Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse

by Mariah Carey

Overview

Mariah Carey's first proper album since 2009 is a couple covers away from being as nostalgic as the Glitter soundtrack. Its title -- well, the part that precedes the ellipses -- is taken from a self-portrait, reproduced on the back, drawn at the age of three and a half. "I'll just sit right here and sing that good old school shit to ya," she sings on "Dedicated," a song seasoned with a Wu-Tang sample, a Nas throwback verse, and reminiscent chatter. Like many other songs on the album, flashbacks are laced through the music as well as in the lyrics, with Carey reflecting upon happier moments in a relationship while either pining or scolding. The feel-good "You Don't Know What to Do," one of a few songs made with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, cleverly interpolates Inner Life's 1979 disco classic "I'm Caught Up (In a One Night Love Affair)" and has Carey channeling the group's Jocelyn Brown throughout, especially in the intro. In sharp contrast with Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, a set produced strictly by Carey, Tricky Stewart, and the-Dream, this involves numerous co-writers and co-producers who bring distinct material, from the dusty and dreamy feel of "#Beautiful" (with Miguel) to the pumping, Eddie Kendricks-sampling "Meteorite" (a Q-Tip co-production). Additional co-producers Hit-Boy and Mike WiLL Made-It provide up-to-date elements, while the latter half involves a couple of gospel-flavored standouts, the latter of which is an inspired tribute to the Reverend James Cleveland. Carey unfortunately doesn't feel nostalgic for the succinctness of her early albums, but this shows that she's still capable of delivering 40 minutes of strong, supremely voiced R&B when she's up for it. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	01/22/2021
Label:	Def Jam / Mercury
UPC:	0602435184142
Rank:	54419

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Cry
2. Faded
3. Dedicated
4. #Beautiful
5. Thirsty
6. Make It Look Good
7. You're Mine (Eternal)
8. You Don't Know What to Do

Disc 2

9. Supernatural
10. Meteorite
11. Camouflage
12. Money ($ * / . . . )
13. One More Try
14. Heavenly (No Ways Tired/Can't Give Up Now)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mariah Carey   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Fabolous   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
R. Kelly   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Nas   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Mary J. Blige   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Wale   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Miguel   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Featured Artist
Sherry McGhee   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Steve Lindsey   Piano
Tim Stewart   Guitar
Larry Gold   Conductor
Eric Turner   Choir/Chorus
Joel Derouin   Violin
Alex Al   Guitar (Bass)
Leon Bisquera   Keyboards
Ronnie Gutierrez   Percussion
Jermaine Dupri   Vocals (Background)
Q-Tip   Keyboards
Serena McKinney   Violin
Monte Neuble   Keyboards
Josefina Vergara   Violin
Stevie Wonder   Soloist,Harmonica
Latasha Jordan   Choir/Chorus
James "Big Jim" Wright   Keyboards
Marisa Kuney   Violin
Bryan-Michael Cox   Vocals (Background)
Melanie Rochford   Choir/Chorus
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart   Keyboards
Caroline Buckman   Viola
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins   Piano
Andre Washington   Choir/Chorus
Troy Bright   Choir/Chorus
James Fauntleroy   Vocals (Background)
Songa Lee   Violin
Ina Veli   Violin
Kaila Potts   Viola
Grace Oh   Violin
Michael Whitson   Viola
Chris Sholar   Guitar
Steve Stoute   Vocals
Mary Ann Tatum   Vocals (Background)
Jenny Takamatsu   Violin
Malik Spence   Choir/Chorus
Lauren Chipman   Viola
Bob Peterson   Violin
Artie Reynolds   Bass
Mario de Leon   Violin
Tamara Hatwan   Violin
Vanessa Freebairn-Smith   Cello
Louis Cato   Bass
Happy Perez   Guitar
Katrina Spence   Choir/Chorus
Joe "Flip" Wilson   Keyboards
Takeytha Johnson   Vocals (Background)
Kathleen Sloan   Violin
Giovanna Clayton   Cello
Nasir Jones   Featured Artist
Ray Angry   Keyboards
Scott Cannon   Featured Artist
Ayana George   Choir/Chorus
Matt Champlin   Percussion
Tiffany Morriar   Choir/Chorus
Haze Banga   Vocals
Melodie Nicholson   Choir/Chorus
Julie Jung   Cello
Ajanee Hamrick   Choir/Chorus
Angelina Mendez   Choir/Chorus
Barnell Norman   Choir/Chorus
Dembabies Aka Ms. Monroe   Featured Artist
Erin McGlover   Choir/Chorus
Ilani Patterson   Choir/Chorus
Jackie Phillips   Choir/Chorus
Kaylana Tatum   Vocals (Background)
Melanie Lesley   Choir/Chorus
Melinda Michelle Holder-Dawkins   Choir/Chorus
Mr. Morrocan   Featured Artist
Nakiba Bonds   Choir/Chorus
Oresa Napper-Williams   Choir/Chorus
Stacey Laverne Berry   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Allan Felder   Composer
Patrick Adams   Composer
Terri Gonzalez   Composer
Blair Wells   Engineer
Corey Woods   Composer
Lamont Hawkins   Composer
Edwin Birdsong   Composer
Barry White   Composer
Larry Gold   String Arrangements
Dennis Coles   Composer
Mac Robinson   Composer
Walter Sigler   Composer
Mariah Carey   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Vocal Arrangement,Executive Producer
Robert Diggs   Composer
R. Kelly   Composer
Jermaine Dupri   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Management
Q-Tip   Producer
Kamaal Fareed   Composer
George Clinton   Composer
Dave Rowland   Assistant
George Michael   Composer
Brian Garten   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Vocal Mixing
Brook Davis   Composer,Drum Programming,Additional Production
Manny Marroquin   Mixing
Jaycen Joshua   Mixing
James "Big Jim" Wright   Producer
Bryan-Michael Cox   Composer,Producer
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart   Composer,Producer
Luis Navarro   Assistant
Gabe Veltri   Producer
U-God   Composer
Ron Tyson   Composer
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins   Composer,Producer,Drum Programming
Jess Sutcliffe   Engineer,Producer
Phil Tan   Mixing
Jeremy Cimino   Assistant
Norman Harris   Composer
Bunny Sigler   Composer
James Fauntleroy   Composer
Dave Pensado   Mixing
Nathan Perez   Composer
Chandler Harrod   Assistant
Christian Plata   Engineer
Andrew Wuepper   Engineer
Giancarlo Lino   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Scott Marcus   A&R
Chris Galland   Assistant
Curtis Burrell   Composer
Herb Powers   Mastering
Shari Sutcliffe   Contracting,Production Coordination
Olubowale Akintimehin   Composer
Kristen Yiengst   Artwork,Photo Production
Heatmyzer   Producer
Mary Ann Tatum   Composer,Vocal Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Serge Normant   Hair Stylist
Rob Katz   Assistant
Andy West   Design
Karen Kwak   A&R
Jason Hunter   Composer
Happy Perez   Producer
Robert Kelly   Composer
Dan Satch   Composer
Gary Grice   Composer
Kristofer Buckle   Make-Up
Brian Sumner   Engineer
Mike Williams   Composer,Composer
Nicolas Essig   Assistant
Russell Jones   Composer
Hit-Boy   Producer
Clifford Smith   Composer
Eric Wong   Marketing
Brian "B-Luv" Thomas   Engineer
Karla Welch   Stylist
Nasir Jones   Composer
Gabriel Zardes   Assistant
Keith Parry   Assistant
Kenta Yonesaka   Engineer,Assistant
Geoff Neal   Assistant
Brandon N. Caddell   Producer
Miguel   Producer,Drum Programming
John Jackson   Composer
John Horesco   Engineer
Stephen Hybicki   Engineer
Andy Proctor   Package Production
Christopher Stewart   Composer
Terius Nash   Composer,Producer
Kevin Matela   Assistant
Matt Champlin   Engineer,Producer
James Wright   Composer
Chauncey Hollis   Composer
Daniela Rivera   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Rob Suchecki   Assistant
Greg Morgan   Engineer,Producer
Mike WiLL Made-It   Producer
Ryan Kaul   Assistant
Delbert Bowers   Assistant
Brian Wakefield   Composer
Matt Weber   Assistant
Haze Banga   Mixing,Engineer,Additional Production
Miguel Pimentel   Composer
Darhyl Camper   Composer,Producer
Zane Shoemake   Assistant
Denisia Andrews   Composer
Rey Reel   Producer
Keith R. Tucker   A&R
Cindi Berger   Public Relations
Connie Filippelo   Public Relations
Louise McNally   Management
Thomas Whiteside   Photography