Wednesday 29 October 2014

Mariah still has it

When Mariah Carey returned to the Philippines for the "Me. I Am Mariah. World Tour 2014" at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Tuesday, she delivered a nearly all-hits repertoire that her hour-and-a-half show allowed.

Since her previous visit in 2003 for the "Charmbracelet World Tour", the singer-songwriter has racked up more chart toppers, which is saying a lot since she was already female singer with one of the most number of hits in history by then.

"We Belong Together", which, in her words, put her back at No. 1 following a series of merely mildly successful predecessors, came after that Manila show in 2005 so what Pinoy fans witnessed recently was diva with crown firmly in place.

Everyone loves a winner and Pinoys especially love Mariah. This was evident in the packed arena with some fans holding up sunflowers, which happens to be their idol's favorite symbol next to the butterfly (she even has two songs titled so). It doesn't matter that reports broke out a few weeks prior that cast doubt on Mariah's singing prowess in a live setting - the Pinoy fans had to hear it to believe it.

The verdict: Mariah still has it. Though she did not hit as many high notes on her songs than heard on the studio versions, her famed melisma and whistle were all over the place that night and in good form, too. The singer-songwriter's lower register is amazing. It seems her five-octave range remains intact but like any intelligent singer on global tour, Mariah chooses to pace herself by delivering a different but still potent reading of her tunes.

The signature hand movement in which her fingers seem to "guide" the notes as they find their place is still around and relevant. Mariah being an iconic singer, people tend to forget that she is equally brilliant as songwriter. The songs performed in the show, almost all of which were of the original musical arrangement, bore testament to that. Many of her monster hits were there - from the ballads "Hero" and "My All" to danceable R&B/pop favorites "Fantasy" and "Honey".

Even so, plenty more were missing, including her seminal hit "Vision of Love", "Anytime You Need a Friend", and "Bye Bye". She even has two holiday tunes that would've given the concert a nice touch given the season, "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)" and "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Still, she more than made up for it by performing such treasures as the gospel-tinged "Fly Like A Bird", with which she electrified the Grammys' star-studded audience in 2006.

The singer-songwriter profusely thanked her Pinoy fans for the welcome they gave her, not only during the show but the moment she stepped on shore. She shared stories about her songs - gems of trivia for her hardcore fans - and graciously granted everyone, including the dancers, chance to shine and get credit for their hard work.

Many times during the show, the large video walls at the venue just flashed the letters "MC", the initials of her name that, to many music lovers, has become a brand emblem for diva power. Mariah threw in a number dedicated to her two children and dedicated "We Belong Together" to the Filipinos. "Mahal kita!" Mariah shouted several times to the audience. She seemed teary-eyed at one point. Right back at you, Mariah. Right back at you.

(Tempo)



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