I am a Mariah Carey fan. Growing up in the 90s, it was hard not to be. With Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Toni Braxton, and Vanessa Williams at the top of every R&B or Adult contemporary hits list, it was a golden age of solo female power ballads.
I thought I had a decent understanding of Mariah’s discography from when she burst onto the scene with 1990’s Vision of Love. However, there is an entire era (or multiple eras) of Mimi with which I am unfamiliar.
This book is not a memoir. It is not a biography. It is an extremely detailed breakdown of how she uses her breathtaking five-octave range to weave a tapestry of sound with her voice.
My favorite parts of this book were examples, from articles written about her at the time, of how the media denigrated her, saying that she was only famous because she was dating a record producer. While that was true (the dating a record producer part), how can anyone doubt her musical talent? Regardless of whether or not you were a fan of her music or vocal style, she is an unbelievably talented singer.
If you are a decades-long fan of her work, then you will probably enjoy this book. As for me, I will content myself with listening to the music of this living legend, and hope she continues to grace us with her talent for many years to come.
On a related note, my heart breaks for Celine Dion. It is difficult to accept the recent news of how far her illness has progressed. Celine, you will always be a goddess.