Mariah Carey apologized for her performance at yesterday’s Michael Jackson memorial, saying she “wasn’t able to pull it together and really do it right,” and that she was “sorry.” She made the comments via her Twitter page. Check out her version of “I’ll Be There” and I’ll tell you why I think she’s being too hard on herself:
Mariah Carey sing at Michael Jackson The Memorial Concert
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I don’t think Carey has anything to apologize for. In fact, at a time when so many singers are trying for the kind of note-for-note “perfection” that shows like American Idol have convinced too much of the population is the way singers should sound, I found Carey’s emotionally jagged performance all the more moving. Indeed, this is what first-rate pop singing is truly about: emotion expressed through the grain of the voice, not impeccable, often sterile, pitch and timbre.
Do you think Carey should have apologized?
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I think she really butchered that song…I couldn’t even listen to all of it. Really, really bad. And I’m not even a hater! I like Mariah but WOW that was just awful. At the same time, it’s not like she was performing at a concert with paying guests, it was a MEMORIAL – NOT a concert. She wasn’t expected to be her best. So was it a truly, truly awful performance? Yes, I think so. But should she have apologized for it? No, I don’t think it was necessary at all. But still…SHEESH that was bad. Speaking of Idol, like worse tan Sanjaya bad.
think she really butchered that song…I couldn’t even listen to all of it. Really, really bad. And I’m not even a hater! I like Mariah but WOW that was just awful. At the same time, it’s not like she was performing at a concert with paying guests, it was a MEMORIAL – NOT a concert. She wasn’t expected to be her best. So was it a truly, truly awful performance? Yes, I think so. But should she have apologized for it? No, I don’t think it was necessary at all. But still…SHEESH that was bad. Speaking of Idol, like worse tan Sanjaya bad.
I haven’t been a big listener to Mariah Carey since I was very very young. I started to feel like a lot of her performances were contrived. It’s true that her voice cracked a little at first, but she really was singing from the heart and I think it was one of her best performances I’ve seen her do. There are three possibilities to my mind. 1. She desperately wanted to do Jackson justice and feels like she missed her chance to do so. 2. She is as much a perfectionist as Jackson himself and judges herself harshly for the slightest mistakes. 3. She is vain and self-obsessed and is more concerned about what people will think about her than the purpose of the occasion.
I’m not picking one or the other of these. I’m just listing the possibilities.
only for her outfit.
I agree with Mark! That was a really bad performance and it’s kind of selfish to draw more attention to yourself and take it away from Michael by publically apologizing. Puhhlease. Someone buy her an autotuner.
My ears are bleeding.
I agree with with Mark said. All around good assessment. You go boy!
She only need pause to reflect on the appropriateness of her gown.
Was that Mariah Carey? Doesn’t look at all like the hot thing in that last vid…
Are you *sure* that was Mariah Carey??
I think it was the over dramatic hand gestures, the apparent sing-off with her partner, and the plunging dress she should be apologizing for. She was on stage doing her typical over the top Mariah show… not really appropriate for a memorial.
Sorry, but she was bad. Don’t get me started on that inappropriate dress. That was just way too classless. The fact that she actually apologized and tried to make it about herself is nauseating to me.
People need to cut the BS when we talk about this. SHE CANNOT SING LIVE ANYMORE. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
For too long we have been turning the other cheek when she lips her performances. For too long we have been distracted by the “Ladies of the Night” attire that she just falls into. For too long we have looked the other way when she is obviously struggling to get the simplest note out and a backing track or her backup singers are doing all the work.
Just stop it. This woman lives in her own selfish bubble because we continue to let her. The “Emotional” excuse is pathetic. Many people there were emotional and did just fine.
Again, she just hasn’t got it anymore and she hasn’t been able to really “SANG” for over ten years now.
Her performance was mediocre at best. This performance paled in comparison to her original rendition back in 1992 which was effortless, Then her voice was fuller and strong. Anyway Mariah shouldn’t apologize as I am sure nobody actually pay much attention to the quality of her bad singing. Everyone is thinking of Michael. Period.
She cracked in the beginning the rest was outstanding. It’s sad to know that she won’t get her due until she’s gone because everyone today is tone-deaf. No artist, with or without Auto Tune, could do what Mariah did with her voice throughout the 90s. She is hands-down the greatest living female singer. If you only know her number one hits, you don’t know anything.
HA you gurs are funny. Her dress looked like she was going to go perform at bad show on a cruise ship.
Hey? Where was Paris Hilton?? Isn’t she always at these things??
Oh…I get it. Someone else named Paris was there.
Got it…
LOL to the person below who compared her singing to Sanjaya – I thought of the same thing! The disasterous hair too is totally Sanjaya.
She is definitely being too hard on herself. I can’t imagine what it was like having to sing while looking at the coffin, especially since I believe that she was first up. She was clearly emotionally upset and I think that she did the best that she could.
This video was recorded back in the 30s, quality, people!!!
to mark,katie and lisa and all other haters of mariah,
what has gone to your minds..the performance isnt bad at all,it was emotional rendition which is just right for the occasion..c’mon this is a memorial service not american idol.do you expect her to scream like hell on a funeral?YOU ARE USELESS AND WORTHLESS PEOPLE…I THINK SHE SHOULDNT REALLY APOLOGISED,BUT PERSONALLY,I BELIEVE SHE DID BEC PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING HER TO BELT IT OUT…I DIDNT,I WAS EVEN IMPRESSED..i’ve always been a fan,i still am…and will always admire her..GOD BLESS YOU MARIAH CAREY
I gave her the benefit of the doubt because when will any of us be asked to sing at a musical legend’s memorial. To be able to get through the song was good enough. I’m not a big ole screaming crazy Mariah fan, but I did respect her performance…Now the dress on the other hand could have stayed at home.
Jimmie you are so right, just look at her no#1 hits. What a voice. Wait did she pass Elvis in the no#1, and only need x amount to become the only one to have the most no#1 hits. If I had no chance to rehearse, and walk out onto a stage to see the greatest pop star Michael Jackson’s casket, I think I would of stumble alot more than she did. Remember she made that again a no#1 one hit for Michael. Now same song sung by to different singers to become no#1.
LO-freakin’-LOUD.
Too funny. Whole things about Michael, but Mariah fans seem to forget that. And frankly, the dude that brought the subject up(the ‘author’ of this piece must be laughing his ass off.
I know I am…
Mariah Carey is so full of it! So she blames her bad performance and lacking voice (something that has been an issue over 10 years now) on her “Emotions” Eventhough she’s a professional? Sounds just like when she blamed the tanking of her Glitter album on September 11th since it was released on the same day. This chick is really a piece of work and has more excuses than a man going to the slammer.
Face it, you just can’t sing anymore. Sorry to say as I loved her voice, but she just can’t do it anymore like she used to.
BAD
ITS DEFINITELY NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS IF SHE IS STILL VERY POPULAR.your comments can never put her down,..her fans love her..you just ENVY HER SUCCESS…YOU MUST BE A FAILURE ALL YOUR LIFE…A LOSER WHO PICKS ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE LIKE MARIAH,on their smallest bit of mistakes..its none of your ENVIOUS AND EVIL business if millions of people admire her and buy her records…YOU WILL DIE OF ENVY AND JEALOUSY but mariah will continue to shine and count her blessing while you sit there watching and then again make bad comments…
Also remember people, it has been said many times they did not know the casket was oin to be there. I am sure they found out as it was being wheeled in. Now you be the first out to sing without a rehearsel. Mariah Well Done!!!! Your true fans and Im sure his family feels you sang from your heart. That is the best you can do under the circumstances. I would of made it if I walked out to sing to see a casket of the biggest pop star!
I cried when she sang. We have to remember it was a memorial service for Michael Jackson not a glitzy show for us to sit down and eat popcorn. She was the first to sing and I felt she was very emotional, I’m surprised she got through the whole song in one piece.
I didn’t like it… And I’m a fan of the woman’s.. her voice is not what it was.. and we’ve seen clips of her movies, there’s no emotion there… sorry, but true
Mariah Carey, who back in her day was a phenom, did not do herself justice at MJ’s funeral. Her dress was inappropriate and her singing way off key and pitchy. She needs to give up the ghost and fade because she does not have the staying power. Her music is fueled by her publicity team buying up her own albums to get them onto the charts and her performance of MJ’s classic song, one that back in her day she did a phenomenal job, was destroyed. Not to mention, it was all about her and there were many older (her age like Lionel Richey and such) as well as young enough to be her grandson, the little Irish Boy, who pulled off even through tears. Sadly, she was releasing that very day a new tune out to radio and iTunes and many of us in the industry believe that is what she was up there for. Not to celebrate MJ, who she didn’t even know very well at all.
I thought her voice was cracking because of emotion, and I give her the benefit of the doubt.
However, someone should show her what to do with her hands.
Mariah is the ONLY artist who dared do a cover version of an MJ (or Jackson 5) song–and make a smash of it. And she did it 1 year in the business. Every other artist is scared to try that. Mariah, you did just fine yesterday.