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The words are about being mentally and physically strong enough, through faith in God, to endure life's hardships and pain which are likened to a rainstorm. It is quite inspiring and a nice pop song.
'Through The Rain' was released as a single outside the U.S.A. in 2002 and in the U.S.A. in 2003.
Produced by: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Mariah Carey and James 'Big Jim' Wright. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye.
The main part of the song starts with a simple garage type rhythm featuring rimshot and kickdrum juxtaposed with the Oriental xylophone? voice and the sample. Mariah also sings a nice melody over the top using her wispy voice about 'wrapping up' her lover (amongst other things) and towards the middle Cam'ron (who sounds like rapper Jay-Z from Mariah's 'Rainbow' album) comes in with his rap about life in general but nothing in particular and implies he is her lover. This makes 'Boy (I Need You)' either hip-hop or maybe a new category of music if it's a true garage song; that is, rap and garage for those interested in classifications.
Jay-Z and Mariah have worked together before on 'Heartbreaker' and perhaps Cam'ron is doing an impression of Jay-Z - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! He even raps that Mariah is a 'heartbreaker'. Anyway, whether he sounds like Cam'ron or Jay-Z doesn't matter that much to the song of course...he has a very nice voice which adds to the solidity of the production. The song fades out with Mariah singing a little using her high register as a finishing touch. All in all a great example of a Mariah song from the 'post-Buttefly' era which answers the question of what sort of song should she be producing in the third millennium to follow up those momentous songs of the 1990s. This is cutting edge material and she could use more samples like this to extend her repertoire further. They are an extremely cheap, flexible and easy way of adding a new dimension to any song and the possibilities are endless. Great thinking.
Produced by: Just Blaze and Mariah Carey. 2002 Sony/ATVB/Rye/FOB/NQC/Universal-Duchess.
The song has prominent rimshot (but it isn't really garage), hihat, strings, sequenced keyboards, piano, bass guitar and kickdrum. The song has a slightly funky feel.
There is some nice sustained guitar towards the end reminiscent of the Isley Brothers played by William Odum. Background vocals are by Mariah, Mary Ann Tatum, Jermaine Dupri and Trey Lorenz. Both Mary Ann Tatum and Trey Lorenz have worked with Mariah before. All in all a fine song and well produced and she still gets credit for interesting lyrics.
Produced by: Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/Shaniah Cymone/EMI April/Babyboy's Little/Noontime South.
The lyrics are very beautiful - some of her nicest - and tell of how much she loves her lover and she thanks The Lord for her blessings and sings that she believes in miracles and that she is 'forever yours' to her lover. 'Big Jim' also sings backing vocals. It's a pretty production and worth checking out the words.
Produced by: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Mariah Carey and James 'Big Jim' Wright. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/EMI April/Flyte Tyme Tunes.
This song features a rap by a new guest artist named Freeway. Freeway appears to be a Mariah hater who Mariah, in keeping with the advice of the Lord Jesus, is keen to love too; and has graciously invited him to appear as a guest artist on her record. If this is true then Mariah deserves the support of all Christians and thanks to Freeway for his contribution to the album. His advice is to fire her and that she's a silly fool and a freak. Then he raps that he is like Winnie The Pooh to her 'Honey' clothes and then that she is his dreamlover. Perhaps it's a love/hate relationship.
Mariah sings about loving her lover with her wispy middle register intertwined with the sample. Jay-Z raps about life in general but offers her little or no support. The song has a strange feel due to Freeway's rap and full marks to Mariah for keeping her cool so well.
Produced by: Just Blaze and Mariah Carey. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/FOB Music/NQC Music/EMI Blackwood/Carter Boys Music/Efartooee Music.
The words are a moving tribute to a friend who is leaving her life. 'I Only Wanted' makes for very pleasant listening and would do well as a single. It proves she can still produce wonderful songs as good as anything in the last decade. It was co-produced with Randy Jackson who helped Mariah on her 'Merry Christmas' album.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye.
Mariah sings mainly with her wispy voice and later a little with her more normal middle register. She tells of someone she regrets allowing into her life as he is revealed to be a clown with an overblown ego. In the story of this clown Mariah has a word in the lyrics censored which starts with 'f' and ends in 'n' according to the inlay card. This could easily be a slang word such as 'freakin'' or 'friggin''. The engineers, Dana Jan Chappelle and John Smeltz, haven't recorded any lyric at that point; just a semi-silent 'flaw' in the normally perfect recording which could have been any one of many words as it is imperfectly reproduced. This track and 'You Got Me' illustrate plainly to me that Mariah is sailing a lot closer to the wind than she has on any of her other albums to get her songs heard by her enemies as well as her friends in keeping with God's teaching through Jesus Christ to love your enemy as well as your friends. This album will appeal to many more musical tastes than her previous ones as she attempts to widen her audience still further. The story continues about this clown character and what a sorry mess his life is. It's similar to 'Prisoner' in some respects as she appeals to the clown to examine himself and sort himself out.
Trey Lorenz also helped with the singing.
Produced by: Dre, Vidal and Mariah Carey. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/Dirty Dre Music/Jat Cat Music.
There is a little piano and also keyboards/synthesizers, guitar, drums, fingerclicks and bass. It's a pleasant album track and may be suitable to be sung in churches.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/Windswept Music/EMI April/Eekobolishasha Sound/Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment.
Mariah uses her wispy voice, carefully layered, and sings about a former, close, male friend who didn't love her who now wants to get back into her life. She sings that he caused many problems beforehand and she doesn't want the friendship to flourish again.
Uniquely, Jermaine Dupri adds a little voice to the record as he explains the accompaniment to Mariah. It's a busy, interesting song and a super album filler: I think it will grow on us for quite some time.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/Shaniah Cymone/EMI April/Babyboy's Little/Noontime South/Songs of Universal.
Mariah sings mainly in her wispy voice which sounds better than I've ever heard it before - somewhat smoother and less fragile than normal and grading to her normal middle register. She tells of a past romance with a boy and of a later continuation of the relationship. She reminisces of a past kiss and agrees to enjoy his company further as it is so pleasant and to sing him a lullaby. Trey Lorenz also sings backing vocals.
Produced by: Mariah Carey, Dre and Vidal. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/Dirty Dre Music/Jat Cat Music.
Mariah sings absolutely delightfully in her middle and upper registers while the rappers talk about Mariah being an influential woman and the pop industry in general. The lyrics tell of a love between two people which is irresistible and keeps Mariah interested. She gets hurt with him but misses him when they're apart.
The rappers and Mariah complement each other wonderfully and the whole song is well produced to make a fine album filler. It would make a good song for a film if necessary and it may have been an idea that didn't get included on 'Glitter'.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and Damizza. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/M.C.S. Publishing/Baby Ree Toonz/WB Music/Gangsta Boogie Music/Music of Windswept/Deep Technology/Unichappell Music.
Mariah sings with her wispy voice and her more normal middle register. The lyrics are a message to 'whom it may concern' that Mariah is there to offer her love, friendship and support if needed; like the concept in 'Anytime You Need A Friend'. There are some quite gripping moments towards the end of the track and she really puts a lot of feeling into the vocals but it is over too fast and the song fades. It's an unusual album filler though and quite refreshing. She could explore this sort of material further to great effect. Trey Lorenz helped with the vocals.
Produced by: Mariah Carey, 7 Aurelius and IG. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/7 Aurelius/Smitty's Son/EMI April/Eekobolishasha Sound/Chandlora/Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment.
The song starts with piano played by Lionel Cole, acoustic guitar, fingerclicks and some haunting keyboard rather like electronic trombone/synthesizer and strings (cello). The changes from verse to chorus give the song much dramatic interest; it's almost as if there are two songs playing together. The second verse has building strings and some dramatic bass drum as well.
Then the chorus begins which features prominent block piano which gives it great power - organ, guitar and beautiful strings. The title of the song features as a repetitive hook which gives the song its lyrical power. Mariah sings in all 3 registers and her wispy voice too - always a recipe for a very listenable and remarkable record, for example, 'And You Don't Remember' and 'Melt Away'. She is famous for singing record high notes but I love her low voice too. In the final choruses Mariah really sings her heart out giving the song everything while the chorus hook continues - most effective, reminiscent of her standout eponymous album 'Mariah Carey'. The song comes to a quick conclusion with some electronic flute, and then it's over leaving you feeing it's all been worthwhile and she can still sing just as well as on that first album and she isn't really showing signs of being over 30 years old, she just needs the right song. Ben Margulies and her had some truly inspired pieces to work with back in the 1990s.
The wah-wah solo sounds superb - it has been woven with great skill into the song so that it is unobtrusive but available; not stealing the show but adding to the interest. Mariah adds some moving cries of 'no, no' as the wah-wah cries its story all over the pregnant backdrop of 22 string musicians and 3 vocalists - gripping stuff indeed and truly emotional. Then the chorus comes in and Rob Bacon gives the effect the works to wring every last bit of power out of the idea.
The lyrics are about a mystery, heartbreaker gypsy who has got the best of Mariah. She sings and appeals to the gypsy to understand the problems he/she is causing. Brilliant gypsy!
Produced by: Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson. 1981 Zomba Enterprises.
The production called for real strings and these always add so much to the way a song sounds - they help to make the song genuine. Mariah sings to piano accompaniment and the song features birdsong and surf sound effects too.
Produced by: Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye.
The lyrics are basically the same as 'Through The Rain' but the bridge is different. The words are about being mentally and physically strong enough, through faith in God, to endure life's hardships and pain which are likened to a rainstorm. Mariah sings in her middle and upper registers and the other singers, former colleagues Kelly Price and Joe with Mary Ann Tatum on backing vocals, join her in a colourful tapestry of voices similar to 'Breakdown'. It is quite inspiring and a nice pop song which makes a suitable end to the album and I like it better than 'Through The Rain'.
Produced by: Just Blaze and Mariah Carey. 2002 Sony/ATV/Rye/Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment/EMI April/Eekobolishasha Sound.
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