New New Hot Hot

Did you know that Mariah released a new song today? It's true, loyal readers. The only new track to be featured on her upcoming album Number 1 to Infinity, which -- cleverly -- will feature all 18 of her number 1 hits, plus this track, this song might be the only new Mariah we hear this year.

 

"Infinity," 2015

 

Initial reviews of the song have been mixed, with many calling it a "90s breakup song," which really doesn't make any sense. To this listener's ear, which I WOULD LIKE TO THINK HAS LISTENED TO MORE MARIAH THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON, the track sounds nothing like her 90s heyday. It was produced by L.A. Reid, who also produced her 2005 comeback album The Emancipation of Mimi -- and it has the big, retro sounds of those tracks (cf. "Stay the Night"). Of note to lambs will be the reference in the chorus to "You're Mine (Eternal)" from last year's MIAMTEC:

 

Close the door, lose the key
Leave my heart on the mat for me
I was yours eternally
There’s an end to infinity
To infinity

 

So: what do you think? 

 



Dedicated, Part 2: Talkin' Bout Collabos

Que obvio, Nas was the best choice to guest on "Dedicated": still in the game, still garnering much respect from peers and fans, and with a musical coming-up story that parallels MC's in lots of ways and complements this song as an ode to "old school."

Mims has a long and storied (well, in my mind) history of being on point with her choice of musical partnerships. Featuring masters of rap, fellow divas, and flash-in-the-pan hip-hoppers, her collaborations are never-boring case studies in what can happen when you pair a master with quantity x. Shall we explore some highlights in no particular order?

MC and Nicki Minaj, "Up Out My Face," 2009

Yes, before that ugly season of American Idol, and when the Young Money franchise was still hungry, this happened. "Up Out My Face," a middling track from the outstanding Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, featured Nicki and her many personalities on the remix. The track, which features a slower beat that thankfully forestalls Nicki's tendency to do really weird, unpleasant things with her voice, also includes a marching band at the end, clearly making this track the "Tusk" of MOAIA. It's unfortunate that these two fell out, because I love the contrast between their voices, and Nicki's flow is nicely measured here. Alas, alack.

 

MC and Snoop Dogg, "Crybaby," 1999

 

"Heartbreaker" might have gotten all the attention off of Rainbow, and deservedly so, but tucked into the second half of that  late-90s treasure chest is this gem. Blending the languid West Coast style of Snoop with MC's murmurings about pouring more Bailey's was a winner. I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but "Crybaby" contains one of my favorite moments of MC self-referentiality:

 

Sipping Bailey's Cream by the stereo
Trying to find relief on the radio
I'm suppressing the tears but they start to flow
'Cause the next song I hear is a song I wrote

When we first got together early that September
I can't bear to listen so I might as well drift
In the kitchen pour another glass or two
And try to forget you

It's a song SHE WROTE, guys!

 

One of the nicest features of this song is the way that M's vocals over Snoop's parts seem effortlessly improvised. It's true of "Dedicated" as well. It's like she's listened to the song a million times and is idly accenting it with her own contributions. You don't find unstudied elegance like this in typical Top 40 fare.

 

 

MC and Damian Marley, "Cruise Control," 2008

 

Bet you didn't know that MC teamed up with Marley spawn on E=MC2. I refer to this album as her party album because it's just so fluffy and fun (well, until that last track), and this song is no exception. Damian's contribution includes one of my favorite lines from the album:

 

Look at life just like a pessimist
You already like a wife up in my premises

 

Heh. The track is also notable for a deliciously awkward "reggae-fied" verse from MC at about 1:36. A must listen.

 

 

 

MC and Cam'ron, "Boy (I Need You)," 2002

 

Quick on the heels of Cam'ron's wildly popular single "Oh Boy" from 2002 came this single off of Charmbracelet. This is really more of a remix than an original effort, and they both know it (Cam'ron: "Sing my hook, help me sell a couple mil.") But that's ok, because it's sweetly addictive, it lasts for a correctly long time, and Camron's contribution turns into a humorous back and forth with Mims:

 

I need you
(What? Who? Uh huh, uh huh)
I wanna feel your touch
(Why wouldn't you?)
So come and get my love
(Show me where it's at, now sing)

 

Does this lose something in translation? Just listen to it, it's a delight. Sunny day, windows down.

 

 

MC and Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day," 1995

 

This still stands as MC's most popular #1 hit, spending 16 weeks at the top of the charts. All the ingredients are there: the awesome harmonies of B2M, MC in her prime, and lyrics that evoke lost loved ones (NB: this is Mariah's first "death" song. She did it again with "Bye Bye" in 2008). While anyone alive in the 90s has this burned into their brains, the track comes alive again in this a capella version which is truly something special and led me to a whole new appreciation of this song.

 

 There are many more collabos in MC's catalogue that are spectacular that deserve their own posts, and so they shall receive. Have you ever stopped to think about who she hasn't paired up with yet, but most definitely should? Because I spend quite a lot of brain power on that:

 

Kanye

Outkast

Lil' Wayne

Drake

 

Oh and: