Mariah Carey‘s 2014 effort ‘Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse’ may have scored major points on a critical front, yet it failed replicate said success where sales were concerned. Indeed, the LP (though one of our favorites of her 00’s releases) saw Mimi sweep up her lowest opening week digits to date.
Today, the star’s camp seek to revive interest in her career with a Las Vegas stint and lucrative partnerships with brands such as MAC and ‘Game of War.’ The goal? To restore the commercial clout she’d possessed during her heyday – or perhaps more realistically following chart-wowing ‘Emancipation.’
Therefore, as she pens the new chapter of her personal and professional life, TGJ throws on its A&R hat to share what we feel would work best for the vocal butterfly before she drops new cuts.
Will you like what we have to say?
Find out after the jump….
This time there’s a twist.
Each of TGJ’s editor’s (Sam, David, Rashad, and Joe) have picked three existing cuts they believe best represents the direction Mariah should head towards.
Check them out and weigh in on them below….
Sam:
Ella Henderson – ‘Ghost’ [LISTEN]
Rihanna – ‘Diamonds’ [LISTEN]
Miguel – ‘Adorn’ [LISTEN]
David:
Jennifer Hudson – ‘It’s Your World’ [LISTEN]
Lisa Stansfield – ‘All Woman’ [LISTEN]
Corrine Bailey Rae – ‘Trouble Sleeping’ [LISTEN]
Rashad:
Selena Gomez – ‘The Heart Wants What It Wants’ [LISTEN]
Toni Braxton & Babyface – ‘Hurt You’ [LISTEN]
Katy Perry – ‘Dark Horse’ [LISTEN]
Joe:
Adele – ‘All I Ask’ [LISTEN]
Madonna – ‘Ghosttown’ [LISTEN]
Janet Jackson – ‘Night’ [LISTEN]
*********
Who’s picks do you most agree with? What sound would YOU give Mariah this go round?
None of them. Mariah is elusive for one reason. To dictate her own career. Mariah made Forbes top 10 list without music or a major tour. She’s in a league of her own. Only Mariah can decide the ins and outs of her own career. It keeps TGJ and everyone else on their toes asking questions like this pointless article. You hate waiting on Mariah. Well, keep waiting. Until Mariah tells you, her enterprise keeps everyone talking.
NO, NO, NO.
GHOSTTOWN? REALLY? A FLOP DARK BALLAD? WHY IS THIS BOY WORKING FOR THIS BLOG.
MARIAH NEEDS TO HIRE WILL-I-MADE-IT. FADED, WAS THE BEST RADIO FRIENDLY SONG SHE HAS MADE IN YEARS.
MARIAH, SHOULD HOWEVER TAKE A PAGE FROM THE ADELE HANDBOOK, HER HIP-HOP VENTURES AT 46 YEARS OLD SEEM DATED.
FADED – IS THE DIRECTION SHE SHOULD GO. THE SAPPY VEGAS BALLADS WERE COOL IN THE 90’S BUT NOW THEY SEEM DATED AND OLD SCHOOL. HER FANS NEED TO LET THAT GO BEFORE SHE ENDS UP LIKE CELINE DION “LOST IN VEGAS”.
LOL ill try and give TGJ credit for attempting to write a good article, but you can’t list ALL of her lessers. No ones every been on the level of mc. and maybe thats why ppl forget she’s also a producer, she writes her own harmonies and she composes everything. so that means she kinda has her own lane and makes her on path.
Travon,
Your perfect response to this dumb-ass article is all that really needs to be said. Thank you.
FLOP!!!!
I’d like to see an A&R post for Beyoncé no shade just curious as to see what direction you’d like to see her go in next next. Imo I’d like another timeless album like 4
HANG IT UP… FLAT SCREENS… THESE B!itxhes washed up and aint no fxuxcking soap involved.
ARE YOU A T*****? HARSH LOOKING
Mariah would seem awkward singing majority of those songs. Especially dark horse kii ?
Agree 100% with first post. Matiah is in her own league.
But I like the most Sam’s choice of direction. It suits most for her voice and style.
All Slayriah has to do is get back to her original “clean” sound…songwriting, vocals, production and instruments all accurate and concise….full voice, no whispers…who cares about hitting all the notes on stage, just make sure those vocals are on point on the album…Mariah has never made an album entirely about heartbreak and loss…from beginning to end…maybe she should tap into her life and write about her most painful times like on “Outside”…and she’s done enough urban contemporary…get back to adult contemporary…say goodbye to Wale and hello to Walter Afanasieff! Limit Jermaine Dupri to one hot song and a remix! 🙂
THEY NEED TO HIRE YOU. PERFECT
I love Selena’s new single, “Same Old Love”, and I’m really proud of her for making an effort to sing live for every performance this era, although the lupus will be an issue most times. I think Legendriah should move in that direction and make those “Know-it-all/I’m above you, you’re not even half of me” type songs just like she did on “TEOM”. I’m ready for her second big comeback.
Mariah doesnt have a league… music has changed far too much since 2007 till present. Artist b4 that time period STRUGGLE
The only one that makes any sense is sam, and maybe david. But ghost town and night?fu ck no
Ummm smh, I don’t like none of their picks lol. I love the sound she’s already created for herself. Her last album was beautiful. I just think she should create songs according to the range of her voice now.
Exactly like Whitney did on I Look To You which I absolutely loved. I always wonder too why Mariah and Whitney never did jazz albums? Like OMG their voices would’ve beeb terrific on classics jazz,soul, and blues tracks. A few covers of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Hoilday, Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan songs too.
The amazing thing about “M” is her versatility. She should do an anthem with a catchy hook. She should also do a song that has crossover appeal that’s similar to Adele’s “Helllo” or John Legend’s “”All Of Me”. A few upbeat uptempos should work well too. She should drop the HipHop stuff unless she’s being featured on other artists material..
I don’t think MC can make a comeback in this day & age. But, new music is always a plus for me. Love getting new material from her. She had a excellent run tho. 1990 – 2009.
W/e she puts out i will support!!
Adult Contemporary/R&B like her debut. Classic, brilliantly written songs with great singing.
LOL This post again??? LMAO It´s hilarious seeing these guys trying to give someone like Mariah Carey advice. Especially when they do it once every 6 months.
In particular Sam´s have no credibility at all, since he has many times said “this is what the Dr. ordered” for several of Mariah´s recent releases and still she “flopped”. Just admit you have no idea and you wouldn´t be capable to do it better than her, an artist that has not done it too bad since she is one of the 4 most successful females ever btw.
Didn’t know Joe still got a paycheck tbh…
Anyway, this post is useless, Mimi does what the fucxk Mimi wants and ain’t no 4 dumb f**$ from a struggling blog that will tell her what to do. Especially when she can buy all for of you, including your wendy houses and not leave a dent in her bank account.
Mariah certainly can make a comeback with the proper sound & set up! There’s a few Icons that radio will pay some attention to if everything is lined up properly. Mariah has crazy appeal. All creeds of people show love to her. It’s all about the right promo/single & set up.
I think Mariah should record a jazz album. Modern jazz to be exact. Her lower voice and the melisma is perfect. Maybe she can mix jazz with something, just like when she did pop and hip hop with Fantasy remix
All she has to do is do what she does but in a more coordinated way…Commercial success is unlikely at this point,besides I’m positive motherhood>>>>>>having another hit record
1989 sold another 51,391 copies I’m the states this week.. Amazing!
Ha! When the smoke clears, the mirrors breaks and the tricks no longer tricks anyone.
Talking about Beyoncé?
Nope, Beyonce is a great performer and vocalist. (Although she dodge those high notes, but she knows her range.)
Pigriah fooled a lot of people for too long. The internet exposed her as the fraud she is. She is a p** + riah – let’s call her pigriah yeah!
Liana Le Havas- Unstoppable
Andrea Day- Rise Up
Adele- Remedy
Janet Jackson- No Sl333p/Damn Baby!
Honestly, she just needs to serve up another “Obsessed”. O still can’t understand how that song didn’t go #1, especially when she gave a damn about attempting to promote it.
If radio ain’t hating. Mariah could score commercial success..
I need a jazz album Mariah you teased the hell outta me with ” Anytime You Need a Friend club mix by David Morels” you guys need to her that mix especially towards the end 🙂 I always wonder why her and Whitney never made a full blown jazz ablum, that would a been amazing.
Na. Bad advice.
Stop pretending like you got your finger on the pulse. Everyone who writes for this website is so out of touch. A hit does not make a good song, just a hit song alot of idiots bought. You rep Adele? Like seriously wtf.
If her full chest voice (no whispers and high notes) is the focus I think these songs are a great new direction for Mariah to showcase it in a very relevant way:
Selena Gomez – Good for you
Demi Lovato – Cool for the summer
Sia – Alive
Beyonce – Crazy in love (50 Shades of Grey Remix)
Taylor Swift – Wildest Dreamsams
This question depends on what the fans want from Mariah Carey. Also, what Mariah Carey wants for herself. Are we wanting more #1’s? Are we wanting a solid album for the fans?
I think every person had at least one good suggestion. I’m not saying Mariah should copy them. Let’s be real. They are copies of her. No disrespect to those artists. The direction I would push hardest is Adele. Mariah has always been none for her ballads. The depth. The relatability. The lyrics. The voice. Adele is just doing what Mariah once did. I say do that. In recent history, I feel Mariah’s ballads are a bit more fluffy. Maybe focused on being a song everyone could relate to and not enough of her. Adele and Taylor Swift are the two current best writers. You can see how everyone relates to the music but you can also see them in the music. I love all of Mariah’s music but I didn’t believe I Stay In Love With You, I didn’t believe Mine, I didn’t believe… That’s my thought. Put more of her story into the music. Rihanna and Selena Gomez are good suggestions if we are talking mid or up tempos. The fun stuff like It’s Like That, Beautiful or You Don’t Know What To Do. Those girls as well as Beyoncé and Ariana Grande. I see Mariah in their fun Music. I see Mariah is Adele’s serious music. I say We could still have another Emancipation Of Mimi. She needs to get in shape and be happy with her life, then dive into the studio. Get hot producers and co-writers. Put out a serious album. A few radio friendly mid-tempos but mostly serious ballets. Remind the world what’s up. Also, when the single/album comes out, sell it!!! The way she is promoting her book, movie, Mac products and Vegas/Beacon shows. When Emancipation Of Mimi came out, she was in every show in every country. I think Beautiful could have been a #1 but she performed it once on Idol and once on GMA. Mariah has never gone away in 25 years. Adele goes away for years so there is anticipation. Mariah only has her fans anticipation. So, you have to build it. Drill the music into the publics head like you did with We Beling Together.