Weigh In: Ariana Grande Lists Top 5 Inspirational Singers/Omits Mariah Carey

Published: Wednesday 9th Oct 2013 by Rashad

Singing sensation Ariana Grande has undoubtedly been a breath of fresh air for 2013’s pop music lovers.  A welcomed departure from EDM and the dearth of talent plaguing the day’s charts and radio alike, the pop princess has taken the genre by storm with a #1 album and top-selling singles to her credit.

Immediately drawing comparisons to an early 90s Mariah Carey, the up-and-comer has polarized Carey’s fans (affectionately called Lambs) for what some of them feel is a blatant duplication of the diva’s singing style.

Those fans’ anger grew to new heights today when Grande took to Billboard.com to list in grand style an homage to her top 5 favorite female vocalists.  Praising the likes of Whitney Houston and Brandy, there’s one name that, to the surprise of some, didn’t quite make the cut…

Via Billboard:

In no particular order, Grande listed Imogen Heap, Brandy, Whitney Houston, Judy  Garland, and India Arie (whom she affectionately calls her fairy Godmother) as her top 5 favorite female singers.

The story instantly drew criticism from commenters with some alleging the young singer intentionally omitted Mariah’s name from mention.

The story rings similar to TGJ favorite Lady Gaga who drew criticism for also citing Whitney Houston as an influence when many blamed her for copying the moves and sound of Queen of Pop Madonna.

Tell us…is it really a big deal?

 


Your thoughts?

Comments 62

Please Post Your Comments & Reviews

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Chic soul October 9, 2013

    What an awesome list! Whitney, India, Brandy yaaaasssss!!! Ariana is a great vocalist. I’m anxious to see her growth in five years.

    Sidebar: R&B is slowly but surely creeping back onto the hot 100. Congrats to August Alsina who debuted at #56 and my girl Sevyn Streeter #90!!!!! 😀

    • FAF October 9, 2013

      Yes August is slaying !

      AND TGJ QUIT BEING MESSY!!!!!!!!

  2. Navy nick October 9, 2013

    YES THIS GIRL KNOWS REAL TALENT YESSSSSSS

  3. Grande The Way October 9, 2013

    I really can’t with Lambs bitching about this list. Anyone with eyes and ears can see Mariah is a major influence in her music. She’s said it in just about every interview. The fact that Lambs are flipping out over one time just shows how pressed they are. Mariah needs to drop another single just for the sake of giving them something to do with their time.

    • FAF October 9, 2013

      It reminds me of when Lil Kim fans got mad bc Nicki stopped naming her & started naming foxy – uhhh b****, y’all were BOTH influential. Noone gotta kiss ur ass 302483 times

  4. Hur October 9, 2013

    Lying little b****! She is a influenced by Mariah.. Who the f*** is Imgoen Heap? Bye Felicia!

    • NT October 10, 2013

      But you really don’t know who Imogen Heap is? This is a joke right?

  5. Touché October 9, 2013

    Nice list. She definitely has potential to be great but she needs to get her own identity fast. No shade but when I first heard her songs on her current album, it sounded like rejects from one of Mariah Carey’s later RnB albums.

    • Chic soul October 9, 2013

      Vocally, some of the songs reminded me of Mariah but the style of music out me in the mind of Ashanti and early 2000s pop/r&b girls.

      • Mark111 October 9, 2013

        THIS, it’s very early 2000’s, very Ashanti and J.lo. But let’s be real, her vocal technique is MC also, who pretty much started the Pop & R&B with hip hop samples.

        But the billy goats need to learn that Whitney was and will always be higher on people list as a vocalist.

  6. Mimi Carey October 9, 2013

    Mariah is her biggest influence tho

  7. Honeymoon Avenue October 9, 2013

    Lol what would be the purpose of intentionally leaving out Mariah? I think we all know she has influenced Ariana. I think its cool how she shows India.Arie love and India shows her support

    • NT October 10, 2013

      But she had already said in a previous interview that Mariah Carey is QUEEN.

  8. pat October 9, 2013

    but brandy stays on vocally talented artists list tho…..#useeit

    • RoyalKev October 10, 2013

      Indeed! #Preach!

  9. Slaylor Swift October 9, 2013

    Album still hasn’t went gold yet sis? lol

    • Mark111 October 9, 2013

      Swift still hasn’t kept a man yet sis? lol

      • Tisha October 9, 2013

        Swift can’t keep a man hon, child is gonna be lonely for a LONG time.

      • Blackdude October 11, 2013

        OOOH OOOH TROUBLE TROUBLE TROUBLE

  10. guest October 9, 2013

    Carbon copy artist never name their true inspiration i.e nicki and kim gaga and madonna

  11. CatchThatDirt October 9, 2013

    She clearly sounds like Mariah who is unrivaled but pop singer who loves unadulterated saanging and pop-R&B style will name Whitney as number one. Whitney started a whole new era of Pop Soul/ R&B singing.

  12. Tisha October 9, 2013

    That list is phenomenal I might just have to start cheering on this girl.

    She listed India.Arie and Brandy. Yasss.

    Meh, lambs need to move on with their lives. She can’t be Mariah’s PR squad, she’s got her own career to blossom into.

    • Mark111 October 9, 2013

      ^Respect

    • Theman October 9, 2013

      No one asked her to copy MC’s style and music. Her PR team shouldn’t have used Mariah’s style and name to sale or try to sale that knock off a** album. Starting and blossoming your own career means doing your own thing, not copying another artist..

      • GRUMP October 10, 2013

        Exactly. You got that so right.

    • HoneychildPlease October 9, 2013

      Flop ass trick got paid dust!

  13. Theman October 9, 2013

    She didn’t list Mariah because she fails in comparison. She sung all of Mariah’s songs on youtube, and praised her in every interview. It was Mariah that actually started the whole wave of pop/r&b/soul/hiphop singing. Her team tried to make her out to be something that she ain’t nowhere near close to. Mariah ain’t tripping off of this copy cat anyway.. Look at those album sales, she should have branched out, instead of following her team. She really looks stupid. She said herself that Mariah is the queen and greatest vocalist, and her first inspiration. Now she doesn’t name her. It’s obvious though . LooooooooL.. Who cares though? Leave it to Thatgrapejuice to make something out of nothing..

    • Honeymoon Avenue October 9, 2013

      The only one looking stupid here is you. Had you done your research before you came talking s*** you’d know her label wanted a more bubblegum pop swing sound (Put Your Hearts Up & Pink Champagne). She decided to do the throwback R&B sound. Get your facts straight.

      • Sara October 14, 2013

        no you look stupid, her excutive producer who created her album sound said in almost exact words he used Mariah’s mid 90s (daydream album, wait wasn’t Ariana’s album orginally called daydreaming?) sound and style to create Ariana’s own style. look the interview up before trying to call out others.

    • NT October 10, 2013

      Ariana Grande already stated that she felt that Mariah Carey was QUEEN , there’s not much more you can say after that ; i’m sure she liked/looked up to other artist besides Mariah

  14. Lovebird (PRISM – 10.22.13)) October 9, 2013

    And just the fact that this copycat b**** named Whitney and not Mariah, the shade of it all from this worthless c***, I can’t

    31.media.tumblr.com/6fe73d08db611dd82dd21c0dcd15428b/tumblr_mknwbnmD9U1ry4q0lo1_250.gif

    • HoneychildPlease October 9, 2013

      I know right! Like who does this b**** thing so fooling?? Mariah carey glitter shits all over this basic b****!

  15. SLAYRIAH CAREY (TOUR DE FORCE) October 9, 2013

    She’s not very slick. The almost is never enough video is a complete rip off of one sweet day. Baby I video is also very similar to Fantasy. And to top it all of, her album was to be titled “Daydreamin.”

    Clearly, she was trying to remake Mariah’s most successful era (daydream.)

    Funny how everyone was so quick to talk about how this girl was gonna replace Mariah. Lol, her album hasn’t even sold 300k yet. Mariah’s lowest selling album is gold. Smh

    • Honeymoon Avenue October 10, 2013

      Mariah wasn’t the first one to shoot a video in the studio type setting and I don’t remember that video having movie clips in it. Weren’t you fan a couple of posts ago

  16. HoneychildPlease October 9, 2013

    LOL this b****…When will those shelves be cleared out though?? Dollar bin b****! shady ass h**! LOL Mariah not worried about this try hard! The queen will be just fine!

  17. HoneychildPlease October 9, 2013

    Funny how everybody was screaming how great this little h** was, but aint bother to drop some cushion coins on this flop! LOL oh my! I mean obviously the public isn’t buying this imposter, and her try hard antics! This b**** get’s the K.Michelle donkey face of the year!

    • Lovebird (PRISM – 10.22.13)) October 9, 2013

      “Funny how everybody was screaming how great this little h** was, but aint bother to drop some cushion coins on this flop”

      LMAO I CAN’T……#DEAD #DEAD #DEAD

  18. HoneychildPlease October 9, 2013

    Glitter>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Your’s truley

    • Stephy Tha Lambily October 9, 2013

      Yasss I See No Lies Honeychild

  19. Lovebird (PRISM – 10.22.13)) October 9, 2013

    The shady ass lessor never will be rehashed Mariah’s Daydream album and thinks she can get away with a shady ass list like this, lessors should exit stage 3, lessors exit the stage.

    Yours truly aka Daydream rehashed will NEVER outsell Miley’s 300K can’t be tamed.

    This w**** needs to find a seat, any seat, she can call it whatever she wants, all she has to do is occupy that seat.

    • Honeymoon Avenue October 10, 2013

      Lol its already passed 200k in less than 2 months and it’s still in the top 50 on iTunes (#11 a couple days ago). Stay pressed f**

      • GRUMP October 10, 2013

        Lol the lies. B**** hasn’t sold more than 180 k in America. Delusional stans.

  20. Lovebird (PRISM – 10.22.13)) October 9, 2013

    And I can’t at Fraudiana, with a name that sounds like a dated Starbucks drink, thinking she can sit there and throw all this shade.

    The first time I heard this b****’s name on the radio, I thought, can I add pumpkin spice on that coffee?

    Fraudiana needs to shut the hell up and get her broke ass Nick Jr fans to break their swear jar and purchase FLOP TRULY….W****.

    • Honeymoon Avenue October 10, 2013

      Bye @ that weak ass shade. You’re worse at throwing shade than Victoria Justice fans lmao!

  21. So what b****!!! Who gonna stop me??? October 9, 2013

    CTFU!!!!!!!!!! keep making YOUTUBE videos h**! That album will be 3.99 bin soon and still won’t sale!

  22. Theman October 9, 2013

    Since she didn’t get Mariah’s approval, the one that really matters she’s probably bothered lol..

  23. credits October 10, 2013

    So many singers have credited and praised the vocal bible this year. Brandy is the truth.

  24. LTM October 10, 2013

    It’s funny to me how everyone on TGJ wants to complain about todays acts not having any real vocalists but when one comes along everyone wants to take irrelevant things and blow them up to hate on her. Who cares about her list? Why does this even have a post? Some of y’all need more going on in your lives.

  25. RoyalKev October 10, 2013

    I must say that I’m surprised that she didn’t include Mariah on her list! I did vote for that 2nd option, it is her list. As for her musical taste, it’s on point! What can you say? Whitney + Bran are amazing vocalist that have influenced too many to name. #KnowGoodMusic

  26. JER October 10, 2013

    BYE!

  27. cocobutta October 10, 2013

    She knew not to name Mariah as she ain’t quite there BUT she can still blow little miss Ariana, but that diction needs the work… Mariah might have been 6th 🙂

    Anyways tutorial is underway:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ-Qu0UlVZI

    Sideeye Mariah still wishes she could again 😉

  28. Overdose October 10, 2013

    Aw poor dat mooriah fans. I know they’re seething.

  29. Love and war October 10, 2013

    Does Skilletface Fatrey have a release date yet?

  30. JOHNVIDAL October 10, 2013

    LOL Well obviously Mariah is her biggest inspiration… and whether her fans like it or not, her team (or she herself) tried to copy her style from 15 years ago. I mean, it´s obvious. It´s not what Gaga is to Madonna cos Gaga did a couple of songs which sounded similar to Madonna´s songs and also some of the looks were similar, but she also did more than enough different things, not to mention Gaga´s debut had nothing to do with any Madonna style or song ever. Ariana just tried to copy from the start. We already said months ago that doesn´t work and will never work. She can have some moderate success in the USA among teens and that´s it. It´s not going anywhere else, as predicted.
    Apart from that, of course her list is amazing and she has great taste.

  31. i cant October 10, 2013

    Who the f*** cares if she listed Mariah or not. Why is it that big of a deal? Every artist she named has something vocally great about them and India is so slept on her f****** music slays if you’re not a brain dead pop fiend,which is why I believe there is hope for the new generation.
    What her album sold doesn’t take away from her vocal ability at all. TGJ has the most pettiest commentators ever…

  32. JP October 10, 2013

    Ok, I was on the fence about her…love love love her voice. Now that I see Brandy is one of her top 5 inspirations…I’m def buying the album right now!

  33. Senshi_NyNavy October 10, 2013

    Wow people wake up so early with hate….as a sensible member of the navy I can say I enjoyed Ariana’s album alot her voice is heavenly and she put out a strong body of work so just shut up and feel honored lambs respect the next generation instead of being messt

  34. Senshi_NyNavy October 10, 2013

    My fave songs are Tattooed Heart,Right There,Daydreamin.and better left unsaid
    Its a great album man hope you enjoy it

  35. LOL October 10, 2013

    LOL MARIAH HAS BECOME SO TRASHY IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, NOBODY THINKS ABOUT HER SINGING ANYMORE; SHE’S TOO BUSY FLASHING HER TITS & ASS ON INSTAGRAM. AND I DON’T KNOW WHY SHE NAMED BRANDY. HER SINGING IS BASIC AT BEST.

  36. Beyanca October 10, 2013

    But let’s not act as if Mariah’s debut flew off shelves when it debuted.
    Obviously the girl is influenced by queen Mim, and has acknowledged her in interviews prior to this. So why are you guys mad?

    @lovebird, a new low for you calling this girl all these names for what?

    • Sara October 14, 2013

      The Mariah Carey Album sold 15 million copies in its debut year, 4 number one hit singles and two grammy wins. Vision of Love set the standered for this generations vocalist. Ariana?

Recommended Posts
..**