep the live performances to a minimum or to pre-recorded things she can control like the Apple special or the YouTube Valentines mix. Focus on the lyrics, those layered background vocals, that crazy fast run. If it sounded a little dry, that's okay, drink some hot tea and do take 45, add some studio wizardry if needed. There's no rush at this point.

Some lambs disagree. They don't want what they consider deception in the studio. They want her to sing to her current capabilities so she can produce it live. And even though I might be disappointed at an album with tepid vocals, those lambs also have a valid point. Maybe she should do that.
(Saturday 8 October 2022; 18:49)

Re: Just a thought, let's be kind (101,415) (101,418) by Matthew from USA

So it seems there are two camps.

The first camp cares more about the live performances. They want those to be good. In order for the live performances to be good, they want her to take it easy in the studio and just sing plainly and simply without ornamentation, so that she will have no trouble replicating it live.

The second camp cares more about the album than live performances. In order for the album to be good, they want her to do as many takes as is necessary in the studio. They don't care if one day on Jan 17, 2024 at 6:38 PM she sounded terrible on a live performance because that's one performance. The album will be good, and the album is forever.

I'm torn. Mariah has never been the most exciting live performer. She is known, however, for being an amazing creative in the studio. I guess if this were Beyonce, I'd be in the first camp, saying do what you need to do in order to give a stunning live performance. But with Mariah, I think I'm in the second camp. Do what you need to do give us vocal moments on the album that are a little more exciting that Caution, if you are still able to.
(Friday 7 October 2022; 20:55)

Re: Creative artist over great vocalist (100,371) (100,375) by Matthew from USA

This is a pretty insightful take. I also thinks it's pretty accurate. The fact that she, like Prince, also continued to pursue her artistic interests despite the loss of commercial success also lends credence to the idea that she isn't overly pressed about maintaining the love of the general public. Caution is her most critically acclaimed album and possibly her lowest selling. Questlove said it best when he said that he loves that Mariah stays true to herself and her artistic vision without trying to just copy what is current.

But not copying the current trap sound comes at a cost. The cost is not being as beloved among the general public. It's a price she seems willing to pay. She has dem babies. She has the lambily. And she has the respect of her peers. That's apparently enough, and I say good for her. Madonna took the route of trying to maintain the love and respect of the general public and I'll just say I'm glad Mariah doesn't feel the need to go that route.

I also like how you pointed out that every diva had their diva antics. If nothing else, I feel Mariah has earned hers.
(Wednesday 1 June 2022; 01:38)

Re: Why I want another #1 (100,370) (100,372) by Matthew from USA

I would argue that artists don't make art for the people. When a painter sits before a blank canvas, he doesn't think, what do the people want? That would be pointless because the people are not one hive mind and any rational person knows that it's impossible to make them all happy. You make art because you are passionate about it. You share a bit of what's inside you. Hopefully the general public likes it. That can be one form of validation, though I think it's not a healthy type of validation to depend on. Much more meaningful, would be the old masters telling you personally that they think your work surpasses theirs.

There is also the quote you provided. It's from her early career, when she had already sold millions. At this point, she was prim, proper, apple cheeked, and what you seem to think of as classy and respectable. She was the people's pop princess. And yet she felt she lacked something Mary J Blige had. What could that be? She felt she wasn't as respected. Why? At this point in their respective careers, Mariah had a lot more claim to the love of the people across the globe than did Mary. It seems clear then, that when she talks about respect here, she is not talking about the general public. That's not how she herself defines respect. Food for thought.
(Tuesday 31 May 2022; 21:00)

Re: Why I want another #1 (100,362) (100,368) by Matthew from USA

Edward, since you claim to speak for all the people over 30, I suppose we shall defer to your judgement that they don't respect Mariah. It seems to me, however, that most people who spend their lives perfecting a craft, get the most gratification from being recognized by their peers. For instance, a novelist might not particularly care that a carpenter in Egypt doesn't appreciate or respect their work, yet be extremely honored by the praise of other novelists she admires. In her book, Mariah points out how much it meant to her that the great Leontyne Price paid her such a compliment. But if you say that Mariah truly wants the respect of the people, whoever and wherever they are, from the baker to the cardiologist, then I shall defer to your judgement, though that seems a recipe for never being happy.

As for class, I suppose it is subjective. Recording artists, who are always conscious of their brand and image, may give us some clue though. Surely younger artists such as J-Hud, Ariana and Shawn, as well as older artists, such as Brandy, Mary J, and Patti Labelle, don't want to associate with the classless. And imagine recruiting a classless artist with no respect in the industry to teach your Master Class.
(Tuesday 31 May 2022; 10:57)

Re: Why I want another #1 (100,353) (100,356) by Matthew from USA

It's silly to claim Mariah Carey isn't respected. But we should probably clarify who we're looking for respect from. 15 year olds? You can't respect what you don't know. The Grammys? At this point, we should reverse the question and ask who respects the Grammys? Ultimately, the only group Mariah or any artist would want respect and validation from is her peers. Fellow artists and musicians in her genre who know what it takes to be in this industry. On that score, I think it's safe to say she's well respected and admired. As for the whole classy argument, we need to be careful with that word. Especially when we start saying things like she became less classy when her music changed.

She may have lost some fans going from adult contemporary to hip-hop and R&B, but she gained plenty of new ones with the change as well. And all the young kids are into rap nowadays, so who's classy? As for her diva attitude, if using a treadmill in silk neglige and six inch Gucci stilettos while hitting whistles and sipping a glass of crystal pinky out isn't classy, then I don't know what is dahling.
(Sunday 29 May 2022; 23:48)

Article: Mariah after midnight (95,311) by Matthew from USA

It's funny, because I agree with the author. Despite how legends want to be seen, this is probably how we most want to see them. I didn't find this grotesque. I'm happy she's in a good place. The author also mentioned earlier in the article that she would have been disappointed had she shown up to mansion to witness an "I'm just Mimi from the block" performance. It seems to me that the public is just as invested in Mariah the diva. There are numerous clips from the early days where an exasperated Mariah repeatedly laughs off rumors that she needs 100 white kittens and 100 white doves in her dressing room. That she eventually incorporated some of the outlandish characteristics the public wanted seemed inevitable. After this much time in the industry, people have had ample time to form an opinion on who Mariah Carey is. This article is unlikely to shift that. And if people weren't interested in hearing the rags to riches story for the umpteenth time, they simply wouldn't send writers to her home or give her an advance to write about herself. And yes, she could pour her own water, but given the state of unemployment Andrew so righteously pointed out, I'm sure Ellen, whose job it is to pour the water, is furiously giving him the evil eye just about now.
(Monday 31 August 2020; 22:07)

Re: Another take on the voice (95,218) (95,225) by Matthew from USA

Edward, you aren't wrong. People expect athletes to retire young. There is also an expectation for singers to sing decently well into their 70's. I would argue that she is singing decently well, especially lately. But decently well is subjective. There are those like Mrs. Williams who would still point out that there's been vocal decline as compared to herself or other singers who have preserved their voices better. In response, I pointed out the that not all singers prioritize longevity. I also said that this was a controversial idea, as the expectation for singers are, like you said, that they sustain. I further argued that maybe our expectations should be tempered. That perhaps long distance marathon runners should be expected to have a longer career than sprinters. Mariah strikes me as someone whose need to feel and be special and worthy always overrode the desire for longevity that every singer has. For her, the path to that self-worth was in being extraordinary to the point that in 2020 kids on TikTok have running challenges on who can try to replicate her riffs and runs. So I guess I just had a commentary on expectations and why they can be adjusted. As for her pen game, I hear you. But that's a whole other conversation on the correlation between good art and struggle and youth. Wealthy Jay-Z's raps won't ever have the urgency of that up and coming street Jay-Z with something to prove.
(Wednesday 26 August 2020; 20:48)

Another take on the voice (95,178) by Matthew from USA

This is going to sound blasphemous, but I think it needs to be said. Longevity isn't everyone's primary goal. I know that sounds crazy. What could be more important than the longevity and preservation of one's gift, talent, and career? Well, I like to think of Mariah as an athlete. A vocal athlete, if you will. When we think of Michael Jordan, we don't lament the fact that he can't do what he used to do in his prime. We marvel at the fact that a human being could soar through the air like that. When we think of Usain Bolt, it won't be to shake our heads at how he can't run like he used to when he hits 50. Instead, we will shake our heads in wonder at how a human could run that many miles in under 3 seconds. I use athletes as my example, because for them, longevity is actually not the point. For some few, pushing and pushing themselves to achieve the extraordinary is more important. I realize that's controversial to say because it's been hammered into our heads that longevity is what we should aspire to above all. But for vocal athletes like Mariah and Dimash, I think it's not so much about whether they can keep doing what they do into their 50's and 60's. It's about pushing for the extraordinary, though it might spell disaster. So though I respect Mrs. Williams, when she goes on about Mariah doing too much and if she would have not be so extra she could have preserved her voice longer, she's correct, but she's also missing the meaning of Mariah Carey. When you watch these young kids on YouTube hearing Mariah for the first time and being completely boggled, you realize that her push for the extraordinary gave ended up giving her more longevity than trying to preserve her voice by holding back ever could.
(Monday 24 August 2020; 19:26)

Re: Chart manipulation (90,612) (90,613) by Matthew from USA

However she got the #1's, it's already cemented. You got folks out here hawking keychains, t-shirts, free tickets, and a seven eleven smoothie refill bundled package to help sell their albums and singles these days. The hustle is real in these streets. Whether it was 69 cents or 49 cents is besides the point. Let's respect the hustle, as long as it's legal. Speaking of hustles, when is the 57th remix of Old Town Road coming out?

(Thursday 15 August 2019; 01:51)

Re: Ed Sheeren's collaborative album (89,736) (89,738) by Matthew from USA

Robert, they may not be collaborating with her because of all those negative things. But it also could be as simple as the fact that she's considered an icon. No one really hits up Madonna, Stevie Wonder or Streisand. If those legends want collabs, they are the ones who reach out. I think most people would be honored.
(Monday 27 May 2019; 16:17)

Re: Iconic performance (89,142) (89,154) by Matthew from USA

I kind of like how you are thinking. She is currently on tour though and appears to be singing mostly live. So if she's feeling brave, I think she should do 1-7, then give a diva vocal moment to end it. So after all the uptempo, fade to black, VOL intro sounds, spotlight, first verse, and then before she does that final VOL run she can stop at "all that you turned out to..." and then do the thing where she inhales deeply and the music stops and she looks down in false modesty as everyone is screaming out "yass girl sang it", she can milk that moment for an extended dramatic pause, then she can go into the final run. She can even do the chopped up staccato runs that are easier for her. It won't really matter if she milks the moment correctly. Then again, it might be safer to do the more somber "Looking In" outro if her voice just isn't there. I really like your idea.

(Friday 12 April 2019; 16:55)

Re: A No No (88,993) (88,996) by Matthew from USA

Wow. If this is true B, I kind of feel bad for Stefflon Don. I imagine it felt good to be asked to do the remix for Mariah. She even did a video, so I know she was hoping it would help her with exposure. Then to find out Mimi is doing a for real remix with an artist she likes instead. Ouch. Why would the label do this?
(Thursday 4 April 2019; 20:07)

Re: Reception (88,976) (88,986) by Matthew from USA

Both Madonna and Mariah command respect for what they've accomplished. Mariah is well regarded in R&B and urban circles, and within the black community. Mariah also gets a lot of love in South America and from hispanic communities. A majority of lambs that do YouTube reviews of her songs tend to be minorities as well. And she is still beloved in Asian countries like the Philippines. Most rappers and players in hip-hop circles also have mad love for Mariah.

Another thing to keep in mind is that we often view ideals like beauty and respectability through a white lens. Institutions like Rolling Stone and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame aren't necessarily looking at Mariah's popularity in South America, Africa and Asia when they make their lists and nominees. So I will grant you the fact that when it comes to white institutions, Mariah is definitely not as high up the list as Madonna. But if we pause to consider other perspectives, I think you'll find that she's just as loved and respected.
(Thursday 4 April 2019; 02:33)

Re: Why (88,752) (88,760) by Matthew from USA

I think Mariah can continue to release music for as long as she wants to. Aretha dropped a covers album before she passed and Patti recently dropped a jazz album. So Mariah can do something like that. As of right now, she can also drop an album with current sounds. The reason for this is very superficial, but it's true. Mariah still looks good. The thing with Janet, Madonna, or Lil Kim trying to put out a current club banger is that, well, the plastic surgeries aren't able to mask their age anymore. And in this superficial world, if you don't look hot you can't try to make hot music, at least if you are a woman. Mimi seems to be in the JLo group for the genetic lottery, which means she can actually still try to do something a little current. Another thing working in her favor is that unlike JLo, Janet, Kim and Madonna, Mariah's act involves ballads and ballgowns, which translates well into old age. So even when she moves into full elder matron mode, she can still kind of do her ballgown diva thing without it being weird or desperate.
(Saturday 23 March 2019; 16:14)

Re: Does anyone here even stream music? (88,700) (88,703) by Matthew from USA

I think I understand you now, Dove. When you say you don't have time to stream, you mean leaving the song playing on your device in some infinite loop to help increase her chart position debut. Yeah, I don't have time for that either. I've never even done it for a week, so you are a better lamb than I. Are young people really doing this though?
(Wednesday 20 March 2019; 00:08)

Re: Does anyone here even stream music? (88,692) (88,695) by Matthew from USA

I'm a 90's Mariah fan and I stream music. I'm not understanding the concept of not having time to stream music. When I am on the subway or doing some programming at my desk, or at the gym, I pull out my headphones, I press the screen on my phone, and the music starts to play. I mean, I guess that is time consuming as opposed to the other methods of listening to music when you want, where you want. But no, I'm not getting it. Help. Is this some kind of inside joke? Also, in defense of middle-aged people, we do stream. Radio makes us feel old, and the cars no longer have CD players, they have baby seats, GPS and bluetooth speakers. So I'm just really confused right now and I'm imagining an old school lamb trying to configure a record player to their Toyota Camry. So yeah, I think I'm going to go back to my quiet corner now, because this thread is wild. Who has time to stream music is sort of like saying who has time to listen to music, no? Just tap the screen. Silly lambs.

(Tuesday 19 March 2019; 16:48)

Re: Caution: we're getting on each other's nerves (88,665) (88,674) by Matthew from USA

Caution did get rave reviews. If you're a fan, that can be cause for celebration. You may not want to celebrate that, which is fine, but there's no need to get in the way of the fans that do.

Is her microphone just a prop? She's currently on tour, with articles rolling in daily claiming otherwise, but maybe those are all written by one of the two types of folks on this board.

She needs to make mature music befitting a legend? Well, she made Caution, a mature R&B album that has garnered her the best reviews of her career. But perhaps that's not what you think a legend should be doing.

I suppose it's a matter of perspective. Some folks see the glass half full, others see it half empty. We need both. What I will do is list a few of Mariah's contemporaries: Whitney, Celine, Toni, Janet, Boyz II Men, Jodeci, TLC, Lil Kim, Luther, Shania, En Vogue, Nirvana, Alanis, Paula Cole, Lauryn Hill. These are all artists that were doing well during Mariah's rise and peak. Looking through that list gives me some perspective when I start getting too negative.

(Monday 18 March 2019; 14:33)

Re: A No No getting no airplay (88,546) (88,548) by Matthew from USA

You know how when babies and children need the love and support of adults? Then they become adults and can support themselves? Then they become elderly and need support again?

Well the life cycle of a musician is similar. They often start out as unknowns or independent artists who measure their success in streams and viral, touring or underground moments. The very few who break out and become stars get put into rotation on radio. Eventually they get older and radio takes them out of rotation, at which point they go back to measuring success the same way they did when they were just starting out. Mariah skipped the indie stage because of Tommy, but the rest still applies.

All this is to say that we probably shouldn't be trying to measure Mariah's success by radio play anymore. Probably not by charts either. She can still chart, a la Glitter, because streams and sales do count, but radio play is also a big factor, so she's unlikely to chart as high as we would like. Also, this life cycle is on the verge of breaking. New artists like SZA, Solange and Frank Ocean are considered successful despite being a non-factor on radio. Likewise for veteran acts like U2. So it should be interesting to see if radio's role in determining the success of an artist will continue to diminish in the years to come.
(Wednesday 13 March 2019; 16:47)

Re: A No No video (88,381) (88,387) by Matthew from USA

You know what? It's not that bad. Someone once said the difference between artists and celebrities is that the artist is never really completely comfortable with the spotlight. They just want to create, they don't know how to be famous. Mariah is a sexy lady, but her attempts to be sexy in videos don't always pan out, and can range from amusing to awkward to cringeworthy. Unlike someone like JLo, who I consider more of a professional celebrity than artist, it usually never seems completely natural. That's probably why her videos with a script work better. Despite the fact that there is no story, she's also not trying so hard like with the cringe of I Don't or the awkward shimmying of #Beautiful. And that's how I like her, not trying too hard. So this video isn't that bad for me - it's a very chill kind of sexy like in The Roof. The very last second shot of her is in a different outfit than the rest of the video, so I'm assuming there is also going to be a remix video with that outfit. Also, on just a side note, Mariah is so pretty.
(Friday 8 March 2019; 14:39)

Re: A No No feat. Stefflon Don (88,357) (88,358) by Matthew from USA

It's not the first time she wasn't able to pull someone she wanted. She supposedly tried to get Justin Timberlake to do something with Yours from the Charmbracelet album. He was hot stuff at the time and Mariah was just coming back from a rough period and I guess his people advised him not to associate. In the end Mariah is a legend, and Timberlake is a guy who was really popular once. He then had to introduce Mariah as a legend for the Stevie Wonder You and I tribute, so that was funny. So if Cardi turned her down, that's her loss. You don't get to work with legends every day. Anyway, I'm excited for the video. I hope it has a story board and is not just glamour shots.
(Thursday 7 March 2019; 16:31)

Article: Mariah urged by activists to cancel Saudi Arabia concert (87,765) by Matthew from USA

Whilst Eminem was ripping Mimi, these feminists were presumably working for women's rights in Saudi Arabia. Performing in Saudi at this point, is like performing at a Trump rally, except without all the backlash because most Americans won't notice. It can be argued that the current prince of Saudi Arabia is even worse than Trump. I suppose while she is at it, she can make a pit stop in Russia and Yemen. Folks need a little glitter and festiveness in between the daily bombings. At least for those who can afford to attend the concerts. Sigh. I love me some Mimi, but either she is completely oblivious and goes wherever they book her or she just wants her bag and doesn't care. I can't really defend this. And if the media just so happens to pay attention - ugh. If it's not Stella tanking her, it's some other stupid decision. Come on girl, you are not this hard up for cash.
(Tuesday 29 January 2019; 03:40)

The sequence of events (87,670) by Matthew from USA

The sequence of events paints the personal assistant in a very bad light. Mariah was the first one to file. She was the first one to bring the law into it. This means that the assistant approached Mariah on the hush and tried to get money for private videos taken while she was employed by Mariah. This is the first hint at what this woman is after - money. It was only after Mariah exposed her extortion attempt that this woman came up with a laundry list of abuses and injustices she suffered at the hands of Stella. If the assistant was concerned about getting justice, she would have been the first to court, and her suit would be aimed at her abuser. Her suit is aimed at Mariah because Mimi is where the money is at. In her counter-suit, this woman claims to have suffered being peed on multiple times. You might be wondering what could make a person stick around in a job after the first two times their boss takes a piss on them. If you guessed money, you guessed right. This assistant woman is so transparent, we're seeing right through her like she bathing in windex. I'm not seeing how anyone can really be in the assistant's corner. But I checked here and it seems some lambs are. Very interesting.
(Tuesday 22 January 2019; 03:24)

Re: SWHOF (87,531) (87,537) by Matthew from USA

Since when has Mariah been eligible? And when did Missy start her career as a writer? Mariah has been very humble when it comes to these awards, deferring to the women who came before her who have yet to receive anything. She says let them get it first. But I was under the impression Missy's writing career began a little later than Mariah. So, yeah, I guess Missy just has more respect for her to get it first. Or her lyrics were just that good.
(Sunday 13 January 2019; 01:17)

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