Concert Review By: Janel Spiegel
MARIAH CAREY – CAUTION WORLD TOUR
MOMENTS WITH MARIAH
Saturday April 6, 2019
I decided to write this review during the concert. Mariah Carey is the best-selling female artist of all time. Mariah is a songwriter. She wrote 17 of her 18 number one singles. This is an important aspect for those of us who have been “Lambs” (Mariah fans and a term that some of the “Lambs” have bestowed to themselves after “inside jokes” between Mariah and her longtime friend and back-up singer extraordinaire Mr. Trey Lorenz. I could go on and on about awards and statistics and how long Mariah has been making, creating, producing, layering vocals and being the one person to lay the foundation for what truly, innovative music is. Mariah’s first single was “Vision of Love,” it would also be the first ever cassette I owned, (that is before CD’s and digital kids. And, yes there may have been dinosaurs? I am not sure.)
For the show tonight. Mariah had legendary DJ SUSS ONE https://www.instagram.com/djsussone/?hl=en open for her.
He got the crowd Mariah ready! DJ SUSS ONE has been a fixture in Mariah’s life over the years opening for her in the past also. He is one of the most fun DJ’s “in all the land.” He played a variety of everyone from Rob Base to Luther Vandross. He asked everyone to put a hand in the air and well, I forgot about my cane and I almost lost my cane. Music has a way of helping the soul heal. The SANDS was packed and the crowd was alive. I have been lucky enough to attend quite a few shows and I think it is the first time I felt it rumble upstairs from Mariah’s powerful vocals. If you want to, make sure you check out DJ SUSS ONE and follow him on Instagram @djsussone
And now onto the magic that is Mariah Carey. Mariah started and instantly the crowd was revved and ready. The excitement at a Mariah concert is always the greatest. She did a few medleys and some variety of her songs that she wrote and produced. She also added in quite a few of her incomparable remixes that she started and enabled to so many different artists to be able to successfully work together and blend so many different types of music. Mariah sang everything from “A No No” off of her brand new album, “Caution.” She sang “Dreamlover” from her album, “Music Box.” (My first Mariah concert was December 2, 1993 in Philadelphia.)
She sang, “You Don’t Know What to Do” from “Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse.” (Which has so many incredible songs. If you have not heard the album. You should listen to it. She then went into, “Emotions” from the album “Emotions.” Mariah can SINGGGG! In fact she was singing with so much power and heart and soul. You felt every single word that she was singing.
Her voice has so much range. During one of her tours she introduced her band and matched every single instrument being played. Her vocal range and the way she can deliver a song is unparalleled. She did four ensemble/costume changes. The first ensemble, the dress lit up and matched the entire back-drop and lights. Her second ensemble was a stunning bright pink dress that just sparkled as much as Mariah does. Her third ensemble was a body suit with a beautifully shiny jacket and the last ensemble was a pink princess type dress that she looked stunning in each ensemble (outfit).
After “Emotions,” Mariah spoke to the crowd and she introduced the next song from the album, “Music Box.” A classic song that means a lot to so many. “Anytime You Need a Friend” in which the entire audience was singing along to and clapping during a mid-breakdown of the song and then Mariah went into the Remix of “Anytime You Need a Friend.”
She returned after a costume change and sang “Fantasy,” she sang several versions of “Fantasy.” Mariah Carey is probably the ONLY artist that can do such a thing. She sang the original in which is from her album, “Daydream.” She used a sample of the Tom Tom Club’s 1981 hit song, “Genius of Love” and shot the music video at Rye Playland in Rye, New York. She went into the dance remix and then the one of the most EPIC and the greatest Remix ever made. “Fantasy” (Remix) ft. O.D.B. O.D.B. (Ol’ Dirty Bastard, part of Wu-Tang Clan) legendary part starts with, “Yo, New York in the house. Is Brooklyn in the house? Uptown in the house. Shaolin, are you in the house?” The entire crowd was singing this song.
There was not one person sitting and not singing. Mariah continued with “Always Be My Baby” in which she also added a remix and she also brought her “special guest” on stage, her twins Moroccan and Monroe Cannon known as “Roc” and “Roe.” They came out on-stage and happily interacted with the audience and gave out some merchandise to the “Lambily” and Mariah’s daughter, gave out a drawing she did for the audience after Mariah pointed out that the kids or #DemKids as they are known have seen all the artwork and gifts Mariah gets so they wanted to make something for the audience. Mariah also claimed this idea first since she is always original.
She went into the remix of “Always Be My Baby” which featured Da Brat and Mariah worked with the legendary Jermaine Dupri. (Jermash to MC)
https://www.instagram.com/sosobrat/?hl=en
Jermaine Dupri- @jermainedupri on Instagram SO SO DEF.
Mariah continued and performed “Caution.” The title-track from her new album “Caution.” She had a “glam moment” and sang a snippet of her song, “Underneath the Stars” which is a favorite. She took a moment to get a glam touch up by her make-up artist, Kristofer Buckle whom also has his own incredible make-up line. https://kristoferbuckle.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kristoferbuckle/ and her Celebrity Hairstylist, Miles Jeffries. https://www.instagram.com/milesjeffrieshair/
They both appeared on-stage and gave Mariah a “glam moment.” She looked so stunning. She can wear anything, look anyway and she is just stunning.
Mariah then sang, “GTFO” and “Stay Long Love You” both from “Caution.”
She sang “My All” from one of the greatest albums ever made, the “Butterfly” album in which is a perfect album. “Butterfly” was released in 1997. When Mariah is singing these songs, you feel every single word she is singing and her singers, the incredibly talented Maryann Tatum –Shields, Trey Lorenz whom has been singing with Mariah since the very beginning and the amazingly talented Takeytha Johnson. These singers are unreal. The talent and to be able to sing with Mariah and the enthusiasm and love they have for what they do and the kindness they extend to this fandom is beautiful. Mariah sang, “Love Takes Time” from her debut album entitled, “Mariah Carey.” It was released in 1990 when I myself discovered Mariah’s music. I heard “Vision of Love,” the first single and just felt a connection to the song and to her voice, her singing, what she was saying.
Then one of the greatest medleys in history of music. The “Glitter” medley. “Glitter” was a film Mariah made and she also did the soundtrack and it was released on September 11, 2001 during a time when the country was going through a tragedy. Mariah helped a lot with attending events and singing several songs from “Glitter.” Recently in 2018, the “Lambily” (Mariah’s Fans) started #JusticeForGlitter on social media and wound up getting “Glitter” to the number one spot. That is not a feat you see most artists accomplish. You have to remember she also released “Caution” and basically once again, it was Mariah versus Mariah. “Caution” and “Glitter” playing out on the charts.
And the songs are still so powerful and fun and fit with this time. The movie was supposed to be more towards the eighties but Mariah managed to as usual make something that is timeless. She performed, “Never Too Far/ Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (in which that songs saves lives every time she sings it.)/Loverboy/Didn’t Mean to Turn You On” in which the audience went wild. People were so happy to see this and hear these songs.
Songs from a soundtrack and a time that we loved these songs so much and they truly didn’t get the justice they deserved. The film is good also. People often look at things and may judge too quickly. Mariah continued with “Heartbreaker” from her album, “Rainbow” and she brought out her arch nemesis the divinely dramatic, Bianca Storm whom once conducted an interview with Mariah and well, it didn’t go too well. Bianca is Mariah’s alter-ego if you will. Another first but in a different way for a singer. Mariah created something and a story, other albums and scenarios in which Bianca fits in. It was a knockdown, drag out fight and Mariah had some quick moves and took Bianca down.
Bianca was heckled by Mariah’s dancers and Maryann Tatum-Shields defended Mariah and also made sure to let Bianca know she cannot mess with Mariah. Put it this way, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” Bianca got knocked out by MC!
Mariah sang, “Touch My Body” from the album, “E=MC²” and “We Belong Together” from “The Emancipation of Mimi,” another album that is perfect. Fun songs, serious songs, heartbreak, love, meaning, life. Mariah covers it all.
She ended the show with, “Hero” from the “Music Box” album. “Hero” contained an unreleased track called, ‘Everything Fades Away.” It is such a beautiful song. “Hero” was written by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff. It is become an anthem of sorts for so many people. It was released in 1993 and still like all of Mariah’s work, it holds up. It stands the test of time. Mariah Carey stands the test of time. She is a Hero! She creates and created some of the greatest songs made. She wrote them. She has stayed true to herself and the light-hearted side of her personality in which some people may not always get but she is beyond talented. A songwriter, a producer, an actor, a mother, a person who can be in a studio, she hears the music and what works and what doesn’t and you can see that when she sings.
She hears and sings every song with feeling and you know every song is a different story, a time in her life in which she shared with the world. Singers, artists, talent comes and goes. There are rare talents. Aerosmith, Steve Tyler, Meatloaf, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Jim Croce, Lenny Kravitz and many more but Mariah is one of a kind. She is a legend. Mariah sings from the soul and heart and you feel that. If you get a chance to see Mariah in concert. You must. And the staff at the Sands and the fans/Lambs that attended the show. Everyone was kind, had fun and just so into the music. I don’t think I have ever witnessed that much happiness and love. If people had any problems or worries at all. You could not tell one bit. We all got lost in Mariah’s songs and the moments.
Follow Mariah on Instagram @MariahCarey on Twitter, @MariahCarey
https://www.youtube.com/mariahcarey
Mariah Carey is the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 18BillboardHot 100 #1 singles (17 self-penned), more than any solo artist in history. Mariah is a singer/songwriter/producer recognized with multiple Grammy Awards, numerous American Music Awards,Billboard‘s “Artist of the Decade” Award, the World Music Award for “World’s Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium,” and BMI’s “Icon Award” for her outstanding achievements in songwriting, to name a few – with her distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting, and producing talent, Mariah is truly the template of the modern pop performance. Mariah’s ongoing impact has transcended the music industry to leave an indelible imprint upon the world at large. She made her entry into the world of independent film with her landmark performance in “WiseGirls” starring alongside Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino and Melora Walters. In 2009, Mariah was recognized with the Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Spring International Film Festival for her critically acclaimed role in Lee Daniels’ “Precious.” Mariah went on to appear in Daniels’ stellar ensemble piece “The Butler” (2013). A Congressional Award recipient, Mariah has generously donated her time and energy to a range of philanthropic causes near to her heart including Save the Music, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, World Hunger Relief, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, among many others. A tremendous supporter of children’s charities, both domestic and international, Mariah founded Camp Mariah in partnership with the Fresh Air Fund, a retreat for inner city children to explore career development. Mariah is represented by Roc Nation, UTA and Imprint PR. www.mariahcarey.com
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Interviews & Articles By: Janel Spiegel
“May your nightmares inspire you.” JMS
