In 1992, a 22 year-old Mariah Carey had much to prove. A mere two years into her career, she already notched 5 consecutive #1 singles, starting with her debut single “Vision Of Love“. She also collected 2 Grammys Awards, including Best New Artist. Despite all this success, she didn’t take her act on the road.

She made numerous TV performances and appearances, but there were no signs of a full-length show or tour in the works. Of course, this incited the critics to question her abilities as a live performer. However, her performance on MTV Unplugged in June of 1992 shut them all down. Mariah’s MTV Unplugged proved that she could deliver a flawless, full-length performance. It even found her making history.

“I feel like that special really helped my career… It was like my first concert”- Mariah Carey, 2001

Now I’ll keep it real, I was 2 in 1992, and 6 years away from discovering Mariah Carey. However, MTV Unplugged is a crucial developmental moment in Mariah’s career. As she says before her closing number “Can’t Let Go,” “you know I’m not used to doing this.” The only other multi-performance show was The First Vision, released in 1990. However, that video is intercut with interviews, so it isn’t meant to feel like a show. Her MTV Unplugged EP is nothing but music, with a few spoken interludes/introductions.

Below, I dig into a few of the seven tracks which compose Mariah Carey’s MTV Unplugged EP. Let me take you back…

“I’ll Be There”

The most important moment from Mariah Carey’s MTV Unplugged is “I’ll Be There.” It is a bit of an MTV Unplugged tradition to include a cover song in the set. Mariah includes the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There.” The song is a classic amongst the Jackson 5 and Motown catalog. Everyone knows “I’ll Be There.” Mariah performs it here as a duet with longtime background singer Trey Lorenz. The two are magic together.

“I’ll Be There” makes such an impact that fans demanded it receive release as a single. Upon the single’s release, “I’ll Be There” shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a feat almost never achieved by live songs. It was also only the eighth song to have crowned the Hot 100 as both an original release and a cover. To this day, it remains as an iconic moment in Mariah’s career

“Someday”

Notorious for being a song Mariah “hates,” “Someday” was her 3rd number one single. Clearly it was an easy choice for inclusion on MTV Unplugged. Due to the plugged-in nature of the studio version of “Someday,” it is a great opportunity for Mariah to strip down a song. That is, after all, a good part of what MTV Unplugged is all about.

“If It’s Over”

Perhaps the least well-known song performed at MTV Unplugged (outside of Mariah’s fan base), “If It’s Over,” was used as the EP’s second single after the monstrous success of “I’ll Be There.” With lyrics written by Mariah and the music written by her in collaboration with the iconic Carole King, the song is a vocal show out for Mariah. She had recently performed the song on Saturday Night Live and at the 1992 Grammy Awards, to much acclaim.

“Can’t Let Go”

Finally, the closer of the show stands out to me especially, because this was the first version I ever heard. “Can’t Let Go” is regarded as a fan favorite amongst Mariah’s lambs. Unlike “If It’s Over,” there’s still a chance that Mariah includes the song in a setlist these days. I love the way the piano takes center stage here, as opposed to the synth-centered studio version. Mariah always sounds great vibing off a piano (case in point, “Vanishing”). Her vocals on this version are more raw and earthy. When she hits the bridge and key change, she goes all the way off. It is the perfect finale to an iconic moment in her career.

What’s your favorite cut from Mariah Carey’s MTV Unplugged EP?

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The soundtrack to Men in Black is probably not an album that anyone would think to be significant.  However, in the 90s, soundtracks to blockbuster movies were a big deal.  Of course, you probably remember the title track and lead single by Will Smith…

Not exactly 1997’s finest moment, nevertheless, it was a huge success and an overall fun song.  However, the Columbia Records helmed soundtrack did boast contributions from Nas, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Ginuwine, The Roots, Trey Lorenz (Mariah Carey’s background singer, see: “I’ll Be There”), A Tribe Called Quest, and the debut songs of Destiny’s Child and Alicia Keys (who was, at the time, signed to Columbia Records).

It is a pretty impressive list of artists, and interestingly enough, all those listed above are still active and relevant today, 17 years later (well, for Trey Lorenz, still as Mariah’s background singer, but there’s no shame in that!); albeit one of the acts may or may not have changed species.

Destiny’s Child’s contribution to the soundtrack is a ballad, “Killing Time,” which, in my opinion, is quite an odd choice for the Men In Black soundtrack.  However, I do love the song.  Beyoncé gives an impressively mature and sensual  lead vocal performance for a 15-going-on-16 year old, while Kelly, LeToya and LaTavia provide  gorgeous harmonies as we came to expect of Destiny’s Child.   Of course, “Killing Time” definitely wasn’t going to kick start their career, but luckily, “No, No, No Part 2” followed a few months later.

Meanwhile, on “Dah Dee Dah (Sexy Thing)” the world met a 16 year old Alicia Keys, riding a sexy, funky R&B mid tempo track.  At the time, she was signed to Columbia via a deal with Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Records.  However, Alicia eventually left the label and signed with Clive Davis.  We didn’t hear any new music from Alicia until her 2001 debut album, Songs in A Minor.  

Overall, the soundtrack is what you’d expect – a collection of standard, mid-90s R&B and hip-hop.  Perhaps I’m biased, but the introduction to two of R&B’s leading female acts, before they grew up and blew up, is the high point of the soundtrack for me.  Side note: Mariah Carey has collaborated (in some capacity) with 7 of the 14 artists featured on the soundtrack.

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