Though Christmas is Mariah Carey‘s usual holiday of predilection, this year sees the premium diva serve as the Queen of Easter as she is celebrating her 46th birthday today.

For the occasion, From The Vault takes it all way back to the year 1995 when the songbird released what was to be one of her biggest singles to date. ‘Fantasy’ is our chosen pick of the day.

After four albums in as many years, Mariah clearly had no plan to slow down anytime soon. Seizing on her monstrous momentum, she released blockbuster effort ‘Daydream’ led by  ‘Fantasy’ – which was produced by Carey alongside Dave Hall.

Keen on bridging the gap between R&B and Hip-Hop, an Urban remix was produced, masterminded by Puff Daddy and featuring guest vocals by Wu Tang Clan’s Old Dirty Bastard. Though the idea of having girl-next-door Mariah and gangsta rap king ODB on the same song puzzled many initially, it proved rather beneficial to both the artists’ catalogues and careers. More broadly has changed the music industry forever from a  fusing genres standpoint.

To this day, ‘Fantasy’ is Mimi’s fifth biggest release in the US where it has reached the top of the Billboard chart – her ninth at the time – for 8 consecutive weeks. Elsewhere, it achieved commercial success too peaking at #1 in Canada and Australia and #5 in the UK.

Disappointed with the outcome of some of her previous videos, the diva added yet another title to her already impressive resume when she chose to direct the video for the single.

Set at an amusement park, the visual captures that care-free aura the song evokes and sees Mimi letting her hair down on a rollercoaster, roller-blading and partying. An alternate edit for the remix featured ODB interwoven.

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Though the world can be tough on her – sometimes justifiably – no one can diminish Mariah’s influence in Pop Culture as we know it. During her 26 years in the industry she has been through the highest of highs as well as lowest of lows but somehow has managed to consistently remind the masses why they fell for her. How? By way of her timeless talent and iconic hits such as this.

Two decades on, we’re still bopping to ‘Fantasy’ – which still sounds oh so sweet.

Happy Birthday Ms. Carey!

Your thoughts?

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‘Dangerous Woman,’ the lead single from Ariana Grande‘s third album of the same name, has already proven itself a winner via its impressive top 10 debut on the Hot 100 last week.

Now, despite the set’s May 20th release date being nearly two months away, Grande is wasting no time in building buzz for it.  The latest move comes in the form of the tune’s official music video.

Taking to Instagram to lend teasers, the video sees the songstress let her hair down (literally) – trading in her signature ponytail for a sexy bedroom eyes and loosened locks.  We ain’t mad at ya girl.

Until we can get a full view of Ari’s newest visual, we invite you to get into these teasers below:

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‘Work From Home,’ the first single from American quintet Fifth Harmony‘s new album ‘7/27,’ has already proven itself a homerun.

Making an impressive #12 debut on the Hot 100 two weeks ago, the ladies are working hard to push ‘Work’ to even higher heights with a slew of live performances and promotional appearances.

The latest bid to keep the song in top 20 mention comes courtesy of a behind-the-scenes video at its high octane video’s creation.  See all the action behind and in front of the lens below:

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gwen stefani truth feels like thatgrapejuice #1

At the height of her career, Gwen Stefani‘s catalog logged much time in the Billboard 200 and Hot 100’s upper rankings.  Yet, despite wielding hit after hit, her first two solo projects – ‘L.A.M.B.’ (Love Angel Music Baby) and ‘Sweet Escape’ – yielded no time on the album chart’s summit.

Well, that was then.

For, as reported here, Stefani’s time has finally come to lead the Billboard 200 as analysts predicted her newest set, ‘This Is What the Truth Feels Like’ (March 18), would feel its way to the top of the album charts.  ‘Truth,’ her third solo project (and first in a decade), was originally projected to shift units around the 68,000-73,000 mark, however, refreshed reports later indicated the diva would land closer to 80,000.

Now, with a full sales week behind her, the official news on how many units ‘Truth’ moved has finally been revealed.  Find out the sum below:

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As rumours of his alleged infidelity mount before him the entrepreneur Peter Thomas, who stars in ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ alongside his wife Cynthia Bailey, has decided to step away from the series.

Bad news for his fans below…

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Madonna performs during the premiere of her Rebel Heart tour Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Queen of Pop Madonna‘s ‘Rebel Heart’ era may have been accompanied by her worst-selling album ever and lowest grossing tour in over a decade, but that hasn’t stopped her (in true Madge fashion) from still emerging a winner.

As previously reported, this time last week the ‘Living For Love’ singer saw her name listed in history books as “the highest grossing female artist in touring history” as her current effort, the ‘Rebel Heart’ tour, helped push her career-long gross past the $1.2 billion mark.

Joining an exclusive group of hitmakers (all-male) who have grossed more than $1 billion over their collective efforts (Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and former nemesis Elton John), Madonna – with the inclusion of receipts from the tour’s last stop in Australia – can now boast leadership of the entire pack of solo artists.

Get the details inside:

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the weeknd thatgrapejuice future low life video

Chart-topping beaus Future and The Weeknd tag team for their new single ‘Low Life,’ found aboard the former’s most recent #1 album ‘EVOL.’

Tapping Zac Facts to direct the visual, the duo take to the dark streets for the standard fare video filled with video heauxs and cameos.

Did you miss when the bop’s official accompanying clip dropped yesterday?  Never fear, we’ve got you covered:

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Nicki Minaj plays no games, as such it’s little surprise that her security team aren’t expected to either.

However, when a member of her team was spotted on his phone during her show in Dubai last night, Onika took a no nonsense approach to rectifying the matter.

Departing her dancers, who were getting their entire lives to ‘Feeling Myself,’ the rapper demanded his phone and disposed of it before returning to complete the choreography.

Watch below…

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justin bieber vevo record history

Much like fellow chart-topper Rihanna, the last year has seen Justin Bieber‘s name and the phrase “breaks (or sets) the record for…” in print seemingly every other week.

In addition to being the youngest person to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the record for most Hot 100 entries in a single week, and only God knows what else, now Bieber can lay claim to yet another title in history books thanks to his Beliebers.

VEVO has the news:

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showgirls

“There’s always someone younger and hungrier coming down the stairs after you.”

Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature carved out to take our faithful readers on an exciting journey to TV and Film’s glorious past.

Recognise the quote above? That’s because it’s from ‘Showgirls’, the cult classic we’re shining a light on twenty one years after its release.

Where we’re heading for this journey to the past?

Las Vegas

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The Voice has announced two new recruits!

Starting next season, Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus take a seat on the show’s spinning chairs.

Details below…

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iggy azalea rape accuser nick young

With his fellow LA Lakers in full support after shocking allegations arose against him, Nick Young can now boast the support of another high profile ‘team’ member – his Grammy nominated fiance Iggy Azalea.

The rapstress, hot on the comeback trail with her most recent release ‘Team,’ did not keep her silence long after reports surfaced her boo was embroiled in a recent scandal that sees him accused of sexually harassing a woman and her mother.

Tuck in below to get Azalea’s weigh in on the hot topic:

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