PLAYLISTS
Journey to Freedom, Week 1: Freedom
In preparation of the release of her fourth solo album, Journey to Freedom, Michelle Williams is hosting a contest via her official
Playlist: What Happened in Vegas? Kelly Clarkson Deep Cuts!
What Happened in Vegas? Kelly Clarkson Deep Cuts! On July 28th, the superstar singer-songwriter, inaugural American Idol, and daytime talk queen kicked
Destiny Fulfilled – The Complete Story
A woman is having a night out at the club with her two best friends, and as usual, is forced to deal with the unsolicited
Songs About Divorce, Week 1
In light of recent rumors pertaining to Beyoncé and Mariah Carey, I felt compelled to speak about the way the media handles
IN 1997
The Butterfly Effect: Mariah discovers The Art of Letting Go
Our month long tribute to Mariah Carey’s Butterfly ends with this week’s reflection on three of the album’s most emotional tracks: “Breakdown,” “Close My Eyes,” and “Outside”. These songs, along with the title track, are the most personal and introspective on the album. Like Janet did with The Velvet Rope, Mariah let the public into her innermost feelings like never before via the lyrics to these songs. And, on all three, she deals with the concept of “letting go,” which is a
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
Following Mariah Carey’s Rainbow: A Retrospective
The story of my love for Mariah Carey started in 1998 with my budding obsession for Aretha Franklin, VH1 Divas Live, and “Chain of
“When Christmas Comes” Cements Mariah Carey’s Seasonal Crown
They don’t call Mariah Carey the “Queen of Christmas” for any ol’ reason. Her entire holiday canon has become a market for success, and
Janet Jackson: The Naked Truth
Janet Jackson’s career had been the golden standard up until one very famous performance, with another very famous singer, during the most famous sporting
Maxwell’s blackSUMMERS’night (2016) – Retrospective
In 2009, Maxwell made a triumphant and long-awaited return to music with BLACKsummers’night, his first album in 8 years. The melancholic lead single “Pretty
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
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
The Gift: Beyoncé’s most underrated body of work
JULY 19, 2019 Beyoncé has recorded an extensive body of work over the course of her twenty plus year career in the music industry.
Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” is Still Just as Sweet
The year was 1995. Mariah Carey was only five years into her career, soaring off the success of her blockbuster selling album, Music Box
Top 5: Janet Jackson’s “Damita Jo”
On March 30, 2004, Janet Jackson released “Damita Jo,” her eighth studio album. Plagued by backlash and blacklisting following her infamous Super Bowl wardrobe
Destiny Fulfilled, Relived: A Reflection of Sisterhood
November 16, 2004. On November 16, 2004, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams reunited once more as Destiny’s Child for their final album, Destiny Fulfilled.
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
ABOUT THE 97
THE 97 ZINE
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THE 97 ZINE, Issue 1 - "Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse"
Original price was: $14.97.$9.97Current price is: $9.97.
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THE 97 ZINE, Issue 2 - "Damita Jo"
Original price was: $14.97.$9.97Current price is: $9.97.
