Mariah Carey:
The Emancipation of Mimi

Release Date: 04 April 2005

Reviewed By: Kate Watkins

1. It's Like That

2. We Belong Together

3. Shake It Off

4. Mine Again

5. Say Somethin'

6. Stay The Night

7. Get Your Number

8. One And Only

9. Circles

10. Your Girl

11. I Wish You Knew

12. To The Floor

13. Joy Ride

14. Fly Like A Bird

15. Sprung (Bonus track)

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When Mariah Carey burst onto the music scene in the early 1990s, we were all impressed by the girl’s vocals. We loved the fact that she could sing, REALLY SING, like divas of the past. Recently Mariah has had her share of bad press, relationships and criticism, so it seems fair that she should be able to speak or sing out against it.

On ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’, Mariah goes back to her singing routes, which really, she never left, but there’s something about the vocals on this particular album that reminds me of why we loved Mariah Carey so much in the first place.

Take ‘Circles’, for instance. It’s a ballad with soul, passion and a certain vulnerability that we haven’t seen from Mariah in a long time. The music is classic 70s smooth R&B, reminiscent of Marvin Gaye. On the track, Mariah shows off her amazing vocal range. She effortlessly hits those high notes that we have come to expect from her. When she sings about how nothing is the same since her lover left, you can honestly feel the intensity of her emotions.

The first single of the album, ‘It’s Like That’ does not do justice to the rest of album. It is also her saying ‘F-off’ to all those people who have let her down in the past. It’s fun and quirky, and Mariah is showing us her diva-esque attitude and lifestyle to the full, but the song lacks depth. It’s redundant. Still, it gets in your head and doesn’t ever leave, so it’s a great pop song.

Throughout the album, Mariah duets with some of the biggest names in hip-hop. Again, she works with Snoop Dogg on ‘Say Somethin’, which is overall quite “poppy” for his work. Perhaps the biggest collaborative disappointment of the album is ‘To The Floor’ with Nelly. It seems like everyone is working with Nelly right now. Unfortunately, the track doesn’t work for either artist. The track is lacklustre and boring, with a generic melody and beats that every boy band on the block have used. With Mariah’s mesmerising vocals and Nelly’s outlandish rapping, these two just don’t mix. Fortunately, the album is much stronger than this song.

‘Shake It Off’ is one of the best tracks on the album. Mariah is clearly emancipating herself from a less than ideal relationship as the lyrics reveal. The ‘Shake It Off’ chorus is catchy and actually makes you want to shake more things than a bad relationship. The song is honest and it reveals just how hard it can sometimes be to let go of things and how you just need that extra punch or shake.

Vocally and musically, Mariah Carey is back to her roots on ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’ The vocals, especially on the ballads, are outstanding. The album has a fun 70s hip-hip feel to it. It’s smooth and easy to listen to. What Mariah does well on this album is sing! That’s why she has sold millions of records to date, that’s why we love her and that’s why this album is a must listen to!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Best Three Tracks:
3) Shake It Off
9) Circles
10) Your Girl

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