Obviously you should listen to the entire song, but the last minute of this song is pure crack. Some of Mariah’s best. Obsessed with the choir noising in the back. And that long-ass note at the end..well there’s two..one is a crazy high note and the other is an even crazier high note (I can soooo do the less crazy but still crazy one..in the car). Start listening at 3:03 and go at least 30 seconds or the rest of the song. Amazing. BLAST IT!

Mariah Carey feat. Nicki Minaj - Up Out My Face

Mariah Carey feat. Nicki Minaj – Up Out My Face

Mariah Carey feat. Nicki Minaj - Up Out My Face

Mariah Carey feat. Nicki Minaj - Up Out My Face

Mariah Carey feat. Nicki Minaj - Up Out My Face

Here’s what seems to be the official video for one of Mariah Carey‘s most amazing songs ever, 100%. The song was originally recorded for the movie Precious but now it’s clearly here to commemorate the awesome bitches of Vancouver ’10. It’s really cute/nostalgic of what’s gone down so far. And if you don’t like the video, at least the song is crack. Listen until the very end and tell me you didn’t get chills. I dare you to.

I love Mariah Carey. I don’t care what anyone says, whether it’s about her being a diva or that whole thing with Eminem or her music not being good (bitch, please). This woman is a extremely talented singer with an incredible collection of hits (and songs that are so overlooked, it’s just not fair). Last month I saw Mariah Carey perform at the Fabulous Fox Theatre here in Atlanta. You don’t really know what to expect when you’re about to see Mariah. Is she going to sing all the favorites (is there even enough time)? What about this one song I really love? Will she come on time? OMG, is she gonna be a diva? Will there be personality? Is this going to be some quick in-and-out production? Can she actually hit those high notes? Let me walk you through it.

First of all, she came on late and because I anticipated such, my friend and I only had to wait like 15-20 minutes while other people waited like an hour. The tickets said “no pictures/recorders” and when we got to our seats, 4th row in the pit, a guard told us the same. So basically I only took like 2 crappy pictures on my phone just to remember (because I really didn’t want to get kicked out…it’s not fun). So while there are no amazing pictures, there was  an amazing night:

The music/performance: Mariah performed a set that would be really hard not to love including: Shake It Off, Angels Cry (she dedicated it to those in Haiti and it was BEAUTIFUL. Didn’t even like the song before I saw it live.), Heartbreaker (I couldn’t believe it. Amazing. Although she did do a weird live version but STILL GOOD!), My All (who saw that coming? I didn’t), It’s Like That (okay, def saw that one coming and it was cute), The Impossible (track off of the Imperfect Angel album, Mariah announced there will be an “Angels Advocate” remix album coming our way…could be good), Emotions (okay this was such a crowd favorite, it’s not even funny. As for that section of high note after high note? She did it. Yes she did. It’s true. Mariah is the real thing. It was like witnessing the birth of Jesus.), Obsessed (I have never been more into a song at a concert/this song is so much more fun in concert.), Honey (old #1, surprised it made it over some of my other favorite, but appreciated still.), We Belong Together (canyou imagine if she didn’t sing this song? It was perfect. Mariah announced that she had recently found out that the song was Billboard’s Top Song of the past decade and the crowd cheered). This was supposed to be the last song but then Mariah came out of no where and said, “I like to sing this song because someone once told me it saved their life.” And then she started singing Hero. I could not believe it. I thought Hero was like a special little gem that Mariah never sings because she’s more than “the girl who sings “Hero” (she said that herself in an interview), but she did it. It was so beautiful. Mariah didn’t sing a few of my favorite songs but she kicked the shit out of every single song she performed. Although I have to say… there were a few moments in the concert when Mariah would attempt the high note and only air came out. I really didn’t want to post that because it’s fuel for haters, but it’s the truth. As for haters, psh, you ain’t got nothing on Mariah.

The Mariah: It only seemed appropriate to preface her name with “the.” I have to admit, was really looking forward to just witnessing Mariah the person on this night. You hear a lot about her “diva” antics and I just wanted to judge for myself. And to be honest, I think it’s almost endearing. Mariah was “complaining” (I think more jokingly) about how “all I want is a wine glass for my water. Is that too much to ask for?” Then immediately a guy came out and poured her water into a glass. Mariah also had two glasses of “apple juice” (champagne) during the show, which everyone pretty much understood including Mariah. It was funny especially because of her tipsy acceptance speeches from January. At another moment, Mariah was standing asking for her mic-stand, and later bringing it out herself saying, “I guess I have to do everything myself.” When talking about being a diva, Mariah said, “it is what it is” and I fricken LOVED that response. At one point, Mariah was explaining a song and the band and background singers cut her off and started (I was like, “oh no they didn’t!”). When it was time for the next song, diva looked at them and called them out saying, “Please let me finish talking about the song first now.” She was a diva and owning it and that’s the only way to do it. Near the beginning of the show, Mariah said, “I love my fans but I also love my fans…basically from every video” (a cute line as she approached a fan, the airblowing kind).

My favorite story was before a song (that I don’t remember the name of) and Mariah was basically telling a story about a boy who was always stressing her, never calling, never picking up their phone, etc. And she was basically saying that shit was done and then sang a song about it. But what was cool was this part: after a day of diva is all said and done, when Mariah Carey goes home and changes into her pajamas, even she has to put up with people’s bullshit (not for long lol).  It was a bit humanizing and I really felt like Mariah fans in the room felt connected some way.

The evening was perfectly revealing and made me definitely appreciate Mariah Carey’s music even more. She’s so much more than a talented girl singing a song, she’s one of us just with a few more albums sold (few=understatement of the century). I am really glad she chose to perform in small venues for the tour because everyone knows small venues = intimate = amazing experience. Plus I was in the pitt and all. Good times. Thanks MC.

Last bit: Mariah was totally feeling the energy in the Fox in Atlanta that night. Seriously, the crowd was ON POINT. She even mentioned a few times during the show how we were basically superior. Loud crowds with fearless energy are the best.

OMG how could I forget this part?! When Mariah Carey was about to introduce a next song, I screamed as loud as I could “I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” and then…Mariah Carey said TO MY VOICE, “I love you too.” UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAZING. Also, it was definitely to my voice because you could only hear me/everyone in my section got really happy for me. Perfection.

Mariah Carey – Don’t Forget About Us

I can make it through the rain
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I can stand up once again
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On my own and I know
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That I\’92m strong enough to mend
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And every time I feel afraid
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I hold tighter to my faith
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And I live one more day
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And I’ll make it through the rain
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Mariah Carey – Through The Rain