PLAYLISTS
Journey to Freedom, Week 4: Happiness
Last week’s word in Michelle Williams’ Journey to Freedom journal contest was “happiness.” For our playlist, I’ve selected five songs that always put me in
Journey to Freedom, Week 5: Time
1. “Time” by Mary J. Blige is essentially about the flaws of the world and how counterproductively people use their time. Mary
Playlist: Etta James Essentials
Etta James was one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. Beyond her signature “At Last”, she was a musical chameleon
Playlist: Ranking the best American Idol alumni, and their best songs
This week we learned that, after 13 long years, American Idol will finally come to an end. Undoubtedly, it had a great run
IN 1997
The Velvet Rope Therapy
You may be asking yourself, “what the hell is the velvet rope therapy?” Well, good thing you asked. The Velvet Rope is an album- a masterpiece is a more suitable description- that Janet Jackson released in 1997. I have a strong sense of relation to Janet. No, I don’t feel like we’re kindred souls or that we were friends in a past life – I just feel her life. Her music is extremely personal to her and what is going on in
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
Merry Christmas: The Coronation of Mariah Carey
Crowning a Monarch In 1994, Christmas as we know it was forever changed when Mariah Carey released her first Christmas album. Before 1994, the
Mariah Carey’s “Christmas Time is In the Air Again” Through the Years
Mariah Carey’s honorary title as “Queen of Christmas” is attributed to the colossal success of her #1 hit single, 1994’s “All I Want For
“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
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
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
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
The Hero That 2020 Needed: Mariah Carey
To say that the year 2020 has been a disaster would be an understatement. We’ve been living through a pandemic, fighting for our lives,
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
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
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
Ranked: Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again”
“Oops!… I did it again, I played with your heart, got lost in the game…” –Britney Spears The title track and stratospheric lead single
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.
