Mariah
Every Christmas, only two things are certain: indigestion and Mariah Carey. Since gastroenterology doesn’t really tickle my interest, I’ll dedicate a few lines to the latter—the queen of the holidays herself, Miss Mariah Carey.
I know you might think this article is supposed to be funny or in some way comedic, but I am dead serious when I say that, even though All I Want For Christmas is a seasonal goldmine and omnipresent in the world for an entire month, I truly believe Mariah Carey is as underrated as roasted Brussels sprouts. Sure, in pop culture, Mariah has long been the poster child for diva behavior—her extravagance and flair for over-the-top are practically legendary. But I wanted to explore a different side of her, albeit not her bad one (the left).
There aren’t many interviews or articles that highlight Mariah as a songwriter or recognize her impact on pop music. I think this stems from the fact that, to a large majority of the public, songwriters are supposed to be greasy guitar-heads, rigorously male and somewhat damned and cool. The rage I feel when I have to explain, even to my fellow musicians, just how impeccable Mariah’s musicality and talent are is unmatched. Too often, pop music and singers aren’t given the same respect or admiration as other genres and artists—and that needs to change.
Mariah Carey, photograph from The LIFE Picture Collection. Courtesy of Getty Images. Available via The New Yorker © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Apart from being one of the best-selling artists of all time—and having written 18 of her 19 US number one hits, including her iconic Christmas anthem—Mariah Carey is a formidable singer, with an agility and musical sensitivity that, to my knowledge, remain unparalleled in the industry. When I hear songs like Underneath the Stars—beautifully written and adorned with tasteful and delicate vocals that rise and fall with clear harmonic intent—I’m reminded that singing is not just about being loud and belting high notes, or even about out-of-place melismas and fioriture. Good songwriters know what serves the song, using their voice as an instrument.
Mariah often says her proudest achievement is her songwriting, and I couldn’t agree more. Her talent isn’t just in her vocal range (however incredible it might be) but it’s in her ability to craft sonic landscapes with precision and emotion, much like a sculptor or painter bringing a vision to life. The difference between Mariah and most pop singers today is that she writes and produces as a pure form of expression, which is completely uncompromised. It’s a shame that so often, conversations about her reduce her to a caricature or focus solely on her Christmas hit. It feels like having Stevie Wonder at your dinner party, at the piano, and only asking him to play Happy Birthday. Her albums remain some of the most inspired major pop releases of the 90s, with songs like Fantasy, Always Be My Baby, Underneath the Stars, Outside, Close My Eyes, The Roof, 4th of July, showcasing Mariah’s melodic and lyrical pen.
“And then you casually walked in the room / And I was twisted in the web / Of my desire for you / My apprehension blew away / I only wanted you / To taste my sadness / As you kissed me in the dark / Every time I feel the need / I envision you caressing me / And go back in time / To relieve the splendor of you and I / On the rooftop that rainy night”
It’s rare to find something as elegant and poignant in pop music. Beyond the exquisite choice of words to capture the feeling of forbidden love, the phrasing in The Roof is nothing short of original. In Mariah’s writing, words rarely conform to their standard syllables; instead, they become melismatic vectors that weave seamlessly into the melody—while still remaining completely intelligible. A criminally underrated skill. Writing lyrics that fit metrically is challenging enough, but crafting them to follow and enhance the musical direction of a song? That, in short, takes a lot of talent. Divas are becoming an endangered species—let’s at least protect the ones truly deserving of the title.
To wrap things up, I hope this article inspires you to explore Mariah’s discography. Because honestly, I don’t want a lot for Christmas—just respect for good musicians.
