Mariah Carey has been a major superstar for almost 30 years. Her latest release, “The Rarities” is a mix of never released songs that she recorded throughout her career and some live versions of songs that we already know and love.
Carey has been one of my favorite singers for many years. Her vocal range, songwriting, and ability to express a wide range of emotions through her songs is why she’s one of the best in the music industry. She can get incredibly melancholy and sad on some songs, while also providing the listener with songs that are filled with joy and a good time.
This album begins with the year of 1990, which is the year she released her first album. “Here We Go Again” is an up-tempo song that starts this large collection of songs off right. Any true Mariah Carey fan knows that while Carey can get you up your feet and grooving to the music, a ballad is always just right around the corner.
She then moves to the year of 1991 with the song “Can You Hear Me” and it is a piercing and epic ballad.
“Sometimes I feel so alone and uncertain,” sings Carey. “Sometimes I don’t feel at all. Searching my soul for a reason for living. Needing you here holding onto me.”
Carey next engages the listener with two ballads that were both recorded in 1993 before moving into the up-tempo and enjoyable “All I Live For,” also from 1993.
One standout track here is her version of the song “Out Here On My Own” from the film “Fame.” This is Mariah in true Mariah form. Mariah gives us a gorgeous vocal that feels so connected. Mariah is a singer who seems so glamorous and larger-than-life, but can still make you feel like she gets whatever pain you are going through. She didn’t write this song, but it feels like one of the songs she has written.
“Sometimes I wonder,” Carey sings. “Where I’ve been. Who I am. Do I fit in. Make believing is hard alone. Out here on my own.”
Please do not miss Carey doing a cover of the jazz song “Lullaby of Birdland,” which is from a 2014 live performance. Hearing Carey on an old jazz tune is utter perfection. This truly is a highlight from this collection.
Carey made the song “Save The Day” with Ms. Lauryn Hill this year, but the song began its process years before. It sounds as if it could’ve been written this year.
“If he won’t, and she won’t, and they won’t, then we won’t,” Carey sings. “We will never learn to save the day.”
The rest of the songs that complete this collection were performed live at the Tokyo Dome in 1996, including some of my favorites such as “Hero” and “Always Be My Baby.”
Carey is an icon. A true force in the world of music. This collection, clocking in at 2 hours and 16 minutes, shows us once again how legendary and indispensable this diva truly is.
