Latest news with #20thAnniversaryEdition
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mariah Carey's ‘The Emancipation of Mimi': All 18 Original Tracks Ranked for Its 20th Anniversary (Staff Picks)
Mimi is emancipated and better than ever, dahhlings. On Friday (May 30), Mariah Carey unveiled The Emancipation of Mimi (20th Anniversary Edition) to mark two decades since the release of her monumental tenth studio album. More from Billboard Rihanna's Father, Ronald Fenty, Dies at 70: Report Niko McKnight, Brian McKnight's Estranged Son, Dies at 32 After Cancer Battle 'Low Riders' Get Stars Too: WAR to Be Added to Hollywood Walk of Fame Featuring smash singles like 'We Belong Together,' 'Shake It Off' and 'Don't Forget About Us,' the 2005 LP ushered in a new era of creative fulfillment and runaway chart success for the Elusive Chanteuse and reestablished her as place as a trailblazing queen of R&B crossover mastery. The multi-disc, 40-track anniversary edition revisits the magic that Carey unlocked on Mimi with an extravaganza of remixes, bonus tracks, radio mixes, a cappella cuts and a special live recording captured at Carey's performance at the American Music Awards 50th anniversary special in 2024. While the Emancipation of Mimi reissue was preceded by Kaytranada's remix of 'Don't Forget About Us,' Carey also tapped Solange to put her own spin on 'Say Somethin' – Solange Southern Star Remix' and Esentrik reimagines album opener 'It's Like That' with Jermaine Dupri and Fatman Scoop. To celebrate the special occasion, Billboard has ranked all 18 tracks included on the original version of The Emancipation of Mimi and its Ultra Platinum deluxe edition — from its multiple chart-topping hits to Lambily-loved deep cuts like 'Stay The Night,' 'I Wish You Knew,' 'Your Girl' and 'Fly Like a Bird.' This teasing back-and-forth between Carey and Jermaine Dupri is decidedly sexy, but of all the bonus tracks on The Emancipation of Mimi (Ultra Platinum Edition), the mid-tempo jam feels the least essential to the overall body of work as a whole — particularly compared to the multiple catchier collaborations with Dupri ranked higher on this list. 'We Belong Together' had already become the defining song of 2005 by the time Carey unveiled this remix as a bonus cut on the deluxe edition. With help from Jadakiss and Styles P, the elusive chanteuse speeds up the proceedings over a skittering piano line, and even makes minor adjustments to some of the song's iconic lyrics — expanding her original quote of The Deele's 'Two Occasions' to a full 'I only think of you/ On two occasions/ That's day and night.' Mimi lithely navigates the highs and lows of heartbreak on this deep cut, letting insecurities creep in as she wonders, 'Is this just an impossible dream, baby?/ Too elusive to pursue/ It's been such a sad and windy road for me/ Just searchin' for the truth.' Meanwhile, Twista offers himself up as a motor-mouthed knight in shining armor on his characteristically tongue-twisting guest verse. After delivering a 1-2-3 knockout punch with the album's first three tracks, Carey slows things down with 'Mine Again,' a yearning, lovelorn ballad that climaxes with a subtle key change on the final chorus. The picture of restraint, the singer-songwriter oscillates her vocals between a powerful belt and ethereal falsetto before finally unleashing her famous whistle tone on the song's final, echoing note. The penultimate ballad on the album's standard tracklist, 'Joy Ride' is a sparkling ode to finding a love that lasts. Carey takes a giddy, whirling trip to cloud nine on the romantic song, reiterating 'we found love' over and over, as she revels in the pure satisfaction and comfort of a soulmate's embrace. Carey and Snoop Dogg made such a perfect pairing on Rainbow-era single 'Crybaby' that it only made sense for the duo to reunite for 'Say Somethin',' a Neptunes-helmed banger originally meant to serve as Mimi's lead single, before the LP took a different direction with Jermaine Dupri's creative input. Still, the laid-back collab became the sixth and final single off the album, and is perhaps best remembered for its lush, Paul Hunter-directed music video, filmed on location in Paris. Positioned as a spiritual sequel to album cut 'One and Only,' this bonus track manages to outdo its predecessor thanks to Carey's floaty falsetto and a special touch from producer Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins, who employs a furious string section, hollowed out handclaps and the plinking strains of a music box to build an elevated soundscape worth swooning over. Plus Twista delivers not one, but two rapid-fire verses this time around, doubling the impact of his guest assist. Carey knows her worth on 'Get Your Number,' and she's not about to give her digits out to just anyone on the dance floor. But with Jermaine Dupri playing the role of club-hopping paramour, Mariah gamely gives the rapper a fair shot on The Emancipation of Mimi's third international single — even if she's also quick to remind him (and any other would-be suitors) that she's 'got a house in Capri and my own G4/ And a Benz with the doors that lift up from the floor,' thankyouverymuch. Mariah is caught in a whirlwind of racing questions on 'Circles,' chasing her tail for answers she just can't find to help explain away her latest heartbreak. The singer-songwriter keeps things simple and straightforward on the fan-favorite deep cut, which she co-wrote with Sounds of Blackness' Big Jim Wright to emulate the throwback vibes of '70s soul records. Built over an irresistible interpolation of Ramsey Lewis' 1973 instrumental take on 'Betcha By Golly Wow!' and a vocal sample of the pioneering Bronx-born DJ The 45 King, 'Stay the Night' lets the superstar 'rock… til the morning light' with a lucky lover. The album cut is also notable for the inclusion of one specific name in the liner notes: a rising star named Kanye West, who's credited as both a co-writer and co-producer alongside Carey. Another spacey, atmospheric come-on dreamt up by The Neptunes, 'To the Floor' pairs Mariah with Nelly for the first time. The result is a percussive, party-ready romp putting the cool chemistry between the pair on display as they vow, 'Whatever happens, it's goin' down tonight.' Thankfully, the dance party is meant for more than two as Nelly follows the flirting up by ordering 'Everybody to the floor!' on what could've easily been another radio hit for Mimi had it been selected as a single. Is it possible to say Mariah has never sounded more in charge and sure of what she wants than on flirtatious fan favorite album cut 'Your Girl'? Layering her vocals on the deliciously retro chorus, the icon drives her point home with echoing ad-libs as she confidently declares, 'I'm gonna put those naughty thoughts into your mind/ I'm gonna show you clearly I can rock your world/ You're gonna know for sure that I should be your girl.' The raucous applause that opens 'I Wish You Knew' is well-earned, as Carey turns out a gleaming vocal performance filled with yearning lyricism and the magic of a live backing band. Calling out to Lambs in the crowd for understanding ('I don't know if anybody else out there tonight knows what it feels like…'), the legend channels the old-school vibe of a live performance à la Diana Ross, before letting her whistle tone rip on the final, pleading chorus. Brimming with doo-wop-style harmonies and plenty of shady couplets, this chilly kiss-off continued Mariah's hot streak on the charts, as she attempted to shake free of a boy toy who would appreciate her appropriately. (Later, she would release a remix of the single featuring a tag team of Jay-Z and Jeezy.) Famously, 'Shake It Off' peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100, held off by the unstoppable 14-week reign of 'We Belong Together' at No. 1. With the feat of blocking herself from the top spot, Carey made Billboard history as the first female artist to ever simultaneously occupy the top two positions on the chart. With help from Jermaine Dupri and Fatman Scoop, Mariah sets forth the terms of the entire studio set to follow on 'It's Like That' with a single stanza: 'It's a special occasion/ Mimi's emancipation/ A cause for celebration.' Reveling in the limelight, the pop and R&B icon demonstrates a carefree ready to party on the album opener, which kicked off the entire rollout as Mimi's lead single, before 'We Belong Together' rocketed up the charts to become its defining hit. The song also gave the Lambily one of the LP's most reliably and effortlessly savage reads with the instantly iconic line, 'Them chickens is ash and I'm lotion.' Ahem: It's like that, y'all. To Lambs everywhere, 'Fly Like a Bird' remains one of the most beloved and inspiring closing numbers in their queen's entire discography. The Songbird Supreme's voice takes to the sky on the slow-burning ballad, infusing the spiritual prayer with passion, grace and gospel-tinged melisma, before being joined by a choir for the final, triumphant chorus as she implores, 'I need you now, Lord/ Carry me high/ Don't let the world break me tonight/ I need the strength of you by my side/ Sometimes this life can be so cold/ I pray you'll come and carry me home.' Just when The Emancipation of Mimi had seemingly reached the apex of its domination over pop culture, Carey dropped the platinum edition of the album at the tail end of 2005, anchored by the unforgettable 'Don't Forget About Us.' On the nostalgic slow jam, the superstar distracts herself from the heartbreak she's holding in by offering some pointed words of advice, reminding a former flame, 'I bet she can't do it like me/ She'll never be MC.' Extending the mind-blowing success story of Mimi, the bonus track earned Carey yet another No. 1 hit, closing out the year of her triumphant Emancipation on an incredible high note. Two decades on, it's difficult to put into words just how integral 'We Belong Together' was to the soundtrack of 2005. With its cooing ad-libs, stream-of-consciousness verses and pitch-perfect references to Babyface and Bobby Womack, heartbreak never sounded quite so good and Mariah struck gold by laying her anguish bare on the R&B ballad. And yet, even amidst the melodic well-spring of emotion, she reminded listeners, 'This song ain't even half of what I'm feeling inside.' Generations of Lambs responded in kind, turning the heartbroken anthem into a No. 1 hit for 14 non-consecutive weeks — at the time, second only to the record set by Carey's own Boyz II Men duet 'One Sweet Day.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mariah Carey Celebrates 20 Years of ‘The Emancipation of Mimi': Stream It Now
Just over 20 years since its release, Mariah Carey has revisited her chart-topping tenth album, unveiling The Emancipation of Mimi (20th Anniversary Edition). Released April 12, 2005, The Emancipation of Mimi marked a pivotal comeback moment in her career. Spending two weeks atop the Billboard 200, the project won three Grammys and spawned one of the longest-running Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits of all time, the 14-week leader 'We Belong Together.' More from Billboard The Amity Affliction Cover Turnstile's 'Holiday' for 'Like a Version' Miley Cyrus' New Album 'Something Beautiful' This Way Comes: Stream It Now ZZ Top's Frank Beard Returns to Band Following Health-Inspired Leave of Absence One day shy of the record's 20th birthday, Carey announced its anniversary reissue, with dozens of bonus tracks, remixes and collaborations set to appear on the package. 'I'm really happy to celebrate 'Mimi's Emancipation' with this special anniversary re-release,' Carey said in a statement at the time. 'While working on this edition, I got to relive all the memories from this pivotal moment in my personal and professional life.' Indeed, the anniversary edition of the album is a walk down memory lane for all Carey fans, with the first half of the record featuring its original 14 tracks, along with an additional five bonus cuts. Almost identical to its 2020 vinyl reissue, the first disc is completed with the addition of 'Don't Forget About Us,' 'Sprung,' 'Secret Love,' the Jermaine Dupri-featuring 'Makin' It Last All Night (What It Do),' and an additional remix of 'We Belong Together.' The second disc serves as a veritable treasure trove of material for diehard fans, launching with the long-awaited official release of 'When I Feel It,' which was reportedly left off the original release due to sample clearance issues. Remixes from the likes of Solange, Kaytranada, David Morales, and Scott Storch are also included, along with a cappella renditions of 'Shake It Off,' 'Circles,' and 'Joy Ride,' while her 2024 American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special performance of 'We Belong Together' closes the package. 'This album has some of my biggest hits to date, as well as some personal favorites that are very special to me,' Carey added of the new reissue. 'Forgotten gems, unreleased bonus tracks and different remixes with incredible collaborators — all of these and more are now available in one place for the first time ever!' Listen to Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi (20th Anniversary Edition) below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Tahawul Tech
27-03-2025
- Tahawul Tech
Western Digital Global World Backup Day survey finds a whopping 87% actively backup their content
Consumers have become more reliant on personal data for everything from health records, financial documents, home video and photos, social media videos and more, and many are realising the importance of backing up data. Western Digital today announced the results of a global research study by Researchscape, where 87% of respondents cite that they backup their data automatically or manually. The top reasons for backing up personal data are fear of losing important files (83%), to free up space on their device (67%) and to protect against cyber threats (42%). 19% do it because they were told to. 'It's fantastic to see more people recognising the importance of protecting their data', said Nitin Kachhwaha, Director of Product Management at Western Digital. 'World Backup Day is an important yearly reminder to everyone to backup their data and to educate the people who still aren't aware of the impact of failing to backup. It's also an opportunity to reinforce just how critical it is to safeguard what matters most—because all it takes is one small accident for data to be lost forever. In fact, 63% of respondents have already experienced data loss due to device failure, accidental deletion or cyberattacks'. For those respondents who do not backup their personal data, 36% still think they don't need to backup their data, 30% don't have enough storage space, 29% think it takes too much time, and 23% don't know how. 63% of respondents agree that they would backup data more frequently if it was automatic and effortless. A dependable backup practice is to follow the 3-2-1 backup strategy, where consumers should have three copies of data, stored on two different types of media with one copy stored offsite, like in the cloud. With free cloud storage limits quickly maxing out, many consumers are turning to a hybrid approach to protect their data. In the survey, 78% of respondents reported that they rely on free cloud storage, 60% have run out of space in the past six months, and 56% have had to upgrade to paid plans. Additionally, 35% find cloud storage increasingly expensive. This is driving more people to adopt a combination of both cloud and local external storage to ensure data protection and cost efficiency. External HDD storage, offering up to 26TB in a single drive, provides a cost-effective solution to complement the cloud, and many consumers are already embracing this approach — 45% use an external HDD, while 19% rely on network-attached storage (NAS). By diversifying storage methods, users can maintain reliable backups while managing growing cloud costs. Western Digital provides consumers and businesses alike with easy-to-use data storage solutions that streamline the backup process and meet today's growing storage needs. Western Digital recently unveiled higher capacities across its portfolio, including a 26TB1 WD Red® Pro CMR HDD for NAS environments and the WD My Passport, 20th Anniversary Edition with industry-leading 2.5' portable HDD capacity of up to 6TB. WD My Passport devices also include Acronis® True Image for Western Digital software to more easily schedule backups of precious data. In addition to these storage solutions, Western Digital is offering exclusive deals on some of its most popular backup products, making it even easier to protect and manage digital data. Top backup solutions at big discounts, available until March 31st. The results in this report are from an online survey of 6,118 respondents that was fielded from February 7 to 25, 2025 by Researchscape, an international market research consultancy. Respondents were from 10 different countries. For more information about Western Digital's storage portfolio, please visit 1One terabyte(TB) is equal to one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less due to operating environment. Image Credit: Western Digital
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Twenty Years Ago, ‘The Sunlandic Twins' Changed Everything for Of Montreal
In the summer of 2004, Kevin Barnes was in need of some encouragement. After eight years and six albums, their Athens, Georgia-based indie band, Of Montreal, was just beginning to put together an audience. Barnes, newly married with a baby on the way, wasn't sure it made sense to keep going. 'I remember talking to our booking agent and being like, 'Maybe I need to quit music and try to get some other kind of job,'' Barnes, now 50, recalls. 'And he was like, 'Don't do that. You have all this momentum going. You just need to ride this a little bit longer and see if something magical can happen.' So luckily, I took his advice.' More from Rolling Stone How Hannah Bahng Created Her Own Path How Horsegirl Opened Up Their World Remembering Will Cullen Hart, the Olivia Tremor Control's Timeless Dreamer The album that Barnes was working on at the time, The Sunlandic Twins, proved just magical enough to make good on that booking agent's optimism. Filled with elastic melodies, dizzy DIY disco, and starry-eyed romance, it connected with fans in a way that no Of Montreal album had done before it. Twenty years after its release in April 2005, The Sunlandic Twins is a richly nostalgic listen for anyone who remembers those days. To those in the know, this album is a certified indie classic that's right up there with any other sacred texts of groove and liberation from that decade. Next month, on March 14, Polyvinyl Records is crashing right back into the blog-era party with a deluxe digital reissue package. The Sunlandic Twins (20th Anniversary Edition) will feature a remastered version of the original album; a disc of B-sides from that era; another disc of covers and remixes by acts like Grizzly Bear and IQU; and a full Of Montreal concert from Norfolk, Virginia in 2006. (There's also a 2-LP vinyl version with lots of cool art.) A week later, on March 20, Of Montreal will launch a North American tour playing the album in full. Barnes sounds a little bemused at this milestone when I reach them over Zoom. 'For me, it kind of feels like 2,000 years ago,' they say. 'I've gone through so many different phases and lived so many different lives since then. It's hard to even think of that person as being me.' The Sunlandic Twins first came together as a sequel of sorts to 2004's Satanic Panic in the Attic, where Barnes had introduced tighter rhythms and a newly swaggering attitude. For their next project as Of Montreal, they were ready to go even further, writing and recording hummable highlights like 'Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games,' 'Oslo in the Summertime,' 'I Was Never Young,' and 'The Party's Crashing Us' — actual pop songs that felt worlds away from the high-concept psychedelic records that they'd made in their early years as part of the Elephant 6 scene. 'I was able to unlock some part of me that is interested in that catchy, funky, playful kind of music,' Barnes says. 'And I guess it was just good fortune that people at that time period wanted that sort of thing.' Much of the upbeat, excitable energy on The Sunlandic Twins came from the singer's then-recent marriage to Nina Barnes (née Grøttland), a visual artist from Norway. It was a happy time, overall, despite those concerns about the band's future. 'I was kind of freaking out, thinking about what I was going to do to support this small family,' Kevin says. 'We didn't have any health insurance, we didn't have any money.' But Nina did have a Norwegian passport, so that fall, she returned home while Kevin stayed in Georgia to finish the album. As soon as the LP was done, Kevin joined her for the birth of their daughter, Alabee, on December 29, 2004. 'Once I turned in the final mixes, I flew to Norway,' they say. The Sunlandic Twins arrived the next spring, with cover art by Kevin's brother David Barnes that showed the couple in a surreal sunrise landscape. 'I would call her my twin, which I didn't realize is kind of a toxic thing,' Kevin says now. 'You're not supposed to do that with your partner. You have to let your partner be themself, and you have to be yourself. But at the time, I didn't know.' Over the next year or two, Of Montreal went on tour to promote The Sunlandic Twins, growing their fanbase by leaps and bounds — and putting new stress on the marriage. 'Nina was at home trying to raise the kid mostly by herself because I was touring all the time,' Barnes says. 'That created so many problems for our relationship.' To make matters worse, Barnes was dealing with some serious mental health challenges, including major depression and anxiety that sent them spiraling as the band finally took off. 'All these exciting things were happening — our shows were selling out in advance, and there was a line of people out the door to see us — but at the same time, I was feeling suicidal and insane,' they say. 'Like, 'I should be happy. This is fucking incredible. All my dreams are coming true. But my brain is melting and I can't function.'' Eventually, Barnes saw a therapist for the first time and got on antidepressants, which helped. With their mental health in better shape, the Sunlandic Twins tour allowed them to begin exploring new ideas about gender and sexuality through playful, theatrical live performances. 'Up to that point, I hadn't done a lot of gender-bending,' Barnes says. 'Sunlandic Twins lent itself to that a lot more. The sexier aspect to the music helped me discover parts of my inner self and understand who I am in ways that maybe I wouldn't have otherwise.' (Years later, in 2020, Barnes publicly came out as non-binary and genderqueer.) Listening to The Sunlandic Twins now, you can hear how Of Montreal fit into a newly expressive moment for indie rock, a time when bands were getting more interested in making you dance. 'I've heard the term indie sleaze kicked around a bit,' Barnes muses. 'At the time, it was just a thing that was happening in the moment, so it didn't have a name. But with the benefit of some space, you can see, 'Oh yeah, we actually had more in common with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or LCD Soundsystem.'' In 2023, Barnes moved to Vermont with their partner, Christina Schneider, after many years spent living in the South. 'It reminds me a little bit of Athens, Georgia back in the day,' they say. 'Just a lot of really amazing, really talented writers, songwriters, musicians…. There's obviously ignorant, racist people in Vermont as well, but the vibe in general is way more progressive. I think that I would be fully bugging out if I was still in Georgia.' The singer says they're on good terms these days with Nina, though their marriage ended years ago. 'We went through a pretty long rocky period, but now we're in a really good place,' they say. 'There's no resentment. I feel very happy that I met her and that I have a child with her, and she gave me so much and inspired me so much.' Alabee, who recently turned 20, is in film school: 'She's constantly creating these cool screenplays that she'll share with me.' Barnes has continued reinventing Of Montreal over the last two decades, steadily releasing new albums that subvert expectations, most recently 2024's Lady on the Cusp. As our conversation winds down, they mention that they've been building out a home studio in Vermont to work on their next project. 'I've got six or seven songs for that,' Barnes says. 'I never made a freak-folk record, but I'm leaning in that direction a bit now.' March 20 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt ClubMarch 21 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat's CradleMarch 22 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club % March 23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel % March 24 – Portsmouth, NH @ 3S Artspace % March 25 – Boston, MA @ Royale % March 26 – Norwalk, CT @ District Music Hall % March 27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts % March 28 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry March 29 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey EagleJuly 15 – New Orleans, LA @ The Howlin Wolf #July 16 – Austin, TX @ Radio/East #July 18 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole #July 19 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco # July 20 – Berkeley, CA @ UC Theatre #July 21 – Bend, OR @ Volcanic Theatre Pub #July 22 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos #July 23 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom #July 24 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall #July 26 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre #July 27 – Kansas City, MO @ recordBar #July 28 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line #July 29 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall #July 30 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom #July 31 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme #Aug. 1 – Cincinnati, OH @ Woodward Theatre #Aug. 2 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn #% = with cumgirl8# = with Bijoux Cone Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
