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? 

 



Goodbye Bobby Womack

Anyone with a radio remembers this verse from "We Belong Together" in 2005:

I can't sleep at night
When you are on my mind
Bobby Womack's on the radio
Singing to me
'If you think you're lonely now'
Wait a minute
This is too deep, too deep
I gotta change the station

Bobby Womack, The Poet, 1981

Soul and R&B singer Bobby Womack passed away on June 27th at age 70. As with so many other artists, Mariah provides a gateway to this amazing singer/songwriter of the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. Enjoy the next phase, Bobby!

A Moveable Feast

Mariah Carey, "Heartbreaker (Remix)," 1999

As I'm sure anyone with a background in dance, skating, or gymnastics can tell you, there are certain songs that just cry out to be moved to. The flowing movements that are possible with skates on are the perfect companion for a (preferably '70s-inspired) fun, laidback beat. Happily, Mims' oeuvre is full of such movable music. One song that has caught my ear from MIAMTEC lately is "You Don't Know What to Do" ft. Wale, a disco-y soul extravaganza that is a confection for the ears and has me longing to tie on some roller skates even though I can only awkwardly clunk around. But I feel so free!



The vibe of this song feels similar to that of "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" from 2007's E=MC2, a party favor of an album that seemed like a congratulatory gift to herself after the massive success of Emancipation. Easy, breezy, sunny, drunk summer roller skating. Yes.



Funnily enough, there is actually a Mims video that features roller skating, although the song doesn't make me want to clunk it up like the the above two do: the "Heartbreaker (Remix)" ft. Da Brat and Missy Elliot. Watching the video again today, I (of course) appreciated it on fresh levels. First, Mims is so beautiful, and 1999 was really when she was coming into her own. Out from under the thumb of Tommy Mottola, the late '90s saw our girl frequenting clubs and sucking on lollipops. Innocent, carefree days! Second, the remix video offers its own spin on the video for the original song, featuring Mims and her evil double wrestling in goo (?). Thirdly there is an obligatory car wash scene (makes Jessica Simpson look like an amateur) that features Snoop Dogg casually surveying this spectacle from the driver's seat, a nice touch as he's not featured on the track but his song "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" is liberally sampled. Happy Friday everyone.

Sheeeee-it: The Bonus Tracks of MIAMTEC

After the The Emancipation of Mimi was released upon the world in 2005, there was much rejoicing. The first three tracks of the album all received great radio play, and "We Belong Together" became a modern-day classic and Mims's 16th #1 on US charts. Seemingly unable to stop the flow of chart-friendly creativity at this point, she gifted listeners with "Don't Forget About Us" as a single shortly thereafter, and it, too, reached #1. To capitalize upon this new hit and continue riding the wave of TEOM, the "Platinum" edition of TEOM was released seven months later with bonus tracks "Don't Forget About Us" and some other goodies, including personal favorite "Makin' It Last All Night (What It Do) ft. Jermaine Dupri," which contains this memorable contribution from JD:

"Listen I got stacks like
The international house of pancakes
Your man great, got more Rovers then a Land makes
I make hits and I don't care about your damn hates
Can't stop doing it , I just do it for the fans' sake"

Here was an example of bonus tracks par excellence. Unfortunately, MIAMTEC is a departure from this winning model. Problem #1: a "regular" and "deluxe edition" were pushed out on the same day. What's the strategy there? Is anyone really not going to spring an extra buck or two to get three more songs? And not that I'm a proponent of such machinations, but why not wait a few months to release the deluxe edition and make us all buy it again? It's like how they keep releasing editions of Twin Peaks; first you have to have the pilot episode included, then you have to have Fire Walk With Me. I know you can all relate to this.

Anyway, the three bonus tracks that appear on MIAMTEC are solid: the aforementioned "Betcha Gon' Know" with R. Kelly; "It's a Wrap" with Mary J. Blige (who of course has a great track of her own by the same name); and "The Art of Letting Go." Why the latter was relegated to a bonus track I have no idea. Seems like you could easily sub it out for one of the weaker tracks like "Meteorite" and strengthen the core of the album.

"It's a Wrap" with Mary J. Blige is a pure delight. While Mims unfortunately didn't contribute any new vocals, MJB takes over the song with authority, telling Mims -- as "a friend and a fan" -- that she needs to drop that man. It's a tribute to the quality of the source material that MJB on the second verse lends a different but equally good spin to the song. Only problem now is, there are TWO tracks on MIAMTEC that begin with the sound of a champagne bottle being opened and poured. Sheeeee-it...