Mariah Carey Talks 'Memoirs,' Responds to Haters

By Melinda Newman Posted Oct 5th 2009 08:00PM

Mariah Carey doesn't go around proclaiming herself the Queen of Pop, but she would have good argument to do so. With 18 No. 1 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 to her credit, she is a lock to surpass the Beatles' record of 20 No. 1 to claim the title -- in fact Carey's the lone artist within striking distance. The only question is will the Fab Four's record tumble during the run of 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel,' Mimi's just released CD.

Given Carey's aggressively happy marital union to 'America's Got Talent' host Nick Cannon, no one would be surprised if 'Memoirs' floated along on the puffy clouds of connubial bliss, one joyous paean to the glory of love after another. But they would be wrong. As much as 'Memoirs' celebrates the unexpected rapture she's found with Cannon, the collection mourns heartbreak in all its wrenching disguises.

Carey, who co-produced 'Memoirs' with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, took time out on the 'Memoirs' release day to talk to PopEater about her surprising bedside reading material, cross dressing and her emotional message to those who feel the five-octave superstar needs to change her tune.

You've compared this album to taking pages from your private diary. How hard was it to revisit what were clearly some painful times?

You know what? It was easier to revisit the painful times because they're over and I wanted to let out how I was feeling. And in a way, letting it out when there's also humor attached to it is more therapeutic.

You can be very funny, but it's not a side you usually show on your records until now on songs like 'Obsessed' and 'Up Out of My Face.'

It's interesting because my friends know that my sense of humor is like 70% of who I am. It's had to be that way since I was a little kid. But my work didn't always tend to reflect that and I think that collaborating is fun and so, therefore, whatever you're feeling, you can bounce it off of somebody, where if you're just by yourself, maybe you wouldn't have the guts to say, "okay, maybe I'm just going to say this one line."

You told Elle that your favorite song is 'The Impossible' because you're in love for the first time. Did you fear love would never happen for you?

I don't think I feared it because I guess I almost didn't believe in it. I always had a connection spiritually and I felt that maybe that's where I was supposed to be and I made music and wanted to be creative. But, you know, I didn't really trust people. I didn't really trust [sighs] what it would be like to be in a relationship again because I'd been, you know ... so many times it had been disappointing. But the situation with Nick is totally different because we're very similar. We have a lot of the same likes and dislikes and we have so much fun together.

What would surprise us that you do for fun?

I go for walk in a semi-disguise. That's fun to me. I like to go to public places and do things that I would never get a chance to do. The other night, I went out wearing all Nick's clothes.

Did anyone recognize you?

Yeah, a couple of people. But the thing is if they recognize him, they're going to ... if he's holding someone's hand and walking with them, they're going to look and go, "Who is he with?"

And if he's holding someone's hand, he better be with you.

Exactly! You know that's right.

How did Nick influence this album?

I think being with Nick had a big influence on this album because we would just drive around and listen to it and there would be little things we would [suggest]. Just even little ad libs or things that I would do that would become our favorite little part. He's really into different groups from back in the day and so that's a really specific style and even if it's just a "yeah" (sings softly) like that, I did something that I knew he would think was cute. I might do it just to make him laugh and then that would be his favorite part. [laughs]

What do you want people to learn about you from 'Memoir' that they may not know about you yet?

I think there are a whole lot of different songs. They should hear the subtlety of 'H.A.T.E. U.,' but also the pain in that. And there's other songs like 'Angels Cry' [and] 'Languishing.'

Why?

Well, I feel like, "This is the way I feel sometimes" and I'm sure other people feel the same way. You don't have to be someone in the public eye to feel this way. It's kind of more about your personal relationships -- and I don't want to say which ones I'm referring to -- and how you feel about the people that are in your life and/or may be just observing your life. I just think that is like the antithesis of 'Obsessed.' I think that's why I made it the interlude to 'I Want to Know What Love Is' because it was, I don't know, like [quotes lyrics]: "Those ancient buried recollections/We transform them and select them/you have yours, I have mine/That's fine." There are a lot of people who rewrite history and change things and you're like, "I don't remember it happening that way."

You work very hard. Do you ever get to rest and breathe?

I do sometimes and it's better now because we have more places to live. Nick had a place out in L.A. and then we decided, OK, let's just do something together and really make it work for both of us and that's really been cool. We have a place in the Bahamas and so we can go to different places without having to rent them and do all that nonsense. So it's nice, it's relaxing and you can calm down and experience solitude.

In a recent USA Today piece, journalist Alan Light was quoted as saying that you've "affiliated [yourself] with urban musicians and that's a young person's game. It would be good for her..."

[Interrupts] I heard it. I don't agree. I heard the quote and he said he preferred that I stand there and sing.

Well, he said it would be good for you "to reestablish herself as a vocalist because that's her strength." How do you assess both parts of that comment?

OK, either he likes urban music but he doesn't like me singing urban music or he's someone who wants me to stand in the middle of stage and sing ballads. And that's cool, I'll do that, but honestly, my fans want to hear a variety of songs. Even back in the day, I was singing...People don't realize that 'Dreamlover' was based on a loop that a lot of rappers have used so that was way back when. I don't think people realize that it was a pop song [but] underneath it all it was produced by Dave "Jam" Hall, who would mainly work with Mary J. Blige and rappers. It's always been a love of mine to sing R&B music. But the thing is you can sing a song like 'The Impossible' or 'H.A.T.E. U' and you don't have to belt or sing out the whole time. I think 'I Want to Know What Love Is' does what he is referring to. Can I say one more thing? If they can't hear that I'm a vocalist from 'I Want to Know What Love Is' then I just don't know what they want me to do.

In August, Nick quoted the book of Genesis when he was tweeting a response to Eminem for taking you on in the song "The Warning." Then in Ell, when asked about where you wanted to be 10 years from now, you quoted Matthew 6:34. Were you always a student of the Bible or is that something that you two brought out in each other?

Actually, a friend of mine's mom gave me a student bible about 2004. You read it three times and then the last time you're reading every word, you're not skipping things, so I have been reading that bible pretty much every night for years and I learned a lot. Now I have to figure out, okay, what's my next bible? Is it going to be a devotional, because I really feel there's a lot we can learn. I'm not a religious fanatic. It's just something that I'm very spiritual and I do feel calmer when I read even just a little bit of the bible and go to sleep.

Tags: mariah carey, MariahCarey

Comments

(60)

Wednesday 07 October

By meballJ58

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This woman is HIGHLY overrated. For someone with her supposed talent, she can't sing the National Anthem to save her life; she butchered it worse than many others who don't flaunt a supposed multi-octave voice- actually, she sings maybe 2, and makes noise in the rest. No, I don't hate her, no,I don't care what color she is; I could care less! Oh yeah, about the number of #1 songs; let me know when she hits 50+ like George Strait. Now there is talent and staying power personified!

Thursday 15 October

By Cyn

She's a great gal and I love her, and have since 1990. Preach on sister.

By mike

she is a boring dope

By Tasha

I have the album and love all of it! I am not mad at Mariah, she is smart business women. Unlike Whitney, she still has her voice, the songs on the album are ones she can sing with little to no effort and she pushes the bar a little higher each time on the other artist.

By MARK MOORE

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It is amazing how people use this comment sections as an excuse to spew their evil thoughts of hate, envy and jealousy that exist in their minds,

Spiritually speaking I think it is awesome that a couple who have the wealth , fame and earthly glory that Mariah and Nick have are humbling themselves toward God our creator.

They unlike many of the people who are writing these comments are trying to learn about their savior by studying the bible. This makes Mariah and Nick a winner on so many levels earthly with mankind and heavenly with God.

I am not mad at you Guys. I admire and respect what you are accomplishing despite all the evil haters on a massive level.

By MN

If you dont like her music or her...why read the article? do some reading on "whats that insect called again?

By Cj

I agree with most of the comments ahead of me. I also think that its sick to compare Mariah to the "Beattles" Please.. all her songs sound the same, not much originality in them, if it werent for the way she dressed? She would be perfect for Disney..
Besides how much has our population increased since the Fab4 hit it big? If the population was as large back then as it is now? well heck, they would have had hella more sales too.. Sorry Mariah, i never was a fan, and i dont have to many frnds and fam that are either

Friday 16 October

By Janice MIlligan

I remember when I was a young girl all the critics
were saying the Beatles couldn't sing at all...I
loved them.
The same was said about Madonna.
Mariah Carrey was viewed different because of the
range of her voice but who cares all these artists
are top stars and will always be living and dead.

By gamay9

I don't know much about pop music but I have heard Ms. Carey sing and she has a nice voice. But, boy does she have a great ASS!!!!!

By Ebabe

I have been listening to Mariah Carey since the beginning of her career and she is one of my favorites! She has an amazing voice and has worked very hard to be where she's at today. People can hate on her as much as they want but there is no doubt about her talent. She has been singing and training since she was young. You cannot compare a vocalist to other acts, she is in a category with Whitney, Celine Dion, etc... I love the fact that she has evolved and has experimented with other genres of music. When she was with Sony she was not able to be as creative as she is now. Now that she is with Island Records she can be free to be herself and have more flexibility in the music she creates. Mariah Carey deserves all the success in the world.

Saturday 17 October

By Chantel Nyberg

I love Mariah. She Rocks and she is my hero. I grew up to all of her albums and I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have her to listen to. Maybe I wouldn't be here today she has saved my life.

By Cecil Jones

I bought the "Imperfect Angel" album and I feel "let down." I'm a Mariah and Nick fan, but an album is an expression of what you feel inside. I got nothing from Mariah here. I want to know what love is...is an expression of hope not joy. HATEU is a dream of things that could be? Candy Bling is the only song that gives insight into the relations in my opinion. A kid in a candy shop using beauty as "Eye Candy Bling." I opened the album and the first thing I heard was "Obsessed" 5 times. I screamed "Out My Face" and turned it off. It's a wrap could be a telling truth about this relation. Selfish people don't learn to trust. They never know the joy of "Unconditional Love." You've got to give it to get it. Mariah write about your life and love and beat the Beattles. Do you know what love is?

By Marc

THE QUESTION OF WEATHER SHE CAN CLAIM THE "QUEEN OF POP" CROWN IS A BIG NO. YES, SHE HAS 18 NUMBER #1'S, BUT UNLIKE ELVIS OR MADONNA, 7 OF HER SONGS WERE COLLABORTIONS, AS FAR AS OTHER FACTS, RECENTLY BILLBOARD LISTED THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ARTISTS ON THE HOT 100 CHART, AND THE BEATLES WERE #1, FOLLOWED BY MADONNA AT #2. AS FAR AS OTHER CHARTS GO, MARIAH CAREY HAS BEEN ABLE TO LAND NO MORE THEN 5 NUMBER #1 SINGLES IN CHARTS AROUND THE WORLD. MADONNA HOLDS EVERY CHART RECORD IN EVERY MARKET AROUND THE WORLD. RECENTLY THE UNITED WORLD CHART LISTED THE 10 MOST SUCCESSFUL SINGLES AND ALBUM ARTISTS, MARIAH CAREY WAS NOT IN EITHER CHART. THE ONLY FEMALE SINGER INT HE TOP SELLING ACTS IS MADONNA AT #5, AND IN THE SINGLES CHART MADONNA IS #3, AND WHITNEY HOUSTON IS #9. THE UNITED WORLD CHART TRACKS SALES & AIRPLAY FOR BOTH SINGLES AND ALBUMS, ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED & VERIFIED BY THE RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA AND THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PHONOGRAPHIC INDUSTRY. SOURCE: http://www.mediatraffic.de/top-album-achievements.htm

I have a folder on my itunes just devoted to all Mariah’s songs throughout her musical career. Including solo songs and collaborations‘. I enjoy her music because it is spiritual in the sense that many of her songs instill happiness in my mind. You feel a sense of real joy after listening to her music, I felt the same way after leaving her concert. Again when I watch her concert on DVD.

Not many artist can continue to put good music out in the market for as long as she has. Guess what , she is like the energizer bunny, because she is still going.

She is my top female vocalist . Her vocal cords can battle anybody any where in any genre of music.

Some of the commenter’s are just jealous. How could you not like her music if you have not been listening to it all these years? If listen and know many of her songs, stop lying to yourself and realize that you do like Mariah’s music.

By lilaoshi08

ccccccccccccccccccccc

Sunday 18 October

By bill

She has to sit down on her big fat ass everytime she takes a piss. She's probably got an oversize toilet so she can fit on it. LOL ROF OMFG!!!!!!

Tuesday 27 October

By Kyge

FYI: Beatles are Untouchable.. They are considered ICONIC LEGENDARY POP BAND not a SOLO ARTIST ACT. They made HISTORY in MUSIC History back in their Generation; While MARIAH CAREY is OUR Current Generation who is a SOLO ARTIST ACT who made a HUGE Impact and HISTORY in OUR Music, as well as at the same time ONE of the FEMALE POP/R&B VOCALIST SINGER SONGWRITER who paved the way and INFLUENCE a lot of CURRENT POP/R&B Female or Male Artist Of Our Time.

BEATLES has had 20 #1 TOP HOT 100 HIT Singles who did it in 7years... Great job for them! Don't get me wrong I luv n appreciate some old classic 50s, 60s, or 70s songs (even tho I wasn't born yet) and 80s music (while Im still in my training pads!?! LOL) Anyway.

However, MARIAH CAREY has the current 18 or 19 #1 TOP HOT 100 HIT Singles already to her Credit... She has a whopping OVERALL 35 #1 Chart Topping WORLDWIDE HIT SINGLES (in all 5 Continents: ASIA, NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, and EUROPE excluding ANTARCTICA and AFRICA) plus the Overall TOTAL of 50 Smash Chart HITS to Date from 1990-2009 with a Stunning MULTI PLATINUM + GOLD + PLATINUM Certified 17 BEST SELLER ALBUM RELEASES and selling over 220million ALBUMS, SINGLES + DVDs, CONCERT TOURS Copies/Units/Sales SOLD WORLDWIDE to Date (still counting)!!!

So with that said, Both ARTISTS are UNMATCHED and BRILLIANTLY AMAZING in their Own Rights...

Moreover, MARIAH CAREY is (#2) of the TOP 3 MOST FINEST BEST FEMALE VOCALIST OF ALL TIME who REDEFINED MUSIC, FASHION and SWAGGIN' VOCAL STYLINGS from the 90s to 2009 (alongside with TWO other POP QUEENS: (#1) MADONNA - 80s POP Queen and (#3)CELINE DION who SOLD Over 200million SALES Worldwide).

MARIAH CAREY Continues to Amaze Influence and Soar high above with her DISTINCTIVELY DIVINE, AMAZING, FLAWLESS 7-8Octave POP/R&B VOCALS! She is just simply IRRESISTIBLE, UNSTOPPABLE, UNBEATABLE, INCOMPARABLE, and UNMATCHED Powerhouse ONE WOMAN ULTIMATE POP/R&B QUEEN - ICONIC LEGENDARY DIVA SUPERSTAR Of Her Era without a Doubt!!!

DONT HATE! RECOGNIZE and APPRECIATE! ;op

By Kylle-Galen

8 OCTAVE RANGE? ARE YOU NUTS? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! THE AVERAGE PERSON HAS 2 TO 3 OCTAVES, SARAH BRIGHTMAN, KATHERINE BATTLE AND MARIA CALLAS, THE BEST 3 SOPRANOS OF THE LAST 50 YEARS HAD/HAVE A RANGE OF 5 OCTAVES, JUST BECAUSE SHE HAS A HIGH REGISTER WHISTLE, WHICH BTW JENNIFER HUDSON, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, DEBORAH COX, WHITNEY HOUSTON CAN AND HAVE DONE WHILE PREFORMING LIVE(SOMETHING MARIAH ONLY DOES ON CD'S). IF MARIAH HAD 8 OCTAVES SHE WOULD TALK LIKE A DOLPHIN, LOL. AND AS FOR YOUR ARGUMENT THAT MARIAH HAS HAD 35 WORLD WIDE #1 ENTRIES, IN THE U.S. ACCORDING TO BILLBOARD MAGAZINE ALONE, MADONNA HAS 144 #1 ENTRIES IN DIFFERENT CHARTS, AS OF THIS 2009. THAT'S IN THE U.S. ALONE, THE UNITED WORLD CHART LISTS MADONNA AS HAVING HAD 50 WORLD WIDE TOPPING SINGLES, AND 84 CHARTING ENTRIES, THATS WHY THE IFPI LISTS MADONNA BEHIND THE BEATLES AND ELVIS, AS THE 3RD MOST SUCCESSFUL CHARTING ARTIST IN THE WORLD.

Monday 19 October

By victoria

SO MUCH HATER'S HERE MARIAH HAS WORK SO HARD TO GET WHERE SHE IS TODAY.SHE HAS BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS 4 A LONG TIME AND HAVE U HEARD ANYHING NEGATIVE ABOUT HER CONCERNING DRINKING AND DRIVING DRUGS HARD PARTIES.CLUB FIGHTS.CAT FIGHTS.MAN STEALING,NEVER BEEN IN JAIL. SHE HAS MANAGE TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT GIVE HER CREDIT .SHE CAN SING AND SHE DRESS HOWEVER SHE WANTS BECAUSE SHE GET DISS ON HOWSHE DRESSES I BELIVED SHE A GROWN WOMAN AND BUY HER OWN CLOTHES.

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