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THE MARIAH RUMOR MILL |
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Have you heard the latest scoops and rumors about Mariah and want confirmation about the truth? Or do you have a Mariah question you've been dying to ask? Well here's your chance! Every month, the team at Mariah Daily will be posting the answers to the most original and most asked questions we receive. You can submit your questions to us by clicking here. Then check back on this page soon to see if your question has been selected and answered.
OCTOBER 2004
I downloaded a file from the Internet that is supposed to be an instrumental
version of Mariah's new single. Is it for real?
No. There is an instrumental track being spread around the Internet, thanks
to placement on several message boards and fan sites, but it is not an authentic
file. It is absolutely not Mariah's new single.
Is it true that The Neptunes are producing for Mariah's upcoming album?
Yes. Mariah's friend and MTV Europe correspondent Jasmine Dotiwala has made
mention that Mariah has been in the studio working with Pharrell Williams on
new material. This was also reported by UK Flava, a British entertainment magazine.
The real confirmation comes from The Neptunes' official
website, which states that they are currently in the studio with Mariah.
Is it true that Mariah is planning on recording an album of jazz songs?
No. Earlier this year, a rumor was spread stating that an Australian record
store was informed by their local branch of EMI Records that Mariah's next release
would be a cover album of jazz standards. This rumor is false and completely
unmerited, as Mariah is no longer signed to Virgin Records, which is owned by
EMI.
Is it true that Mariah did a song with Prince a few years ago?
Yes. Mariah collaborated with Prince on a song originally intended to go onto
the "Glitter" soundtrack album, but the song wasn't finished in time. Mariah
and Prince have become friends since working on that track, but there are currently
no plans to release it.
Is it true that there is a feud between Mariah and Alicia Keys?
When Mariah threw her Halloween Party last year in England, she invited Alicia,
who showed up and spent the night hanging out with her. Mariah has always stated
that she enjoys listened to Alicia's music. However, Alicia's praise regarding
Mariah's music doesn't seem as forthcoming. She commented about her time spent
at Columbia Records before being dropped and signed to J Records. "They were
trying to turn me into Mariah Carey or something. Some people at the label were
saying, 'What's this? It’s kind of soulful. Where are the pop smashes?' They
wanted my hair blown out and flowing, my dresses shorter, and they wanted me
to lose weight." We wouldn't say this is a basis for a feud, however.
When and how did Mariah come up with the term "lamb" when referring to her
fans?
Many people assume this term was coined during the "Rainbow" album era, because
that is when Mariah most frequently used it, but it actually started several
years earlier during the "Butterfly" album era. The first widely-spread usages
of the term can be heard during Mariah's phone call to Carson Daly on his show
MTV Live in early 1998, and in the music video to "My All/Stay A While," where
the word "lamby" is written on the wall and Mariah is holding a lamb plush toy.
Mariah says, "My use of this term originated from a story told to me by Trey
Lorenz which would not be politically correct to repeat." Regardless, it is
used as a term of endearment, which Mariah uses with her closest friends as
well as her fans.
Is it true that Mariah is planning to have her first child next year by means
of artificial insemination?
No. This rumor was started by oFuxico, a Brazilian tabloid famous for generating
completely random and untrue stories.
Is Mariah's boyfriend the guy she was with at the Operation Smile collection
show in May?
No. The guy Mariah attended that charity event with is Shawn McDonald, her nephew,
who is a member of Operation Smile's executive committee.
Is it true the Mariah filmed videos for "Reflections" and "Lead The Way"?
No. Although both of these singles were released in limited format (exclusively
in Japan and Spain, respectively), Mariah did not film videos for either song.
There was, however, a promotional clip released to MTV Asia for "Lead The Way"
that showed Mariah in the studio working on the track, mixed in with clips from
"Glitter" and images of Mariah from that era.
How many Grammy nominations does Mariah have and what are they?
Although she has only won twice, Mariah has accumulated twenty three (23) Grammy
nominations in her career: Album of the Year ("Mariah Carey"), Record of the
Year ("Vision Of Love"), Song of the Year ("Vision Of Love"), Best New Artist
and Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Vision Of Love") at the 1991 Grammys; Producer
of the Year and Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Emotions") at the 1992 Grammys;
Female Pop Vocal Performance ("MTV Unplugged") and Best R&B Duo/Group ("I'll
Be There" with Trey Lorenz) at the 1993 Grammys; Female Pop Vocal Performance
("Dreamlover") at the 1994 Grammys; Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Hero") and
Pop Collaboration With Vocals ("Endless Love” with Luther Vandross) at the 1995
Grammys; Album of the Year ("Daydream"), Record of the Year ("One Sweet Day"),
Pop Album ("Daydream"), Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Fantasy"), Pop Collaboration
With Vocals ("One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men) and Female R&B Vocal Performance
("Always Be My Baby") at the 1996 Grammys; Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Butterfly"),
Female R&B Vocal Performance ("Honey") and R&B Song ("Honey") at the 1998 Grammys;
Pop Collaboration With Vocals ("When You Believe" with Whitney Houston) at the
1999 Grammys; and Pop Collaboration With Vocals ("Thank God I Found You" with
Joe & 98 Degrees) at the 2001 Grammys.
JULY 2004
Is it true Mariah has a new boyfriend?
Yes. Mariah confirmed it herself during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon in February. However, that's all we're going to reveal. If and when Mariah decides to make her new relationship more public, that will be her own decision.
Is it true Mariah filmed a music video for "And You Don't Remember"?
No. A very short video clip of Mariah performing "And You Don't Remember" is floating around the Internet tagged as a snippet from an unreleased music video Mariah did for the song. In actuality, Mariah filmed the bit for a Sony Mini Disc commercial that aired exclusively in Japan from 1992 through 1993. Although early promotional ads for the "Emotions" album suggested that "And You Don't Remember" would be a single release (and it may have likely been had the "Unplugged" EP not been released with "I'll Be There"), this clip was filmed strictly for the commercial: the lightning bolt Mariah is walking on in the video, as well as her matching earrings, as symbolic of the Sony Mini Disc player.
What's going on with the Charmbracelet Tour DVD release?
Although nothing is "written in stone" per say, reports from the international offices of Universal Music suggest that any plans of releasing the Charmbracelet Tour on DVD and VHS have been abandoned or postponed indefinitely.
How popular is Mariah in Japan? Has she had any Japanese number ones?
Mariah is quite popular in Japan. She is the biggest selling international artist in the country, with over 12 million in sales. She has several #1 singles there ("All I Want For Christmas Is You," "Fantasy," "Honey," "When You Believe," "Heartbreaker," and "Loverboy") as well as #1 albums ("Merry Christmas," "Daydream," "Butterfly," "#1's," "Glitter" and "Charmbracelet"). "Glitter" was the No. 1 selling album in Japan, where it became the first international soundtrack to achieve a No. 1 status. Her three-show Japanese concert debut at the Tokyo Dome (a capacity of 156,000 seats) was sold out in under 30 minutes and her follow-up shows in Japan have all sold out within hours.
In which performance did Mariah reach her highest vocal note?
This is a tricky one, as every live performance has not been professionally recorded and documented. It is believed, however, that the highest vocal note Mariah has hit was the Eb6 note performed during the extra notes of "Emotions" at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards.
Is it true that Mariah is featured on the soundtrack album to "Men In Black"?
The Trey Lorenz song "Make You Happy" is featured on the soundtrack album to "Men In Black". Mariah co-wrote the song, co-produced it with Cory Rooney, and performed background vocals (under the codename "Honey B. Fly").
JUNE 2004
Is it true Mariah's wedding was an exact copy of Princess Diana's?
No, although Mariah did watch videotapes of the Royal Wedding to get ideas for her June 5, 1993 marriage to Tommy Mottola. Mariah has explained, "The ceremony was really traditional, so I wanted to look at examples of a traditional wedding to get some ideas. So I watched it, like, twice. I didn't sit at home with the VCR and clicker and keep rewinding though."
Is it true that Mariah's "Honey" video, in which she's held captive in a mansion, was done to show people how trapped she felt in her marriage to Tommy Mottola?
Although Mariah says the comparison wasn't a complete coincidence, she adds, "It was also inspired by the James Bond movies. Plus, it's racist to assume that just because the actor in the video is Italian, he's supposed to be Tommy." Mariah says that actually Chris Farley and Dennis Leary were each approached to play the villain role, but neither was available.
Is Mariah's sister Allison still living? Mariah does not seem to mention.
Allison is alive and well, but hasn't been in the media headlines in the last few years.
Is it true that Mariah said, "I'd love to be skinny as those kids in poor countries but not with all those flies and death and stuff"?
This rumor is absolutely false. The quote originally appeared in a satirical "interview" on the Internet in a web publication called Cupcake in early 1996 (the full "interview" can be read at snopes.com.) Although debunking of the story appeared in print, the quote is still being circulated nearly ten years after it first was made up.
What songs did Mariah perform at the G-A-Y Club? She looked like she was really into them.
Mariah performed three songs at the G-A-Y Club in London: "Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)", "Boy (I Need You)" and "Subtle Invitation".
Is it true that Mariah's 16 weeks at #1 for "One Sweet Day" on Billboard's Hot 100 is still a record?
Yes, "One Sweet Day" still holds the record for the single that spent the most weeks at #1 (16 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. A few songs have come close to breaking it, though. (Most recently, Usher's "Yeah!", which spent 12 weeks at #1.)
Will Mariah ever release her autobiography or has it been postponed permanently?
Mariah has said that it's too early in her life to write a full memoir; but last year, Mariah had planned on releasing "Through The Rain", a book based on the struggles she faced during childhood and how she overcame adversity. The book was also to include poetry written by Mariah, but the project was put on hold by her new manager Benny Medina.
Does Mariah actually have a mini version of her dog Jack?
Mariah used to have a dog named Aspen, whom she introduced on "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee" in 2000. She called him "mini Jack" because he looked so much like Jack, another one of Mariah's dogs. He currently does not reside with Mariah, however.
MAY 2004
Is it true that Mariah doesn't warm up her voice before she performs?
Mariah is very conscientious about her voice. She has stated that she does warm up before giving performances, and likes to "throw everybody out of the room" when doing so. However, she makes sure not to strain them too much and even tries not to speak at all in the days between concerts.
Can you tell me which songs were on Mariah's infamous demo tape that was given to Tommy Mottola?
"Alone In Love", "Someday", "All In Your Mind", "Prisoner" and "Do You Ever Wonder"
Is it true that Mariah lip synched during her performance at Madison Square Gardens in 1995?
Absolutely not. The show was taped live in front of thousands of fans as a part of a television special for the FOX Network. However, some of the songs were sung more than once and were later edited and mixed together.
Will Mariah's new album be called "Princess"?
Mariah's upcoming album title hasn't been announced yet. All current rumors are absolutely baseless.
FOX News says that Mariah "lifted" her song "Emotions" from the "The Best of My love". The article also claims that Mariah has had to settle numerous lawsuits in court for other songs she has used without permission. Is this true?
Mariah has indeed been accused several times of supposedly using melodies of other tracks (in addition to "Emotions", there have been lawsuits against "Can't Let Go", "Make It Happen", "Hero", and "Thank God I Found You".) Very few of these charges made it to court and the ones that did were quickly dismissed and ruled in favor of Mariah. One exception is "Emotions," which was settled out of court.
When Mariah jokingly said that her fans can come and stay at her house, a group of Spanish fans turned up at her door hoping to stay but Mariah didn't want to send them away so she put them up in a five star hotel after meeting with them! Does that mean she'd do the same if i turned up at her door?
That was definitely a misunderstanding. It is more than safe to assume that Mariah prefers not to have fans visiting her house and it is best to respect her wishes and her privacy.
Exactly how much of Glitter is autobiographical? Was Mariah's mom an addict or anything? I thought she was an Opera singer!
Mariah repeatedly said that "Glitter" is not autobiographical and specifically pointed the differences between her mother and Billie's mother. Mariah went on to say that she was never abandoned by her mother and has always been in good relations with her.
Is Shawn McDonald Mariah's boyfriend or cousin?
Neither. Shawn is Mariah's nephew (her sister's son.)
What are some of the producers that Mariah is currently working with on her new album?
Confirmed producers for the upcoming album are Kanye West, Randy Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Swizz Beatz, and Damizza. However, just because Mariah is working with these people doesn't mean that the tracks will end up on the final cut of the album. Keep checking the site for updates regarding the new album!
Did Mariah sign a $25 million deal with Coca-Cola Japan?
No. Mariah recorded a song entitled "Misty Moon" to be used in commercials advertising Sokenbicha, a blend tea manufactured by Coca-Cola Japan. Although she was undoubtedly compensated for her participation, it was not for $25 million.
FEBRUARY 2004
Is it true that Mariah's next album will be titled "Lollypop"?
Absolutely not! Just like the "Candyland" title, this rumor was started by a so-called Mariah fan (although this time it was a different one). The story originated on The Velvet Rope, a popular online music forum, and quickly spread to the New York Post's gossip column. It was even mentioned on MTV News and Total Request Live! However, it is totally false and has been dismissed by Mariah's publicist.
Is it true that Mariah has a scar on her back, which is why she always wears tattoos?
Yes, this is true. Mariah once had a mole on her back, which she had removed "before she became famous." The surgeon apparently didn't know what he was doing and the removal left a scar on her back, which is why she usually covers it up with a temporary tattoo when wearing backless gowns and tops.
Did Michelle Branch really diss Mariah?
Maybe not Mariah as a human being, but when asked by People Magazine how she would stack up against the American Idol wannabes, Michelle replied by saying, "Don't you have to sing something stupid like a Mariah Carey song?" So while she didn't directly disrespect Mariah as a person, she did essentially call Mariah's music "stupid."
Is it true Mariah appeared on a remix to Mary J. Blige’s song "No More Drama"?
Nope! Although Mariah and Mary are friends, they have never recorded a song together. Mariah did, however, make a cameo appearance in the music video for the album version of Mary's "No More Drama" single along with P. Diddy.
Is Louise McNally still Mariah's manager? What's going on with Mariah and Benny Medina?
Yes. Louise is still serving as Mariah's personal manager at offices in New York. Benny Medina is serving as Mariah's Los Angeles representative and began advising her last summer when Louise's son died and Louise took some time off.
Was the "Glitter" soundtrack really that big of a commercial failure?
Although the "Glitter" soundtrack failed to live up to the mega success of past Mariah efforts, the concept album did achieve global success on a respective level. The soundtrack has been certified platinum in America (as of January 14th, 2004, it had sold 590,050 in the United States alone, and over two million copies internationally). The album hit No. 1 on the Billboard Soundtrack chart, and was No. 1 in Brazil, Greece, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and entered the Top 10 in Spain, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the United States. "Glitter" was also the No. 1 selling album in Japan, where it became the first international soundtrack to achieve a No. 1 status. The album also produced the best-selling single of 2001 in the United States - "Loverboy" - which also hit No. 1 in Japan and on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales, and Hot 100 Singles Sales.
JANUARY 2004
Were Mariah and Eminem really on Celebrities Uncensored?
Nope! A false article was created and posted on PopDirt.com that stated that Mariah and Eminem would be featured on E! TV's "Celebrities Uncensored" getting into the same car after leaving a club together. However, when it came time for the supposed episode to air, there was no sign of Mariah or Eminem.
Is it true that Mariah decided to never attend another Grammy awards show after her Music Box album didn't win a single Grammy in 1993?
No. Mariah attended the March 1996 ceremony of the Grammys where she performed "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men. That year "Daydream" was up for 6 nominations. However, Mariah didn't win any of these awards and has never attended the Grammy Awards show ceremony since, even when she was nominated. However, she did attend an after-show party at the 1999 Grammys to honor Stevie Wonder.
What is Mariah's opinion on Madonna? Have they ever had a history or fued?
The current quality of the relations between Madonna and Mariah is unkown, although in the past they have commented negatively about each other.
I heard a "G-Unit" Remix of "I Know What You Want" with 50 Cent. Is it official?
50 Cent recorded an enterpolation of "I Know What You Want" called "Baby Get On Your Knees." The song uses the same beats and melody from "I Know What You Want" but is in no way an official remix. The song was never released commercially and is only available on several mixtapes.
Is it true that the video for "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" is based on the movie "The Rose"?
Yes! The “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak" music video is based on the 1979 Academy Award nominated film "The Rose," which stars Bette Midler as a destructive female rock star named Mary Rose Foster, a character modeled after Janis Joplin. The movie tells the story Rose's relationship with her boyfriend Huston Dyer, which is both blissful and volatile, while following her career during her last tour. Her rock and roll lifestyle of Drugs, Sex and Rock and Roll and constant touring lead her to an inevitable breakdown and ultimately, her death. Kristopher Buckle, Mariah's makeup artist, brought the original idea for the video to Mariah.
I heard a song called "There For Me" on the internet about a year ago. Why wasn't it released?
"There For Me" is a song that Mariah co-wrote with Diane Warren and co-produced with David Foster. Although originally concocted during the "Rainbow" album era, the song was only completed and released in December 2001 as the b-side track on the American edition of the "Never Too Far/Hero Medley" single.
How many pets does Mariah own? What are their names?
Over the years, Mariah has accumulated roughly twenty pets! Included are two Persian cats (Thompkins and Ninja), two tabby cats (Clarence and Willy), two Dobermans (Princess and Duke), two Jack Russell Terriers (Jack and Aspen), two Shih Tzus (Bing and Bong), as well as a Himalayan cat (Puff), an American Shorthair (Tokyo), a Yorkshire Terrier (Ginger), a Golden Retriever (Bear), an Irish Setter (Guam), a Cocker Spaniel (Sky), and two horses: Misty, a Palmino, and Kid, a Quarter horse.
While watching "WiseGirls", I noticed on the end credits the one of them said "MonarC Films". Is Mariah's record company also in the movie business?
MonarC Entertainment has been standing behind every Mariah-credited project since it is her company. They have yet to produce any other films or records besides Mariah's.
DECEMBER 2003
I read that Mariah's next album is titled "Candyland." Is that true?
Absolutely not! The entire "Candyland" article, which appeared on several Mariah fan sites, is completely false and totally fabricated, although those sites claimed that the article was from Entertainment Weekly magazine. MariahDaily.com chose not to post this fabricated article and chooses not to post any article without a confirmed source or authentic web link.
What is that song in the beginning of Glitter?
The song in the beginning of Glitter is called "Lillie's Blue (Can't Turn You Loose)." It was written by Mariah, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and James "Big Jim" Wright, and performed by Valarie Pettiford and Isabel Gomes. It was never professionally released.
What are Mariah's plans for 2004?
Mariah is currently confirmed to be starring in the Bill Kenwright stage production of Terence Rattigan's play The Sleeping Prince. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin in January. In addition, a home video and DVD release of her Charmbracelet World Tour performance in Paris is on the release schedule. Mariah is also writing material which could potentially appear on her next studio album. Although some reports suggest that a new album may be out by the end of 2004, Lionel Cole, Mariah's writing partner and pianist, suggests that a 2005 release date is more likely due to Mariah's "future commitments." One of those commitments could be the Jordan Brady-directed film The Sweet Science, although The Philippine Star reports that Mariah gave up her role in the boxing movie in order to extend her world tour. Regardless, let it be clear that all future plans, by nature, are tentative and subject to change.
Does Mariah have a Walk Of Fame Star? What are the requirements?
Mariah does not have a Hollywood Walk Of Fame star. Anyone, including a fan, can nominate a celebrity as long as the celebrity's management is in agreement with the nomination. If there is no letter of agreement included from the celebrity or their representative, the committee will not accept the application. If the application is selected, the ceremony will cost $15,000. Several fans have approached Mariah's record label asking for their help in getting Mariah a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The next recipients will be announced in June 2004.
Is it true Mariah hates the gay community? What does she think of it?
Mariah told HX Magazine in 2001, "I'm so grateful for the support of the gay community. They keep a girl like me alive and kicking." Earlier this year, Mariah gave a special performance at G-A-Y, London's (and some say Europe's) largest gay and lesbian night club.
Did Mariah win an Oscar for When You Believe?
Mariah's duet with Whitney Houston, "When You Believe" (From "The Prince Of Egypt"), won an Oscar for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture at the 71st Academy Awards. However, the award was presented to Stephen Schwartz, the song's writer, and not the song's performers.
Did Mariah not include "I Don’t Wanna Cry" on the #1's CD because she dislikes the song?
Although Mariah has expressed a general dislike of "I Don’t Wanna Cry," her fourth US #1 single, the reasoning for excluding the track on the International edition of #1's was because the song was only released in the US and Japan. "Without You" was included on the International editions instead, simply because it was hugely successful and charted as a #1 single throughout the world, although not in the US.
Does Mariah sing background vocals on Allure's debut album?
In addition to writing and co-producing the cuts "Head Over Heels" and "Last Chance" for Allure's 1997 self-titled debut album, Mariah also sings background vocals on those two songs as well as "All Cried Out," although she isn’t named in the album's credits, despite being vocally recognizable on those songs, specifically "Head Over Heels," on which she practically sings the chorus.
Does Mariah still keep in touch with her high school friend Josefin? I remember she was in Mariah's 1993 television special.
Based on public appearances, Mariah and Josefin are still good friends and meet occasionally, specifically when Mariah visits Europe because Josefin currently lives in Sweden. They are also often seen vacationing together and were most recently spotted together last month in Rotterdam (Holland), where Mariah was giving a concert.
I saw a program on Canada's Much More Music that showed Mariah filming a music video for "The One" in Tokyo. When is it going to be released?
In November 2002, Mariah filmed segments of the music video for her second single off the Charmbracelet album, which at the time was intended to be "The One." Due to production setbacks and crowd control issues, the filming of the music video couldn't be completed in Japan and was later resumed in Los Angeles. By that time, however, Mariah's record label decided that they wanted to release "Boy (I Need You)" instead, so the segments that had been filmed for "The One" music video were incorporated into the video clip for "Boy (I Need You)."
NOVEMBER 2003
The sample in the remix version of "I Still Believe" featuring Da Brat and Krayzie Bone sounds familiar. What is it?
The Damizza Remix of "I Still Believe" featuring Da Brat and Krayzie Bone includes an interpolation of "Pure Imagination" - the same song Gene Wilder performed in the 1971 movie classic, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Does Mariah Carey have a middle name?
No, Mariah doesn't have a middle name! She says her mother thought she would have a good stage name without one.
Is it true that Mariah's real last name is Nuñez?
Mariah and her family had always believed that 'Carey' was a name her Venezuelan grandfather had made up to sound more American when he immigrated to the United States. It turns out that Mariah's great-grandmother Margarita Nuñez was with a man named Carey. They weren't married, but Mariah’s grandfather took his name because he was actually his father.
Does Mariah smoke?
Not anymore! Mariah confessed that she started smoking when she was 12 years old but stopped six years later when she was 18 because it was damaging her voice. These days, Mariah is very precautious to avoid smoke and has explained numerous times that it can hurt her vocal chords.
If I wrote to Mariah and asked her for an autograph, would she send me one?
Mariah has no public mailing address. If you join her fan club at honeybfly.com, you will be sent a pre-printed autographed photo, a mailing address for fan letters and the opportunity to win signed merchandise. It's worth a shot!
Is it true that Mariah doesn't read her fan mail?
Mariah receives thousands of fan letters by mail wherever she goes. It's only reasonable to assume that she can't read and personally answer each one of them. However, Mariah is known to carry her fan mail in suitcases when she travels and takes time to read as many as possible when traveling by airplane. On several occasions, lucky fans were able to get their letters answered. There is a section on Mariah's official web site where you can submit letters to which she answers every once in a while.
What is Mariah's next single?
"Bringin' On The Heartbreak" was scheduled to be the third official single release off of Charmbracelet. However, the release was shelved worldwide with the exception of a few European countries. There are currently no plans to release another single from this album.
Has Mariah ever met or worked with Lil Kim? Do they get along?
Mariah first met Lil Kim at an event sponsored by Bad Boy Entertainment in 1996. Lil Kim was supposed to be on the original remix of "Loverboy" alongside Da Brat and Twenty II, but those plans were ditched. Mariah and Lil Kim have a mutual respect for each other and both enjoy each others' music.
Is it true that Mariah and Beyonce don't like each other?
There's no truth to this rumor! Mariah and Beyonce have met several times over the years, including Divas Live in 2000, the United We Stand Benefit Concert in 2001, and most recently, the Versace fashion show in Milan, where they posed for pictures together. Both have praised each other on different occasions. Mariah told Maxim Magazine, "I like Beyonce. She's cool. I like that she writes her own songs, as opposed to people who are clearly emulating others a bit too much."
Is it true that Mariah is dating AJ Calloway from BET's 106 and Park?
No. Mariah and AJ are just good friends, and have been for quite some time. AJ and Mariah first met at the very beginning of her career when AJ served as a principle partner of the Horizon Entertainment Group. AJ even attended Mariah's 21st birthday party and makes an appearance in the music video for her 1992 top 5 single, "Make It Happen."
Is it true that the rap portion towards the end of "Prisoner" is actually not Mariah?
Nope! The only voice on "Prisoner" is Mariah herself; including the main vocal, background vocals, and rap breaks. However, it turns out that Mariah isn't really a fan of the song.
On the Doug Banks morning show they said that Mariah was jealous of Eminem's daughter, Haley, and that is why they broke up. If they were really even together, is that true?
Mariah and Eminem were nothing but friends. Mariah has nothing against Eminem's daughter. In fact, she bought a few gifts for her. Radio shows tend to take rumors and pass them off as facts. There's no basis to these rumors whatsoever.
People say that Mariah's voice sounds a little whispery on her Charmbracelet album because she is losing her voice. Is this true?
Mariah's singing style has nothing to do with her vocal ability. Mariah is capable (and has done so in her latest world tour) of singing in other styles than the so-called 'whispering' style.
Has Mariah recorded a duet with Thicke?
According to Thicke's official site, a song featuring backing vocals by Mariah has been recorded. The news has since been removed from the site. A confirmation to it from Mariah's side or any other news has yet to be heard.
Is it true that Mariah was supposed to sing the love theme from Titanic, "My Heart Will Go On," but Tommy Mottola switched her for Celine Dion in a chance to damage Mariah's career?
No. The producers of Titanic only had Celine Dion in mind when writing the song. The only Mariah connection here is that it was produced by Mariah's former writing partner, Walter Afanasieff.
Is Mariah going to be releasing any new material this year?
A short statement from Benny Medina, a new addition to Mariah's management team, suggests that Mariah will have a new album coming out by the end of 2004.
What's the deal with the Justin Timberlake duet version of "Yours"?
Mariah originally recorded "Yours" by herself. Randy Jackson (Mariah's longtime musical director and producer) had played bass guitar on NSYNC's "Gone" and called in Justin to lay down vocals and harmonies for the track. By the time Mariah's album was ready to be released, the duet version hadn't been finalized or legally approved. Apparently, Justin's record label never gave permission for it to be officially released and reports suggest that it is their decision. Reflecting on the duet, Mariah said, "[Justin] did an amazing job on the vocals and I was happy with what he did."
What is the problem between Mariah and Joan Rivers?
There is no problem between them. During the 1999 Academy Awards, Joan Rivers asked Mariah about rumors that she'd gained weight. Mariah went on a diet and credited the motivation to Joan Rivers.
Does Mariah Carey actually have a 7 octave voice?
No. Mariah's vocal range is below 7 octaves, which is barely human. She has said in the past that she's not sure of her range but other the most credible sources claim it goes up to 5 octaves.
Did Mariah ever released a Rainbow Tour video or DVD?
No. There were plans of releasing the Toronto concert from the 2000 Rainbow World Tour as a home video, but no such thing has never happened and isn't likely to happen in the future.
Will Mariah ever consider collaborating with fellow divas like Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Beyonce Knowles and Christina Aguilera?
Mariah recorded a duet with Whitney Houston in 1998 ("When You Believe" from The Prince Of Egypt soundtrack) and has performed live with Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion in the past. She has also talked about wanting to duet with Beyonce, as well.
Why didn't Mariah make a video to "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life"?
Mariah did shoot a video for "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life". The video was never released to music video channels because by then Mariah had left her previous record label. However, it is available for viewing on Mariah's official fan club web site at honeybfly.com.
SEPTEMBER 2003
In "Glitter," Mariah is playing the keyboard. Does she really have piano capabilities?
Yes! In fact, Mariah has written several of her songs, including "Vision of Love" and "All I Want For Christmas Is You," at the piano bench herself. However, because she says her playing skills are limited, when she writes songs, she likes to have someone who is properly skilled with her (such as Walter Afanasieff or Lionel Cole) so they can keep up with the melody she creates and play it back for her.
Did Mariah record a song for "Glitter" called "Destiny" with Jim Brickman?
Nope! "Destiny" is a song featured on Jim Brickman's 1999 album (also titled “Destiny”) and features guest vocals by Jordan Hill and Billy Porter. It’s just another mislabeled Mariah song!
Is it true that Mariah is in the Guinness Book of World Records for hitting the highest note in history?
Nope! This false rumor was created by someone on the Internet last year. Kate Smith, a spokeswoman for the record book says, "It's pure fiction. We don't have a category for highest note by a human."
Why did Faith Hill sing "Where Are You Christmas" instead of Mariah? Besides being the writer of the song, did Mariah also produce this track?
According to People Weekly magazine, Mariah was all set up to sing the song herself, but it just didn't happen, even though Mariah co-wrote the song with James Horner and Will Jennings (the team that wrote "My Heart Will Go On" for Titanic). Mariah's rep told People Weekly that Mariah didn't have the time to record, but insiders say that Sony Music chief Tommy Mottola wouldn't give over the rights that would allow Mariah to sing for rival label MCA/Universal, which released the picture and soundtrack. Faith Hill recorded the song instead, which she co-produced along with Bryan Gallimore.
Is it true that Mariah paid for her promotional trip to Brazil in 1999?
Yes! Mariah's record label at the time, Columbia, wasn't willing to put in the extra money for promotion, so Mariah financed her promotional trip to South America herself, which included a stop in Brazil.
Did Mariah recorded a remix of "X-Girlfriend" with Lil Kim and Lil Cease?
No! Mariah has never recorded a remix to "X-Girlfriend," despite the fact that there are lyrics to a supposed remix floating around on the Internet. It appears that the remix is just a bootleg mix, spliced together from various tracks.
Is it true Mariah has worked on some tracks with the Neptunes and DJ Quik?
According to MTV, Mariah collaborated on two tracks with DJ Quik for her "Charmbracelet" album. However, those songs were not included on the final cut of the album and were never released. As far as the Neptunes, there have been no reports of any Mariah collaborations.
Is it true that David Morales was supposed to do a remix for "Through the Rain"?
Indeed! Mariah's record label approached Morales about remixing Mariah's "Through The Rain," but he refused to do it unless she re-sang her vocals. Mariah didn't have time, so Hex Hector was contracted to do the remix instead. Apparently it was for the better, as the dance mix of "Through The Rain" became Mariah's ninth #1 Club Play single and her first in three years.
Has Mariah ever thought of recording a duet with her mother, whom is also a singer?
When asked this question a few years ago, Mariah responded with, "Maybe for a Christmas album."
Did Mariah ever record songs called "Just A Little Crush" and "How Could An Angel Break My Heart"?
Nope! These songs were recorded by Jennifer Paige and Toni Braxton, respectively. Songs are often mislabeled and distributed on the internet, so be careful because not everything may be what it appears.
AUGUST 2003
Are these plans to put out a new Mariah home video or DVD?
Yes! Mariah's upcoming concert in Paris, France is scheduled to be recorded and released in the future. Mariah has also been traveling with director Sanaa Hamri for nearly a year and together they have been filming everything from television appearances and performances to fan meetings and vacation experiences. This footage is scheduled to be compiled, edited and released as a DVD and home video titled "Complete & Total Access." It is not known when either of these will be available in stores.
Will Mariah be doing any Meet and Greets for her American tour dates?
Yes! 10 fans (plus one guest each) will be selected to attend a meet and greet with Mariah after each date on the North American leg of The Charmbracelet World Tour. In order to qualify, fans must be a member of Mariah's official fan club, Honey B. Fly, and must have purchased tickets to the concert. Winners are chosen randomly and will be contacted via e-mail.
Is it true that Mariah recorded a Spanish version of "After Tonight" with Luis Miguel back in 1999?
Mariah did record a duet version of "After Tonight" when Luis Miguel, but it wasn't in Spanish. The song’s producer, David Foster, told the New York Daily News: "Luis didn't like the end result. The song was written just for Mariah. I had Luis and Mariah record it several different times, but it never sounded right. So she ended up doing it by herself." Mariah apparently also commented to Gala Magazine interviewer Jesse Nash, "It wasn’t in his key. To change it, I would have to redo my vocals, and I didn't have time."
Is Mariah designing a line of women's golf clothing?
No! Mariah said she was only joking when she said that. However, she will be releasing an accessories line called Automatic Princess. Stay tuned for more information regarding that.
Is it true that Mariah has posed for nude pictures on the internet?
Absolutely not! Mariah told FHM Magazine in 1999: "I've seen my 'nude' pictures on the internet. They're not me. They're other girls with curly hair, naked. Some of them have hairy armpits, so they're definitely barking up the wrong tree."
Is it true Mariah is dating The Rock?
Mariah is not dating actor/wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. In fact, there are no documentations of them ever meeting. Dwayne is currently married and recently had a daughter.
Is it true that after Christina Aguilera introduced Mariah on stage at the Top Of The Pops show in 1999, Mariah refused to meet Christina?
Not! They weren't even at the same place together! Christina, who was at the Top Of The Pops studio in London, introduced Mariah via satellite, who was performing "Heartbreaker" at the Top Of The Pops studio in Koln, Germany.
There is a rumor going around that Mariah mimed on her MTV "Shining Through The Rain" television special. Is this true?
The show was recorded live, without any lip synching. But like every television special, it is subject to post-production and audio mixing.
I heard that Mary Ann Tatum actually sang the vocals in the "Glitter" movie instead of Mariah. Is there any truth to this?
Mariah had her backup singer, Mary Ann Tatum, record temporary versions of the songs included in "Glitter." During the original filming of the concert sequences and performance pieces for the movie, Mariah lip-synched to Mary Ann’s vocals. Mariah's own voice was later dubbed into the movie during post-production for the final edit. The reason Mariah did this was to prevent the music from being leaked onto the internet and other outlets.
Did Mariah ever record a song called "Every Time"?
No! "Every Time" was leaked onto the internet and labeled as a song from Mariah's "Glitter" album, before any of the song titles and clips were released. However, the singer is not Mariah (or Mary Ann Tatum, which was another rumor). The original singer is not known, but the track was later recorded by aspiring singer Lexi.
Where did Mariah film "WiseGirls" at?
"WiseGirls" was filmed in Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada and New York City.
Is it true that Mariah doesn't like her song, "I Don't Wanna Cry"? Is this the reason she rarely performs it?
Mariah hinted that she didn’t really care for the song in 1998 when she told MTV: "'I Don't Wanna Cry' didn't really have a message. I think that song of all my songs is the least bit of my personality. Although at the time, I thought it was cool because I had this slick record that sounded like something they'd play on the radio." To date, Mariah has only performed the track on the 1993 Music Box Tour and the 1996 Daydream Tour. It was also one of five songs she performed on her promotional debut showcase tour back in 1990 (along with "Vision Of Love," "Love Takes Time," "Vanishing" and "Don't Play That Song").
Would Mariah ever sing a song that her fan wrote?
It's not likely Mariah would sing a song that she didn't contribute to. Besides the covers she has done throughout the years, there have only been two original songs she sang that she didn’t have writing credits on ("When You Believe" and "All My Life," which were both for special projects.) In fact, she once said: "I can't imagine just having someone hand me a song and be like, 'Okay sing this and record it on your album' and then leave and go home. I love writing songs and contributing to what I'm singing." But anything is possible!
What’s the deal between Mariah and Jennifer Lopez and the song stealing drama? Do they hate each other?
Perhaps they don't absolutely hate each other, as they've never properly met, but there seems to be some resistance from each of them. When Jennifer first was emerging with her music career, there were instant comparisons to Mariah because Jennifer was dressing similar to Mariah, working with the same producers Mariah had worked with, and there were even rumors that Jennifer was dating Tommy Mottola, Mariah's ex-husband and the man that signed Jennifer to Sony Music. All of this reached a climax in 2000 and 2001 when Mariah was filming "Glitter" and recording the accompanying soundtrack. At that time, Mariah was still signed to Sony Music herself and had plans to release the "Glitter" album on that label.
The album's lead single was scheduled to be "Loverboy." Mariah had picked out a sample from Yellow Magic Orchestra's recording of "Firecracker" to be the basis of the song. She worked on it, and the song was included on daily viewings from the filming of "Glitter." But "Glitter" was a Sony Pictures release, which is a sister company of Sony Music. Tommy Mottola, according to sources who worked on the movie, was viewing footage of "Glitter" while Mariah was shooting it.
It was supposedly from these viewings where Tommy got the idea to use the "Firecracker" sample for a Jennifer Lopez song called "I'm Real" (Tommy was the executive producer of Jennifer's album). Sure, it's reasonable to say that two people can sample the same song within the same time period, but "Firecracker" is an obscure instrumental track and isn't widely known. In fact, the publisher of "Firecracker" has said that the song had never been sampled before Mariah called about it.
When the news broke, Mariah was forced to quickly change the sample on "Loverboy" from "Firecracker" to Cameo's "Candy." This set Mariah's "Glitter" project back and when the song was finally released, Billboard Magazine gave it an unusually harsh review, saying that it "had no melody," although if Mariah could have used the original sample, it would have.
However, the drama doesn’t end there. The style of Mariah's collaboration with Ja Rule on "If We," another track off "Glitter," was swiped for Jennifer's "I'm Real (Remix)." Irv Gotti, the producer of Jennifer's "I'm Real (Remix)" told XXL Magazine: "Ja Rule wrote a song with him and Mariah singing back and forth. I got a call from Tommy Mottola, who I have a great relationship with, and he's like, 'I need you to do me a favor. I want you to do this remix for Jennifer Lopez. I want you to put Ja on the record.' Immediately I knew what he was doing because we just finished the Mariah record."
JULY 2003
Did Mariah date Vin Diesel?
According to Vin Diesel's representative, Toby Fleischman, the two have met but never dated. "Vin phoned Mariah to chat and later when he was in Aspen on vacation he ran into her snowboarding," he told the New York Times. "They had dinner later that evening and talked about their upcoming projects. Vin thought maybe Mariah could do a song for the soundtrack on his next film." Mariah confirmed that the dinner was essentially a friendly business meeting when she visited the BET Studios, saying "He called me when he saw the 'Through The Rain' video, because he's bi-racial as well, and the message of that video was important to him. So he called and said 'I thought that was a nice concept' and then we talked later about me doing a song for his movie."
Did Mariah have a fling with 50 Cent?
When asked by VIVA Television about her supposed relationship with rapper 50 Cent, Mariah said, "That is so not true. I don't even know him. And it's so bizarre that it's almost difficult to comment on."
Did Mariah get breast implants?
Mariah has denied reports of any breast augmentations and credits her cleavage to a weight gain and specially made water-and-gel-filled push-up bras from Victoria's Secret. In Touch Weekly magazine also reports that Mariah admitted to seeing holistic therapist Bharti Vyas for bust firming and massaging.
Is it true that Mariah has recorded a song called "Reach For The Sky" and played it for fans at some of the Charmbracelet listening parties that were held prior to the album’s release?
Mariah did indeed record a song titled "Reach For The Sky." It was one of three songs she did with producer 7 Aurelius at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas (the other two songs are "Subtle Invitation" and "There Goes My Heart"). When questioned about the song at the March Of Dimes Awards, Mariah described it as "a jazzy 'Hero' meets 'Make It Happen'," and said that she decided to include "My Saving Grace" on the album's final cut instead of "Reach For The Sky." Despite the positive hype surrounding the song, there are no announced plans to release it. And for the record, it was not a part of the selected tracks played at the Charmbracelet listening parties.
Is it true that Mariah will star in the movies "The Sweet Science," "Wonderwoman" and "Rent-A-Husband"?
There have been a lot of rumors surrounding Mariah's upcoming movie projects, most of which are false. However, one of these is true. Mariah will scheduled to star as Gloria in "The Sweet Science," an independent film about a boxing manager who drafts an unknown female boxer to make a name for them both. The movie will likely be directed by Jordan Brady ("The Third Wheel," "Waking Up In Reno") and was written by Gary Goldman ("Total Recall," "Navy Seals"). The film is scheduled to start production in November, when Mariah concludes her Charmbracelet World Tour. However, all plans are pending.
Is it true the real reason Mariah has downgraded her Charmbracelet Tour to theater performances is due to low ticket sales?
John Marx of the William Morris Agency, the man behind Mariah's tour, says the downsizing has nothing to do with low ticket sales. In fact, only 4 shows of the originally announced 21 dates had gone on sale when the plans were changed. One of those 4 shows is taking place at the Air Canada Center in Toronto. The Center's General Manager, Robert Hunter, said on May 23 (less than three weeks after tickets first were available for purchase) sales were at about 4,500 for the building's 8,500-seat configuration concert bowl.
Is it true Mariah is recording an album with Trey Lorenz?
It is not likely that Mariah will record a full album with backup singer Trey Lorenz, but an appearance by Mariah, whether it is in the form of a duet, or as a background vocalist or producer, is likely. Not much is known about the album besides that it will most likely be released on Mariah's record label, MonarC Music, and that it has been in the works for over three years. Trey's last album was released in 1992 on Epic Records. That album did not feature a Mariah duet. However, Mariah did receive credits on 6 of the album's 11 tracks, as background vocalist, producer, songwriter and arranger.
Did Mariah record a song with Sean Paul?
According to Sean himself, yes! When Sean visited BET's 106 & Park several weeks ago, he revealed that he had just finished recording a song with Mariah. However, it is not known if the song is for his upcoming album, an upcoming Mariah project, or a remix of either's songs.
Has Mariah actually broken glass with her voice?
During a 1993 interview she did with MTV News, Mariah said she's never broken glass with her voice mainly because she's never tried it!
Does Mariah hate Asians? As an Asian-American, when people find out that I'm a Mariah fan, they tell me that Mariah is racist against Asians. Is this just a rumor or did something happen in the past that I didn't know about the leads people to believe Mariah is prejudice to Asians?
As a multi-racial person, Mariah has received criticism and prejudice in her life for her own racial background, so it's absurd to think that she would be racist against any group of people. However, there is a reason some people believe Mariah is prejudice to Asians. In 2000, a certain tabloid published an article saying that Mariah called Asian singer Regine Valesquez "a brown monkey who can't sing" in an interview she supposedly did with MTV personality Donita Rose. However, not only have Mariah's representatives denied these claims, but Donita herself expressed her disappointment over the whole ordeal. "I am saddened that I have been chosen to be implicated in this sorry affair," she told The Philippine Star. "The said article claims that international superstar Mariah Carey made a derogatory remark when asked to comment on our own Regine Velasquez during an interview I supposedly conducted for MTV Asia. This alleged interview never took place except in the fertile minds of people who have not bothered to check their facts and made me an unwitting party to a distressing situation," she explained. "Not having been present during the said 'interview', I have no comments to make on what was or was not said by Ms. Carey," stressed Donita. So in conclusion, Mariah absolutely does not hate the Asian race. In fact, she's quite intrigued by them and loves touring Asia and part-taking in its culture!
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