Whatev's Mariah Carey Top 50!

So we're saying Triumphant (Get 'Em) is superior to Honey? Is that what's happening

mariah carey GIF by RealityTVGIFs

here for what will no doubt be @dUb's tone this entire thread
 
46
Make It Happen
Emotions (1991)

I've been listening to the earlier albums a bit more recently since purchasing them on vinyl. They're much less offensive to my husband than the hip-hop tinged works of more recent decades. Anyway, Make It Happen stands up - less so in its dated original form - and more because she's continued to perform the hell out of it over the years. It works much better live as a gospel sing-along. The MTV Unplugged version is superior for its live instrumentation and the VH1 Divas Live version elevates it to another level with its "Don't let go! Don't ever, ever let go!" hook. We won't talk about the Live8 performance. Released as the third single from the album, it peaked at #5 in the US and a not-bad #17 in the UK.

 
'Make it Happen' has a special place in my heart. It was the first time I took notice of her, at the age of 12. I absolutely loved the song and the lyrics really resonated with me personally, particularly her financial hardship. For that reason alone it would definitely be in my top 50, probably even top 20.

And OMG the YOU CAN make it.... MAAAAAAAAAKE it happen freakouts my girls and I would have :disco:
 
45
Through The Rain
Charmbracelet (2002)

Not her finest work but a special one in our hearts, mainly for the memories of being in my little room in halls in the first term of uni, listening to Q103 FM late at night with baited breath as they played this for the first time. Remember, this was the first song to be released after the whole Glitter debacle. "Vintage Mariah" they kept calling it. A bit of a retrograde step after the street edge of Rainbow and Glitter, but I can understand why they felt a need to play to the AC/white crowd, and it sort of worked - while it became her lowest charting single in the US at that point (#81), the album opened at #3 with decent first-week sales. The single also made it to #8 in the UK, and the uplifting message partly addressed what she had been through, especially during live performances.

Produced with Jam & Lewis, it's all very plinky plonky, safe, soft and gentle. The problem is the vocals are too thin for too long and then - BAM - with the subtlety of a freight train, she cuts and pastes some really shouty vox in, as if to say, "Look! I can still belt!" And it all just sounds like a hot mess, but we love it, especially at the karaoke bar. The video is unintentionally HILARIOUS... *picks up charm bracelet*... "I HATE you!" Now we know it's probably ALL based on a real fight with Pat!

 
Oh Through The Rain...such a cute melody, and yet so unnecessary amongst her catalogue of lead singles.

Make It Happen, however, is essential and without fault.
 
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44
Emotions
Emotions (1991)

No one ever really needs to hear this song again, but somehow it doesn't grate the way other heavily played songs can. It remains essential and will always have that Mariah magic - perfectly capturing all that is great about her voice in four minutes of disco- and gospel-tinged joy. In the US, it became her fifth #1 single, making her the first and only act to have their first five singles go to #1. Amazingly, it only reached #17 in the UK, but I do have a strong memory of hearing it on the radio in the car at the time - I would've been about 6 or 7 - and being mesmerised by the VOX. It has become a firm fixture in her touring setlist and opened every show for years. I would say it's probably one of her most classic hits. The MTV Unplugged version is also essential.

 
"You got me FEELINNNNNN'" :disco: Not a surprise that Drake sampled a LIVE performance. I agree that the song itself has always sounded dated, but the firework vocals are ♾️ / 10.
 
I love Emotions but I LOVE Make It Happen. One of my favorite early Mariah songs.

I also like Through The Rain but I can see how it was kind of a retread.

I'm having my Lullaby first listen right this second.
 
Also #Beautiful is probably my favorite Mariah song of the last 10 years, but its not my list

Oh and Triumphant is great, especially the Vintage Throwback Mix
 
43
Touch My Body
E=MC²

I remember when this first came out and I listened to it on repeat on a flight to Ireland. I was so pleased/impressed/relieved that it had an actual proper song structure. The video was a masterstroke in self-parody and something I'm amazed she hasn't tried again since. It has nearly 200 million views on YouTube and, while she probably could've released anything at that point, I honestly think it helped it along to #1 (her 18th - not many people have that). But I do really love the song as well. It's very modern Mariah: pink and fluffy with that slightly hard, sexy edge. I love the simple jazz organ chords, the bassline and the finger clicks, especially when synced with her miming photography actions in the video. Even Aretha liked it FFS!

Also brings back happy memories of watching her perform it "live" on the Friday Night Project with @dUb - we were in the audience. Trying to dance along to a fairly unknown midtempo R&B song was awkward but we got through it. Does she even perform it these days?

 
Also brings back happy memories of watching her perform it "live" on the Friday Night Project with @dUb - we were in the audience.
A moment of life! :disco::disco::disco: Being that close to the LOONY LAMBILY all day was interesting too o_O O_o o.O O.o
 
Following THAT up with Bye Bye is possibly the worst decision of her entire career. Discuss.
Literally Perez Hilton's fault for slagging off the Migrate perf on SNL as well, wasn't it?

Migrate WOULD have been #1 and that's that on that
 
OMG @RJN would love to hear what you make of Lullaby

So I may have been a bit influenced by @dUb calling it an attempt to recreate The Roof because that was the main thing I heard. But I still very much enjoyed it and I found the melody really pretty. 8/10 imo. Probably the best thing I've heard from Charmbracelet, unless you count I Know What You Want, which is a 12/10.
 
Also #Beautiful is probably my favorite Mariah song of the last 10 years, but its not my list

Oh and Triumphant is great, especially the Vintage Throwback Mix
I just don't get the fuss over #Beautiful. It doesn't feel like her song. It's a Miguel song. And it's just plods along without going anywhere.
 
I can't speak for the UK, but Touch My Body and Obsessed are definitely the Mariah songs most referenced by young Americans. I love Touch My Body when it came out (and found it sexy...) and I still love it now. I also like Bye Bye but Migrate should have been the followup
 
I just don't get the fuss over #Beautiful. It doesn't feel like her song. It's a Miguel song. And it's just plods along without going anywhere.

I agree that it sounds like a Miguel song, but I love Miguel so it doesn't bother me
 
Good thing Youtube still exists, or else that line would sound really dated
 
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I'm That Chick is the best, but I still think Migrate would've been the superior second single. She needed something with some PUNCH. Bye Bye was such a snooze.
 
That radio interview where she says "we know what we're doing, darling" in relation to releasing Bye Bye still haunts me :ghost:
 
42
Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
Rainbow

THE SOLO VERSION OBVS NOT THE WESTLIFE ABOMINATION. I was very angry about that at the time, but now I can laugh and think, you get that second UK #1, Mimi. The original album version is a work of HIGH ART and perhaps one of the best examples of how strong her voice still was in '99, despite various myths to the contrary. It also demonstrates how well she could interpret a song, evoking real vulnerability (boom boom) and holding back until the perfect moment when she really lets rip - the climax gives us just enough and sounds totally organic.

 

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