Mariah Carey on new music, Rihanna, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and her lost grunge album
NEW YORK (AP) — It may be hard to conceive of now, but there was once a lull in Mariah Carey's superstar career. In 2001, her film 'Glitter' was a commercial flop; the album that followed, 2002's introspective 'Charmbracelet,' was met with a muted response. She was at a crossroads.
And then everything changed. Carey released 'The Emancipation of Mimi' in 2005. It joined her athletic R&B-pop with synth-y hip-hop and fun, flirty, enduring hits — she was now only belting when she wanted to, thank you very much. She sounded free, as the title suggested, and the world embraced her for it once again.
On Saturday, the album turns 20. To celebrate, Carey is gearing up to release deluxe, expanded editions of the album on May 30, featuring bonus tracks, new remixes and much more — including the official release of 'When I Feel It,' a song fans have been waiting for since 2005. It was originally planned for 'The Emancipation of Mimi' but was ultimately shelved because of clearance issues with its sample of The Dynamic Superiors' 'Here Comes That Feeling.'
'These are new gems, as far as I'm concerned,' Carey says. 'It's exciting to me.'
Carey discussed 'The Emancipation of Mimi,' her recent nomination to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rihanna and plans for new music with The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
AP: Has your relationship to 'The Emancipation of Mimi' changed over the years?
CAREY: It's still one of my favorite albums that I've done. And, you know, back then when it first came out, everybody was calling it a comeback album. ... I didn't really agree, because you never think you've gone anywhere. You know what I mean?
I just always really loved the songs and the performances. People seem to really be into it. And new fans came from that album.
AP: I hear a lot of creative freedom on that album. Do you think it revitalized your career?
CAREY: I do think it's got a fun feeling to it and it definitely feels free. I guess it sort of revitalized my career. I spent a while making that album ... working with some great people, some great collaborators. ... It was an experience that I'll never forget, creating that album.
AP: In June, you'll celebrate another anniversary. Your self-titled debut turns 35. When you think back on that time, did you envision this career?
CAREY: I don't know. I really was just so involved and entrenched in making the music and this new career that I was embarking on. And it was amazing. I mean, it's what I had wanted to do for my whole life. And then I was doing it.
AP: You're also a 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee.
CAREY: That's a huge honor. I don't know if I'm going to win it, so I don't want to get too excited about it. So, I just want to say that, again, it's a huge honor and I guess I didn't expect it. I wasn't really thinking about it. And here we are.
AP: It seems like the Rock Hall has become more fluid in their definitions of genre over the years. Missy Elliott was inducted in 2023, for example.
CAREY: I don't really know if genre matters. I feel like people are more open to all different genres, much more than they were, you know? But I feel like a rock star sometimes.
AP: You know, after Dolly Parton was inducted, she released a rock album. If and when you are inducted, will you finally release your '90s grunge album? Fans have been waiting.
CAREY: I mean, I really want to, but I want to do videos, and I have just so many ideas for that.
I don't think I'll be able to pull it together by the summer (before the Rock Hall ceremony) but maybe, maybe I'll release a few songs from it.
AP: During your Christmas Time tour last holiday season, your children Monroe and Moroccan joined you onstage. They played guitar and drums; they were really rocking. Would you ever consider a family rock 'n' roll album?
CAREY: I would love to. They just have a lot of their own things that they're doing, and I don't want to force them to do anything.
AP: And at your final date in Brooklyn, Rihanna was in the front row of the audience. Would you ever work with her?
CAREY: I would love to. Did you see what happened? She wanted me to sign her breasts. I was trying to do it neatly, and it didn't come out right. So, I tried.
AP: Your last album of original music, 'Caution,' came out in 2018. It's been a minute! Are you working on a new album?
CAREY: I'm not supposed to talk about it. ... But I'm working on something. We won't say what it is, but something new.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
17 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Photos show the British royals at the Trooping the Colour parade
LONDON (AP) — Members of the British royal family have attended the Trooping the Colour, the king's annual birthday parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
San Francisco Chronicle
26 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
David Beckham, Gary Oldman, Elaine Paige and others honored by King Charles III
LONDON (AP) — Arise Sir David, Sir Gary and Sir Roger. And Dame Elaine, Dame Pat and Dame Penny. Former England soccer captain David Beckham, Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman and The Who's frontman Roger Daltrey were knighted in King Charles III's birthday honors list released late Friday. Elaine Paige, the renowned musicals singer, Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker and former Conservative government minister Penny Mordaunt were given damehoods, the female equivalent of a knighthood. The honors, which aim to reward individuals for their contributions to British life, are awarded twice a year to celebrities and public figures as well as ordinary people: Once at New Year's, and then in June to mark the king's birthday. The winners are chosen by civil servants' committees based on nominations from the government and the public. The awards are usually given out by the king or a senior royal acting in his place at Buckingham Palace. The Sirs Beckham, 50, was widely expected to be knighted following speculation last week that appeared to be based on a conversation he had with the monarch at the Chelsea Flower Show last month. As well as representing England 115 times, including 59 times as captain, Beckham played for some of Europe's most venerable clubs, most notably Manchester United and Real Madrid. He has been knighted for his services to sport and to charity, having partnered with UNICEF, the U.N.'s children's fund, for two decades and campaigned with a charity working to eradicate malaria. Beckham also played a pivotal role in London being awarded the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. 'Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honor," he said. Oldman, 67, was recognized for his services to drama both on screen and on stage. He won an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film 'Darkest Hour," and recently dazzled audiences in the Apple TV spy thriller series ' Slow Horses.' Daltrey, who co-founded The Who in 1964, has been recognized for services to charity as well as music, having been a patron of 'Teenage Cancer Trust' since 2000. The 81-year-old, who led the charity's concert series at Royal Albert Hall for more than two decades, said he was humbled by the award. 'It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much," he said. The Dames Paige, 77, was honoured for her services to charity as well as music. She has held senior roles at a charity supporting young people with acquired brain injury and another one that supports disabled tennis players. 'I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once," she said. "I'm proud and I feel grateful and I'm thrilled and surprised, and so it's been quite a lot to take in.' Barker, 82, known for 'The Regeneration Trilogy," said she thought the letter announcing her damehood was from 'really angry' tax authorities. 'Nobody else does that kind of quality of paper," she said. 'I still sort of had to read the first paragraph several times before it sank in.' A year on from losing her seat at the general election when her Conservative Party lost office, Mordaunt said it was 'lovely to be appreciated in this way.' Mordaunt, 52, saw her profile boosted during the king's coronation ceremony in 2023. The former lawmaker made a memorable appearance bearing the 'sword of state," the first time the duty had been carried out by a woman. The 'Companion' Antony Gormley, the sculptor who was knighted in 2014, was made a 'Companion of Honour' for his services to art. The award is one of the most prestigious that the monarch can bestow to citizens in Britain and across the Commonwealth, as there are only 65 companions at any one time. Introduced in 1917 by King George V, the award recognizes people who have made 'a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time.' Current members include British environmentalist David Attenborough, Canadian author Margaret Atwood and one of Britain's greatest-ever athletes Sebastian Coe. Hundreds more are awarded The honors don't just reward people in the public eye. More than 1,200 people received honours in the latest list. Women made up 48% of those honored, with 11% of recipients from ethnic minority backgrounds. The oldest recipient was 106-year-old World War II veteran William Irwin, who was awarded a British Empire Medal, for his services to the community. The youngest was 11-year-old disability campaigner Carmela Chillery-Watson, who was made a 'Member of the Most Excellent Order British Empire," or MBE. Chillery-Watson, who has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, has become the youngest ever recipient of the award for helping raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for Muscular Dystrophy UK. In what is thought to be a first, three members of the same family were named in the same list. Jenna Speirs, her mother Caroline and father Duncan were each awarded a British Empire Medal for founding a children's cancer charity called Calum's Cabin after Jenna's twin brother died of an inoperable brain tumour aged 12. Campaigners who have fought to tackle the rise of knife crime were also recognized. Pooja Kanda, whose 16-year-old son was murdered with a ninja sword near his home, was awarded the Order of the British Empire, or OBE. Alison Madgin, the mother of 18-year-old Samantha Madgin, who was knifed to death, was made an MBE alongside her daughter Carly Barrett.
Hamilton Spectator
29 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
David Beckham, Gary Oldman, Elaine Paige and others honored by King Charles III
LONDON (AP) — Arise Sir David, Sir Gary and Sir Roger. And Dame Elaine, Dame Pat and Dame Penny. Former England soccer captain David Beckham , Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman and The Who's frontman Roger Daltrey were knighted in King Charles III's birthday honors list released late Friday. Elaine Paige, the renowned musicals singer, Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker and former Conservative government minister Penny Mordaunt were given damehoods, the female equivalent of a knighthood. The honors, which aim to reward individuals for their contributions to British life, are awarded twice a year to celebrities and public figures as well as ordinary people: Once at New Year's, and then in June to mark the king's birthday. The winners are chosen by civil servants' committees based on nominations from the government and the public. The awards are usually given out by the king or a senior royal acting in his place at Buckingham Palace. The Sirs Beckham , 50, was widely expected to be knighted following speculation last week that appeared to be based on a conversation he had with the monarch at the Chelsea Flower Show last month. As well as representing England 115 times, including 59 times as captain, Beckham played for some of Europe's most venerable clubs, most notably Manchester United and Real Madrid . He has been knighted for his services to sport and to charity, having partnered with UNICEF, the U.N.'s children's fund, for two decades and campaigned with a charity working to eradicate malaria. Beckham also played a pivotal role in London being awarded the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. 'Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honor,' he said. Oldman, 67, was recognized for his services to drama both on screen and on stage. He won an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film 'Darkest Hour,' and recently dazzled audiences in the Apple TV spy thriller series ' Slow Horses .' Daltrey, who co-founded The Who in 1964, has been recognized for services to charity as well as music, having been a patron of 'Teenage Cancer Trust' since 2000. The 81-year-old, who led the charity's concert series at Royal Albert Hall for more than two decades, said he was humbled by the award. 'It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much,' he said. The Dames Paige, 77, was honoured for her services to charity as well as music. She has held senior roles at a charity supporting young people with acquired brain injury and another one that supports disabled tennis players. 'I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once,' she said. 'I'm proud and I feel grateful and I'm thrilled and surprised, and so it's been quite a lot to take in.' Barker, 82, known for 'The Regeneration Trilogy,' said she thought the letter announcing her damehood was from 'really angry' tax authorities. 'Nobody else does that kind of quality of paper,' she said. 'I still sort of had to read the first paragraph several times before it sank in.' A year on from losing her seat at the general election when her Conservative Party lost office, Mordaunt said it was 'lovely to be appreciated in this way.' Mordaunt, 52, saw her profile boosted during the king's coronation ceremony in 2023. The former lawmaker made a memorable appearance bearing the 'sword of state,' the first time the duty had been carried out by a woman. The 'Companion' Antony Gormley, the sculptor who was knighted in 2014, was made a 'Companion of Honour' for his services to art. The award is one of the most prestigious that the monarch can bestow to citizens in Britain and across the Commonwealth, as there are only 65 companions at any one time. Introduced in 1917 by King George V, the award recognizes people who have made 'a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time.' Current members include British environmentalist David Attenborough, Canadian author Margaret Atwood and one of Britain's greatest-ever athletes Sebastian Coe. Hundreds more are awarded The honors don't just reward people in the public eye. More than 1,200 people received honours in the latest list. Women made up 48% of those honored, with 11% of recipients from ethnic minority backgrounds. The oldest recipient was 106-year-old World War II veteran William Irwin, who was awarded a British Empire Medal, for his services to the community. The youngest was 11-year-old disability campaigner Carmela Chillery-Watson, who was made a 'Member of the Most Excellent Order British Empire,' or MBE. Chillery-Watson, who has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, has become the youngest ever recipient of the award for helping raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for Muscular Dystrophy UK. In what is thought to be a first, three members of the same family were named in the same list. Jenna Speirs, her mother Caroline and father Duncan were each awarded a British Empire Medal for founding a children's cancer charity called Calum's Cabin after Jenna's twin brother died of an inoperable brain tumour aged 12. Campaigners who have fought to tackle the rise of knife crime were also recognized. Pooja Kanda, whose 16-year-old son was murdered with a ninja sword near his home, was awarded the Order of the British Empire, or OBE. Alison Madgin, the mother of 18-year-old Samantha Madgin, who was knifed to death, was made an MBE alongside her daughter Carly Barrett. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
