PLAYLISTS
Playlist: 97 Minutes of Christmas, Vol. 5
This Christmas season, the staff of THE 97 will be sharing their favorite holiday songs via our new 97 Minutes of Christmas Playlist
Songs About Divorce, Week 4
This is the fourth and final week of the Songs About Divorce playlist series. Hopefully, you have been able to learn something
Playlist: THE SUMMER 97 (1998 x 2023)
In celebration of summer, the staff at THE 97 has compiled a playlist containing some of our favorite summer songs, from then and now. Each
Playlist: Mariah Carey and the 12 Princesses of Christmas
Mariah Carey’s Christmas Princesses Ever since the world collectively decided to coronate Mariah Carey as the Queen of Christmas, as usual with
IN 1997
20 Reasons Janet Jackson’s ‘The Velvet Rope’ is a Masterpiece
On October 7, 1997, Janet Jackson released what would go on to become the most prolific body of work in her catalogue: The Velvet Rope. Before delving into the many reasons why this album deserves the title of masterpiece, it is necessary to first set the scene: Just over a decade prior, in 1986, Janet Jackson released what most think of to be her debut album, Control. Although it was actually her third, it was her first as an adult and, not to
Wicked: For Good – Ranking Every Song in the Soundtrack
Spoilers ahead. The album itself contains heavy spoilers if you haven’t seen the movie. The wait is over. The Wicked Witch of
Review: “West End Girl” by Lily Allen
Welcome back, Lily Allen. I mean no shade when I say this, but is it 2025 or 2007? Listening to a Lily
Through It All, Mariah Carey is Still “Here For It All”
First Listen: “Here For It All” I was stunned. Before me was an 80-foot-wide, 50-foot-tall glass window overlooking Central Park, a stage
97-Hour Review: On “eternal sunshine,” Ariana Grande proves herself
Upon the release of the lead single “yes, and?,” I wrote that Ariana Grande was selling herself short by successfully emulating her
Someone’s Favorite Daughter: A Different Type of Mariah Carey Album Ranking
It’s tiiiime again, it seems, to reevaluate my Mariah Carey album ranking. Following the release of her 16th set, many publications have done listicles ranking thee D-I-V-A’s incomparable discography. I’ll be doing it
Mariah Carey and the Catalyst of “Caution”
There comes a time in every iconic music superstar’s career when they must accept they have transitioned from icon to legend. Some do so obnoxiously, others are a little more graceful about it.
Big Purr: The Debut of Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton: The Debut It All Started With a Purr. Not quite the kind of vocal purr that Eartha Kitt famously once possessed. This purr was vastly different: vaguely androgynous, with a fry
FOR THE NOSTALGIA
M!ssundaztood: How P!nk Defined Herself by Defying Expectation
November 20, 2001, Enter M!ssundaztood Alecia “P!nk” Moore hit the scene in 2000 with Can’t Take Me Home, her debut album that was largely a pop-tinged R&B
No Pretender: Mariah Carey’s “Dreamlover” Proved Her Passion for Hip-Hop and House
After silencing doubters and naysayers with her 1992 “MTV Unplugged” show and proving her commercial prowess when her live recording of “I’ll Be There”
Aretha Franklin’s ‘Sweet Passion’ Yielded Mixed Results
Very little has been written about Aretha Franklin’s 1977 album Sweet Passion. Of the three most significant written accounts of Aretha’s life, none of
Happy B’Day: Celebrating Beyoncé’s sophomore album
9/4/06: B’DAY. When she dropped her sophomore album, Beyoncé still had a lot to prove. Hot off the heels of her debut solo album, Dangerously
Mariah Carey’s ‘Caution,’ Ranked.
CAUTION, RELEASED NOVEMBER 16, 2018 Since its release in November 2018, Mariah Carey’s fifteenth studio album Caution almost hasn’t aged. (Just like the Queen who created
Playlist: Music Box (Mariah’s Version)
As I detailed in the Long Island Press, it is clear that Mariah Carey’s “Music Box” album didn’t give a full picture of her
Revisiting Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love 10 Years Later
I woke up at the crack of dawn on May 3, 2011. I drove from my West Philly apartment down to South Philly’s Wal
Who is Jill Scott? A Timeless Treasure.
JULY 18, 2000 Jill Scott’s debut album, entitled Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1, opens with the song “Do You Remember.” She
Aretha Franklin’s Love All The Hurt Away
By 1981, Aretha Franklin was finding her musical footing again. The 70’s had started strong for Aretha, producing some of the most significant work
Mariah Carey, Master of “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak”
For over three decades, Mariah Carey has cranked out record-breaking number-one hits that set towering standards and were masterclasses in vocal expertise. Besides gifting
Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black Turns 50
I was around 8 or 9 when I got my copy of Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black. It arrived via one of the
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