Case Study on Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey (born March 27th, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, film producer and model. Mariah Carey was born to parents in 1970 to Patricia Hickey and Alfred Roy Carey. She moved to New York City when she was 17 to fulfil her ambition of becoming a star. Mariah Carey eventually became a back up singer for Puerto-Rican freestyle singer Brenda K. Starr, who gave Carey's demo tape to Tommy Mottola who was at the time the head of Columbia Records. Mottola suddenly signed Mariah who in a few years became the best-selling female performers of the 1990's.
Mariah is most famously known for her and is known for her five-octave vocal range, power, melismatic style and signature use of the whistle register (the highest register of the human voice). With a music career spanning over two decades, her achievements are endless. Mariah Carey has won 249 awards in total, including 5 Grammy Awards and 17 World Music Awards. She is famous for being the first recording artist to have her first five singles to top the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart, one of the world's best selling music artists. Also, she is the only artist to have 18 number one singles on the Hot 100 (which is the most my any solo artist) and she has sold over 200 million albums, singles and videos worldwide, which therefore makes her one of the biggest selling artists in music history. Carey's album 'Merry Christmas is the biggest selling Christmas album of all time. She has also has 12 platinum singles which is the most achieved by any female artist.

With all these it is no wonder that Mariah Carey has influenced some prominent figures in the music industry such as: Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Rihanna, Nelly Furtado amongst many others.

1990-Columbia-'Vision of Love'

Carey's debut single. The song was originally featured on Carey's demo tape which aided her sign to Columbia Records. The video as well as the lyrics connote a sense of faith and prayer as it is set in a cathedral like setting. In reference to Carey's image here she looks very natural, she does not not have a lot of make up on, she has long, golden, natural curls and is wearing black clothing. Her look here is not very sophisticated. This song alone influenced the singing careers of RnB singers Beyonce and Christian Aguilera.

'Without You'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hat1Hc9SNwE&ob=av2n

'Always Be My Baby'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfRNRymrv9k

1997-Columbia Records-'Honey'

This single was taken from Carey's sixth studio album, Butterfly. 'Honey' was Mariah Carey's third album to reach number one on the Billboard Top 100.

Following her separation from her former husband and Columbia Records Executive, Tommy Mottola, this album saw a totally diverse side to Carey in regards to her image as well as her style of music. This album pushed Carey more into the RnB/Hip Hop market compared to her other albums which had more of a pop feel.

Due to her separation from Mottola Carey had more control over this album and the single 'Honey' seems to explore that 'freer side' as throughout the video she is provocatively dressed and shows a more sexual image of Carey than previously seen.. She wears a little black dress, tight black swimsuit, white bikini, all of which accentuate her figure.

Since the video was released during the separation of Mottola and Carey, there was much speculation about whether the the theme of the video was linked to Carey's failed marriage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3KOowB4k_k&ob=av2n

Whilst looking at the album cover it is clear that there has been a transformation as Mariah looks more glamorous and showing 'more flesh'. Unlike her other albums that just feature or mainly focus on her face. The effect of her 'blown hair' gives a more fierce and sexy look.

1999-'Heartbreaker' (featuring Jay-Z)

This single as one of the most expensive videos ever made, costing $2.5 dollars.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvdSB-UDDnQ&feature=related

'Shake It Off'

Jake nava-my perogative, burn, baby boyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZVdDl_asYY&ob=av2e

This 'Shake It Off'

'Get Your Number'

This song shows Carey's as rather glamorous and sensual.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lZEQuBzOrk&feature=fvsr

2008-Island-'Touch My Body'
Dir:Brett Ratner

This single was the first release from E=MC. The music video involves a cameo appearance from Jack McBrayer in which he plays a computer store employee who dreams about his relationship with Carey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b8erWuBA44&ob=av2e

'I Want To Know What Love Is'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCadlN8fexk&ob=av2e