PLAYLISTS
The Shadelist: Chronicling Mariah Carey’s shadiest songs
Once upon a time, there was a young multi-racial, multi-talented girl from Long Island, New York. Born to an Irish-American mother and
Journey to Freedom, Week 3: Love
For this week’s Journey to Freedom challenge, Michelle Williams challenges us to “celebrate a mindful moment of self-love.” Self-love, Michelle says, is
The Diana Ross Essentials Playlist
The Boss March is definitely Diva Month. After celebrating the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin‘s birthday yesterday, we celebrate the birth of another
Playlist: 97 Minutes of Christmas, Vol. 1
This Christmas season, the staff of THE 97 will be sharing their favorite holiday songs via our new 97 Minutes of Christmas Playlist
IN 1997
Liberating Venus: Mariah’s sensuality awakens with “My All” and “The Roof”
“My All” Picking up from last week’s post about “Honey” and “Butterfly,” another Butterfly video with clear symbolism is “My All.” Some of the images were modeled after Botticelli’s The Birth Of Venus. In mythology Venus was the god of love and beauty, and some say she sprang from the sea as an adult and floated to the shore in a shell. Mariah is shown lying in a shell in the video, and in general the 1997-1998 time period is
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
“Crybaby,” Mariah Carey’s spiraling serenade
In November 1999, Mariah Carey released her seventh studio album, Rainbow. By this point, Carey wasn’t just a superstar – she was the poster
“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
What You See Is What You Sweat: Aretha Franklin’s New Jack Swing and A Miss
What You See Is What You Sweat isn’t at the forefront of the Aretha Franklin canon. In fact, the 1991 album helps bring up
On ‘8 Days of Christmas,’ Destiny’s Child Made Girl Power Festive
In 2001, Destiny’s Child were on top of the world. In May, they released their third album Survivor which had record-breaking first week sales, two
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
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
Mariah Carey and the Tale of the “Oh Santa” Twins
Merry Christmas II You In 2010, Mariah Carey was pregnant with her twins, Monroe and Moroccan, and decided that creating two human lives wasn’t
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
The Electrifying Aretha Franklin: Aretha’s Sophomore Album
Most people have never heard Aretha Franklin’s sophomore album, 1962’s The Electrifying Aretha Franklin. The same goes for her debut album, 1961’s Aretha With
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
“#Beautiful,” Mariah Carey’s Summer Hit That Got Away
With a musical catalog as expansive as Mariah Carey’s, casual listeners will surely come across a multitude of hits they’ll know by heart. But
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THE 97 ZINE
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THE 97 ZINE, Issue 1 - "Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse"
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