Mariah Carey returns to her pop and R&B roots on her new album, "The Emancipation of Mimi," albeit with major dollops of hip-hop. On several tracks previewed for Billboard.com, Carey offers less vocal acrobatics than on recent efforts, proving that less can indeed be more.
Due March 29 via Island Def Jam, the new set will be preceded by the single "Say Something," produced by the Neptunes and featuring Snoop Dogg. Due to hit U.S. radio outlets in January, the slinky, sensual hip-hop jam sports intermittent machine gun-styled beats,
A longtime supporter of club remixes, Carey has commissioned David Morales, Peter Rauhofer and former Pound Boys member David C. to remix "Say Something."
Other album tracks previewed for Billboard.com include the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Get Your Number," a feel-good, dancefloor-primed R&B number that smartly references Imagination's early-'80s top 30 R&B hit, "Just an Illusion." It spotlights the vocals of Dupri, who also helmed the track "Shake You Off."
Carey handled the bulk of the writing on "The Emancipation of Mimi" and also produced the power ballad "Mine Again." Less adult contemporary and more Gladys Knight, the old-school song is signature Carey.
The album also features contributions from producer Kanye West and rappers Nelly and Twista. It's the follow-up to 2002's "Charmbracelet," which debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 and has sold more than 1.1 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
I'm looking forward to this release. The title is a lot different from her previous weird girly titles.
Rogue588
11-15-04, 11:27 PM
I'll always give props for her voice on her first five albums [Christmas album included -- up 'til Daydream [and parts of Butterfly]] and her remix work.
However, i'm wondering...if this reporter thinks she's "returning" to her pop and R&B roots, what were her previous albums?
Whatever. I'll be skipping this one. The Neptunes are overrated [production-wise] and I LOATHE Jermaine Dupri [even before Janet..].
What a shame that Puffy turned Mariah out..
cdollaz
11-16-04, 09:30 AM
Who the hell is Mimi?
LiquidSky
11-16-04, 10:38 AM
Originally posted by cdollaz
Who the hell is Mimi?
Perhaps the nickname of her ussy-pay :)
cdollaz
11-16-04, 12:15 PM
Originally posted by LiquidSky
Perhaps the nickname of her ussy-pay :)
Perhaps. There's no telling where that thing's been.
BigDaddy
11-16-04, 04:43 PM
I hope there is a tribute to ODB. ;)
Gil Jawetz
11-16-04, 04:49 PM
They went back like baby with pacifier.
I'm no liar.
Howiefan
11-16-04, 09:50 PM
Here's what Mariah had to say on the title :
"Mimi" is a very personal nickname only used by those closest to me...just one of those little things that I've kept for myself in an attempt to have some delineation between a public persona and a private life. By naming the album ''The Emancipation of Mimi'' I am letting my guard down and inviting my fans to be that much closer to me. Most importantly, I am celebrating the fact that I've grown into a person and artist who no longer feels imprisoned by my insecurities or compelled to try and live up to someone else's vision of "Mariah Carey". I now feel I can honestly say "this is me, the real me, take it or leave it".For the first time in my life, I feel free and unashamed to be who I really am.That's what the music of this album and it's title reflect.
The Infidel
11-17-04, 12:23 AM
I'm sure this really is her nickname, and it's not surprising.
"Mariah, who would you say is the most important person in your life?"
"ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME!!!"
Howiefan
11-17-04, 12:30 AM
oh please Mariah is probably one of the few celebrities who isn't into themselves. She might look like high-maintenance in interviews but really she's quite down-to-earth.
GatorDeb
04-13-05, 07:19 PM
The album's awesome!
Osiris
04-13-05, 10:05 PM
She still looks good :D
Rogue588
04-14-05, 01:36 AM
She looks as good as this record sounds..
davejt1
04-14-05, 10:23 AM
oh please Mariah is probably one of the few celebrities who isn't into themselves. She might look like high-maintenance in interviews but really she's quite down-to-earth.
Um, OK (not sure if you're serious or not)...
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/news/story.jsp?story=622443
BTW, more details on the red carpet incident...
http://www.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1175443,00.html
Howiefan
04-14-05, 10:47 AM
Um, OK (not sure if you're serious or not)...
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/news/story.jsp?story=622443
BTW, more details on the red carpet incident...
http://www.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1175443,00.html
Right because every tabloid story is true, especially the british ones... -ohbfrank-
Howiefan
04-14-05, 10:47 AM
Right because every tabloid story is true, especially the british ones... -ohbfrank- Anyways this is a thread about her new album.
raven56706
04-14-05, 11:50 AM
she is still hot..... i would take her psychopathic ways for that tail
wait scratch that
Finch03
04-14-05, 02:59 PM
I bought the album on Tuesday, I really enjoy it. Say Somethin' with Snoop is my favorite track
kcdny
04-14-05, 10:56 PM
Pleasantly suprised with this disc. The hooks are catchy, definitely beats that make you move a little while listening.
I really got tired of her for a while but I find the album refreshing, original with a lot of hints of classy R&B without sounding dated. let me shutup now before people think I am actual fan.
:thumbsup:
Rogue588
04-14-05, 11:56 PM
Pleasantly suprised with this disc. The hooks are catchy, definitely beats that make you move a little while listening.
I really got tired of her for a while but I find the album refreshing, original with a lot of hints of classy R&B without sounding dated."Original"?
and before any Mariah-philes think about gettin' snarky, that'd be more a reflection of the producers she's worked with and not her...
Also, she's on Letterman tonight..
JP5683
04-15-05, 03:18 AM
It's not bad. I haven't really liked a whole Mariah disc all the way through since Daydream, yet I keep buying every CD she puts out.
dolphinboy
04-15-05, 03:36 AM
"Original"?
Also, she's on Letterman tonight..
I'm not really a fan and haven't really liked her much since the early 90's, but she sounded absolutely fantastic on Letterman and the song was very good and catchy.
kcdny
04-17-05, 06:17 PM
"Original"?
and before any Mariah-philes think about gettin' snarky, that'd be more a reflection of the producers she's worked with and not her...
Also, she's on Letterman tonight..
Original in the sense that it's not the same old formula from the old Mariah Carey albums. Someday, Emotions, Fantasy, while all good they were just the same old song with different lyrics.
This isn't that typical arrangement. But I have to say that I only remember that make it through the rain single from the last album, never heard the full album. Mariah fans, is this like the last album? i don;t even know the name unfortunately.
Anyway, I have actually listened to this new disc all the way through a few times and haven't gotten sick of it yet.
Great performance on Letterman.
Howiefan
04-17-05, 11:33 PM
Original in the sense that it's not the same old formula from the old Mariah Carey albums. Someday, Emotions, Fantasy, while all good they were just the same old song with different lyrics.
This isn't that typical arrangement. But I have to say that I only remember that make it through the rain single from the last album, never heard the full album. Mariah fans, is this like the last album? i don;t even know the name unfortunately.
Anyway, I have actually listened to this new disc all the way through a few times and haven't gotten sick of it yet.
Great performance on Letterman.
Her last album 'Charmbracelet' was probably her worst album vocally and production-wise. It had a few good songs but overall it was pretty rushed. Her new album is much better.
Howiefan
04-19-05, 12:33 AM
Looks like this will be Mariah's biggest debut ever:
CHART PREVIEW: MARIAH’S EMANCIPATION TO TOPPLE 50’S MASSACRE
Should We Call It a Comeback? Diva’s Latest Hitting a Really High Note
April 18, 2005
As the counting continues this Monday morning, it looks like Mariah Carey’s new album, The Emancipation of Mimi (Island) is headed for a huge #1 debut on first-week sales that could reach as high as 400k by the time the chart is final.
That would give Carey her biggest first week ever, outpacing 1999’s Rainbow, which logged first-week sales of around 320k.
But perhaps more importantly, The Carey triumph will end 50 Cent’s six-week, nearly three-million unit run at #1 with The Massacre (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope). As it looks now, 50 is locked in a battle for #2 with Epic’s Mudvayne, whose Lost and Found is on track to sell in the neighborhood of 150k.
Meanwhile, Garbage’s Bleed Like Me (Interscope) is on track to make a #4 debut on first-week sales of over 70k.
And to round out the Top Five, it looks like it will be either Faith Evans, Now 18 or Beck, each of which looks like it will come in at around 60k.
I just purchased this cd.....and i love it! A true "return to form" for Mariah.
The Infidel
08-26-05, 02:03 AM
Yet another bump for Cottington. :)
bigjim25
10-14-05, 05:16 PM
From billboard.com: Mariah Expands 'Mimi' With New Songs, Videos By Clover Hope, N.Y.
Mariah Carey will on Nov. 15 re-release her Island Def Jam album "The Emancipation of Mimi" as a "Platinum Edition" with four new tracks. The set will also be available in a limited edition CD/DVD package.
The new "Mimi" boasts fourth single "Don't Forget About Us," "So Lonely (One and Only Part 2)" featuring Twista, "What It Look Like" featuring Jermaine Dupri and a remix of "We Belong Together" featuring Jadakiss and Styles P. previously offered only through digital download.
The CD/DVD version rounds up video clips for "It's Like That," "We Belong Together," "Shake It Off," "Get Your Number" featuring Dupri, and a Web link to view the new "Don't Forget About Us" video, shot recently in Los Angeles with director Paul Hunter, who directed Carey's 1997 "Honey" video.
Written by Carey and co-produced with Dupri, "Don't Forget About Us" entered the Billboard 100 this week at No. 81. To date, "The Emancipation of Mimi" has sold 3.5 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Buy: