If Mariah Carey keeps up her current chart-topping ways, music historians are going to have to rewrite the Glitter star's story.
This week, Carey just scored her 16th number one single on Billboard's Hot 100 with "We Belong Together"--putting her in rarefied company indeed.
Only the Beatles, with 20, and Elvis Presley, with 18, have had more Billboard number ones.
Carey, who has surpassed the likes of Michael Jackson (13 number ones) and the Supremes (12), as well as rival pop divas Whitney Houston and Madonna (11 apiece), is "the most successful female artist of all time," her label, Island Def Jam, touted in a press release Thursday.
Island Def Jam has reason to crow--the label has effectively resurrected the career of Carey, who fell on hard times after signing what the New York Daily News called "the biggest recording contract of all time" with Virgin in 2001 and then sustaining an "emotional and physical breakdown" as her Glitter movie and album tanked.
After the relatively lackluster sales of 2002's Charmbracelet, Carey, 35, has bounced back with The Emancipation of Mimi. The album debuted at number one in April, bouncing long-running chart champ 50 Cent. It has already been certified double platinum and spawned two hit singles, the lead track, "It's Like That," and the current hit, "We Belong Together."
"It is with a combination of pride and awe that I congratulate Mariah on accomplishing what no other female in modern pop history has been able to do--no one is more deserving than Mariah Carey of sharing the pantheon with the greatest of the greats," gushed Island Def Jam boss Antonio "L.A." Reid.
The singer played the modesty card upon learning the news. "I didn't know what to expect when I put this record out except I knew that it was a good record and I was happy with it," she told the Associated Press.
Carey is next scheduled to perform at the MTV Movie Awards June 4 in Los Angeles. The ceremony will be taped for broadcast June 9.
2 Comments
Not an avid Mariah fan at first, I've always gave credit, sometimes painfully, where it was due.
The ironic thing was hanging out with almost absolutely all of my thugs proudly playin' her MIMI album...to my college counselor playing it in his office all day...to my brother (who disliked her music and complemented no one, reluctantly whispering Mariah's album was the bomb)...to older (Caucasian) people at work saying it was a good album. Oh, yeah, can't forget my alternative punk rock college buddy who's eyes widened when we heard her We Belong Together song for the first time, and widened even more when she hit that "who" note later in her song! Ha!
What the #%!&%> ? Can you imagine...having such an audience your demographic audience cannot be pegged?
That is not an easy task. Go gal!
Personally, I feel like revolting against the direction of the industry. People who can't sing can make it. Where's the nostalgia? I'm a great songwriter, but maybe I should put an album out! I'm sick of the lack of true vocal talent that I don't hear on the radio and for that matter I think many people are too. The days when you really had to have talent or uniqueness are over. Mariah even has to compete with that unfairness! for now, Mariah is the last of the real talent in my book.
ADDENDUM: Not an avid Mariah fan at first, I've always gave credit, sometimes painfully, where it was due.
The ironic thing was hanging out with almost absolutely all of my thugs proudly playin' her MIMI album...to my college counselor playing it in his office all day...to my brother (who really disliked her and complemented no one)reluctantly whispering Mariah's album was the bomb...to older Caucasian) people at my place of work saying it was a good album.
What the #%!&%> ? Can you imagine...having such an audience your demographic audience cannot be pegged?
That is not an easy task. Go gal!
Personally, I feel like revolting against the direction of the industry. People who can't sing can make it. Where's the nostalgia? I'm a great songwriter, but maybe I should put an album out! I'm sick of the lack of true vocal talent that I don't hear on the radio and for that matter I think many people are too. The days when you really had to have talent or uniqueness are over. Mariah even has to compete with that unfairness! SHE GETS PANNED BY CRITICS WHEN HER WORST SELLING ALBUMS STILL OUTSELL THE DIME A DOZEN TALENT OUT THERE but it's not mentioned. Charmbracelet still went platnum...PLATNUM!!! but because its Mariah that's bad???? Whatever! Glitter soundtrack still sold extremely decent as far as soundtracks are concerned. Did you know that? What if that was you?? Media sometimes just isn't fair.
Furthermore, I've seen albums debut high and drop like flies in the Bilboard countdown, but she stayed in the top three for weeks! That to me constitues longer number one singles and even her first single off the album. I think something is wrong there Billboard Magazine...! I don't want to open a can of worms, but I've tracked it, and I really think she has 17 number ones...(Can't Let Go) some time ago, and today, It's Like that should have been in the top three! Again, this is comming from a music man and non-fan at first! Just givin' credit where it's due! Revise it and correct it.
For now, Mariah is the last of the real talent in my book.