Mariah Carey

[CasualFlow]

I get nervous thinking about a new album tbh. Chipmunkriah is intolerable to me, and I’m scared and I’m nervous.

I do love me some chipmunk Mariah! Literally, I like when she (selectively) uses sped up vocals as an effect in her arrangements. Kanye used to do it all the time. 'Through the Wire' is my favorite example.

What are best examples of this from Mariah's catalog?

1. Runway
2.
3.

[WEBofDESIRE]

Yes to this. Me too. I love Runway btw.

I've never been that unhappy with her studio vocals. I don't really get the complaints, but to each his own. I'm easy to please.

Same. I don't necessarily love that hissy production thing that has been happening on a few of the "at home" performances or in parts of FILAC, but that seems to be more of a stylistic choice and not a vocal thing. Maybe that sound is all the rage, I'm hardly clued in to the latest sounds.

I thought she sounded great on Christmas Wrapping which is the last studio thing we have heard her on. Obviously not a real strenuous vocal there, but she captured the feel of it nicely, IMO.

I've always viewed Runway as one of the strongest pure vocals on Caution. It's funny how we all hear things differently.

[lambforever]

Yes to this. Me too. I love Runway btw.

I've never been that unhappy with her studio vocals. I don't really get the complaints, but to each his own. I'm easy to please.

Songs more natural and easier to perform live is my thing. She has a beautiful tone as is and the production on Caution ,FILAC etc is beyond amazing .

[LambChild]

Wasn't this an old studio recording from like 2012 ?

The conception of the song was in 2012 but from what I’ve gathered she put her vocals down in 2021

[lambforever]

The conception of the song was in 2012 but from what I’ve gathered she put her vocals down in 2021

The vocal was indeed beautiful and if she did it in 2021 that's amazing

[CasualFlow]

Same. I don't necessarily love that hissy production thing that has been happening on a few of the "at home" performances or in parts of FILAC, but that seems to be more of a stylistic choice and not a vocal thing. Maybe that sound is all the rage, I'm hardly clued in to the latest sounds.

I thought she sounded great on Christmas Wrapping which is the last studio thing we have heard her on. Obviously not a real strenuous vocal there, but she captured the feel of it nicely, IMO.

I've always viewed Runway as one of the strongest pure vocals on Caution. It's funny how we all hear things differently.

We do hear things differently, and like different things. And that's fine.

I have a feeling that there are no accidents on Mariah's studio recordings. She's a perfectionist. If anything, she just overdoes it. If there is a hissing sound, it is a stylistic choice and no engineering defect. By "hissing" do you mean that scratchy vinyl record sound? I actually like that. She used that sound to great effect on Mine Again. That old school, Grammy nominated, R&B classic (for stevyy ) captures the old uneven turntable warble with needle on vinyl. I love it.

[CasualFlow]

Songs more natural and easier to perform live is my thing. She has a beautiful tone as is and the production on Caution ,FILAC etc is beyond amazing .

I'm all for her going all out on her studio productions, but she needs trimmed back versions for live performances. Otherwise, it's really impossible to reproduce the studio vocals and it comes off choppy or lippy to the lambs and viewers. Why not avoid that and just come up with original arrangements for live moments.

[Mckenry]

I do love me some chipmunk Mariah! Literally, I like when she (selectively) uses sped up vocals as an effect in her arrangements. Kanye used to do it all the time. 'Through the Wire' is my favorite example.

What are best examples of this from Mariah's catalog?

1. Runway
2.
3.

Sped up elements and some autotuning is fine for hip-hop songs like You Got Me or Money or Obsessed, but a big no no for ballads which she heavily does since what, MOAIA?

[CasualFlow]

Three Favorite Chipmunk-Mariah moments:

1. You Got Me
2. Boy (I Need You)
3. Runway

The Charmbracelet era was the queen of chipmunk moments.
The sound effect was popular in HipHop production at the time.

I don't know if this one counts, but I adore the Lil' LOVE remix with Bow Wow's Let Me Hold You Down.

[CasualFlow]

Sped up elements and some autotuning is fine for hip-hop songs like You Got Me or Money or Obsessed, but a big no no for ballads which she heavily does since what, MOAIA?

Give me some examples.

[Marchum]

I'm all for her going all out on her studio productions, but she needs trimmed back versions for live performances. Otherwise, it's really impossible to reproduce the studio vocals and it comes off choppy or lippy to the lambs and viewers. Why not avoid that and just come up with original arrangements for live moments.

It’s her pitch-play that messes everything up. I’m all here for editing and studio tricks also. But, changing the pitch of your vocals so drastically is not a good move for her, since it’s impossible for her current deeper/raspier tone to match the high pitch-young female Toneriah during live shows.

[lambforever]

I'm all for her going all out on her studio productions, but she needs trimmed back versions for live performances. Otherwise, it's really impossible to reproduce the studio vocals and it comes off choppy or lippy to the lambs and viewers. Why not avoid that and just come up with original arrangements for live moments.

Agreed. She is just such a perfectionist and tries to replica her studio vocals live. Overtime we are seeing her trying to change it up but she should easily change it up for live renditions of any song.

Like Marchum said it's the pitch play mostly

[CasualFlow]

It’s her pitch-play that messes everything up. I’m all here for editing and studio tricks also. But, changing the pitch of your vocals so drastically is not a good move for her, since it’s impossible for her current deeper/raspier tone to match the high pitch-young female Toneriah during live shows.

I guess my ear isn't catching the pitching. Corrective rather than stylistic?

[Marchum]

I guess my ear isn't catching the pitching. Corrective rather than stylistic?

Do you think her real, current vocal pitch is Valentine’s WBT?

[Dash08]

Happy Anniversary baby!

ABMB showcases the rare brillance of Mariah as a writer in her uncanny ability to capture and combine, on an almost subliminal level, melodic sweetness and lyrical poignancy. There is this tender tension of joy and pain, happiness and sadness. It's so subtle it sneaks up on you. You hardly notice, until you do, and then you can't stop feeling it.

My favourite MC song changes periodically but this song is probably my most loved. Always eases me into the most relaxed, happy mood

[wolfeagle]

In recent recordings, there have been two types of voices on the verses:
1. The Close My Eyes 2020
2. Runway Verses

The Close My Eyes 2020 is a no no The Runway verses voice is more the Mariah I know and love

The only disappointment with Runway is the lack of climax.
In later recordings, there have been four types of climax:
1. No climax (most of Caution)
2. The one high note climax (You’re Mine, Infinity)
3. The shouting “hey!” “hey!” (100%)
4. An attempt at a 90s climax (I Wanna Know What Love Is, Almost Home).

For the next album, I am hoping for Runway verses vocals and option 4 climax.

[Pureimagination]

Always be my baby will forever remain a timeless classic

[wolfeagle]

Actually, I forgot a fifth climax which is the Heavenly climax (never to be repeated type climax)!

[Marchum]

Actually, I forgot a fifth climax which is the Heavenly climax (never to be repeated type climax)!

I wonder what she thinks of that song now.

[Kaloki]

Runway remains 10 out of 10. I didn't like it when I first heard it, but been obsessed with it since it was released properly on Caution.

For pitching/weird vocals this has definitely been an increasing problem since MIAM. I don't think I ever noticed it at all before that album so not quite sure what happened. Caution was absolutely fine, but a lot of stand alone releases have been quite bad for it.

Some songs like Heavenly I just don't use, but it is frustrating when an otherwise good song is ruined by studio weirdness. Prime example.....

Camouflage - 2.22 mark - the worst 3 seconds of vocal styling/editing in Mariah's career lol

[am1]

I really hope her team or her read all the comments about vocal editing in the studio. I think it first started on MCIIY, the melodyne (or whatever they use) made her sound robotic and lost her natural voice. Then obviously MIAM it was used heavily on some songs more than others, which is a shame as the songs themselves are great.
And in various things since then. I wish she would realise her natural, rested voice is what people want to hear and it's that buttery tone which we love. Not this robotic, high pitched, altered weirdness.

[delapuerta]

I really hope her team or her read all the comments about vocal editing in the studio. I think it first started on MCIIY, the melodyne (or whatever they use) made her sound robotic and lost her natural voice. Then obviously MIAM it was heavily, which is a shame as the songs themselves are great.
And in various things since then. I wish she would realise her natural, rested voice is what people want to hear and it's that buttery tone which we love. Not this robotic, high pitched, altered weirdness.

Well I noticed that effect 1st on Charmbracelet

[Juancito75]

I think some of you are picky and scrutinize a lot regarding vocals, which is ok, its taste. I can notice post production effects on vocals as well, because after being a Mariah fan for over 30 years i can tell, but for me its not something that bothers me, i dont think is overly done. I also dont think its Mariah choice but producers and people from labels who might want an especific sound.

[am1]

Well I noticed that effect 1st on Charmbracelet

Charmbracelet was cut and paste vocals in places, but she sounded natural in her tone, to me.

[am1]

I think some of you are picky and scrutinize a lot regarding vocals, which is ok, its taste. I can notice post production effects on vocals as well, because after being a Mariah fan for over 30 years i can tell, but for me its not something that bothers me, i dont think is overly done. I also dont think its Mariah choice but producers and people from labels who might want an especific sound.

I think it's Mariah and her engineer Brian that alter the vocals, not the producers. That's why caution wasn't overcooked as she didn't have time!