The unravelling of Mariah Carey

Grammy-award winning singer Mariah Carey has always been music royalty. In 1990, she shot to stardom with her album Vision of Love, which spawned four chart-topping singles in the US, and cemented her position as Columbia Records’s highest selling act.

Her song One Sweet Day, which she collaborated with on with Boyz II Men, spent a record sixteen weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1995–1996. The song remains the longest-running number-one song in US chart history. Carey has 18 number one singles, more than any other solo artist.

However, the superstar has gone from safe black gowns to revealing ensembles in the span of a nearly three decade-long career. We can credit her metamorphosis to her album Butterfly. In fact, Carey’s career can be segregated into two distinct halves — the pre-Butterfly era and the post-Butterfly era. Seventeen years ago, the hit-maker released what is widely considered to be her most creative and best, album to date; her ‘magnum opus’ — Butterfly. Regardless of whether you agree or not, there’s no denying that the 1997 album marked a defining moment in the diva’s life—personally, artistically and professionally.

Mottola trauma

The first single from the album, Honey, may have been about sensual yearning, but it is also symbolic of the emancipation Carey experienced by its release. It felt like she was free to sing sensually and dress provocatively. She did not allow herself to be controlled, and went ahead with it. With an end result so undeniably infectious, no one could stop Mariah from enjoying her new-found freedom. Of course, her controlling then-husband, and manager, Tommy Mottola wanted her to look and sound a certain way (the wholesome pop princess). After signing Carey, he made her break up with her boyfriend, who was also her collaborator. Mottola also took control of all her producers and song writers; and refused to allow her downtime to relax and enjoy her success. After the couple married in 1993, the abuse worsened. Mariah couldn’t collaborate with who she wanted to work it; she was forced to do albums she did not like. In a bid to isolate her from friends and family, he relegated her to a home in New York suburbs. In Mottola’s memoir, Hitmaker, he feels little remorse. In fact, he feels justified: “If it seemed like I was controlling, I apologise. Was I obsessive? Yes. But that was also part of the reason for her success.”

Mariah soon split with Mottola — personally and professionally. Butterfly was her life story in song. With the album, she wanted people to know that she was her own boss. The album was so different from anything she had ever done. The sound was edgier, lyrics raunchier, and her outfits became shorter. She wasn’t the same Mariah.

Seventeen years later, Carey has released several albums, has chosen to incorporate a ‘breathy sound’ to her vocal repertoire, has become a respected actress — she won good reviews for her roles in Academy Award-nominated films Precious and The Butler, and has even had a renaissance of sorts after her very public breakdown in 2003-04. Mariah, however, has become a caricature of herself.

To this generation, she’s known more for her diva tantrums as opposed to her music. She went on to marry presenter/rapper Nick Cannon in 2008 and the couple had twins. They split in 2014. Now, the 46-year-old is dating her back-up dancer Bryan Tanaka, 33, following her most recent failed engagement to Australian businessman James Packer. She reportedly threw a laptop out the window after Packer did the unthinkable… he played a Beyonce song. Sources said, “Mariah threw the computer that was playing the song via speakers out the window. She ran out of the room screaming. Carey had a few glasses of wine to cool down.”

Apparently, the 46-year-old has forbidden other female pop-stars’ music from being played in her and James’ house. “It’s either Mariah, jazz or classical!,” a source said.

Mariah’s World

Carey’s much-anticipated reality docu-series, Mariah’s World, which premiered on December 2, 2016, gives us a larger-than-life peek into the singer’s life, and the behind-the-stage drama that usually follows her when she tours. The series covers everything from a wardrobe malfunction to her very public split with Packer. Through sneak-peeks of the series, we learn Mariah has 15 assistants who ensure she doesn’t have to do anything — except be fabulous, of course. She also has someone to hold her drink while she sips it out of a straw.

Mariah, while we enjoy the diva antics, we hope the music improves as well.