I just watched Mariah Carey perform at the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting. Her “Merry Christmas“-album is like the ultimate Christmas album to me and “All I want for Christmas” definitely a classic.
I also enjoy her newer album “Merry Christmas II you“, especially “Oh Santa”.
Ok, let’s make this easier: Actually I love most of her songs, Christmas or not. She’s one of my favorite artists. I don’t know how many of you have noticed that Mariah recently put up a new song on her Facebook account called “The Art of Letting Go”.
She describes it as a first glimpse of the new album, and after this track I ‘m looking forward to it even more because this song is so NOT mainstream, so original, so Mariah and still so new, I really can’t wait to hear more! One thing with Mariah is that I also can often relate to her lyrics. I love it when an artist is able to touch me not only with his/her music but also with his/her message in songs. And that’s the way it should be, because I think that vocal music is about both, music and lyrics. And sometimes I enjoy a song because of its melody or bass lick or rhythm or feel, but to really really get me a songs needs to convince me with its lyrics as well. I mean, why not use a song to give a message, why waste it with stupid nonsense?
There are so many Mariah songs with a meaning that they can kind of lead you through life and give you strength when you need it. At least they have done that for me. Of course everyone knows “Hero” or “One sweet day“, but there are also a lot of her less known songs that transport a message. Personally one of my favorites is “Can’t take that away“.
I think there’s a big misconception of Mariah out there. Many people don’t even know she writes her own songs. She’s seen as some kind of puppet on a string that can sing but is acting like a diva. Few people know that she’s very accessible and she has a good sense of humour, too. About a month ago she surprised some of her fans on the Jimmy Fallon show. Afterwards she gave a little private, impromptu performance.
From my experience it is often the other way round: Those artists who are – according to their reputation – completely inaccessible, are very much accessible and those – often rather small – artists, who seem to be very open and down to earth, are completely the opposite. I know that can not be generalized but there is a tendency… Anyway, Mariah definitely is very close to her fans. I had the chance to speak a couple of words with her a few times and she was always very nice, very caring. She always made sure to take her time to greet her fans, sign autographs, talk a few words, shake hands. She even sometimes referred to letters or presents she got and told the fans how much she loved those or took them with her to talk to her privately. It always seemed important to her what her fans told her. The moment I remember most was after her “Charmbracelet”-concert in Munich when she returned to her hotel. I thanked her for all the strength she had shown and said that it was really an inspiration. I will never forget the way she looked at me and thanked me! It was so obvious that she really appreciated my comment and that this whole situation of her talking to her fans was not an annoying duty to her but something she enjoyed and wanted to do.
Her concerts, of course, are awesome. She’s just an amazing singer and it seems she sounds even better live than on her albums. She cannot dance, but the stage is filled by her presence. I hope she will come to Europe again with her new album! For now, here are some pictures from her “Charmbracelet-Tour”-concerts in Hamburg and Munich 2003. Quite some years ago so these are scans of some of my photos.
music, the world & me 