The Mariah Carey Discography Rate Pt.1 • FINISHED

vague

vague

65.png


You gave me a breath of life
Unclouded my eyes with a sweet serenity
Lighting a ray of hope for me
And now I am free

iamfree.png


#65
"I Am Free"

Score: 7.050
High scores: 10×2 (@Music Is Life, @londonrain), 9.5×2 (@japanbonustrack, @LeBratt), 9×4 (@RUNAWAY, @PayMe, @Sail On, @RainOnFire)
Low scores: 3×1 (@Ana Raquel), 4×2 (@playboy69, @Aester), 4.5×2 (@CasuallyCrazed, @If You Go)
My score: 7.75

5 ballots: #65 (tied), 6.95 avg.
10 ballots: #71, 6.925 avg.
15 ballots: #67, 7.183 avg.
20 ballots: #72, 7.038 avg.
25 ballots: #70, 6.89 avg.
30 ballots: #68, 7.002 avg.
35 ballots: #64, 6.987 avg.
40 ballots: #68, 6.926 avg.
45 ballots: #67, 6.923 avg.
50 ballots: #65, 6.981 avg.
55 ballots: #65, 6.983 avg.
60 ballots: #65, 7.051 avg.
61 ballots: #65, 7.05 avg.

"I Am Free" is the sixth track from Mariah's fifth studio album "Daydream". It was composed, arranged, and produced by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff, and its lyrics were written solely by Mariah.

The melisma, the backing vocals (all of which are her!!), the harmonies... ugh, this is just a masterclass in singing and is such a perfect example of how untouchable and on another level she was at her peak. When she starts to really go for it at the 2:00 mark gives me chills every time. SO good.​

—
​
@Music Is Life (10) — "This is great, I especially love the lyrics on this one. Such a strong and empowering message matched with perfect vocals and nice production. Love it."

@londonrain (10) — "The lead - up to that climax is everything. Her diction on this, though... Ariana found taking notes."

@pop3blow2 (8.8) — "Pretty."

@Seventeen Days (8) — "I love the gospel choir on this one."

@godspeed (7.5) — "I wanted to quote lyrics from this song as a commentary but then I realized I was about to copy and past the entire damn song. Musically speaking, 'I Am Free' is what I'd call a classic Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff collaboration in the sense that it's beautiful, she sounds great but it remains quite unsurprising. But the songwriting is really what makes this song something special. 'Once, I was all so alone/Unsteady and cold/But your love rained down upon me/Washing away uncertainty.' Damn."

@bonnieetclyde (7) — "good vocals but forgettable song."

@Imagineitwasus (7) — "A bit automatic but I like it."

@DominoDancing (5.5) — "Unremarkable."

@WhatKindOfKylie? (5) — "I've always found the second half of Daydream to be not quite as strong as the first gotta say. The first half just had Mariah excel herself and then some! This is a good gospel sounding track with excellent vocals as per. Just think she did this type of thing better before and since too."

@abael (5) — "Kind of a lull in the album."

@Veeis (5) — "I'm not a fan of it, mostly a skip."

@If You Go (4.5) — "It's not bad, but the only reason I'd ever listen to it is if I was playing Daydream start to finish, there's nothing interesting about it to make me seek it out on its own."​

—

​
 
vague

vague

64.png


I'll always remember
That part of you so tender
And be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call

wheneveryoucallbrian.gif


#64
"Whenever You Call"
with Brian McKnight

Score: 7.068
High scores: 10×3 (@EricG1990, @Slice of Life, @Remorque), 9.5×2 (@AdzBrown, @Posh Spears), 9×7 (@P'NutButter, @playboy69, @Womanizer, @JamesJupiter, @RUNAWAY, @Robsolete, @vague)
Low scores: 0×2 (@BreatheBox, @mokitsu), 3×1 (@Ana Raquel), 4×3 (@WhatKindOfKylie?, @Hurricane Drunk, @DominoDancing)
My score: 9

5 ballots: #52, 7.95 avg.
10 ballots: #52 (tied), 7.675 avg.
15 ballots: #48, 7.95 avg.
20 ballots: #49, 7.738 avg.
25 ballots: #53, 7.51 avg.
30 ballots: #60, 7.388 avg.
35 ballots: #56, 7.304 avg.
40 ballots: #56, 7.379 avg.
45 ballots: #60, 7.159 avg.
50 ballots: #66, 6.933 avg.
55 ballots: #66, 6.975 avg.
60 ballots: #64, 7.053 avg.
61 ballots: #64, 7.068 avg.

The second collaboration to fall is "Whenever You Call", a duet with Brian McKnight, taken from the "1's" album. The track is, of course, a reworking of the song from the "Butterfly" album; it was composed, arranged, and produced by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff, with its lyrics written solely by Mariah. Mariah decided to include it on her first compilation album because she felt it was one of the best songs from "Butterfly", but wanted to redo it as a duet to freshen it up, and felt Brian McKnight would help to perfect the new take on the song.

"1's" was the first - and, for years, only - Mariah album I ever bought as a kid, and so this has always been one of my favorite tracks. I didn't even know there was a solo version of the tracks until years after the fact - and didn't get to listen to it for the first time until even longer after that, so as blasphemous as it may be for some of you, this version is the definitive one for me. I grew up in a super, super strict Christian household, so I wasn't allowed to listen to pop music until I was nearly a teenager and we had left the church, but I used to sneak and watch VH1 (MTV was still too ~worldly~ even for my small form of rebellion dddd) and can vividly recall seeing the "Whenever You Call" performance being played for the first time - I was instantly smitten and it's been a fave ever since.​

—
​
@P'NutButter (9) — "Actually prefer this as a duet, it just flows better."

@Music Is Life (8.75) — "This doesn't really do anything different than the original, other than having a feature, who's nice enough and they work well together, but I'd rather just listen to the solo version."

@bonnieetclyde (8) — "enjoyable duet but Mariah really shines, especially during the middle 8."

@tylerc904 (8) — "Knocking a couple points off to signify I prefer the solo version but really the song is stunning in any capacity."

@Jimmyandroid (7) — "The solo version is better."

@Imagineitwasus (7) — "I like it better with a male counterpart, it eases the melismatic overload of the solo version."

@abael (7) — "Kudos Mariah, the restraint shown here to keep this duet balanced is impressive, and the song is better for it."

@londonrain (7) — "I like Brian, but he really is surplus to requirements here. Does anyone actually prefer this to the solo version?"

@nikkysan (5) — "Such a pointless duet. Mariah didn't even bother doing a new vocal take for this which would've helped this sound fresher, and who even is this guy? Still won't tank this too hard since the song itself is so good."

@godspeed (5) — "I've talked about my love for this song when I rated the album version. I love 'Whenever You Call' but I'm rating this version a 5 not because it's bad by any means, but because this duet doesn't add anything to an already excellent song and I've never really understood why it existed in the first place."

@WhatKindOfKylie? (4) — "Much prefer her solo version from the masterpiece that is Butterfly. Not a bad effort though. Just wish we got something new instead."

@DominoDancing (4) — "R'n'B shovelware."

@BreatheBox (0) — "this was very unnecessary..."

@mokitsu (0) — "I'm being harsh with this one just because it's totally redundant. You don't need to take a gorgeous song and just slap a feature on it. It had no business being included on #1s."​

—


​
 
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vague

vague

This is the first cut that really stings for me tbh . . .


































63.png


Tell me what you need
Let me give you everything
Every moment I'm alive
Until the end of time

tilltheendoftime.png


#63
"Till The End Of Time"

Score: 7.072
High scores: 10×3 (@P'NutButter, @EricG1990, @Oleander), 9.5×1 (@nikkysan), 9×4 (@BEST FICTION, @londonrain, @Slice of Life, @Veeis)
Low scores: 2×1 (@PayMe), 3×2 (@CasuallyCrazed, @BreatheBox), 4×2 (@Ana Raquel, @Cowboystyle)
My score: 8.75

5 ballots: #43 (tied), 8.25 avg. avg.
10 ballots: #49, 7.805 avg.
15 ballots: #49, 7.87 avg.
20 ballots: #50, 7.728 avg.
25 ballots: #55, 7.442 avg.
30 ballots: #55, 7.438 avg.
35 ballots: #57, 7.233 avg.
40 ballots: #54, 7.404 avg.
45 ballots: #58, 7.237 avg.
50 ballots: #60, 7.068 avg.
55 ballots: #60, 7.125 avg.
60 ballots: #63, 7.065 avg.
61 ballots: #63, 7.072 avg.

Aaaand we're back to the "Emotions" cuts... "Till The End Of Time" is the ninth track from the aforementioned album. If you guessed that it was composed, arranged, and produced by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff and that its lyrics were written solely by Mariah, then you would be correct ddd.

The first time I listened to "Emotions" in full, I was less than enthused. I, of course, loved the singles, but none of the album cuts were hitting me in the way I was hoping they would... As I was nearing the end of the album, I realized I still had a nearly six-minute track left and expected the worst. But. As soon as the song opened with that cooing "Till the end of time, ooh... / Baby, I will love you till the end of time..." I was transfixed. And then those gorgeous synths quietly came in and it instantly became the highlight of the album for me and was all I listened to for the rest of the night (sorry "The Wind" ddd). The rest of the album has grown on me exponentially in the years since, but, singles aside, this still remains its stand out track for me. I'd given this a 10 originally but stupidly rescored this (and a looooad of other tracks ddd) right before the deadline to try and not be such a stan ddd... I wish I'd left its score alone now.​

—
​
@P'NutButter (10) — "Gives me goosebumps, beautiful song."

@londonrain (9) — "Remember when this was sung at Martyn Hett's memorial? I love Mariah's voice on this and the song is very underrated, but I couldn't quite manage a 10 for it."

@Veeis (9) — "Very nice ballad, it should be a closer of the album."

@pop3blow2 (8.6) — "Pretty intro & overall production. I always wanted to like this song more than I do. It's just missing a little something."

@Music Is Life (8.5) — "Okay, this is a cheesy love song, but the production makes it work so well. The lyrics could be worse anyway, but the production and vocals is truly where this song shines."

@bonnieetclyde (8.5) — "THAT intro - so beautiful and puts the hairs at the back of your neck on end. This sounds like one of those big ballads rolling across the end credits of a movie. Stunning."

@Jimmyandroid (8.5) — "Those key changes just get me"

@If You Go (8.5) — "Such a dreamy song, truly a hidden gem in her discography."

@WhatKindOfKylie? (8) — "For a song that deals with a relationship alas coming to an end one way or another, this doesn't feel morbid or corny at all. Yet another example of the class act Miss Mariah Carey really is!" (huh interesting. i've always read this as an unrequited love song personally)

@Imagineitwasus (8) — "Gorgeous."

@Seventeen Days (7.5) — "Something about those gentle pulsing synths at the beginning really caught my attention on this one."

@godspeed (7) — "One the most 'epic' ballads on Emotions... not necessarily a favorite of mine but it's lovely and Mariah is clearly singing her heart out."

@DominoDancing (6.5) — "Another Emotions cut that I just kinda find uninspired, although at least it builds up some drama in the second half."

@abael (6) — "The 'uptempo-ballad-repeat' classic tracklist makes these ballads feel like penance rather than the gifts they are." (that's what shuffle's for, bab)

@BreatheBox (3) — "boring." (girl, really? this is chockful of drama ddd)​

—



"Butterfly" will lose its first track and another single will fall.
 
Oleander

Oleander

vague said:
This is the first cut that really stings for me tbh . . .


































63.png


Tell me what you need
Let me give you everything
Every moment I'm alive
Until the end of time

tilltheendoftime.png


#63
"Till The End Of Time"

Score: 7.072
High scores: 10×3 (@P'NutButter, @EricG1990, @Oleander), 9.5×1 (@nikkysan), 9×4 (@BEST FICTION, @londonrain, @Slice of Life, @Veeis)
Low scores: 2×1 (@PayMe), 3×2 (@CasuallyCrazed, @BreatheBox), 4×2 (@Ana Raquel, @Cowboystyle)
My score: 8.75

5 ballots: #43 (tied), 8.25 avg. avg.
10 ballots: #49, 7.805 avg.
15 ballots: #49, 7.87 avg.
20 ballots: #50, 7.728 avg.
25 ballots: #55, 7.442 avg.
30 ballots: #55, 7.438 avg.
35 ballots: #57, 7.233 avg.
40 ballots: #54, 7.404 avg.
45 ballots: #58, 7.237 avg.
50 ballots: #60, 7.068 avg.
55 ballots: #60, 7.125 avg.
60 ballots: #63, 7.065 avg.
61 ballots: #63, 7.072 avg.

Aaaand we're back to the "Emotions" cuts... "Till The End Of Time" is the ninth track from the aforementioned album. If you guessed that it was composed, arranged, and produced by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff and that its lyrics were written solely by Mariah, then you would be correct ddd.

The first time I listened to "Emotions" in full, I was less than enthused. I, of course, loved the singles, but none of the album cuts were hitting me in the way I was hoping they would... As I was nearing the end of the album, I realized I still had a nearly six-minute track left and expected the worst. But. As soon as the song opened with that cooing "Till the end of time, ooh... / Baby, I will love you till the end of time..." I was transfixed. And then those gorgeous synths quietly came in and it instantly became the highlight of the album for me and was all I listened to for the rest of the night (sorry "The Wind" ddd). The rest of the album has grown on me exponentially in the years since, but, singles aside, this still remains its stand out track for me. I'd given this a 10 originally but stupidly rescored this (and a looooad of other tracks ddd) right before the deadline to try and not be such a stan ddd... I wish I'd left its score alone now.​

—
​
@P'NutButter (10) — "Gives me goosebumps, beautiful song."

@londonrain (9) — "Remember when this was sung at Martyn Hett's memorial? I love Mariah's voice on this and the song is very underrated, but I couldn't quite manage a 10 for it."

@Veeis (9) — "Very nice ballad, it should be a closer of the album."

@pop3blow2 (8.6) — "Pretty intro & overall production. I always wanted to like this song more than I do. It's just missing a little something."

@Music Is Life (8.5) — "Okay, this is a cheesy love song, but the production makes it work so well. The lyrics could be worse anyway, but the production and vocals is truly where this song shines."

@bonnieetclyde (8.5) — "THAT intro - so beautiful and puts the hairs at the back of your neck on end. This sounds like one of those big ballads rolling across the end credits of a movie. Stunning."

@Jimmyandroid (8.5) — "Those key changes just get me"

@If You Go (8.5) — "Such a dreamy song, truly a hidden gem in her discography."

@WhatKindOfKylie? (8) — "For a song that deals with a relationship alas coming to an end one way or another, this doesn't feel morbid or corny at all. Yet another example of the class act Miss Mariah Carey really is!" (huh interesting. i've always read this as an unrequited love song personally)

@Imagineitwasus (8) — "Gorgeous."

@Seventeen Days (7.5) — "Something about those gentle pulsing synths at the beginning really caught my attention on this one."

@godspeed (7) — "One the most 'epic' ballads on Emotions... not necessarily a favorite of mine but it's lovely and Mariah is clearly singing her heart out."

@DominoDancing (6.5) — "Another Emotions cut that I just kinda find uninspired, although at least it builds up some drama in the second half."

@abael (6) — "The 'uptempo-ballad-repeat' classic tracklist makes these ballads feel like penance rather than the gifts they are." (that's what shuffle's for, bab)

@BreatheBox (3) — "boring." (girl, really? this is chockful of drama ddd)​

—



"Butterfly" will lose its first track and another single will fall.
Click to expand...

tumblr_nv8w85vq4d1ql5yr7o2_400.gif


This song deserved so much better you monsters! As for the low scorers....

tumblr_n146jiIIl51qg5o2oo6_250.gif
 
londonrain

londonrain

Staff member
I’m fine with Whenever You Call going as long as the solo version is headed for the top 40. I can’t at people acting like multi-platinum-selling artist and 16-time Grammy nominee Brian McKnight is a nobody, though.

A Grammy-nominated US #3 duet:


A gold-certified US #2 smash with a Grammy-nominated video:


A US #13 classic that's been covered by a whole range of artists:


Till The End Of Time is gorgeous and so many of you need to get taste.

This is the performance I was referring to. Obviously it’s not a patch on Mimi but I loved that someone thought to perform it:



especially since she actually recorded a message to be played at his funeral.

 
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abael

abael

Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the rate so far, with Never Forget You being the worst hit so far. With Butterfly in the cross-hairs, it looks like good times will be continuing.
 
CasuallyCrazed

CasuallyCrazed

I hope it's "Babydoll" or "Fly Away" that falls, I can't really bear to lose any other song from Butterfly.

I must say the remixes are all performing better than I thought they would. I hope they start dropping off soon.
 
londonrain

londonrain

Staff member
CasuallyCrazed said:
I hope it's "Babydoll" or "Fly Away" that falls, I can't really bear to lose any other song from Butterfly.

I must say the remixes are all performing better than I thought they would. I hope they start dropping off soon.
Click to expand...
Given how much we've been differing on our scores lately, I'm surprised that I agree this much with one of your posts.

(The Always Be My Baby and I Still Believe remixes can stay, though - they're basically different singles with their own videos anyway.)
 
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