Hello again queers, hope you are all enjoying the New Year. We brought 2013 in, in the best way possible, with the one and only Mariah Carey. Her phenomenal Sydney show proved to us that that she is one of the greatest gay icons of all time. Her performance was a lesson in divadom, and many of her antics reflected the queer story.
She opened with ‘Can’t Take that Away’, and closed with ‘Hero’, these two songs are basically gay anthems. At their heart they express the same sentiment – that all of the struggles we face are just a precursor to finding our true strength in who we are, or as Mariah puts it “the hero within”. This sentiment has been expressed by all the great gay icons before her, with songs like Judy Garland’s ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, Diana Ross’ ‘I’m Coming Out’, or anything on the Queer as Folk soundtrack.
To perform the ballad ‘Close My Eyes’, Mariah sat on a chaise lounge under a blanket while pictures from her childhood faded in and out of focus on the big screen. Mariah was showing us that she had the same ordinary childhood that we all had, but she managed to turn out extraordinary. All of us grew up in an environment saturated with heterosexual values, but we managed to ignore them and believe in who we are to become the fabulous babes we are today.
The way she sat on that chaise lounge and strutted around the stage while her all male back-up troupe did all the dancing was also pretty queer, she was basically overthrowing patriarchy. She didn’t need to imitate sex on the dance floor in compromising outfits because she is Mariah Carey. She stood her ground and let her voice be the centrepiece of the show while her back-up dancers were the only ones who could be objectified. And this wasn’t the only way she reversed gender roles. One of her opening acts was husband Nick Cannon, who is 11 years her junior. We all know every good gay icon has a toy boy, or two.
We haven’t even described the sheer campiness of the show yet. Mariah did four costume changes; they were all sparkly mini dresses. The light show included imagery of butterflies, candy love hearts, flashing cameras, backstage globes and a full moon. Everything was so overtly girly and saccharine that it left naturally feminine territory and entered the valley of manufactured camp. But we love this about Mariah. Who else is going to give us epically girly film clips like those for ‘Touch My Body’ and ‘We Belong Together’, apart from maybe Adam Lambert.
Even though she is not gay herself, she is still a strong and proud gay voice and we can’t wait to hear more from her this year. She’ll be judging on American Idol season 12 and releasing an album in May. Just call her name and she’ll be there, anytime you need a friend.
Pop superstar and “American Idol” judge Mariah Carey enters the Hot Tours tally at No. 4 with box office stats reported from a rare headlining turn in Australia. In her first appearance Down Under since the 90′s, Carey played at Jupiters Hotel & Casino on the Gold Coast on New Year’s Day followed by an arena date in Sydney. The Sydney venue, Allphones Arena, reported more than $2.3 million in sold tickets from a packed house on January 3. Also featured in the concert was an opening DJ set by husband Nick Cannon.
MARIAH Carey revealed her toned physique in a bright red bikini while on tour Down Under last week.
The pop diva frolicked on the beach at the Gold Coast, sharing the candid snap on her Instagram page.
The former Jenny Craig spokeswoman, who dropped more than 30kg after the birth of her twins Moroccan and Monroe almost two years ago, showed off her toned abs and trim waist.
Mariah, 42, made sure her time in Australia was a family affair, ringing in the New Year alongside her husband, Nick Cannon, and the twins.
The adorable bubs even joined their famous mum on stage to greet the crowd during her Gold Coast performance.
Carey wrapped up her Aussie tour in Melbourne on January 5 at Etihad Stadium.
MARIAH Carey’s ex-husband, record executive Tommy Mottola – who she says was a “controlling” man who “mentally and emotionally” abused her during their four-year-marriage – is speaking out.
Mottola, who is 20 years Carey’s senior and married her when she was just 23, is clearing the air in his new memoir Hitmaker, saying he might have been demanding, but he’s the reason for her worldwide success.
“If it seemed like I was controlling, I apologise,” he writes in his book which is due for worldwide release later this month.
“Was I obsessive? Yes. But that was also part of the reason for her success.”
According to the New York Post, Mottola, who divorced the mother of his two children to be with the singer in 1993, said that because he didn’t let Carey take a break early on in her career, she became a superstar.
“My feeling was there’d be plenty of time for Mariah to celebrate just a little ways down the road,” the 63-year-old, now married to singer Thalia, writes. “I’m not talking 10 years, just a few.” But the music mogul is not taking full responsibility, adding Carey’s talent is untouched. “An unbelievable energy was running though me, screaming, ‘Turn the car around! That may be the best voice you’ve ever heard in your life’,” he writes of when he first listened to Carey’s demo.
Carey, who capped a three-stop Australian tour on Saturday night, has persistently dismissed Mottola’s claims, calling their marriage a “private hell” and saying in an interview: “I came to him with the voice I have. I came to him with the No.1 songs.”
Without question, Mariah Carey’s popularity spikes annually for mistletoe season. She’s affectionately been crowned the Queen of Christmas and it seems all Australia wanted for Christmas this year was the chance to see the perpetual princess sing live. When tickets went on sale for her Sydney show, they sold out faster than it takes to listen to her hit Fantasy once through.
Unfortunately, Mariah didn’t include that smash in her Sydney set-list on the evening of January 3 at All Phones Arena, but symbols of her royal Mariah-ness, like butterflies and glitter, flashed on screen as she took to the stage and the real life fantasy of seeing her live began.
She was escorted on stage by a train of gentlemanly lads with cascading curls and a dress that squeezed her in. She was our Jessica Rabbit for the night, but of course, without the muted demeanour as she executed her opening number, Can’t Take That Away, with a voice that garnered respect from every one of the occupied seats in the house.
Cutting a curvaceous silhouette, her busty body was covered in bling that spoke a luxurious language. During the emancipated Shake It Off, she delicately gestured to the crowd, like a true royal, keeping her physicality on the down low. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star hands was the extent of her choreography, but why bother exerting your body to entertain a crowd when your voice performs more somersaults than Cirque Du Soleil?
Her signature sing-squeal was first showcased as pink love hearts beat on screen to the disco rhythm of her 1991 jam, Emotions.
No indication was given that she couldn’t achieve the quality of her vocal reputation. She even showed off between songs. Instead of taking a breather to talk to the audience, like the casual pop star would, Mariah often spoke to the audience in song. At one point she asked the audience for something Aussie to say, then subsequently transformed the boisterous sporting chant, “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”, into an elegantly resplendent yodel.
It was these moments between songs that her trademark diva antics bossed up. Right as she was getting comfortable on a sofa bed to sing My All, she demanded that her chaise be moved closer to the fan. Once done so, she scolded her attendants for moving it too close to the edge, as it inhibited how she wished to sit. It was said with a chuckle, although you wondered if she was further berating her staff behind the scenes whilst her absence off stage stretched a little too long to appreciate the art of the quick change, especially considering her outfits for the evening were a rack of uncomplicated dresses in different sparkly shades.
After having not toured Australia for 15 years, the audience deserved more Mimi on stage time. After performing a cover of the Jackson 5’s I’ll Be There, with guest performer Trey Lorenz (The pair originally crooned this tune in ‘92 on MTV), Mariah abandoned her own gig for 15 minutes, leaving Trey to perform a rendition of Michael Jackson’s Rock With You and half sing Prince’s Let’s Go Crazy whilst introducing Mariah’s band and dancers.
Even the most pedigree of divas, like Mariah, shouldn’t be spared the duty of introducing the musicians that accompany her on the road. It didn’t say much about her gratitude for the people she works with and neither did the one liner she made after the spoonful of Vegemite gag, “If somebody doesn’t bring me a glass of champagne in 1.5 seconds, everyone gets fired.” Turns out she needed something classy to wash away the taste of middle-class Australia.
It was all in all a send up of her own larger than life ego, one that was almost humbled when she admitted one fan on stage to give her a beauty school certificate, educating the audience with a little bit of Mariah 101. As it turns out, Mariah’s back up plan, if she ever miraculously failed at becoming a superstar, was to work in beauty. Obviously having not needed the credentials, she became a beauty school drop out. Mariah accepted the makeshift certificate and her postponed, yet phony graduation, with grace.
More throwbacks to the past came during the sensitive balled Close My Eyes in which photographs slowly came in and out of focus on screen of Mariah as a free spirited child with freckles and hair that’s obviously always been magical.
The inspiring ballad, Hero, triumphantly drew the show to a close. With its eternal flame of memorable high notes and self-empowering spirit, it majestically warmed up the atmosphere before Mariah returned for an encore performance of the colossal hit, We Belong Together.
Mariah’s show brought back some of yesteryear’s charm. Her performance was pure and free of the added preservatives that usually sustain a modern day pop concert, such as backing vocals and the smoke and mirrors effect. Her on-screen displays, which served as the only visual aid to the evening’s performance, even seemed a little on the wrong side of the millennium in terms of pixel count.
But the point of visual stimulation became pointless, when Mariah’s voice opened up the heavens; it was worth your expensive ticket price and much, much more.
Mariah Carey performed in Melbourne, Australia earlier today. Below is the setlist from the concert:
1. Can’t take that away remix
2. Touch my body
3. Shake it off
4. My all
5. Emotions
6. Thanx for Nothin’ (Acapella Snippet)
7. Always be my baby
8. I’ll be there
9. It’s like that
10. Fly like a bird
11. Close my eyes
12. Hero
13. We belong together
Pictures from Twitter & Instagram:
Here are some performance clips from the show:
Collection of Melbourne Performance Clips via 22GroverSuper
Thanx for Nothin’ & other Mariah Moments via MarloPerry
Mariah Carey trilled and shrilled her way into Australian’s hearts last night as she stepped onto the Sydney stage for the first time in fifteen years
Acting ever-the-prima-donna, the 42-year-old was around an hour late to the stage, leaving hubby Nick Cannon to keep the jam-packed Allphones Arena audience at bay before turning up at approximately 10.00pm for an hour-and-a-half set.
But all was forgiven as the opening beats to a remix of Can’t Take That Way boomed through the sound system; Carey appearing in all her blinged-up glory in a short, figure-hugging mini-dress, typical of the Carey couture we have come to know.
The songbird supreme did not disappoint, her voice is as powerful as it was twenty years ago, hitting that signature squeak (G#7, think just a few keys from the top of a piano) for her 1991 hit, Emotions.
The playlist was a mixed bag of hits spanning her twenty year career and mixed vocal range, from the oldies (My All, Always Be My Baby) to the newbies (It’s Like That, Obsessed, Shake It Off, Touch My Body).
There were a few random tracks, including what Carey described as one of her all-time favourites, 1997′s Close My Eyes, along with an off-the-cuff acapella of Can’t Let Go/Love Takes Time.
Like an old-pro, Carey casually chatted to her “Lambs” between breaks, sharing personal memories and moments and joining in the Australian experience by eating a spoonful of Vegemite, only to demand a glass of bubbles to wash it down.
“It’s not that bad,” she said between pursed lips.
She announced her children’s new love affair with the country, where her daughter Monroe spoke her first words – “I’m good girl” – on stage during her New Year’s show at the The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“So Australia, my children love you!”
But it was the penultimate show-stopper – Hero – that made the crowd melt, before a soaring finale of We Belong Together. Not a note was missed.
She might be a diva, she might be demanding and she might be a little late, but damn, that woman can sing.
Mariah Carey will finish her Australian tour in Melbourne on January 5 at Etihad Stadium.
WHAT YOU THOUGHT
“It was definitely worth the money and she still has it and really made an effort with the crowd. Disappointed with the slow start, but overall it was amazing,” – Melanie Bartlett.
“All I can say is that Mariah is the true professional performer, her voice was in crisp condition. 2013 is going to be a great year for Mariah Carey,” – Matthew Ross.
“I’m on Mariah fever, I’m mesmerised by her aura. I’ve been to a lot of concerts and this was something out of this world,” – Andrew La Delfa.
“What an experience to witness Mariah live. So much personality, down to earth, great rapport, sounded amazing. Best concert,” – @EliPhillips
Sydney had two Mariah’s on stage at the same time last night – Mariah Carey was joined by 6-year old Mariah Cini.
The younger Mariah was named after the older Mariah. Her dad Chris Cini met Mariah Carey on her last Australian tour in 1998 and named his daughter after the superstar.
Mariah Carey presented Mariah Cini with a Santa hat in front of thousands of fans at Allphones Arena.
The final Mariah Carey Australian show is tomorrow night (January 5) at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.
The setlist for Mariah Carey in Sydney was:
Can’t Take That Away (from Rainbow, 1999)
Touch My Body (from E=MC2, 2008)
Shake It Off (from The Emancipation of Mimi, 2005)
My All (from Butterfly, 1997)
Emotions (from Emotions, 1991)
Always Be My Baby (from Daydream, 1995)
I’ll Be There (from MTV Unplugged, 1992)
Rock With You (Michael Jackson cover)
Let’s Go Crazy (Prince cover)
Obsessed (Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, 2009)
Can’t Let Go/Love Takes Time ((from Emotions, 1991/Mariah Carey, 1990)
Don’t Forget About Us (from The Emancipation of Mimi, 2005)
It’s Like That (from The Emancipation of Mimi, 2005)
Close My Eyes (from Butterfly, 1997)
Hero (from Music Box, 1993)
We Belong Together (from The Emancipation of Mimi, 2005)
Mariah Carey on stage with little Mariah via TheNightstar79
Hello again queers, hope you are all enjoying the New Year. We brought 2013 in, in the best way possible, with the one and only Mariah Carey. Her phenomenal Sydney show proved to us that that she is one of the greatest gay icons of all time. Her performance was a lesson in divadom, and many of her antics reflected the queer story. 
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
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