Mariahcarey.com . What's New

'Precious' Available on DVD & Blu-ray!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:33:55 -0500

The two-time Oscar winning film PRECIOUS: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, starring Mo'Nique, Gabourey Sidibe and Mariah Carey, is available now on DVD & Blu-ray.

Get your copy today! Buy Precious on DVD or Blu-ray online.

Academy Awards: 'Precious' Wins Two Oscars

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:10:17 -0500

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards were held last night in Los Angeles, CA and PRECIOUS: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire was a victor in two categories: Best Supporting Actress (Mo'Nique) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Geoffrey Fletcher).

Mariah arrived on the red carpet in a blue Valentino dress with her husband Nick Cannon and spoke about the film: "I just want as many people as possible to see this movie," she�told Fox News. "I feel like it is such a work of art."

Congratulations to the cast and crew of "Precious"!

'Precious' Sweeps The Independent Spirit Awards

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:51:47 -0500

The critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated film PRECIOUS: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire was the big winner at tonight's 2010 Independent Spirit Awards, recognizing independent film-making.

The film won all five awards it was nominated for including the top honors of Best Feature Film and Best Director. Director Lee Daniels and cast members Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz all got on stage to receive the big award!

Mariah, who looked gorgeous in Valentino, also presented the "Best Cinematography" award with Andy Garcia.

Arrival and Backstage Photos:

Five things you didn't know about 'Precious'

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:12:29 -0500

In anticipation of the 82nd Academy Awards, The National Post writes up five things you didn't know about the six-time Oscar nominated film "Precious".

Tune in to the live airing of the awards ceremony on Sunday, March 7th 8:00pm EST/5:00pm PST on ABC.

1. Helen Mirren was originally supposed to take the role of the social worker played by five-octave-spanning diva Mariah Carey. As director Lee Daniels told Essence, the much-decorated British thespian dropped out at the last minute:

"Helen Mirren fell out--she called me up and said that she had a paying job. I got a phone call like three hours later from Mariah asking me to come over to play. I said, 'No, I'm working.' I told her what I was working on and she was like I know that book. And, then I called Helen back and was like, 'What do you think of Mariah playing this role, a social worker.' She said it was genius. She said you know "If I do it Lee, it's expected but if Mariah does it, it's really unexpected. "

Dame Helen may now be cursing her decision -- shockingly to everyone who's seen Glitter, Mariah Carey's acting is earning some of the best reviews of her life.

2. Impress your friends at the Oscar party with the correct pronunciation of the young star's name, Gabourey Sidibe. Inherited from her Senegalese father, it's pronounced SIH-deh-bay. And if you want to be one of those annoying people who's all "I'm an entertainment insider" and calls Sandra Bullock "Sandy" and Martin Scorsese "Marty," you can make Gabourey "Gabby."� Although you may want to watch what you say to Gabby anyway. One of her most-excellent quotes from a profile in New York:

"They try to paint the picture that I was this downtrodden, ugly girl who was unpopular in school and in life, and then I got this role and now I'm awesome. But the truth is that I've been awesome, and then I got this role."

3.� Mariah Carey isn't the only non-conventional casting, but her glammed-down presence has still managed to overshadow Lenny Kravitz, who plays a handsome nurse. Daniels told Rolling Stone:

"From my first film, Monster's Ball, with Puffy and Mos Def to Macy Gray in Shadowboxer, Eve in The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon, a musician has been in every film I've done. I love musicians. I'm going to do a musical next year [with Kravitz]. I'm not allowed to talk about it."

4. Vanity Fair's annual Hollywood cover was widely criticized for being very white, very young, and, frankly, kind of creepy (ok, that last bit may just be me).� Along with Avatar/Star Trek sylph Zo� Salda�a, Sidibe was one of the less-snowy-hued actresses many felt should have been on the cover, instead of just inside.� But Sidibe isn't sweating it, she tells OK!:

"Was I satisfied? Yeah, well... I mean, I come from a world where I'm not on covers and I'm not in magazines at all," she said. "And so I was happy to be in the magazine. Gabourey continued that if she was chosen for the cover, which included up-and-coming young stars Kristen Stewart, Carey Mulligan, Abbie Cornish, Amanda Seyfried and Anna Kendrick, she would have wondered whether she fit in.

5. The movie has inspired controversy on everything from its alleged status as "poverty porn" to Sidibe's weight to the title (the New Yorker's Anthony Lane called it "preposterous") to Mo'Nique's campaign (or lack thereof) for an Oscar. Is Mo'Nique's strategy a real disdain for the star-making machine, or a cunning way to get even more attention? Whatever it is, it's made a lot of people mad, including this guy. What it's not? the Blind Side. Some have called it that movie's "reverse."

Angels Advocate Tour Wraps Up In Vegas

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:26:00 -0500

On Saturday night, February 27, 2010, Mariah wrapped up her Angels Advocate Tour, performing to a sold out crowd at the The Colosseum (Caesar's Palace) in Las Vegas.

Mariah took the "Angels Advocate" Tour to 20 cities in North America, starting with a spectacular concert at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on New Year's Eve 2010.

Throughout the tour, thousands of cheering fans got to hear Mariah sing some of the biggest hits of her career including #1 hits "Touch My Body" and "Always Be My Baby", early classics like "Emotions" and "Make It Happen", fan-favorites like "Subtle Invitation" and "Fly Like A Bird" and special treats from the 2009 #1 R&B album Memoirs of an imperfect Angel such as "It's A Wrap" and "The Impossible".

On behalf of Mariah and the MariahCarey.com team, we would like to thank the fans for coming to all the shows, for being festive in your various Mimi accessories and of course - for bringing the most creative signs anyone could think of!

Many thanks to all team Mariah members who submitted their wonderful reviews and pictures for us to share with the fans (links below).

Check out the MariahCarey.com Tour Gallery to view photos from over 10 different tour stops!

Congratulations to the following Honey B. Fly fan club members who won the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Mariah perform from the front row!

New York, NY - 12/31/09 - Corlissa a.k.a. cocohoney2
Atlanta, GA - 01/19/10 - Ashante� a.k.a. always_mariah
Hollywood, FL 01/21/10 - Martha a.ka. mccrazed101��
Detroit, MI - 01/25/10 -� Santino a.k.a. mariahtino1
Washington, DC - 01/27/10 - Kehyonha� a.k.a. mcfn247
Boston, MA - 01/30/10 - Natasha a.k.a. ndennifer
Philadelphia, PA - 02/01/10 - Erica a.k.a. mimifan9485
Montreal, QC - 02/04/10 - Philip a.k.a. Philuvsmariah
Ottowa, ON - 02/06/10 - Atusa a.k.a. mcizheaven
Toronto, ON - 02/09/10 - Melissa a.k.a. butterfly8mc
Columbus, OH - 02/10/10 - Megan a.k.a. Sweetchicka
Chicago, IL - 02/13/10- Casey a.k.a. caseymcc
Chicago, IL - 02/14/10 - Angie a.k.a. mimifan4ever1
Houston, TX - 02/17/10 - Katrina a.k.a.� mimifankatt
Dallas, TX - 02/18/10 - Grace a.k.a. mysavinggrace2��
Phoenix, AZ - 02/20/10- Armando a.k.a. azhotlamb
Los Angeles, CA - 02/23/10 - Vivian a.k.a. vivi09creoen
Los Angeles, CA - 02/24/10 - Nicole a.k.a. thatchick327
Oakland, CA - 02/26/10 - Laura a.k.a. lauraluvsmc
Las Vegas, NV - 02/27/10 - Kristi a.k.a. mariahrulz

Click on the links below to read fan reviews from the shows:
Fans Review Mariah's Tour Stops in QC, IL, TX & AZ!
More Fan & Press Reviews from ''Angels Advocate"
Fan Review: Mariah at Hard Rock Live in Florida
Fans Review Mariah's ''Angels Advocate'' Tour Stops in NY, NJ, CT

Please keep sending us your reviews, photos and anything else you'd like to share: TeamMariah@mariahcarey.com

Fans Review Mariah's Tour Stops in QC, IL, TX & AZ!

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:17:47 -0500

Bell Centre, Hollywood, QC - 02/04/10
Philip Mundiyamkal - HBF Front Row Tickets Winner
Wow... what a week it was! On Friday, I got a call from a LiveNation correspondent telling me I won Front Row tickets to Mariah's concert on the 4th of February in Montreal. I literally screamed with sheer excitement because I've never been front row in my life.

The show started to play with "RydaznRtist" at 8:00pm. They were actually really good, I was surprised. I'm going to buy their album when it comes out! After the end of each song, everyone started cheering for Mariah. And that was between 8:15 and 9:20pm. Soon after, Mariah came out!

Mariah really stunned by coming out from so high and "so far, so far" and the Daydream interlude started playing. She came out in a magnificent gold fluffy dress covering her whole bottom half of the body. She ripped off the bottom to make it into a miniskirt like dress. What a great way to start and then she went into "Shake it Off" and the energy was SO HIGH! She was moving around and being sexy. That's the Mariah I love to see! She would during, many songs, look at me (I hope lol) and dance and sing the lyrics with me because I knew the lyrics to the songs word for word as well! It was so wonderful.

Then she raised her playfulness when "Touch my Body" came on. She would point the mike at us when the "I will hunt you down" line came on. It's an infamous line because of her! After Touch My Body ended, she then talked to us about why she was late: She was shooting the video to the Haiti single she's a part of and that she slept in and was late to rehearsal etc. It was very understandable and noble of her to give us a reason. She then started to talk about how inspirational and beautiful "Fly Like a Bird" was to her and that she hopes we like it too. Then she did such an amazing performance of it. My twin sister was crying during the performance.

She then left the stage while the "Make it Happen" instrumental started playing with the dancers dancing to it. At the climax Mariah walked out in full force singing with such amazingness.

She then went into "Angels Cry" which was one of the highlights of the show because of the ending where she belted out for forever! She started walking to a table that had some water in a glass "Don't worry, it's not champagne, but I'm not saying there isn't champagne here!" she said talking to the audience getting prepared to sing "Always Be My Baby", for which the crowd went wild! At the end of Always be my Baby, she talked to the audience about for the first time on the tour, she's taking a break in one city and that she wanted to know a good place to eat. I shouted "My home!" but she didn't hear but she did hear about Crescent street but she heard "Chris on Crescent" which, by the way, there's no such thing haha. But what great interaction she had with the audience.

She performed later on "It's Like That" and exited the stage and came back to sing "The Impossible" and it went into the Reprise in which she introduced Trey Lorenz in a singing manner. It was so great seeing her sing Trey's Introduction. After Treys wonderful "Rock With You" cover,

Mariah came and sang "Love Hangover/Heartbreaker" (which was my favorite performance that day), "Honey", "My All" (which she sultrily did on a chair) and left the stage again. Then I thought I heard the intro to Vision of love begin to play but it ended up going straight to "Obsessed" after we heard the iconic line "And I was like, Why you so Obsessed with me?". And the crowd went wild!

She then told us about how we may or may not know the next song that was very popular. It was "We Belong Together", and if you don't know that song, you're living in a cave! She did it beautifully. At the end she said thank you Montreal, I love you and proceeded to leave the stage until someone threw a wrist band as a gift to her, Mariah looked at it and picked it up and left the stage. Then everyone was cheering so much for a minute and then Mariah came out again saying she had to sing "Hero". It was the most beautiful performance of Hero I've ever seen. I was in tears. She did an AMAZING job!

THANK YOU HBF, KRISTINE, MARIA, JAY and the "One and Only" MARIAH CAREY FOR MAKING THIS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL - 02/14/10
Adnan Nazeer (glitternan on HBF)
The show was amazing!!!!� MCC's voice was top notch and it just an amazing experience to see her from where I was sitting which was second row! I had the pleasure of seeing Mariah on Feb. 14th during her Valentines day show in Chicago.� The most memorable moments for me were during "Honey" and "We Belong Together."� While performing both she literally was singing to me!� You may think I am crazy, but she looked right at because I was singing right along with her.� At one point she even pointed her "studded" mike at me to sing along!!!� I was freaking out!!!!!! It was an Adnan/MIMI moment.� After the concert we went and waited outside for her in the cold. It was worth it just to see a glimpse of her. All in all this was probably the best and most memorable MCC moment that I have had! I want to say thanks to everyone who I met and the festive party on the 13th that Kevin and Dan put together! Love ya much!!!!

Verizon Wireless Theatre, Houston, TX - 02/17/10
Tina L - HBF Front Row Tickets Winner
Mariah Owned The Stage Tonight!!!
The day before the Houston concert, I get a phone call that I had won the Houston front row contest! I was in shock.

The Voice!� I was so happy when Mariah entered on stage she looked and sounded flawless for the "Butterfly intro/Daydream Interlude." Next, she sang "Shake it Off," I always do the dance she does from the video when she sings this song, and I was happy to know I wasn't the only one in the audience who does the dance for "Shake it off," and "Obsessed",. She always does an amazing job singing "Fly Like A Bird" and the transition between that song and "Make it Happen" was perfect.

"Angels Cry" was dedicated to the people of Haiti, I was happy to hear the people around me singing this song back to Mariah. The crowd was on their feet and singing word for word when Mariah sang "Always Be My Baby" the song is a classic and never gets old and Mariah still sings this song as passionately as if she was singing it for the first time.� There were some parts that Mariah sang "The Impossible" and at the end of the song she started just belting and singing and it was so amazing and too hard to describe the extent of what she was doing, amazing to say the least.

"It's a Wrap," "Obsessed," and "We Belong Together" performances were phenomenal! I could barely hear Mariah sing because the crowd was singing every word of the song back to her. "Hero" was the encore last night, I was very happy because it doesn't really feel like a Mariah concert without hearing this song, its like the victory song after winning a game, it has to be done.

The moments! I honestly believe Mariah was poking fun at herself, being called a diva, some of the things lambs have been commenting on about the past shows, her wardrobe malfunctions, she then later joked about how her clothes might come fall off, (I can't remember everything she said about that one but it was hilarious). Then she joked about her champagne going down her cleavage, and about her being able to apply her own makeup because she went to beauty school.

I am very very happy about going to this concert because I feel Mariah gave well over 100% at this concert there were moments in the show when I was like 'wow Mariah really is giving us a show tonight' and 'wow i wasn't expecting that.' Mariah owned the stage tonight and took every opportunity to connect with the audience. I screamed and jumped up and down every chance I got and every time Mariah came by I would wave and scream and blow her kisses, I was very happy to see her blow them back, followed by a smile and wave.

Nokia Theatre, Dallas, TX - 02/18/10
Jennifer McDougall
A Performance and Voice Fit for a Magical Princess!
In true dramatic Diva fashion the curtains slowly opened to reveal Mariah perched on top of a swing singing Daydream Interlude. Mariah's voice was entrancing. She could see me on the floor on her far right of the stage (my left) and sang along with me during several moments of the concert! I am so glad she got to see I was a dedicated lamb who loved her music and sweet, funny personality.

Most of the crowd sang along to some favorite and popular songs. I enjoyed each song but my favorites were "Fly Like a Bird" and "Love Hangover/Heartbreaker" and "Always Be My Baby." Her personality and humorous side stood out when she talked and interacted with the audience. Mariah effortlessly and beautifully sang each song with emotion and a magical voice only God could have blessed her with. She said we thought she was "in a Magical Princess world!" and I too was for one night! I hope to be blessed to sing along with Mariah the Princess again someday! It truly was magical!

Tina L
Mariah was amazing again tonight! She sang an incredible set list, she sang "Up Out My Face." I feel incredible blessed and so happy to see Mariah front row two nights in a row. Mariah made a lot of jokes and was very cheerful and took out several moments throughout the show to point out how festive the lambs were in wearing their t-shirts, and signs.

Frank Salazar
When Mariah came out, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack! I was on the front row and my idol was right in front of me! MC was on point! She sounded M-azing and spoke throughout the concert! She apologized for being late and mentioned she almost didn't make the show. She wore a new gold dress. She complained the dress was too big and turned around and referred to her behind! lol She blew me two kisses during the concert! I was so excited during 'Up Out My Face' I couldn't breathe! After the concert we waited outside for MC. She came out and came over to us! MC, We love you! L4L!!!

Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ - 02/20/10
Nikki Sims
Mariah, I just saw your show in Phoenix yesterday and I LOVED it!!! We were second row! You are gorgeous and handled it perfectly when that guy threw the flowers at you! The concert was worth every dime we spent on it! You are so amazing!!! I can't wait until next time! Love you Mariah!!!!

Press Review for Mariah's Oakland Show

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:55:25 -0500

Review: Mariah Carey at Oracle
--By Jim Harrington, Bay Area News Group

Mariah Carey knows how to make a lasting first impression.

Her entrance to the stage on Friday night at the Oracle Arena in Oakland was a diva-licious act of pure grandeur. It began as the house lights dimmed and the spotlights spelled out the star's first name against three-story-tall stage curtains. Then the curtains parted, revealing a bare stage floor and a full band situated on an elevated platform in back.

At that moment, the star began to descend into view, riding a swing as she was lowered from the rafters to the stage. The near-capacity crowd erupted at the site of the singer, who wore a sparkling gold formal gown that just screamed "red carpet." The dress would only stay intact for a few minutes, before the lower portion was ripped away to allow Carey the legroom to properly work "Shake It Off."

Friday's concert was the most completely satisfying performance that Carey has delivered for local fans in several years.

What went right? It all boils down to having a stage show that plays to a performer's strengths, and that's exactly what we found with this "Angels Advocate Tour" stop. For one thing, the set list was focused on the big ballads - Carey's greatest strength - which allowed the star to properly showcase her amazing five-octave vocal range.

Equally important, the stage show was smartly choreographed with a tight focus on giving fans what they really wanted - as much Mariah as possible. Too often, these kind of big pop spectacles feature so many frills - from multiple video components to crowded dance routines - that the real star of the show is often lost in the mix. That didn't happen at Carey's concert.

There were some dance bits and other theatrical elements, but they rarely seemed to crowd Carey. Plus, placing the band members on the elevated platform was a stroke of genius, one that allowed the singer to work the entire length of the stage and truly interact with a large portion of the audience.

Continuing through the sexy bedroom romp "Touch My Body" and the gospel-tinged "Fly Like a Bird," Carey showed an uncommon degree of restraint in her vocal work. Somewhere along the line, she's learned the art of setting-up a big moment, which requires an understanding of pacing. The result at Oracle was that when she hit one of those unbelievably high notes, or sailed off on some other type of vocal acrobatics, it truly meant something to listeners.

Between numbers, and when she wasn't changing outfits, Carey exhibited much personality and was successful in connecting with the near-capacity crowd. She alternated between the diva role, such as when her hair and make-up crew came out to freshen her up onstage, and that of the goofy celeb known for saying things that make the tabloids. The silliest she got was in talking about the making of the video for "Obsessed," [Correction: "Up Out My Face"] the first single from Carey's last album, 2009's "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel."

"We are playing Barbies in the video," she said. "And that was a dream come true for me."

In all, Carey was funny, but didn't provide the kind of YouTube moment that some have come to expect from the star.

"I'm not making any speeches tonight," remarked Carey, in reference to the rambling speech she gave earlier this year at the Palm Springs International Film Festival after winning Breakthrough Actress for her role in the Oscar-nominated "Precious." "So, I guess we should be cool."

Carey was beyond cool - she was downright well-mannered. She said she was watching her language, and substituting words, out of consideration for the younger fans in attendance. That same logic was the reason for a playful "white lie" that Carey told the audience, as she downed a glass of champagne in two gulps.

"That's some nice apple juice that my auntie gave me," she explained to the kids.

The "apple juice" didn't affect her vocals - certainly not in a bad way. The singer - who Billboard Magazine proclaimed as the best-selling artist of the '90s - poured herself into the sweetly nostalgic "Always be My Baby" and the burning ballad "The Impossible." She closed the concert with a tremendous version of "Hero," which - out of the more than 40 Hot 100-charting singles of her career - may well be her true signature song.

The show's end was as impressive as its start. As she departed the stage, I realized that, for the first time, I wanted more Mariah.

'Precious' tops NAACP Awards

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:52:35 -0500

It was a 'Precious' night at the NAACP Image Awards on Friday, where the film scored six trophies out of eight in the motion picture category.

"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" scooped up prizes for best motion picture and best independent feature. Gabourey Sidibe topped Sandra Bullock for best actress, and in the supporting actress category Mo'Nique trumped co-stars Mariah Carey and Paula Patton for the kudo. Precious writer, Geoffrey Fletcher, and director, Lee Daniels, took their turn at the podium as well for their work on the film.

--Variety

Keep Up Out My Face at #1 on 106 & Park's Countdown!

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:01:01 -0500

�After being mentioned on EW's "Must" list and being one of the most watched videos on YouTube,�Mariah's Up Out My Face feat. Nicki Minaj returns to be the #1�video on BET's 106 & Park countdown!

Let's keep Mimi & Nicki at #1 by voting for the video online at BET.com. You can also text the code MCAR to 79922. The video is also available to download on iTunes.

MC Surpasses Streisand as 'FACE' Debuts on Hot 100

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:52:30 -0500

Billboard's Chart Beat:

ABOUT 'FACE': Mariah Carey begins at the Hot 100's anchor spot, as "Up Out My Face," featuring Nicki Minaj, arrives at No. 100. Carey has now debuted at either the chart's first or last position five times, making three bows at No. 1 ("Fantasy," "One Sweet Day" and "Honey") and two at No. 100, where "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" opened in 2008. (Fittingly, Carey's contribution to the "2010 AT&T Team USA Soundtrack" is a new song entitled "100%").

"Up Out My Face" marks Carey's 42nd Hot 100 charted entry, lifting her past Barbra Streisand into a solo share of sixth place for most Hot 100 hits among women in the chart's archives.

Here is a look at the solo female artists who have made the most visits to the Hot 100, followed by the dates of their first charted songs:

73, Aretha Franklin (March 4, 1961)
56, Dionne Warwick (Dec. 8, 1962)
55, Madonna (Oct. 29, 1983)
53, Connie Francis (Dec. 2, 1957)
48, Brenda Lee (March 2, 1957)
42, Mariah Carey (June 2, 1990)
41, Barbra Streisand (April 4, 1964)
40, Diana Ross (April 25, 1970)
39, Janet Jackson (Dec. 18, 1982)
39, Whitney Houston (June 9, 1984)
39, Mary J. Blige (June 20, 1992)

On R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, "Up Out My Face" becomes Carey's 38th top 40 title, pushing 41-39.

Press Reviews for Mariah's L.A. Show

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:39:34 -0500

Mariah Carey Wows Crowd, Pokes Fun At Herself At L.A. Show
--By Ryan J. Downey, MTV News

Early into her set, Mariah Carey smiled widely as she surveyed the packed Gibson Amphitheatre on night one of a two-night stand. "You sound very, very festive," she told the audience. She picked up a glass from a table full of beverages. "This is water -- don't get it twisted, please. Now that's not to say there aren't other things on the table. This is L.A. And I have been known to have a sip or two in L.A."

It was one of several moments of feisty self-effacing humor from the chatty singer. Throughout the night, her between-song banter felt light, honest and steadfastly lucid, in stark contrast to recent well-publicized bouts of public babbling. Her intimate connection with her fans was palpable from start to finish.

The evening began at 9 p.m., right on schedule. "I'm usually much more late and people criticize me for that," she pointed out later in the show. "But tonight, in Los Angeles, was I on time?" The crowd roared in the affirmative. A rousing rendition of "Shake It Off" set the tone for what felt like a celebratory evening.

The band and backup singers stood toward the back of the stage on high platforms, resembling a 1950s dance-show set, which kept the focus on Carey. The crowd sang the "I will hunt you down" refrains back to her, loudly, during "Touch My Body" and kept the participation going throughout the night. Backup dancers disappeared and returned in varying configurations throughout the show.

"I had forgotten about this song the whole tour and I don't know why. Funny I should forget it, considering the title," she laughed as she introduced "Don't Forget About Us." She stayed dressed in a form-fitting short dress with a flared, tutu-like bottom for the first portion of the night, occasionally using a white mic stand. There were a couple of wardrobe changes into other form-fitting attire.

Mariah took a gulp of champagne (and later shilled for her own upcoming brand) while lying seductively on a chaise that seemed to have been brought out expressly for that purpose before singing "Always Be My Baby." It was the most symbolic moment of the evening, somehow embodying the many facets of her appeal in a single action: beauty, sexiness, luxury, playfulness and talent.

At one point she complained about a chair being placed too far from the fans -- the electric fans. "Don't you know that my hair naturally blows just like in all of the videos? That's real," she joked.

She asked for hair and makeup people to come onstage and touch her up, saying, "I know it's a diva moment, but I don't care." But the vibe of all of the antics was coy and knowing, like a joke within a joke that all of the crowd is in on. "I went to beauty school, so I can do this, too. Five hundred hours! The teacher hated me."

A few tasteful and well-timed moments of seriousness notwithstanding -- "Fly Like a Bird" was dedicated to her late bishop, "Angels Cry" to the people of Haiti -- the evening rolled out with a relaxed vibe and the hits kept flowing, including "Make It Happen," "It's Like That" and "Up Out My Face." A male backup singer took over for a cover of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You". "The 'Heartbreaker' remix was my favorite part of the night," a 20-year-old fan named Manny told MTV News.

"I wrote it for my husband, who is not here tonight because he had business," Carey said before "The Impossible," the night's only reference to Nick Cannon. "Whatever. Maybe he'll surprise me one night." Mary J. Blige was also absent for the text-message-drama song "It's a Wrap," which didn't stop Carey from belting out the entire number herself. "Give it up for the jet skis in the video!" she shouted during "Honey."

Carey thanked Jermaine Dupri for co-writing "We Belong Together," which she said he told her was Billboard's Song of the Decade. It also holds a high honor in the heart of at least one concertgoer, Tiffany, 21. "It's my favorite song from Mariah. It's my favorite song, period," she told MTV News.

Carey returned for an encore, "Hero," before unleashing the crowd into the night to fend off bootleg T-shirt vendors as they wandered Universal City Walk.

A remixed version of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, called Angels Advocate, was due in stores this month but pushed back to March. Carey mentioned during the show that it might be pushed back again.

Live review: Mariah Carey at Gibson Amphitheatre
--By Mikael Wood, The L.A. Times music blog

A nostalgic Carey shows today's divas how it's done in a soaring performance. Lady Gaga and Beyonce, take note.

Halfway through her highly entertaining show Tuesday night at Gibson Amphitheatre, Mariah Carey stood onstage in a sparkly gold cocktail dress and waxed nostalgic for a (more) gilded age.

"Remember the video with the jet skis?" she asked wistfully, referring to the James Bond-inspired clip for her 1997 hit "Honey," which the singer's seven-piece band had begun playing. "They don't make those anymore."

Nor do they make pop divas like Carey anymore. In an era of high-tech performance-art opacity (think Beyonc� or Lady Gaga), her transparent blend of vocal talent and goofy charisma seems appealingly old-fashioned. Tuesday's concert, the first of two at the Gibson in support of last year's "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," felt at times like an attempt to break down the kind of mystique that's grown up around Carey's successors.

Which didn't mean it lacked for production pizazz: Elaborately costumed in a cloud of honey-colored taffeta, the singer made her entrance upon an enormous swing that lowered from above the stage; later, during "Angels Cry," a pair of dancers performed a Cirque du Soleil-style aerial number while suspended from a flimsy band of cloth.

Yet rather than presenting these elements as immovable facts of nature, Carey took every opportunity to expose the business behind the show. Before an effervescent version of "Always Be My Baby," she invited her hair-and-makeup team onstage for a mid-set touch-up, then decided she could do the job just as well herself. "I went to beauty school," she said, powdering her nose. "Five hundred hours in 11th grade."

For "My All," Carey sat in a chair, explaining that her shoes were too tight; within seconds, though, she'd discovered that the chair had been placed out of range of the several industrial fans on hair-blowing duty. So while she waited for a stagehand to fix the problem, the singer took a sip of what she promised was water from a nearby champagne glass. "If you see me drinking from the bottle," she confided, "you know we've got a problem."

What made all these disclosures so endearing, of course, was Carey's singing, which 20 years after her emergence with the melisma-soaked "Vision of Love" has lost little of its uncommon power.

At the Gibson, she sounded as convincing in such up-tempo material as "Touch My Body" and "Obsessed" -- the latter a highlight from "Memoirs" -- as she did in sturdy slow jams such as the gospel-inflected "Fly Like a Bird," which she dedicated to her late pastor.

Carey closed the concert with a skyscraping rendition of her signature 1993 ballad, "Hero," though not before introducing the song with one more dash of early-days nostalgia.

"I wrote this song a long time ago," she explained, adding that people keep asking her to sing it "because it's helped them through difficult times and stuff."

Carey's biggest hits may be behind her, but her marriage of the plain-talking and the profound remains one of pop's prime pleasures.

Mariah Carey finds her groove at Gibson
--By Kevin Flinn, The Orange County Register

To her legion of adoring fans, Mariah Carey is an honest-to-God angel, a beatific voice sent from above for their delight.

And Tuesday night Carey quite literally descended from the heavens. As her seven-piece band thumped out a disco-tinged intro, the singer gravitated from the Gibson Amphitheatre rafters on a swing, clad in a ruffled ballroom gown (which lasted all of one song before its bottom half was ceremoniously torn away). Backed by six male dancers in gray three-piece suits, Carey immediately launched into "Shake It Off" and "Touch My Body."

Four songs in, the star seemed to find her footing, belting out her whistle-register wail at the end of "Don't Forget about Us." Almost as if asserting her authority, Carey's higher-than-high-pitched trademark vocals whipped the Gibson crowd into a frenzy -- and as she settled into the Motown-sounding "Fly Like a Bird," her hesitation disappeared.

Carey's comfort level only seemed to rise throughout the remainder of her nearly two-hour set. Her super-tight backing band jammed on "Make It Happen" as she disappeared into an elevator built into her set's massive tiered structure, emerging in a long, sparkled halter dress that allowed her to cover more ground and interact with more of her screaming, exalting fans.

What's remarkable about Carey is that even after 20 years of commercial success and self-proclaimed diva status, she can still connect with each member of a 6,000-capacity venue due to her undeniable sincerity, self-effacing wit and girlish giggle, all of which help bring out the woman behind the tabloid fodder. She's endearing on a personal level, imminently humble and gracious, and very, very likable, even to those who aren't die-hard Mariah devotees.

The show's visuals reached their apex next, as a male dancer ascended on a trapeze, smoothly whirling and spinning above Carey (� la Pink at this year's Grammys) as she sang "Angels Cry." Midway through the song he was joined by a female acrobat, and the two swayed and spun as they clutched gracefully onto one another, a breathtaking display of aerial artistry that was the hands-down highlight of [the] production.

Pausing for a tongue-in-cheek "diva moment" so that her hair and makeup crew could attend to an out-of-place strand and apply more powder, the singer then sipped from a flute of her own forthcoming Angel Rose champagne (a "shameless plug," she admitted) and playfully acknowledged her tipsy appearances. "I'm mostly sticking to water tonight," Carey lilted, "but when someone pours you a glass of champagne, it's rude not to accept."

Accept she did, just before sparking off her 1996 Grammy-nominated hit "Always Be My Baby," during which she proved that there's nothing lacking with her voice. Her pipes remain prodigious, even if she was nearly drowned out by the sold-out crowd singing at the top of its lungs. Here (and during the encore of "Hero") the audience not only sang along but even aped Carey's hand gestures and movements -- telling gestures that revealed this all-walks-of-life crowd's dedication to their idol.

While Carey eventually found her proverbial groove, her dancers again stole the show during "It's Like That," cavorting about the stage's top tier clad in red-and-black get-ups, the whole number a fitting homage to Chicago. The six (sometimes seven) males and three females in this troupe were flawless all evening, mixing gymnastic-style stunts with classical, jazz and hip-hop moves that provided much-needed visual stimulation.

Carey dedicated "Impossible" to her husband Nick Cannon, who might have been a bit apprehensive had he seen the most rugged of the male dancers standing alone to the singer's left, gyrating suggestively to raucous applause.

Another costume change followed, allowing backup singer extraordinaire Trey Lorenz his moment in the spotlight, leading the band through a shimmering version of Michael Jackson's "Rock with You." Carey then re-appeared in a short black dress for "Love Hangover/Heartbreaker."

Heading into the homestretch, her band was never better or more focused than on the R&B-flavored "Honey." Delicate piano notes floated atop a syrupy, synthesized bass-and-drums groove as Carey turned to the ceiling and belted "I nee-eee-eed it!" It was a marvelous moment of symbiosis, of singer and band melding seamlessly, even if her musicians were perched 15 feet above her head.

"It's a Wrap" and "My All" preceded a final wardrobe change (this time into a long, glamorous black dress) and Carey's most impassioned performances of the evening, the kiss-off singles "Obsessed" and "Up Out My Face," both from last year's "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel". By this point in the set, the singer exuded confidence, reaching into her upper register and filling even the spacious Gibson's upper loge with rapturous applause.

The set closer, "We Belong Together" (Billboard's "most successful song of the 2000s") and her encore both evolved into rousing singalongs, proving Carey's luminous star quality, incredibly deep catalog (she performed only eight of her 18 chart-topping singles) and mass appeal. During that finale, all of her fans were on their feet, belting out lyrics with their (imperfect) angel.

'Angels Cry' Digital Single Available for Download on iTunes!

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:33:32 -0500

We are pleased to announce that Mariah's "Angels Cry" Remix featuring Ne-Yo is available for download on iTunes, beginning Feburary 23. This single became an instant fan favorite the moment it was released, and it follows "Up Out My Face" as a new Mariah hit song.

Download "Angels Cry" on iTunes

Download the music video on iTunes

The Arizona Republic Reviews Mariah's Phoenix Show

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:22:03 -0500

Mariah Carey flaunts star power at the Dodge
by Larry Rodgers, The Arizona Republic

As she moves past the two-decade mark in her career, Mariah Carey seems to be having lots of fun with her well-earned diva image, letting her concert audience in on her lighthearted approach to life.

Carey often made herself the target of her playful stage banter as a large crowd at Phoenix's Dodge Theatre laughed and cheered her on Saturday, Feb. 20.

In between the power ballads and dance-inducing numbers in her well-executed, 90-minute set, the singer-actress repeatedly referred to her loopy speech at January's Palm Springs International Film Awards, which she attributed to "splashes of champagne" enjoyed backstage.

"No, it's not vodka in the glass - water, darling, only H-20," she quipped as she took a sip after singing 2005's "Don't Forget About Us" (which Carey said she hadn't sung yet on this tour).

"You'll never know," she added. "Maybe you will; it depends on what type of speeches I start making."

Whatever Carey was fueled on, she sounded and looked great in the series of sexy dresses that she squeezed into during the show.

With her husband, actor-rapper Nick Cannon, in the house, Carey started things off in true diva fashion, descending from the rafters above the stage on a swing in a sparkling gown with ruffles.

She quickly got down to the business of making the crowd, dominated by 20- and 30-somethings, move.

"Shake It Off" segued into the soulful funk of the chart-topping "Touch My Body." Surrounded by six male dancers, Carey let her voice soar into its upper registers, a talent that separates her from most of her contemporaries.

She largely nailed the notes in the upper stratosphere on such songs as "Honey" and "Obsessed."

Carey, who let her troupe of male and female dancers do most of the physical work, did a good job of mixing the hip-hop she has sampled later in her career with the ballads that have long allowed her vocals to shine.

She served it up with plenty of drama, which included a pair of acrobats suspended above her for "Angels Cry" and the singer reclining in a red robe on a divan to deliver the Latin-flavored "My All."

At one point, a makeup artist and hair stylist came out to freshen up her look as Carey joked, "If you tolerate me, I'll just love you forever."

The crowd went wild when Carey sang "The Impossible," which she dedicated to her husband. As the diva worked through her breathy vocals, a male dancer performed a steamy routine just a few feet away, pulling off his shirt to reveal his chiseled physique when the song ended.

Fans of all ages joined in to sing 1996's "Always Be My Baby," after Carey said, "I'm gonna go old-school." Everyone seemed to be dancing in front of their seats for the ultra-funky "It's Like That."

Despite some extended breaks to change costumes, Carey had the crowd on her side for the entire evening, which ended with one of her signature songs.

The global hit, "Hero," allowed Carey to dish out a few more minutes of the star power that she still possesses.

Photo: Cheryl Evans, The Arizona Republic

Mariah's 100% Video To Premiere On NBC

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:38:25 -0500

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Tune in to the Olympics on NBC this Saturday, Feb, 20 between 8:00 - 11:00pm ET to catch the video premiere of Mariah's new song 100%

100% is featured on the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack which supports Team USA athletes and their pursuit of greatness.

You can download "100%" on iTunes now, or to download ringtones and answer tones, visit the Mariah Carey AT&T Team USA page.

All proceeds from the purchase of songs, participating ringtones and answer tones from February 12, 2010 through March 1, 2010 will be donated to Team USA.

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Get an exclusive "First Look" of the 100 % video on Extra tonight, Feb. 19! Visit the Extra website to check when it's on in your city.

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Houston Chronicle Reviews Mariah's TX Show

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:34:24 -0500

Mariah Carey sang, of course, during her Wednesday night show at the Verizon Wireless Theater. It's one of the reasons we love her. Her voice veered from sexy coos to those trademark high notes.

At times, Carey also sang -- as in, "Sang it, girlfriend!" -- most impressively during the gospel-swoop of Fly Like A Bird, the kicky kiss-off It's a Wrap and We Belong Together, the mammoth song destined to soundtrack proms, weddings, graduations and probably a few funerals.

But what makes Carey more than just another multi-octave superstar is her knack for playing the diva. It's silly and ridiculous and probably smells like sugar-cookie perfume. It also wouldn't work if she wasn't in on the joke.

Carey may be demanding, but she makes fun of herself at the same time.

"I know it's a little bit over the top." she said of her first of at least half a dozen sparkly outfits. Carey descended from a swing wearing a gold dress that was equal parts sweet 16 and dream wedding, quickly removing the train to reveal a shorter skirt (of course).

Later, she had a "cleavage meets champagne situation." while taking a sip and paused for a hair and makeup redo -- onstage. The crowd ate it up. Screams of "I love you, Mariah!" were frequent.

She dedicated new single Angels Cry "to those who are still suffering in Haiti" and told fans they could find the new version, a duet with Ne-Yo, on her upcoming Angels Advocate remix disc.

"I'm not sure when it comes out," Carey quipped. ( It's due March 30.) "Call the label. I sleep too late."

Some of the best moments were those with groove. Honey is still playful and smooth; Always Be My Baby had the entire crowd singing along; and It's Like That was a punchy party started.

Feel-good ballad Hero came along and closed the set, sending hands in the air and BFFs into swaying hugs. Well played, Carey.

--By Joey Guerra, The Houston Chronicle

AT&T Team USA Soundtrack Featuring Mariah's 100%

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:35:11 -0500

Mariah has contributed a new song, "100%," to the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack, a tribute album for Team USA, celebrating the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Click here to watch Vancouver highlights cut to Mariah's inspirational new song, "100%."

You can download "100%" on iTunes now, or to download ringtones and answer tones, visit the Mariah Carey AT&T Team USA page.

All proceeds from the purchase of songs, participating ringtones and answer tones from February 12, 2010 through March 1, 2010 will be donated to Team USA.

Up Out My Face Available on iTunes NOW!

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:08:34 -0500

We are excited to announce that Mariah's hot new single, "Up Out My Face," is now available for download on iTunes!

DOWNLOAD NOW: Up Out My Face (Remix ft. Nicki Minaj)

The remix featuring Lil Wayne proteg�, Nicki Minaj, has a sexy video to go along with it which can now be download for free exclusively on iTunes.

Download 'Everybody Hurts' For Haiti Now!

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:33:00 -0500

"Everybody Hurts", the new charity single for Haiti relief featuring vocals by some of the biggest recording artists including Mariah Carey, Jon Bon Jovi, Kylie Minogue, Rod Stewart, Leona Lewis, and Miley Cyrus is now available for download on iTunes.

Click on the links below to download the song:

1. Everybody Hurts - iTunes USA ** iTunes UK
2. Everybody Hurts (Alternative Mix) - iTunes USA

Download the 2-Track Single - iTunes USA ** iTunes UK

The CD single is also available for purchase on Amazon UK.

Contact Music reports:
Simon Cowell's all-star remake of R.E.M. song EVERYBODY HURTS has stormed to the top of the U.K. singles chart, making it the fastest-selling charity single this century.

The music mogul called on artists including Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis and Kylie Minogue to feature on the cover track to raise money for Haiti's earthquake relief efforts.

More than 453,000 copies of Everybody Hurts have been sold since its release last Sunday to take it to number one and make history with the biggest first week sales of any charity song since 2000.

R.E.M. have agreed to waive royalty fees, while all proceeds are being split between the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and British newspaper The Sun's Helping Haiti campaign.

Press Reviews for Mariah's 1st Chicago Show

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:54:48 -0500

Mark Guarino, The Chicago Sun-Times
Mariah Carey doesn't have to be contemporary and she doesn't have to be old school because she's both.

At the Chicago Theatre on Saturday, the first of two sold-out nights, she showed the fruits of a 20-year career: a sampling of crossover pop hits spanning R&B balladry to hip-hop soul.

Her skills came to shine in her older material, which in her possession sounded as ferocious as ever.

What stood out in isolated moments of Saturday's show was her ability to produce vocal riffs that overtook songs ("Fly Like a Bird," "Emotions") and pushed them higher into mighty pronouncements of pain, desire and inarticulate bliss.

These were moments that continue to give Carey such staying power.

Unlike the spectrum of ladies in her wake, from Barbra to Beyonce, Carey remains the people's diva. (There is a reason she is the best-selling artist of the last 20 years, behind only Garth Brooks and the Beatles.) On Saturday, she let us know she is one of us -- insisting she was sipping water in a champagne flute less anyone think differently -- but when launching into song, her voice said otherwise.

Her show featured a four-person band, three backup singers and nine dancers, all of whom provided enough action that Carey did what most singers these days do not: stand still. While lip-synching and intensive dance choreography have made singing a second banana for most contemporary singers, Carey didn't feel the need to prove she could dance. As if to prove her point, on "Angels Cry," the visual was handed to two gymnasts who performed aerial choreography -- yet even they became distractions to her vocal calisthenics.

Instead Carey's show kept pace by mixing up ballads and pop hits, with several costume changes and comedic zingers thrown in for good measure. She relaxed on a chaise lounge where she received hair primping and makeup touch-ups; she also played market researcher by interviewing the audience about whether or not she should endorse her own line of shoes.

By her encore, Carey delivered "Hero," her signature anthem. Although she started the show in the rafters, lowered to the floor on a swing while donning a princess gown, by evening's end she slipped into a black cocktail dress and interacted with the audience like she was hosting a party in her living room. Versatile? Like a fox.

Greg Kot, The Chicago Tribune
Mariah Carey was doing that diva thing Saturday in the first of two shows at the Chicago Theatre: Poured into a gleaming, silver gown; eyes closed; self-absorbed in the moment of singing how her lover had done "The Impossible." All the while, a male dancer a few feet off her left shoulder was bumping, grinding and eventually popping his pectorals like a circus act.

Carey didn't break stride, but then as the song wound down, she cracked up. "Did you enjoy that?" she asked the audience with a laugh, as if to let everyone know she was in on the joke all along.
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Of course none of it would work if Carey didn't have the voice to back it up. Her latest album, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," is her best work yet, a warmer and more subtle album that makes her more relatable to those of us who aren't Mariah diehards - or "lambs," as she refers to them. The thaw-out carried over into Saturday's show, and gave new perspective to older songs that once were defined strictly by technique.

For many her defining moment was the 1993 hit "Hero," her encore. It's a template for the generation of singers featured on "American Idol," a singing style that dictates emotions instead of evoking them. On Saturday, she trotted out a few of those dog-whistle trills that she popularized in the early '90s, turning Minnie Ripperton's soul into a vocal tic. In the late '90s she flirted with hip-hop, a rhythmic flexibility that carried over into her performances of "Honey" and "Heartbreaker."

But it has always been the ballads that kept her swimming in bling, and so it was Saturday. Whether ramping up some gospel-style fervor on "Fly Like a Bird" or dialing it down to a near whisper on "Angels Cry," Carey has slightly less vocal range but is a much better singer now than when she was enjoying her biggest sellers.

Erik Bradley, Music Director, B96
Mariah was in typical great spirits and back in full voice after recovering from a pretty bad cold earlier in the week. The sold-out house was in the palm of MC's hand all-night, reacting to most (if not) all of the 90+ minute set, most excitedly to "Obsessed", "Always Be My Baby", and "We Belong Together". She did "The Impossible" and "Angels Cry" from the Memoirs album and "Emotions" came back in to the set after a few shows off the list. Another sold-out Chicago show awaits tonight and we're all hoping for a "Vision of Love" Valentine's Day moment tonight!

The Black Reel Awards: Precious Breaks Records

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:05:49 -0500

The little indie film that went from nearly going straight to DVD, "Precious," came full circle this evening setting a new record for success at The Black Reel Awards when it nearly completed a sweep taking home seven awards at this evening's festivities.

Breaking the previous record of six held by three films, "Love and Basketball," "Ray" and "Dreamgirls," "Precious" blew away the competition by winning Outstanding Picture, Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Director (Lee Daniels), Outstanding Screenplay, Original or Adapted (Geoffrey Fletcher), Outstanding Supporting Actress (Mo'Nique) and two Black Reel Awards for Gabourey Sidibe's debut performance (Outstanding Breakthrough Performance AND Outstanding Actress). The seven awards for "Precious" makes it the most honored film in Black Reel Awards history!

--FilmGordon