Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi

Alternative Album Artwork

2006 Grammy Nominations & Winnings:

Nominated For "Album of the Year"

Won "Best Contemporary R&B Album"

Nominated For "Record of the Year"

Nominated For "Song of the Year"

Nominated For "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance"

Won "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance"

Nominated For "Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance"

Won "Best R&B Song"

2007 Grammy Nominations:

Nominated For "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance"

Nominated For "Best R&B Song"

Above are all the nominations and winnings that this album generated. As you can see for yourself, Mariah Carey's tenth release was one which really turned her musical career around. People on the web and in the papers were critical of her musical productions before the release of The Emancipation of Mimi. Many people out there were saying that her musical career was over, and that she was just another childhood star who had crashed and burned. With the release of her 2005 album, all those who thought her career was over had to take a second look at Ms. Mimi, and re-think what they had once said about her musical career. In my opinion, this album was one of her best ones, really tying in with the new sort of music scene that was going on. Her five octave voice (some say she hits seven or eight octaves) showcased how good she really was, and how well her voice was suited for R&B music.

As we have said before on the blog, Mariah Carey is coming out with another album, this one being her eleventh.  So to prep you all for her April 15th release, we will do a review from her 2005 hit release entitled, The Emancipation of Mimi.  First off, lets tell you just how good this album was.  Due to the album looking too similar to Beyonce's album cover, it was changed from the album art shown to the left, to the one you see to on top of the post.  Many fans of both music stars noticed the similarities, which caused the change of album art.  The one to your left definitly does not look like the Mariah Carey we all know.  She is definitly darker, almost like she has a tan, and her costume/background look to the album is indeed similar to Beyonce's ever so popular album entitled, Dangerously In Love.

So what made this album so successful, and so good?  Unlike her past albums, there was little to no promotion.  This time, her 2005 release got tons of coverage on the web, on the radios, and on television.  Many of her songs appeared on shows in the UK, and Mariah Carey was doing interviews with radio stations.  The firing of her old personal manager, and the hiring of her new and present publicist, allowed her to further advance the promotion of her album.   Another thing that was different about this album was the general approach to it.  The album cover was well put together, and her singles for the album also had fantastic artwork as well.  For instance, take a look at the album artwork for, "It's Like That."  Compare that to her single off of Charmbracelet (her 2002 release) entitled, "Bringin' On the Heartbreak."  Yea, it is nice to have a picture of the artist on the cover of the single, but would you rather pick up a copy of a single which looks like the one off of her 2002 release?  Or would you rather pick up the way cooler looking "It's Like That," and give that a listen instead.  I think we all know the answer to that question.

The Emancipation of Mimi generated 404,000 copies within its first week of release in the U.S.  It was number one on Billboard Magazine's R&B/Hip-Hop Album Chart for five straight weeks.  At the end of the year, it was announced that Carey had sold 7.7 Million copies of the album (on a global level).  The album was the second highest selling album next to Coldplay's X&Y.  Like I said earlier, the promotions for the album really did help sales and popularity, but besides that, Carey decided for this album, she would release six singles (in the U.S.).  By releasing six singles, Carey allowed fans, and people who listen to the radio to really get a taste of what her album was going to be about.  The second single off the album was, "We Belong Together."  This single got tons of nominations in the Grammys, and was the second solid track to be released off her 2005 release.  In my opinion, Carey made a smart decision in releasing the six singles, mainly because when you release that many, and the tracks get as much air time as they do on the radio, it gets people excited for the album as a whole.  Also, when an artist releases six quality tracks before the album is released, you know for sure that the album as a whole is going to be good.  If you are willing to release that many tracks, then the artist must feel that the album as a whole has to be really good.

Overall, The Emancipation of Mimi was one of Mariah Carey's best releases of her musical career.  The album showed maturity from her young idol status, and also shed a new light on Mariah Carey's career.  With this 2005 release, we here at TGLR can safely say that her up and coming release will be just as good.  We hope that this review gives you all a bit more information and understanding behind the very successful album.  Mariah Carey did a great job putting everything together as a whole, bringing the club scene themes in her songs with her beautiful and highly skilled voice.  If you used to be or never were a Carey fan, then pick up The Emancipation of Mimi, and give it a listen.  Her 2005 release is so much different then all her other ones, and I promise that if you are a Pop/R&B/Hip-Hop music fan, then you will enjoy the album.  In three days, Mariah Carey will be releasing her eleventh studio album, and if you like what you hear on her 2005 release, I am sure you will also enjoy E=MC², due out April 15th.

Track Listing For The Emancipation of Mimi:

Multiple Track Listings, The Track Listing Depends On Where The Album Was Release.

U.S. Album Release:

"It's Like That" (9 out of 10)
"We Belong Together" (9.4 out of 10)
"Shake It Off" (8.6 out of 10)
"Mine Again" (8.6 out of 10)
"Say Somethin' (Feat. Snoop Dogg)" (8.4 out of 10)

"Stay the Night" (8.5 out of 10)
"Get Your Number (Feat. Jermaine Dupri)" (8.9 out of 10)
"One and Only (Feat. Twista)" (9.1 out of 10)
"Circles" (8.5 out of 10)
"Your Girl" (8.3 out of 10)
"I Wish You Knew" (8.7 out of 10)
"To the Floor (Feat. Nelly)" (9.3 out of 10)
"Joy Ride" (8.8 out of 10)
"Fly Like a Bird" (9 out of 10)

Ultra-Platinum Deluxe Edition U.S. Release:

"Don't Forget About Us"
"Makin' It Last All Night (What It Do) (Feat. Jermaine Dupri)"
"So Lonely (One & Only, Pt. 2) (Feat. Twista)"
"We Belong Together (Remix) (Feat. Jadakiss & Styles P.)"

Non-U.S. Edition:

U.S. Track Listing + "Sprung"

Japanese Edition:

U.S. Track Listing + "Sprung" & "Secret Love"

Ultra-Platinum Deluxe Edition Japan Release:

U.S. Track Listing + The Following Tracks...

"Sprung"
"Secret Love"
"Don't Forget About Us"
"Makin' It Last All Night (What It Do) (Feat. Jermaine Dupri)"
"So Lonely (Feat. Twista)"
"We Belong Together (Remix) (Feat. Jadakiss & Styles P.)"

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