10/05/2009 3:00 pm
Culture
Liz Smith: Mariah Carey – She's No Angel, But Pretty Close
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That’s the famously voluptuous singing superstar Mariah Carey, with whom I had a brief conversation the other day.
I was the last of Mariah’s duties that long afternoon; she’d given about 19 interviews to promote her new album, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel."
The star sounded game, but understandably beat. Her voice was a little ragged. I said, "Mariah, I feel bad making you talk anymore!" She laughed, "Liz, I’m fine. I’m actually lying down as we speak. Listen, this is a lot better than other things I could be doing to push this album."
Even though our super-fast chat was supposed to be confined to her music – and I’d been sent a little list of specific questions ("elements" as they call them) – I had to immediately compliment Mariah on her small, unglamorous-but-pivotal-social-worker role in the movie "Precious." And I told her I’d also liked her in the two-guys-one-gal-on-the-road movie "Tennessee." (Both these films emerged under the aegis of producer/director Lee Daniels, who is a great Mariah admirer. "Precious" is being talked up as Oscar bait!)
Even though she was cruelly excoriated for 2001’s "Glitter," Mariah says she’s encouraged by her recent efforts and would love to continue a movie career. And she should. Lord knows she’s ready to go the limit. There are not too many sex symbols who would agree to appear as Mariah does in "Precious." (It’s not a fake nose or strange teeth or padding, Mariah just took off her makeup and allowed a pitiless camera and harsh lighting to underscore her performance .)
Mariah with the cast and director of "Precious"
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We did speak of her album, which is already a big Billboard hit. "Memoirs" is a "concept" piece, with a beginning, middle and end. The theme is relationships and all its variations from infatuation to bitter ending to hope for tomorrow. The disc builds to a powerhouse climax with Mariah’s cover of the old Foreigner hit, "I Want to Know What Love Is." (This is the album’s only track not written by Mariah herself.) She says of this, "I wanted to respect the original version. I didn’t want to make it something unrecognizable. But I did incorporate my own vision." (This vision includes a soaring gospel choir and the full use of Mariah’s multi-octave pipes. You sure do know what love is when Mariah gets done with it!)
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I asked Mariah if the album’s title, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," was in any way autobiographical.
"Ha! I’m no angel, Liz. Really, it’s a statement to young girls – but actually to everybody – about how we are all normal and imperfect. We are not what is on the cover of magazines or what we appear to be in flattering press releases. It’s OK to be who you are, no matter who you are – and to love accordingly. Also, the album was a way of working out some stuff, glancing back and saying, ‘What the hell was I thinking?’"
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I agree. Mariah doesn’t need to overexpose herself the way she does, she has a great voice. Although she does show her "imperfections" in the precious movie when she’s on screen with no makeup.
-Nikki-
Mariah reminds me of Barbara Striesand, Whitney Houston and Anita Baker, women who were blessed with beautiful pitch perfect voices. True musical talent unlike others who have to gain their fame with what I call "smoke and mirrors" with tons of back up dancers, fancy stage settings and recorded accompaniments. Instead you have a woman whose voice says it all.
I’ve heard good things about her acting in Precious, so I can’t wait to see the movie.
However her personal life…..I’m not so sure about the cradle robbing she did……
Belinda…So, true. Mariah needs nothing but her voice, though she inevitably falls back on the "smoke and mirrors" of her body, which is distracting and hardly necessary. On the other hand, Mariah has clearly gotten the message—life is short. She dresses to please herself. Likewise, she loves who she wants to love, to please herself, as we all should. I hardly call a ten year difference in age "cradle robbing." If a man was forty and married a woman of thirty, would that be robbing the cradle? And even if the disparity in age was greater, so what? As long as everybody is a legal adult, with the wits to know what he or she is getting into…casting the first, or even any stone, doesn’t play. Love is where you find it—which I think is an old Jane Powell song from a movie called "A Date With Judy."
Much more seriously, do see "Precious." I don’t think I need to warn you that it is grueling.
Mr. Wow, I doubt if you have read all of my posts, but (especially as of late) the conversation of (which is why my attitude about Gay marriage has changed), what two consenting adults do doesn’t affect me. Women and men can date whomever they want. When it comes to a woman my age walking down the streets holding hands with what appears to be a guy in his 20’s. will I judge her in my mind? Yep, I must be honest I will.
But this is one of those areas where I freely admit to hypocrisy in my judgemental views. I only date men older than myself. I have a guy pursuing me now who is 61 years old. I’m 49. Although I’m not attracted to him, if I were, I would date him. So as I said this is completely hypocritical on my part and I define it as a personality flaw. But one I admit to and am trying to be more honest about. Trust me, 10 years ago I would never have admitted to having an issue with others and who they choose to love. I would be concerned about how I was viewed for being so narrow minded. Now I’m at a point where I can voice my objection while recognizing I have no control over their lives. My prayer is a year from now I will have full acceptance.
I equate it to being racially prejudice against a certain race of people who move in next door to you. You may not say anything aloud about your distaste for having them next to you, but you don’t like it. Then one day you’re honest with them about not wanting them there but recognizing their right to be. Then one day moving beyond simply tolerating and accepting them but genuinely embracing who they are. That’s where I am striving to get to when it comes to being less judgemental of those around me.
As for Precious, my sister just saw it and raved. She said it was a real tear jerker. I guess I’ll have to pull the false eyelashes off before seeing this one! :-)
Dear Belinda—wrong! I have probably read a majority of your posts, on a variety of subjects. Even the serious ones. Mr. Wow is not altogether shallow. So, thank you for this very honest, fascinating reply!
Don’t even bother with the false lashes. Or mascara, even. Be like Mariah and go with a naked face. It’ll be…less messy as the credits roll.
And just for the record, Mariah is almost forty, and her husband is almost thirty. On the discomfort level (for most people, anyway) this is pretty low.
Interesting post Belinda. I see nothing wrong with dating anyone younger, as long as all are of consenting age.
However, I do not feel that I must "embrace" anyone or anything. Tolerance is the only honest response. The rest is just hooey. We all have our preferences, some may call that "judgement" or " prejudice". It all depends on what angle someone wants to spin it all towards.
Tolerance is do-able.
I would argue you are wrong. But then again I don’t know what your moral, spiritual or religious beliefs are. I can (say for instance) say I hate people of middle eastern descent. Every time I go into a store, pass them on the street or have to work along side one, "tolerate" them, but inside I hate their guts. They don’t know I hate them, they merely notice a cold manner in which I interact with them that tells them I am merely "tolerating them"
My hatred of them is eating away at my soul, not theirs. My judgement and prejudice is eating away at my mindset and heart, not theirs. However if I were to drop my judgment and prejudice and embrace who they are, how they live, walk, talk and believe, truly accept them, my world is all that much fuller.
Now, you may think that is "hooey" however I believe it is something we should all strive for. It is the primary difference between people who lead full and rich lives with tons of varied and different friends, family and associates - from people who are negative, bitter and for the most part alone.
Interesting how you added "hate" into this conversation. I never said that I "hated" anyone Belinda. Why would do something like that?
I am not negative or bitter either. I am however, truthful. Tolerance is admirable. I do not have to "embrace" all foods, music, art, or cultures. And I don’t. I have preferences. I have dislikes, those are personal choices.
Hate has nothing to do with it. Anyone that says that they do not have preferences or judgements is not telling the truth. It is a natural thing to do. My dog makes judgements. He is usually right, I might add.
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"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff."
—Mariah Carey
Enough said.
That isn’t true.
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/carey.asp