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Friday, December 26, 2008
The Long & Twisted Road... With Mariah
What a storied history I have with Mariah
Carey. In 13 years at Billboard, only a handful of anecdotes bear repeating... when Vanessa Williams proved face to face to be the #+++$ she now deliciously
plays on "Ugly Betty"; when Clive Davis came after me, knives sharpened, for dissing Rod Stewart and Justin Timberlake (complete with a hand-signed
letter that hangs at home); and digs at Mariah, actually credited, in part, for her temporary insanity in the New York Post. (click right, below)
In another time, Billboard indulged single reviews that were less than complementary. As singles reviews editor since 1998, my reputation was forged on delicious venom: If I loved a song, you got the sweetest embrace, but established artists that took a misstep were demonized. So when Mariah turned toward hip-hop, I attacked, writing several just plain mean reviews.
Meanwhile, Mariah was the first artist I had the pleasure of meeting when I started at Billboard. Around Thanksgiving 1995, my Billboard muse Larry Flick took me to her Madison Square Garden TV special taping, where we met her. It was magic.
The photo below really tells the story here.
After so many rude reviews, Ayhan and I attended a Z100 concert and, with all-access credentials, squeezed into Mariah's dressing room-and eek, there she
was with some guy named Randy Jackson, who, of course, is now the renowned "American Idol" judge. Mariah comes forth, I introduce myself and she
announces, "I know who you are." Pause. I say, "Are you gonna hit me?" She laughs, and I launch into a diatribe about my reviews that, to
this day, I'm convinced was inspired by angels. I say something to the effect of, "You know, I have followed your career since the beginning, so
when you disappoint, I hold you to the highest standard. I expect nothing but the best, given what I know you're able to achieve."
Her response: "Really? Oh,
thank you," with total sweetness." Then we posed for the pic here... Of course, I was never again able to write a negative word, given Mariah's
humility. Fortunately, she came back with "We Belong Together," rediscovering melody, making my job much easier...
Now Sony has released "Mariah Carey: The Ballads" (above. left), an album I adore... Ah, the memories... the good times... the '90s... and then the third meeting with Lady M, with Kristina in 2007. Amen!
Last Edited By: marypoppinsmyass Dec 26 08 11:33 AM. Edited 2 times
