My Tribute To Mariah Carey. [#135-#1] COMPLETED!!!

[phoenix98]

although seeing someone rank E=MC2 as Mariah's absolute best album does make me cringe a bit, there's no denying it's a pretty great collection of songs.

I'm honestly not sure if I prefer E=MC2 or TEOM - TEOM definitely had stronger singles ("We Belong Together", "Say Somethin'", "Shake It Off", DFAU)...but E=MC2 is a bit more consistent overall. that said, neither would be in my Top 2, they'd probably be somewhere around...No. 5 - No. 7 (Butterfly, Daydream, Music Box, Mariah Carey...then Rainbow would be somewhere in there too).

"Always Be My Baby" = another fan favorite that I've never felt quite as strongly about. it's good, and I do like it...but Top 5 is way too high for me. I'd say...Top 30.

AIWFCIY = now THIS is right around where it belongs! people tend to have a tough time ranking holiday tracks, and I definitely understand that, but there's just no denying how amazing this song is, no matter WHAT time of year it is! this could quite possibly go down in history as Mariah's most recognizable song.

"Hero" = like ABMB, it's good, I like it, but not this much. Top 20 for me.

[swiftie13]

OK I was totally expecting something else! I thought a 90'd album would ocme out on top.. E=MC2 is good, but not THAT good! Some of it is awesome but overall the music doesn't do much, it's like too I don;t know. not my type of R&B especially not from Mariah.. TEOM on the other hand deserves top 2! Not my favourite but deinfitely one of them! the album of my childhood!

[BeeFan]

was not expecting that album to top your countdown, but okay

gotta give it another listen I suppose

[leoapp]

Alway Be My Baby - Her best 90s song ever. A true classic, eaisly my top 5. I like the heavy beat in this song.

All I Want For Xmas Is You - I think it's the best commercial Xmas song ever, because it can become a Xmas song as well a love song at the same time. She's so smart! I must be in the minority, but i prefer the So So Def remix though because of the beta and the whistle notes

Hero is definitely one of her signature hits, it's not really her bets but it deserves it. I quite love this song, one of her songs i sing most frequently.

Albums:
The Emancipation Of Mimi - I know i'm in the minority, this album is probably too heavy for me to listen to overall, that's why it's not among her albums that i love, just like it. Some of her high belting notes are too forced imo. Some songs are really fillers.
Top tracks: It's Like That, We Belong Together, Shake It Off, I Wish You Knew, Don't Forget About US, Sprung
Fillers: Your Girl, So Lonely, To The Floor, Make It Last Night

E=MC2 - Not surprised that you ranked this at #1! It's her BEST 00s album imo, and my 3rd favorite albums of her overall after Daydream,. Such a fun record. Just 1 song, OOC that i like the leats and quite weak.
Top Tracks: I Stay In Love, Side Effects, Touch My Body, Migrate, Bye Bye, For The Record, Last Kiss
Fillers: OOC

[JSparksFan]

Great

Glad you're pleased with the Top 2.

I love both albums too!

Yay! I appreciate your appreciation.

"The Emancipation of Mimi" is the true definition of a comeback album.

It's an amazing album, though I definitely wouldn't rank it as high as you did (obviously). However, I do believe it is one of the albums of her career, and one of the best albums of the past decade. The album really brought Mariah to the top of the charts again, and the success it brought her was perhaps unmatched in her career. I believe that when the album release, she was everywhere and probably everyone would know "We Belong Together" as it was such a blockbuster hit at that time. It does have some fillers, though, the mess that is "Say Somethin'".

E=MC² is a great album, even greater than The Emancipation of Mimi.

To me, this is her best album from the 2000s, and I probably would rank this top 3 or top 5. It does have plenty of great songs ("I Stay In Love", "For The Record", "Migrate", "Bye Bye", "Touch My Body", "I Wish You Well") - but, the album contains one of my most-hated Mariah tracks ever ("Cruise Control"). E=MC² deserved much more success in the U.S., but I think the wrong single choices really messed up the opportunity of the album being a success for Mariah.

Your ranking of her albums would totally differ from how I would rank them, but to each their own, so I wouldn't hold it against you for ranking some of my favourite MC albums low.

I'm really excited that you've decided to do an MC countdown as well as I'll get to see your MC taste. You ranking "Someday" so low may not be the best of signs, though.

I'm glad you like both records and I'm pleasantly surprised that you think E=MC² is the stronger album.

omfg emc² at #1? I'm soo delighted to see that. It's such a great album, TEOM as well.

ABMB, Hero and AIWFC are three groundbreaking evergreens.

I'm happy that you like my Top 2 albums. Oh, and I love that term!

although seeing someone rank E=MC2 as Mariah's absolute best album does make me cringe a bit, there's no denying it's a pretty great collection of songs.

I'm honestly not sure if I prefer E=MC2 or TEOM - TEOM definitely had stronger singles ("We Belong Together", "Say Somethin'", "Shake It Off", DFAU)...but E=MC2 is a bit more consistent overall. that said, neither would be in my Top 2, they'd probably be somewhere around...No. 5 - No. 7 (Butterfly, Daydream, Music Box, Mariah Carey...then Rainbow would be somewhere in there too).

"Always Be My Baby" = another fan favorite that I've never felt quite as strongly about. it's good, and I do like it...but Top 5 is way too high for me. I'd say...Top 30.

AIWFCIY = now THIS is right around where it belongs! people tend to have a tough time ranking holiday tracks, and I definitely understand that, but there's just no denying how amazing this song is, no matter WHAT time of year it is! this could quite possibly go down in history as Mariah's most recognizable song.

"Hero" = like ABMB, it's good, I like it, but not this much. Top 20 for me.

I know I've made you cringe quite a bit with some of my rankings. I have a feeling that the cringing has not yet come to an end, either.

I totally agree with the bolded part, by the way.

I'm glad you're happy with the ranking for "All I Want For Christmas Is You".

OK I was totally expecting something else! I thought a 90'd album would ocme out on top.. E=MC2 is good, but not THAT good! Some of it is awesome but overall the music doesn't do much, it's like too I don;t know. not my type of R&B especially not from Mariah.. TEOM on the other hand deserves top 2! Not my favourite but deinfitely one of them! the album of my childhood!

Oh, so predictable Akini actually surprised Horacio? I know you're a huge fan of The Emancipation of Mimi but I trust that E=MC² will grow on you in the future.

was not expecting that album to top your countdown, but okay

gotta give it another listen I suppose

I sense a little bit of shade in those two words, just a teensy bit.

All jokes aside, I hope it grows on you.

Alway Be My Baby - Her best 90s song ever. A true classic, eaisly my top 5. I like the heavy beat in this song.

All I Want For Xmas Is You - I think it's the best commercial Xmas song ever, because it can become a Xmas song as well a love song at the same time. She's so smart! I must be in the minority, but i prefer the So So Def remix though because of the beta and the whistle notes

Hero is definitely one of her signature hits, it's not really her bets but it deserves it. I quite love this song, one of her songs i sing most frequently.

Albums:
The Emancipation Of Mimi - I know i'm in the minority, this album is probably too heavy for me to listen to overall, that's why it's not among her albums that i love, just like it. Some of her high belting notes are too forced imo. Some songs are really fillers.
Top tracks: It's Like That, We Belong Together, Shake It Off, I Wish You Knew, Don't Forget About US, Sprung
Fillers: Your Girl, So Lonely, To The Floor, Make It Last Night

E=MC2 - Not surprised that you ranked this at #1! It's her BEST 00s album imo, and my 3rd favorite albums of her overall after Daydream,. Such a fun record. Just 1 song, OOC that i like the leats and quite weak.
Top Tracks: I Stay In Love, Side Effects, Touch My Body, Migrate, Bye Bye, For The Record, Last Kiss
Fillers: OOC

I'm happy that you seem generally in agreement with most of the rankings. You're totally right about "All I Want For Christmas Is You" being a dual-purpose track, by the way.

[jpguy]

wbt =)

[JSparksFan]

#2.

For The Record.



Narrowly missing out on the top spot by a mere whisker is "For The Record", the highest ranking non-single on my countdown as well as the top track from E=MC². The song is perfection in every sense of the word. The beat from the song's very inception just grabs the listener and keeps you there for the full three-and-a-half-minute ride. Lyrically, the song is just as brilliant. The line, "Them other irregularities, they can't compete with MC, the whole entire world can tell, that you love yourself some me" is just loaded with all types of sass and shade. The song's highlight for me is during the bridge where Carey makes references to her previous songs. To call this song an R&B masterpiece would be an understatement and the criminal omission of this as a single remains one of Carey's most eyebrow-raising decisions in her career.

#1.

We Belong Together.



Ladies and gentlemen, boys, girls, and Horacio, I present to you my all-time fave MC song, the incomparable, the titanic "We Belong Together". The most popular of the poll choices, it is no surprise that this comes out on top. How do I even begin to describe the brilliance that is this timeless evergreen? The melody, the beat, the lyrics, her voice, all perfection. That last chorus is just so powerful as you can hear the plea in Mariah's voice and that eighteen-second long belt towards the end just sends my soul on a trip to music heaven. The verses are just as strong as the chorus, in my opinion as Carey's storytelling capabilities really shine through to make for quite the relatable ballad. Arguably her biggest solo hit in her career, "We Belong Together" was a juggernaut success peaking at #1 in the US for some fourteen weeks and enjoying transatlantic success peaking at #1 in Australia and #2 in the UK. The song broke airplay records in the US and was even named "Song of the Decade" by Billboard, the second consecutive time Carey was awarded the prestigious honour. I am sure that Carey can muster up a song worthy enough to earn the distinction for a third time. All in all, "We Belong Together" was the song that returned Mariah to her throne where she would reign in glory for the remainder of the era.

[JSparksFan]

To everyone who has followed this countdown, I would like to say thank you. This tribute would be nothing were it not for your feedback and though I'm sure we all have disagreed on a few of my rankings (even I disagree with some of the gems I ranked so low), I appreciate you taking time out to comment.

Truthfully, I compiled this countdown in hopes of discovering a few gems but what I got was so much more than that. I fell in love with Mariah and she has since become one of my all-time fave artists. Her discography is truly outstanding and to those of you who are reading this and have yet to check it out in full, I urge you to do so as Carey will not disappoint you.

It's bittersweet to end this countdown as it's been going on for almost a month and a half now but I guess all good things have to come to an end.

So again, much thanks, much love for following this tribute. It took me one hundred and thirty-five tracks to fully grasp the sheer brilliance that Carey's fans see in her but I have officially become a lamb and I can't wait to start stanning for Mariah.

[PosziMC2]

[Tripolis]

"For The Record" : One of the best non-singles of her entire career. By far the best track off "E=MC²", this song deserved a chance as a single. It's definitely the most wasted opportunity of the album, and though it wasn't one of my immediate favourites upon listening to the album, it has definitely grown on me ever since. This is one of the greatest records she has recorded in the 2000s, though I believe that it shouldn't have been ranked higher than her earlier classics. I myself would definitely deem this top 20 or top 10-worthy, but definitely not top 5, or even top 2. 9.5/10

"We Belong Together" : This song truly defines the last decade. One of the best comeback singles of all-time and is one of the best ballads ever released too. It irks me in believing that many fans find this track overrated as this is an amazing, excellent masterpiece. In fact, this track was the first one I ever considered in the running for the #1 spot on my own countdown. Mariah's career wouldn't have been where it is now without this song. Though the lyrics are this song aren't that relatable in some ways, I truly believe this is her best-ever ballad. This song truly made Mariah Carey a household name in the 2000s, and is probably the song which still leads to "The Emancipation of Mimi" being remembered by many as the "blockbuster album that took the charts by storm". "We Belong Together" deserved all of the success it received, and is definitely one of the highlights of her career. 10/10

Overall, your countdown has been a pleasure to follow and even though you ranked some of my favourite Mimi tracks low ("Breakdown", "Through The Rain"), I still appreciate the fact that doing this countdown has truly made you a lamb and has allowed you to appreciate her superb discography even more. Out of a scale of 10, I'll probably rate your countdown a 9.

[GoodBoyGoneBad]

For The Record is a brilliant track, I love the lyrics that you cited:

The 'They can't compete with MC' line gives me life and the references to her own songs are cool as well!

We Belong Together, well both the song and the video are fantastic... this record deserves all its success!

Very good countdown, I hope you will start a new one soon!

[swiftie13]

WBT was my second guess for #1 actually so yay I got my 2nd guess right haha! Well sorta Akini top 10... good countdown though

[leoapp]

For The Record - One of her better non single tracks and one of my faves from E=MC2, alongside with Migrate and Side Effects, these 3 songs are very single-potential, so sad these weren't released. This song also has great lyrics But very surprised than you ranked the song so high.

We Belong Together - I always find this song overrated, it's an amazing ballad but imo, she has much more amazing ballads than this one. But it's already a classic and definitely one of signature midtempo R&B jams. Her belting notes during the final chorus are great. I wish this song had her whistle note, thing that this song lacks.

[swiftie13]

Just saw my name aww.. thanks haha..

[BeeFan]

Great No. 1

thanks for this countdown...great work, indeed
though there were quite the controversals it was fun following it

[JSparksFan]

wbt =)

You were right!

:(

Yeah, I'm sad this is over too.

"For The Record" : One of the best non-singles of her entire career. By far the best track off "E=MC²", this song deserved a chance as a single. It's definitely the most wasted opportunity of the album, and though it wasn't one of my immediate favourites upon listening to the album, it has definitely grown on me ever since. This is one of the greatest records she has recorded in the 2000s, though I believe that it shouldn't have been ranked higher than her earlier classics. I myself would definitely deem this top 20 or top 10-worthy, but definitely not top 5, or even top 2. 9.5/10

"We Belong Together" : This song truly defines the last decade. One of the best comeback singles of all-time and is one of the best ballads ever released too. It irks me in believing that many fans find this track overrated as this is an amazing, excellent masterpiece. In fact, this track was the first one I ever considered in the running for the #1 spot on my own countdown. Mariah's career wouldn't have been where it is now without this song. Though the lyrics are this song aren't that relatable in some ways, I truly believe this is her best-ever ballad. This song truly made Mariah Carey a household name in the 2000s, and is probably the song which still leads to "The Emancipation of Mimi" being remembered by many as the "blockbuster album that took the charts by storm". "We Belong Together" deserved all of the success it received, and is definitely one of the highlights of her career. 10/10

Overall, your countdown has been a pleasure to follow and even though you ranked some of my favourite Mimi tracks low ("Breakdown", "Through The Rain"), I still appreciate the fact that doing this countdown has truly made you a lamb and has allowed you to appreciate her superb discography even more. Out of a scale of 10, I'll probably rate your countdown a 9.

I completely agree that "We Belong Together" ranks amongst MC's most important recordings in her entire career. Everything about the song made it the perfect comeback track and re-asserted Carey's indomitable presence in the music industry.

I'm overjoyed that you've enjoyed the countdown so immensely! Thanks for the 9/10 rating!

For The Record is a brilliant track, I love the lyrics that you cited:

The 'They can't compete with MC' line gives me life and the references to her own songs are cool as well!

We Belong Together, well both the song and the video are fantastic... this record deserves all its success!

Very good countdown, I hope you will start a new one soon!

Well, you know me, I'm addicted to charts! My Whitney tribute is starting soon, potentially within the next twenty-four hours.

WBT was my second guess for #1 actually so yay I got my 2nd guess right haha! Well sorta Akini top 10... good countdown though

Glad you enjoyed the countdown! I sincerely hope that "Akini Top 10" doesn't equate to "generic Top 10".

For The Record - One of her better non single tracks and one of my faves from E=MC2, alongside with Migrate and Side Effects, these 3 songs are very single-potential, so sad these weren't released. This song also has great lyrics But very surprised than you ranked the song so high.

We Belong Together - I always find this song overrated, it's an amazing ballad but imo, she has much more amazing ballads than this one. But it's already a classic and definitely one of signature midtempo R&B jams. Her belting notes during the final chorus are great. I wish this song had her whistle note, thing that this song lacks.

Aw, you seemed underwhelmed by the Top 2.

In regards to "We Belong Together", I love it so much because it showed that while Carey's vocals may never return to it's 90's peak that she's still a vocal force to be reckoned with. That belt towards the end shut everyone up who said she couldn't sing anymore.

Just saw my name aww.. thanks haha..

Is any countdown of mine complete without an ode to you?

Great No. 1

thanks for this countdown...great work, indeed
though there were quite the controversals it was fun following it

I'm glad you're pleased with the victor and the countdown in general! This was a whole lot of fun putting together.

[ANH]

"We Belong Together" is absolutely amazing. You don't have to be a lamb to see how phenomenal the song is. The last verse is orgasmic. I wouldn't rank it this high though. Mariah has more gems.

"For The Record" is a cute song. There was a time where I used to absolutely adore the song. But, some of the magic has worn off.

I can't even know what to say about E=MC2 being your favorite album, lol. I'm just glad you've introduced Mariah into your life. :]

Like Tripolis, I enjoyed your chart. I didn't comment on every song (sorry, got busy!), and I didn't like that some songs charted out very early, but I enjoyed it. It takes a lot of effort to make these charts, so for that, thanks!

[phoenix98]

"For The Record" = this definitely wasn't one of the most instant tracks on E=MC2, but I definitely grew to appreciate it. it's cool to hear her step away from the cookie-cutter WBT, DFAU, ISIL ballad sound (though I adore all three of those songs too). the strings in the background are a intruiging touch. looking back, I kind of wish Mariah had taken a bit of a risk by releasing this as the second single instead of the (seemingly) safer "Bye Bye". I don't think it's a guaranteed hit either, but it would've been interested to see how people reacted to it. you've got it quite a bit too high, but there's no denying it's a great song.

"We Belong Together" = as much as I love this song simply for what it is, I think everything that surrounded its release is what really helps elevate it to a wholer 'nother level in my heart. I'm not sure exactly what you thought of Mariah in 2005, if you thought of her at all, but as a Mariah fan who had watched her struggle throughout 2002-2004, hearing this song EVERYWHERE was just amazing. everyone knew it, and even people who had completely dismissed her couldn't help but admit there was something special about this song. I remember watching it race up the Hot 100, grateful to see it out-peak "It's Like That", then go Top 10, then Top 5...I never thought I'd see the day! as much as I adored Mariah, I would still refer to TGIF as her "last No. 1 hit", I just didn't think a comeback like TEOM was possible...but I'm so, so glad I was wrong! <3

any rate, thanks for making another awesome countdown to follow!

[JSparksFan]

"We Belong Together" is absolutely amazing. You don't have to be a lamb to see how phenomenal the song is. The last verse is orgasmic. I wouldn't rank it this high though. Mariah has more gems.

"For The Record" is a cute song. There was a time where I used to absolutely adore the song. But, some of the magic has worn off.

I can't even know what to say about E=MC2 being your favorite album, lol. I'm just glad you've introduced Mariah into your life. :]

Like Tripolis, I enjoyed your chart. I didn't comment on every song (sorry, got busy!), and I didn't like that some songs charted out very early, but I enjoyed it. It takes a lot of effort to make these charts, so for that, thanks!

I'm glad that you enjoyed the countdown! Seeing as you're such a die-hard lamb, I always looked forward to reading your comments. Much thanks for checking out the tribute.

"For The Record" = this definitely wasn't one of the most instant tracks on E=MC2, but I definitely grew to appreciate it. it's cool to hear her step away from the cookie-cutter WBT, DFAU, ISIL ballad sound (though I adore all three of those songs too). the strings in the background are a intruiging touch. looking back, I kind of wish Mariah had taken a bit of a risk by releasing this as the second single instead of the (seemingly) safer "Bye Bye". I don't think it's a guaranteed hit either, but it would've been interested to see how people reacted to it. you've got it quite a bit too high, but there's no denying it's a great song.

"We Belong Together" = as much as I love this song simply for what it is, I think everything that surrounded its release is what really helps elevate it to a wholer 'nother level in my heart. I'm not sure exactly what you thought of Mariah in 2005, if you thought of her at all, but as a Mariah fan who had watched her struggle throughout 2002-2004, hearing this song EVERYWHERE was just amazing. everyone knew it, and even people who had completely dismissed her couldn't help but admit there was something special about this song. I remember watching it race up the Hot 100, grateful to see it out-peak "It's Like That", then go Top 10, then Top 5...I never thought I'd see the day! as much as I adored Mariah, I would still refer to TGIF as her "last No. 1 hit", I just didn't think a comeback like TEOM was possible...but I'm so, so glad I was wrong! <3

any rate, thanks for making another awesome countdown to follow!

Admittedly, I wasn't really a big fan of music in 2005. Ten year-old Akini's obsessions were Pokemon, Yugioh, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

But I can only imagine what it must've felt like to be a lamb during the The Emancipation of Mimi era. It must've been an incredible feeling.

Much thanks for following the countdown, Paul! I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on my rankings.

[stevyy]

although for the record and wbt don't rank inside my top 10, they are both very strong songs. They are among the best she's done over the past decade.

[ANH]

I didn't really care for Mariah Carey either in 2005. I was 13. But I remember hearing this song often enough that it intrigued me. It compelled me to go on Yahoo! and look for the music video. I don't know how I felt when I saw it, but I didn't turn into a lamb. I must have dismissed it.

Now, "Touch My Body", that video turned me converted me! The video was absolutely amazing - I honestly believe that if the video were a cheap mess, I wouldn't be here on UKMIX at the moment.

#ThePowerOfMUSICVIDEOS *sung like Celine*

[JSparksFan]

although for the record and wbt don't rank inside my top 10, they are both very strong songs. They are among the best she's done over the past decade.

I'm glad you like them and I'm eager to see what does rank inside your Top 10.

I didn't really care for Mariah Carey either in 2005. I was 13. But I remember hearing this song often enough that it intrigued me. It compelled me to go on Yahoo! and look for the music video. I don't know how I felt when I saw it, but I didn't turn into a lamb. I must have dismissed it.

Now, "Touch My Body", that video turned me converted me! The video was absolutely amazing - I honestly believe that if the video were a cheap mess, I wouldn't be here on UKMIX at the moment.

#ThePowerOfMUSICVIDEOS *sung like Celine*

Music videos are powerful indeed, but so is the radio. I've always been aware of Mariah's existence but it wasn't until I heard "We Belong Together" on the radio that I was like, "Who in the world is this?" The song really impressed me, I loved the video, and then I started listening to some of her 90's classics. By the time "Obsessed" came out, I was pretty much a fan.