Diva Mariah Carey, whose latest effort ‘E=MC²’ is set to top the US charts this week, spoke recently on the comparisons between herself and UK singing sensation Leona Lewis:“Honestly, there has been so many, ‘This is the new her,’ and I’m like, ‘OK, show me the new her. Can she come and work for me and be my double?’ And I’m not particular talking about this girl Leona, because I only heard her once and I didn’t really hear a true similarity, particularly in the style of music. It is what it is and critics have compared me to so many people who are not really singers, and they’re certainly not writers”. {Source}
Is it me or does she come across kind of catty here? I mean, not for a long while has a voice like Leona’s risen to prominence, yet Mariah seems to see this as a bad thing. Yes, she’s worked incredibly hard to reach the status she enjoys today, but I’ve never been a fan of the whole veterans feeling threatened by the newcomers thing.
Your thoughts?
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To me it just sounds like she is being honest…..There have been countless comparisons to her. I for one agree….Leona has a nice voice but she’s definitely no Mariah.
Mariah would have given Leona a run for her money in live performances back in the day but Mariah can’t sing live for s*** now, we all know the voice is GONE. That’s why people are looking for a new Mariah, I just can’t wait for Whitney’s album, she still has her voice despite the crack and hard living, I think Mariah drank too much cristal or something, but her voice hasn’t been the same since “Butterfly”.
Leona is the future.
Going back thru the archives and man, this comment aged about as well as Leona’s voice, huh? LOL
Mariah stop bein so damn catty!
Grow the f*** up!
it should be flattering if people are always comparing you to others…it obivously means that your the s***…..btw after this whole e=mc2 promo dies down take a few years to heal heal your voice and get it back to 100%….that will be an even bigger comeback the EOM!
I think this comment was just her expressing frustration with the countless comparisons. I don’t think she specifically meant to be bitchy. But it is true, I think Leona is good but she is a seperate artist and you can’t compare her to somebody who has been in the business for so many years. It’s disrespectful to Mariah and unfair on Leona who wants to be recognised for being herself not as a clone of Mariah.
There is only one MARIAH CAREY in this world – noone can be compared to her its sad how so many people like to compare upcoming artist to mariah, whitney, celine WHY cant they leave it alone. Leona is HUGH mariah fan sang hero when she ENTER X FACTOR and another rival story made up to begin both artist down – just leave it alone! both are good as artist lets just respect that!
i agree with Nisha.. besides, even if she was being catty, oh fkn well.. the btch is Diva status and she can get away with it.. and about her voice, all of you need to stop being so harsh because Mariah went thru much to maintain it. Watch all of her interviews from the 90s and you’ll see the regimen she used to follow regularly in order to perform so well. Of course she would grow tired of such maintenance!
I dont think Leona is the next MC. She doesnt (really) write her own songs. Leona is ALL hype. Her 2nd single couldnt make it to #1 and is quickly falling off the charts. She may not be a flash in the pan, but lets see if she can last once the hype is gone in a year or so.
And Mimi has another thing Leona doesnt: PERSONALITY! (even if mimi is just a little crazy)
go mariah.i use to like leona but now i cant even stand to see her face.go mc
All I’m gonna sya is I’ve seen mariah’s recent live performances & she can’t really sing anymore it is really dissapointing. When Leona was on Oprah she killed; Mariah went on Orpah like for weeks later and she sucked; So mariah can sit down with the “I get so many comarisons to people who aren’t really singers’ because I can’t name one artist besides leona lewis who has been compared to mariah & mariah can’t sing. Mariah used to be my favorite artist too, smh….
Leona isn’t at all similar to Mariah. People always try to group people with big voices into the same category. Why the heck do people do this? Art is not something that is about grouping. It’s about character and individuality. It’s a destructive thing to do (grouping). Leona does not write her own music. She isn’t a great ARTIST either. Sure she has range, but that doesn’t make you an artist. Mariah is an ARTIST. That being said, I like them both, but I definitely get what Mimi is saying.
You know what? I h** mimi WAS bein catty, because I would be tired of comparisons too.. Leona sounds more like whitney than mariah to me anyway..
First of all, this isn’t the first time Mariah spoke on Leona. Most the time she mentions how honored she is and she’s proud when people are inspired by her, becasue lets not forget, Leona previously mentioned that Mariah is one of her greatest inspirations.
For those who tease Mariah about losing her voice…Okay, even if Mariah isn’t as good as she was when she was a fresh 20 year old, compared to EVERYONE in the business, SHE CAN STILL SANG THE BEST!!!! Leona can only dream of performing fly like a bird like Mariah sings it!! Mariah’s voice is a true gift and her writing style is just as powerful!!
Lets not forget, when Mariah first came out, she was being compared to Aretha Franklin and Patti Labell, so that alone shows how powerful and unique Mariah is, especially if you want to compare her to the “singers” that surface today!!
I don’t think she’s coming off bitchy. If anything, she’s just expressing her opinion about everyone being compared to everyone.
There is something to be said about being humble; & Mariah’s response to the comparisons shows that she is threatened and so not humble; She’s not the only artist who writes their own songs & So what if leona doesn’t write her own songs, she can sing her B*** off way better than mariah can, so yea mariah was being catty.
lol. Its funny when all these people almost throw bricks at Mariah when she hasn’t said anything horrible in the first place. As others have said, she is not talking about Leona alone.. she is referring to the countless comparisons to Mariah. And come on people.. She may not be able to belt out like crazy like before.. but umm.. hello.. she’s 38. And REGARDLESS if she can’t belt out like before.. I dont see any of you guys even (not even Leona) match her skill and creativity.
Did you hear Leona’s CD? Dude.. NOOOOOO personality. It was actually a bummer.. with all the hype and s***.. I thought wow.. maybe she can give me something new to listen to.. and.. no.. a tear came out.. lol.. I have to give it to he.. she can sing.. but.. I think she needs to go a new direction with her music because this album definitely did NOT bring it.
OOOOOOOOOh and one last thing… can people stop comparing Mariah and Madonna.. its f****** stupid. Madonna is A)50 years old TRYING to be 30 B)CD is not that good..hot beats.. but damn..her vocals just kill it(literally) C)She look’s kinda like evil.. No? I mean look at her pics.. haha.. she looks evil.. lol. Even when she smiles! lmao
yal b****** would be pissed too if people kept talking about someone being “the new you.” Mariah is right to tell Leona Lewis and all her newbie drones to sit the f*** down. She’s JUST antoher singer.
There IS NO “new Mariah Carey.” Critics said that about Toni Braxton and where is she now? Turning tricks at Vegas to bail her bankrupt ass out of debt.
People said Cece Peniston… and she never became anything.
Fans tried to say Jessica Simpson was the new Mariah but she fizzled out faster than her doomed MTV marriage.
They said the same thing about Christina Aguilera and she can barely sell 1 million records with her 3rd album.
People had the audacity to say that even Jennifer Lopez was “the New Mariah.” Rebirth anyone? Her last CD (what was the name of it?)?
Critics then said BeYAWNce Knowles was the new Mariah, but she overplayed her cards and now AINT NOBODY can stand the b**** screaming, bouncing weave, and flopping c****** all over the place.
So NOW people want to say this Leona Lewis is the new Mariah Carey. what a joke.
^You IDIOT! No one compared ANY of those singers to Mariah. You made that assumption yourself. Yes, a lot of those singers saw commercial success with their first few albums, so people were saying they were the next hot thing COMMERCIALLY. Ain’t nobody every compared them artistically to Mariah. And Toni got over bankruptcy a longs time ago, so go STFD.
i wish someone would try to step to mariah on some comparison type stuff. if she does come off as catty let us not forget her status. mariah has earned her place in music & is a complete & total legend. no chick in the game has it locked like mariah since day one. ima lamb for life & i ride for mariah through whatever- comparisons aint s*** but wind to her she sitting pretty while these random chicks blow through. i think sometimes that the industry creates such a strong comparison that it hurts the compared girls careers because they cant compare. mc`s fan base is crazy from the us to tokyo cant nobody say mc aint got her s*** right- she knows what shes doing.
Put all of this aside, Mariah still can’t sing at all, I rather watch rhianna live than watch mariah just stand stiff on stage in a freakum dress waving her hand around like she’s having a seizure, screeching to belt out notes. Like I said before, I used to be a huge fan of Mariah But she’s gone downhill, her live performances & Her music; All her music sounds the same, no artistic growth whatsoever, nothing radically new from her usually gimmick except now she’s worse.
I don’t like that ugly ass dry p**** b**** Mariah with her skanky ass looking like a ugly ass drag queen. Her attitude is fowl & the crazy b**** better zip her ashy lips before has another breakdown. Mariah is not a singer herself her voice has been sounding ass bad ass she looks lately & that’s a hot mess!
@SAM,
lol, did mariah hurt ur UK ego? cause u seem hurt by the fact that MARIAH CAREY dissed leona lewis. u expected her to say she loves leona, and give her praise, but MARIAH earned her place in the industry.
mr simon cowell needs to change leona’s new direction cause the girl can sing but she is boring. i can see some comparisons between LEONA and celine dion and mariah with respect to voice etc especially when leona was on X FACTOR, let’s face it, leona has a good voice but nuffin behind it.
It’s called keeping it real and Mariah is the only one that does it.
Actually, I’m not even a Mariah fan and I think Mariah handled that comment with Class!!!
And until Leona can sell over 30 MILLION Records one of her albums and sing a song like EMOTION with the most amazing vocal acrobatics that only Ms. Mariah can portray, then you can start comparing her.
Until now, Mariah is STILL in her own league and STILL making amazing music with an AMAZING VOICE…Go listen to her new song called, “I Wish You Well” and TELL ME TO MY FACE that Mariah ain’t the SH*T
Leona is not the new Mariah!
Reasons: she released a generic dull album (apart from bleeding love)
Here voice doesn’t have depth, soul personality if you listen to the album she get jarring and everything id on the same pitch… more like she grew up listening to the greats.
Last but not least, although leona has a lot of growth t do, she also has a hell of a lot more records to sell and a longer career before she can be compared to anything, let alone anyone.
The Big Forehead vs. The Big Nose…
…who shall win?!
LoL, playing.
First of all, no body should compare anyone. People say Leona is the new Mariah, or Chris is the new Michael. No. There will never be another Mariah, Whitney, Usher, Michael and even… dare I say it… Beyonce. Hate her or love her (HATE!), she will never be forgotten.
Second, SMH @ 50% of people just agreeing with Sam and not thinking about it…
Leona pay be hot in the UK, but Mariah is the s***… so take a big wiff!
Leona is NOT the new Mariah Carey. The only similarities is she can hit a high note, and still Mariah’s high notes are even higher. Don’t get me wrong, Leona has a lovely voice and is GORGEOUS, but she’s lacking in the personality department and hasn’t quite defined herself.
She still has a lot to prove.
there’s another piece of that quote where she states that she wishes her luck and success with her career. so i don’t see where she’s being catty. MC’s got a point no one hustles like her during the creation of an album or during promo phase. no one can touch MC she’s made her mark and still competing with these wannabe’s and shittin on all of them. leona’s being groomed and transformed into the 90’s Mariah so i can see her frustration with this comparison. she not hatin on the girl she hatin on the idea of the creation. i hope Leona finds her own identity but it looks like that won’t be for a while. at least when they spent millions on Mariah’s debut it paid off with 4 #1’s and 15 million sold worldwide maybe more by now and she had talent to back her s*** up. with Leona i don’t see that happening at all she luck she got the on republic dude and jesse macartney to pen her a brilliant track (Bleeding Love). I’m with MC on this one she rightfully deserved and earned her Legendary status and should not be pitted against mediocre talent if any.
I have to agree with Mariah, have you heard Leona’s album, to be honest, it’s awful compared to Mariah’s…
I don’t honestly think Mariah even knows who Leona is yet, if she did, I’m sure she would see the huge similarities of both artist in their early careers.
i find it funny that such an acomplished singe such as miracy carey would feel so intiminated by a singer (with just singles to her name and albulm) such as leona, that she can’t congradualte but hate.
but hey if leonas got mc hating on her, then she is as bad ass as every1 says lol!
go u.k and particularly london town
@ At April 22, 2008 3:06 PM, Anonymous Anonymous: That’s just what I was about to say! People who act like MC is trippin’ aren’t being real. If there was a new person in your job (or heck, your whole industry), you wouldn’t care. BUT if you worked your b*** off for years and someone introduced you to the “new you,” brand new off the street who hadn’t proved a DAMN THING in the business yet, you’d tell them to get the f*ck out of your face with that bullsh*t! REAL TALK!