#45.
As at writing, that is the number Mariah Carey‘s new single, ‘The Art Of Letting Go’, sits at on iTunes. Respectable, yet not remarkable. And, above all, definitely not the desired performance of a song tasked with reviving interest in an album marred by serial delays.
Beyond the track’s slow start, though, it has become apparent that Mimi has concerns of another sort — the version of the song that premiered on Facebook.
In an open letter to fans today, the diva revealed that the wrong incarnation of the song was uploaded to her page by a new sound engineer, much to her dismay.
Read Carey’s words after the jump, where the “legitimate” version of ‘The Art’ also awaits…
Via Mariah Carey:
Hey Lambs, I have to tell you this, I can’t do what I always do and say nothing at all. It is 3:30am (11.14), and I’m sitting on my bathroom floor, very upset by some news I just got from a close friend and employee. Lucky her, she was “nominated” to deliver this message to me after the long awaited 11.11 moment and the Jimmy Fallon show, knowing how upset I would be. Not because the world has come to an end or something, but because this 11.11 listening party was so important to me on a core level as a musician, who cares so much about how my fans hear my music for the first time that I didn’t even allow a snippet to be released until 11 on the dot.
To cut to the chase, a mistake was made by a brand new sound engineer whose only task was to press the space bar while my team, and an incredible group of people from Facebook, partied while listening to the properly mixed & mastered version of “The Art of Letting Go” on repeat from my iPod on my home speakers. Clearly, I was focused on answering your questions during the Q&A. There was no reason for me to wonder if the final mix we were listening to in that room together was different than what you were listening to!!!!! Like I always say, I am involved with every record I make, from the inception to the completion of the song. Every nuance of the beat or vocal matters to me. Even if the differences may seem slight to you, I had put time, effort and emotions into “The Art of Letting Go” and the real mix is how I intended for you to hear the song.
Rather than remove the old version from Facebook (the iTunes version is the real one), I just figured I would put up the real mix and allow you to listen to it back-to-back, should you choose to do so and tell me what you think the differences are.
I want you to hear it like you’re hearing it for the first time with me, and I will answer any questions that you have, pertaining to the song. You know that I don’t comment on gossip, I typically don’t respond to things like this or go into so much detail to the world, but this is something I’m upset about and I wish I would have known sooner.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this sounds like a self absorbed diva on a “woe-is-me” tangent about a couple of ad libs or some other triviality, but the reality is this is me, focusing solely on the record, wanting you to hear it and experience it the right way. I love and appreciate you so much for taking the time to even glance at this 20-page “diva in distress” thesis. Thank you for letting me vent, this is another reason why Facebook rocks! You’ll be hearing from me soon. Here is the REAL version of “The Art of Letting Go”.
Answers these questions for me:
1. Can you hear a difference at all?
2. Can you see why I like this version better?
3. Where can you hear the differences?
4. Does the song affect you different emotionally after hearing the real version?
Let’s talk about it, I’ll be here waiting!
Get “The Art of Letting Go” on iTunes now:
http://smarturl.it/iLettingGo
*******************
As easy as it is to question the authenticity of Mariah’s story, we won’t. Primarily because it’s pointless.
The fact remains that despite her irritation at the supposed mishap, the version that’s available to buy on iTunes is the right version and has been the entire time. Hence, it’s so-so performance, from our vantage point, should be her primary concern.
Having listened to the correct “take”, our stance remains the same – it’s just not a hit.
In trying not to pander to the demands of radio, Team Mimi have gone too far to the left and driven off the cliff with this one. It’s clear the adult contemporary sound and success narrative of the Adele’s of the world was the likely goal here. Yet, what is lacking is the understanding that such music can (and should) still boast memorable melodies, hooks, and lyrics that are palatable to the masses. Sadly, though, ‘Letting Go’ – with its 100 words per-beat and super sparse production – misses the mark on all fronts.
Is it a terrible track? Of course not. Unfortunately, in not being the stellar song it was hyped up to be, it may as well be.
In any case, take a listen to ‘The Art Of Letting Go’ – as Mimi intended below…
Ummmmm ok
Mariah sound so desperate. It’s like she’s begging her fans to buy the song but they won’t. The song is wack!
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she is getting old…. it happens. 🙂
after almost a week now suddenly she realized it was a wrong version? where were you Mariah? breast-fed your twin?
😆
Sooo the one I bought on ITunes is the wrong one?
I need a refund!
HAH ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In other News: Exclusive – Rihanna to receive ‘Icon’ honor at American Music Awards
Rihanna is in the running for four trophies at the 2013 American Music Awards, including artist of the year, but the singer will be given the night’s biggest honor: the Icon Award.
The Barbadian pop diva will be the first artist to score the special merit award, producers for the awards told The Times on Thursday. Rihanna is also scheduled to perform on the telecast.
“The first-ever Icon Award was created to honor an artist whose body of work has made a profound influence over pop music on a global level,” show producer Larry Klein said. “Rihanna’s iconic and innovative sound has enabled her to become one of the most influential and bestselling artists of all time.”
i like it
someone definitely got fired. he made a mistake but it seems like shes taking her frustration about the songs mediocre performance out on the dude. i agree with sam in that her main concern should be the tepid response by the buying public.
back to the drawing board for team mimi.
Death! They need to refund all the people who bought it (not many)
The song has been able to get some airplay spins even though it was been release to radio and still the song hasn’t been declared the second single for the album nor has been said to be a promotional single yet. I am not justifying for the songs poor “iTunes” charting.
The song that was available for purchase was the correct song the whole time, she did this to give a proper clarification.
But she did say it was the 2nd single….
Mariah no one cares. Label this one a “buzz single” and try again.
This B**** needs to go back to making generic/bubblegum-pop songs if she ever wants another hit because she hasn’t been artistically innovative since 1997.
FLOP. FLOP. FLOP. FLOP. FLOP. FLOP. FLOP.
It’s not pre-1997/2005 anymore HUNTY.
Poor MOOriah! 🙁
Kiii no lies.
I’m sorry, but as much as I love Adele let’s not pretend that she didn’t completely regress as in artist from 19 to the 11 song breakup album that was 21.
And Mariah has had fantastic songs after 1997. You just haven’t bothered to go past the singles.
No one gives a f***, Moo. 2nd flop in a row. She should just make Miguel b-sides for the rest of her career.
Just shelve this album already.
200+ million albums sold. She can flop all she wants.
Mariah’s voice>The rest of the music industry combined
The Art Of Letting Go My Career…Give it up you albino whale, you are iconic but your time in the music industry has passed. Just retire and eat your life away.
Where’s Bey’s single though? First it was 2013, then it was after the Super Bowl, now it’s what? Let’s not pretend Bey isn’t washed up after only 4 albums deary.
If she washed up why is she about to gross 200 mill and have her most successful tour to date?
I can actually understand how the artist in Mariah felt it necessary to clear this matter up. You don’t want the proper version of a song you’ve poured blood, sweat and tears into confused for a different piece of work. The unfortunate thing here is that both versions sound extremely close and it makes the explanation come across as desperate. I think it would have been better to just keep moving forward.
mariah is not known for making basic generic pop songs..
the broad has so many classic songs, that she can make at least 2, 3 greatest hit albums
dont confuse mariah, with the basic broads yall stan for
she hasnt been relevant for years and yet her net worth is 0ver 500 million..
while yall favs needs to tour, needs to sell albums, needs to sell their crappy clothing line, and need to sell a freaking calender to make money..
mariah just sits on her fat ass and make twice as much for doing NOTHING..now that’st a bad bish..
Well once they get to Mariahs age they’ll be able to the same, since they’re younger and some are already over half way there in the money making department 🙂
what you on about ? beyonce has MORE MONEY THAN MIMI CHECK YOUR FACTS
Mariah gurl???
This is SO desperate .. SERIOUSLY!!
Drama queen, if you’re desperate to sell a single
Then you better release a a great one!!!
not that flop song!!
I only care about quality music
If you can’t handle it right, just retire
Where was the quality missing from The Art of Letting Go? Radio friendly does not equate with quality.
Mariah LET GO….pleeeeease no one wants your s***** music!!!
Oh, you are so smart.
so i purchased the wrong one …. i want a refund
Read the whole thing , the itunes version is the real one.
haha ME TOO!!!
chile, goodbye….I like the song, BUT it is NOT single worthy-BEAUTIFUL was AMAZING, and for it to tank, that should have let her know, she needed JD’s KNOCK to come hard, this song is toooo slow…lovely song, BUT no….
Beautiful didn’t tank, it peaked at #15 on the Hot 100 and went platinum…
Sometimes it’s not about making a hit as it is making music with a message for her fans to connect to and they have.
the bish is so beyond all yall fake favs that she can release 2,3 flop albums, and still make more money than the generic broads yall stan for…
those classic songs that she wrote herself, not pay somebody to write them and claim she wrote them herself..that’s what’s making her the most money
the bish has diamonds after diamond albums….yea she’s a flop….ahahahahahah..meanwhile none of yall favs can’t even touch not even 1 diamond album, and they have been around for decades…
Step into the 2010’s thanks
Girl shut the f*** up. This isn’t even about Beyonce, get me bodied a seven year old song is doing better than a new mariah single and that’s not shade it’s fact. You stan for basic ass floppy sullivan, who cared so little about her fans she quit after flopping. All that bs you’re talking still has nothing to do with the topic at hand. Mariah has the hits and album sales yes, but she has yet to have a tour outdo a Beyonce tour which leads one to think those sales are fake.
In the 90s critics hailed her emotionless and a “studio singer”. They always looked at Whitney as her superior.
Always making comments about the comments instead of the topic.
I ACTUALLY LOVE Mariah, and i stan for Britney who also has 2 Diamond albums.
Mariah tried it
Oh. I didn’t buy it anyway, wasn’t worthy of my coins since I already have the Daydream album thanks. But shame for the people who did. How can they screw that up lol. Somethings up.
This version is so much better. I love this version so much more, I cannot wait to get my hands on the album, should be fantastic.
Mariah showing why she’s still the queen, I live. The younger generation needs to learn to respect the older generation who paved ways for their fav.
Mariah, Whitney, Madonna, Grace Jones, Donna Summer, Prince, MJ, ETC have opened so many doors for today’s young artists.
Who told her that song was hot? Well they lied. Fourth flop in a row for Mariah.
I wasn’t aware that the Billboard charts were indicative of quality. That must mean that Harlem Shake was one of the best songs of the year right?
Why they ain’t post her on Jimmy Falon singing it live to the fans tho?
Cus no one cares lol
U sound stupida af every Mariah post gets aleast 50 comments. Haters always care to hate tho.
…riiiiiigghhhhhtttt.
Sure Mariah.
WASHED UP 90S DIVA. NO ONE RESPECTS THIS TRAMP THE WAY THEY RESPECT THE TRUE LEGENDS LIKE WHITNEY, CELINE, BARBRA, PATTI, ARETHA AND CIARA
Ciara???! B**** CIARA??? Lmao that’s f****** hilarious.
Well that’s odd
MARIAH’S FANS DON’T CAMP OUT ON ITUNES. SHE’S AN AIRPLAY ARTIST. IT WOULD BE SAM TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING. THIS SONG HASN’T EVEN GONE TO RADIO.. IT’S THE HIGHEST CHARTING R&B SONG OUT RIGHT NOW.. ITUNES AIN’T SHYT.. PEOPLE HAVE HIGH CHARTING SINGLES BUT FLOP ALBUMS.. EXCUSES, U MEAN THE ONES U MAKE FOR NICKI,BEYONCE & THE REST OF THE FLOP PACK.. U STAY WRITING ESSAYS FOR NOTHING..HATER !!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAM IS SO BITTER.. HE’LL MAKE A HUGE DEAL OUT OF ANYTHING BEYONCE DOES, THAT’S IRRELEVANT.. BUT TRIES TO PLAY A CRITIC WHEN IT COMES TO MC.. GTFOH !!!! YOUR LONG DRAWN OUT COMMENTS ARE POINTLESS.. YOU NEED TO USE THAT ENERGY AND WRITE UP SOMETHING FOR BEYONCE, THE SNIPPET QUEEN,JINGLE SINGER & BEHIND THE SCENES CALENDAR EDITOR..
BEYONCE MAY BE ALL OF THAT BUT SHE SINGS LIVE UNLIKE PIGRIAH LMFAO B**** SIT DOWN SOMEWHERE
“I NO LONGER LIVE” nor have i ever lived for this song!
“It is exceedingly hurtful” to hear Mariah in this state of a mess
Its so funny that people constantly hate on this woman who has achieved more success, money, and record sales than most anyone out there, broken and set countless chart records in an era where people either actually had to go to the store and buy their music or listen to it on the radio in their car or homes.
She’s been out for 23 years, can you name anyone who 23 years into their career is still charting hits? No! Take several seats before you come for someone like Mariah and compare her to other people who were toddlers when her first #1 single dropped and looked up to her.
Mariah is better than that song is the main points.
She is a Legend regardless but that’s even more reason for her to know what will be hot for her sonically.
What is this b******* article?
Another point, when Mariah was 5-10 years into her career, just like the Nicki’s, Rihanna’s, Beyonce’s, etc. you are comparing her to who are 5-10+ years into their careers, she was setting more chart records and selling more records than they are doing right now!! When Daydream came out, its 3 singles were #1 on Billboard for 6 straight months!! She had 3 singles debut at #1, broke radio airplay records, had 2 diamond albums in the US and 2 albums that sold over 25 million by the time she was 27!! Do they?! Sit down!
But sis Nicki is a rapper lets compare her to Missy, Foxy and Kim
Kim had no grammy 4 yrs in nor a #1 single
Nicki has 2 #1 albums, ten top tens
@FAF check your facts idiot! Kim has a grammy and has 3 platinum albums! Nicki has one top ten hit that is considered worthy of her peers and both of her ablums have flopped! Now they have sales over a 4 year span but they didnt debute as #1 selling ablums! She had to rerelease her ablums just for sales! Check your facts before you speak! Im sure your parents taught you that! Also WHY IS NICKI OR KIM BEING MENTIONED WHEN WE ARE HERE FOR MARIAH CAREY? NO matter what these hatters or youngens say the fact remain in the history books! MARIAH IS A LEGEND AND NONE OF THESE UP AND COMING ACTS WILL BE CONSIDERED A LEGEND! YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT NOW!
No matter what y’all say Mariah has a rep that your favs are still working on!! I just don’t get why y’all feel the need to be disrespectful to a LEGEND smh I know for a fact that the majority of people commenting are a bunch of insecure gay boys who wish you can be bey, rih, etc..the market has changed dramatically so it is hard for anyone who were at their best in the 90z to sell now because the music industry now caters to teenie boppers! A bunch of 90z babies who don’t have clue about what real rap and rnb is!! All y’all know are these corny as artists out haha I feel sorry for you I was very fortunate to grow up listening to greats like Mariah, Whitney,Toni, Mary J, etc….bottom line STOP DISRESPECTING LEGENDS!!
A legend? Yes, a legendary c***
Yasssss!! Say it loud! Lol
Can someone tell we what’s different about this one and the one released on iTunes? sounds the same to me…. But i didnt listen that hard….
It’s a slight little difference – the itunes version is the proper version. Its just that the track exclusively released on Fb was not the proper mix – theres a whistle missing in the beginning of the last chorus and the drum levels/guitar and piano are lower
Talk about an entitled and selfish b****. No one is buying her lies
Smells like a load of B*******. #not here for the lies.
The song was boring and wack.
I knew the song sounded off beat. What’s sad is her fans were running around saying it was the best thing since sliced bread. Lamb? More like sheeps. Bahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
I dont see nothing wrong with this song.
Liar…after almost a week now you realized it is a wrong version? What a mess….
PLEASE RETIRE…MARIAH.
no one cares but mariah has the top comments on her so far….
Excuses for what? Shes just upset that the proper mix was not released to Fb which was the main platfor for the premiere. Give her a break. The song is such a grower and is totally awesome. Go Mimi!
TGJ, I dont like the fact that ur in some artists vajay-jays 24/7 and post about when they farted, but yall are missin some seriously golden Mariah moments- her on Jimmy Fallon, her acceptin award for Lee Daniels last night and so on. Get yoselves togetha,daahlings.
KKLB 😀
Seriously, the song is great and that´s all that matters. The album looks like it will be top class.
Who ever writes all the crap on this site makes absolutely no sense. Mariah is copying Adele now? Okay like Mariaj hasn’t been churning out AC hits way before Adele knew what a microphone was. Anyways bye.