Now if there is any Diva out there that I would "Stan" for, it would be Mariah Carey. But let's get this straight, I don't Stan for anybody, because in the end it doesn't help anyone: not the star, not the fan and least of all someone who is trying to critique music as objectively as possible. You might wonder why I'm adding this rambling disclaimer-of-sorts to the start of the review, but I feel I need to, because what I'm about to write I can't even believe is true, but here goes: Mariah Carey's new single, Triumphant (get em), is a total disappointment.
I have never, EVER, been disappointed with a Mariah Carey lead single, but this new song is stale -Jermaine Dupri when are you going to retire those blasted hi-hats- overproduced- especially, and depressingly, on the vocal- and the harmonies are muddy and awkward.
If that wasn't bad enough, the song sounds as if Mariah isn't even the lead artist. Instead rappers Meek Mill and Rick Ross hog most of the song's airtime, with our Diva taking a back seat, providing vocals on the hook and the song's chorus. What is that about!? Why hype a song so highly, or more importantly, why comeback with a song where you sound like a featured artist??
Yes, the lyrics are inspirational, and I have to commend Mariah Carey for trying to bring something inspirational to a music scene filled with vapid dance tracks and shallow lyrics. But this is a weak, confusing attempt that doesn't hit the mark. A misfire that is rendered hard to understand considering her great form in crafting uplifting songs. Just check out Through The Rain, Make It Happen, Fly Like A Bird, Anytime You Need A Friend or There's Got To Be A Way to hear some of her previous successes. Heck, even 2010's 100%, which was produced by the same team of Bryan-Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri, was of a way better standard than Triumphant (Get 'Em).
No I don't want Mariah Carey of yesteryear, no I don't want Emancipation part 2 (though the cover art hints that that's where this is heading), what I want is a Mariah Carey song that features Mariah Carey as the main focus, back strong and proud. Sadly Triumphant (Get 'Em) doesn't even live up to the revised (lowered) expectations that I had after hearing the leaked snippet a few days ago.
Mariah Carey do us all a favour and please give this song to Meek Mill and Rick Ross and quietly change the Youtube attribution to "featuring" yourself before coming back with something meatier.
Oh and if I catch this song used in American Idol's promotion, or in the sob-story montage, I will lose any respect I had in the song's lyrics and meaning.
Rating: D+
ARE YOU A KATTY PERRY FAN?
ReplyDeletei hate it too and as a mariah fan i was expecting a lot more
ReplyDeleteand part of the problem is that rick ross and meek mill were in it too much
mariah wasn't in it enough
Yeah, this as sad. you hear the snippet, you've heard the song. But how wazs she vocally? I thought she sounded pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI really can't find anything positive about this, except that Mariah's voice sounds to be in better condition (I don't think she'll be performing this song entirely live though...). Honestly I don't see this song charting well at all, if it even breaks the top 20 let alone the top 40 I can say I'll honestly be shocked.
ReplyDeleteI like the song...but not mariah's part. By making her vocals integrated into the background theres a lack of that usually Mimi fling thats in her songs. Its lacking warmth. Her voice technically sounds healthier but its projected ringing is very lacking. This song makes her sound comparable to many of the artists she has inspired throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not her best. I gotta say that the song didn't move me in any moment, and it really feels like Mariah's the feat. artist here. The chorus is really bad for me, no matter how hard i try to like it.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that while the track is complete shite, we should look at the fact that Mariah's vocals themselves are really en-point. Admittedly, I was miffed that her belted track became almost subservient to the whispered vocals, but the voice itself sounds in top form. Now if we could just get her the FUCK away from Jermaine Dupri, we might actually get somewhere.
ReplyDeleteHate to say it, as I am a fellow Mariah fan like you Divadevotee, but I too am disappointed. What disappoints me most is the production on her voice...she sounds so strained.
ReplyDeleteAs a proud Lamb I have to say I am completely shocked by how bad this song is... It wouldn`t even have been used as a MOAIA filler...
ReplyDeleteYep. You pretty much summed it up there DD.
ReplyDeleteHow anybody can deduce anything about how her voice is these days is a mystery to me. Way to overproduced to be able to judge I would say.
Why, this might as well be Debelah ;D
Well DD think about it this way. Classic Mariah marketing might come in to play. Meaning biggest party track first and biggest vocally dynamic ballad second. Im hoping the rest of the album will sound better. T,T
ReplyDeleteWell I love MC and I do quite like this (emphasis on quite) but being honest this is not good enough for a lead single. A lead single is that which you release to promote the theme and sound of the album but it should also be used to promote yourself as an artist, this fails here, a lead single should not contain 75% featured artists with the remainder of the song left for the one who is supposed to have their name to it.
ReplyDeleteSure vocally she sounds great (the belts) but has her moments of bewildering pain (the strained build up) but I can forgive her as its MC based on the hope that with her next release she will remind us all of why she has the reputation for being one of the greatest voices on a generation (or three).
Overall I think your rating is correct but at the same time I will give it a good few listens as I get the feeling it will grow on me like a fungus that no amount on fungicides will ever clear, over and out!
I could slap Mariah and her record company for releasing this version over this version
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IiNTvEpl8A&feature=g-all-f
I'm not really crazy about this version either (sounds a bit too dancy) but it is far better than the official version.
"Mariah Carey's new single, Triumphant (get em), is a total disappointment."
ReplyDeleteI gree! You said it all.
Even though she tried to sound like Eminem's "I love the way you lie ft Rihanna" and TL's "Live your live ft Rihanna", this single doesn't impress me. It's weak and forgettable.
LOL now thats harsh :D
ReplyDeleteThats a nice wee mix, def better than the official version as you say but she would more than likely never release a dance song as a lead single, which is probably wise of her. I have to say though some of the remixes she has had done have been pretty awesome...
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/eqJE3JPs0Sg
http://youtu.be/sIKFAfwjT34
http://youtu.be/5waZ9ylHZEw
Mariah is the Queen of the remix! Nice to have you back stuey!
ReplyDeleteYou do not know how much I want to love this. I can totally see where Mariah was going with this, but the vocal that was needed was a direct one.
ReplyDeleteThis was not a song for layered vocals: it diminishes much of the power the song should have. I could imagine someone like Alicia Keys - singing how she sang the hook on "Empire State Of Mind"- smashing this out the park.
This is true. I was thinking about that today! We can only hope something stronger is coming next, ballad or not.
ReplyDeleteyeah, the vocal wasn't a hit for me, I feel like everything I knew and trusted about life is now a lie...lol
ReplyDeleteyeah, the chorus should be the backbone, but even I'm having trouble enjoying it. The way Mariah comes in on it is especially awkward.
ReplyDeletethe lack of the "ring" is really depressing for me. It sounds like the soul has left it, and it almost sounds artificial.
ReplyDeleteYep, the live rendition will make or break this song for me. I just wish mariah would make songs that weren't layered in her own voice. Makes playback and backing track an inevitability when she does hit the stage with it.
ReplyDeleteHer voice sounds really thin and processed. But like i said above, I'll reserve real judgement for when she sings it live.
ReplyDeletetotally
ReplyDeletelol! perhaps Debelah will read your comment Opie and be inspired to mount a comeback!
ReplyDeleteIts weird that you mention Rihanna because- and i know i risk people going nuts over what about i'm about to say- I think she would have sung the hook better on this song that mariah. Like I said below to stuey, this needed a direct vocal, not this wishy washy, layered style that Mariah has become so fond of. I really want her to start using backing singers in the studio- I mean she takes them on tour all the time, so she could recreate the sound better live. if she did go down that route Her voice really comes to life when its contrasted with other singers.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's nice to be back, I have missed the banter, damned BT and their useless internet/modems/installers lol
ReplyDeleteI have a few reasons why I feel so iffy about if this will be performed fully live, the first of which being that Mariah has an F#5 IN THE CHORUS, Which she hasn't done since her single "Emotions" and that was in her prime years. And all the the whistle notes scattered throughout the main vocals and the harmonies. I guess we will just have to wait and see what she'll do with this.
ReplyDeletei'm really trying to make myself like this song but I can't really find any saving graces in it, the chorus isn't even catchy enough to get stuck in my head.
I agree, she seems a little strangulated in parts of the vocal as well as almost autotuned at others, which is shocking! I definately prefer the dance mix, not only because its more cohesive vocally but also the fact its just her! But yeh I agree with your last sentiment there too!
ReplyDeleteWell, if it's as overproduced as the above... will we ever know who it is making the comeback? ;)
ReplyDeleteBut to be honest, I'd never heard of Debelah before yesterday. Did she ever have a career to make a come back to?
I agree. Rihanna would do it better. I Don't understand Mariah's whispering note after not. So sad! Sometimes I miss Mariah's head voice.
ReplyDeletei duhno whats worse....the song or that dress...song isnt great but i didnt exspect much.....she's got a voice that needs no complements but its just not shown in this song , feels like a cheesy r&b song from 2003 .
ReplyDeleteShe just released the Vintage Remix which has like no rap and vocals that aren't overproccessed, have you listened to it?
ReplyDeleteMimi lives :D
Usually Mimi's technical styling of her vocals compliment and make the song better but in this case her choice to use massive amounts of layered falsetto (not even her really WOW level headvoice) really bring the track down and her choice to let two other artists basically...outdo her was a really bad idea for a comeback.
ReplyDeleteSo it looks like Mariah is releasing the dance versions at the same time as the urban version and having initially been disappointed by the urban one, the dance remixes are SO much better! I feel massively relieved. There's no rapping on these and her voice sounds fantastic. You really can't hear her voice properly on the urban Triumphant, but you can on the Vintage and Pulse Triumphants. I can finally say I really love the song!
ReplyDeleteI really don't understanda why she belts much better on the dance version.
ReplyDeleteShe recorded new vocals on the dance versions, like she used to.
ReplyDeleteTotally, the vintage mix so far is my favourite! I am chomping at the bit to download the single for that mix alone. Although the urban version has grown on me as I predicted...
ReplyDeleteRihanna??? Really?? And you call yourself a Mariah fan? Probably the biggest insult you could give an amateur singer is that Rihanna would 'do it better' than them...lol I know this is not Mariah's finest moment but its not on Rihanna's level of awfulness :D
ReplyDeleteLOL! I didn't mean to compare their voices, everyone knows Mariah is a vocalist, and Rihanna is not. But Rihanna- if you don't mind her voice- does deliver when it comes to singing a hook. Like i said before, this needed a direct vocal, without any nuances or subtilties, and Rihanna can do that.
ReplyDeletehttp://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m045pbx6gk1r83v03.gif
Lol sorry, I was getting all defensive of my MC there! I guess, its a personal thing though with me and Rihanna, everyone knows that! I will try not to be so attacking in future :D
ReplyDeletehttp://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/004/d/7/hardgay_spank_by_z3llll-d1q4h5w.gif
I liked this song sure it has two other artists in this song but when mariah comes its just glorious. I would have liked it better if the whistle notes came thru more clear than in the background.
ReplyDeleteits because rick ross is on the song. he is only dragging her down
ReplyDeleteWhat Triumphant could have been:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km0FrsGfLZg
ur a jerk!!! And Mariah's PERFECT!!!
ReplyDelete