Disco de Mariah Carey: “Music Box”

Descripción (en inglés) :

Personnel: Mariah Carey (vocals); Michael Landau (guitar); Walter Afanasieff (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, synthesizers, programming); Dave Hall (keyboards, synthesizers, programming); Babyface (keyboards, drums); David Cole (keyboards); Kayo (bass), Robert Clivilles (drums); Ren Klyce, Gary Cirimelli, Ricky Crespo, Shawn Lucas, James T. Alfano (programming); Mark C. Rooney, Cindy Mizelle, Melonie Daniels, Kelly Price, Shanrae Price (background vocals). Producers include: Walter Afanasieff, C&C Music Factory, Dave Hall, Babyface, Daryl Simmons. Engineers: Dana Jon Chappelle, David Gleeson, Manny LaCarrubba. "Dreamlover" was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female in the 36th Annual Grammy Awards. "Hero" was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. Mariah Carey's ascension to the top of the charts is an affirmation of her deep affection for the roots of popular music, to wit, gospel and R&B. She's not the first pop vocalist to find commercial and artistic bliss in black music, but her efforts are among the most heartfelt and convincing. And with the surehanded support of contemporary music's most creative producers and songwriters, Carey has developed a smooth, brassy sound signature all her own. What makes it all happen is that luminous, vaulting voice, one of the surest most impassioned instruments in all of pop, capable of leaps in register most vocalists can't even imagine, yet alone execute. Her dark ornaments and trilling upper register cries on "Dream Lover" make this plain. On power pop ballads like "Hero" and "Anytime You Need A Friend"--with their gospelish "To dream the impossible dream/The greatest love of all" cadences--Carey's over-the-top expressive range sparks these arrangements to one emotional catharsis after another. It is Carey's new found restraint--reining in her voice to suit the emotional fabric of each tune--that marks her growing maturity. The lush understatement of her singing and Walter Afanasieff's charts on the title tune, allow the tender grace of the song's lyrics to shine through--without superfluos vocal acrobatics. Ultimately it's Carey's reserves of vocal power, barely constrained on "Never Forget You" (with Babyface), that brings her fans back time and again.

I have been listening to Mariah Carey almost since her debut in 1990 but it was after listening to Music Box that I became a dedicated Mariah Fan. That conviction was further strengthened after she came out with Daydream and Butterfly even though all 3 albums show a gradual progression from Pop/Soft Rock to R&B/Hip Hop. My favorite tracks from this album as follows: 1. Hero (just listen to the lyrics and you will start crying) 2. All I've Ever Wanted (if you have ever really loved someone you may realize how much significance this song has) 3. Music Box (Beautiful Melody !) 4. Just To Hold You Once Again 5. Anytime You Need A Friend 6. Dreamlover (Rocked Fall 1993 with this radio superhit!) 7. Now That I Know (Get ready to dance!) 8. Never Forget You 9. Thinking Of You 10. Without You

Ever single song, you can just listen over and over and over again. Some of them actually grew on me. This is simply an absolute must-have for any fan of pop music.

Music Box, which is often overshadowed by Daydream, is Mariah Carey's best work ever. This Cd is inspirational, Happy, sad, lovely, dancy and wonderful all at the same time. Never Forget You, Hero, Dreamlover and Now That I Know are the higlights. Once I heard Hero, I knew I had to get the CD. Once I heard Never FOrget You I knew It would never leave my CD Player. These songs just leave you gasping for breathe because they are so incredible, original and well-written. It's a shame that only 10 million people have this in the US. Everyone should own one!

This is definitely one of my favourite Mariah albums and it was the biggest selling (over 20 million sales worldwide).

Back in 93 when this was released, Mariah was the most loved diva in the USA and she made decent ballads and dance tracks (unlike today). One warning though; if you don't like very slow tracks then stay away!

Here's my track reviews:

Dreamlover-9/10-Excellent and uplifting dance track.

The three tracks I came to know via heavy radio airplay in the early-90s were "Dreamlover," "Hero," and "Music Box," but it wasn't until now that I finally got my hands on this gem of a CD, and I'm sorry it's taken me so much time to catch up on some great pop music.

I still can't get enough of the rhythm of "Dreamlover," and "Anytime You Need A Friend" is right up there with Dionne Warwick's (et al) "That's What Friends Are For." The title track itself is a very pretty ballad.

This is Mariah Carey at the top of her game. She would do it one more time with "DayDream," but then sink into doing more covers and duets as the 90s went on (and I'll never figure out why because she sure didn't need help in the singing department!).

The CD is 42 minutes exactly, and it's time well spent. - Donna Di Giacomo