The first time we heard (a snippet of) Mariah Carey singing Bring It On Home, it was during an Obama fundraiser earlier this year. Well it's no surprise that the full song has now been released, the day after President Obama won his second term in the White House.
Mariah was clearly thrilled at the good news, taking to her twitter to offer her congratulations:
Congratulations to our beloved President Barack Obama, our spectacular First Lady Michelle Obama and the adorable Malia and Sasha. We love youLord only knows what would have happened to the song, and the world, if Obama had lost (that would have been terrible), but thankfully we don't have to worry about that.
Bring It On Home is a mid-tempo, piano-led track that though features familiar themes of struggle and triumph, is done so over an unusually relaxed, rambling backing. It's certainly a change to the conventionally structured pieces Mariah usually dishes out, and it seems to have inspired her to change up her vocals a little, too.
With jazzy inflections (0.32), and a vocal (for the most part) grounded in the mid-range, it's altogether an earthier, more soulful offering. There's still the obligatory whistle notes (maxing out at a B6) but this feels altogether like a more playful, experimental piece- well at least by her standards- omitting that overproduced gloss that a Mariah Carey song can sometimes have.
Also, I'm really glad to hear backing singers! Despite Mariah loving to stack her own voice to create her harmonies, I've always thought she sounded better, and her voice sounded more impressive, when supported by backing singers.I hope we hear more of this on her new album.
Listen to Bring It On Home and let me know what you think in the comments!
Fantastic! I love these slower songs by Mimi. This makes me ten times more excited for her new record.Her voice also sounds amazing here. Surprisingly darker. I feel she is changing placement because her Resonance sounds a lot less nasal and more balanced in the mask. More like her debut.
ReplyDeleteOn another Mimi note- she's going to be gracing us on the big screen yet again in a new film entitled "The Butler". I'm hoping it'll be a hit. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree, Brian. I am happy she didn't overproduce or oversing her showcase here. Her dynamics are well balanced -- there's a right balance between the whistle and the rest of her chest voice. And I find she actually handled the churchy sound of the song pretty well.
ReplyDeleteAnything new from MC is always a bonus. This is a lovely wee track. It should also be noted that plenty of folk moan that her voice has diminished and declined in standard from her younger years but honestly I really like her voice now, as noted by yourself and the guys here the dynamics and variation on tones and timbre make her far more interesting to listen to now. She is like a fine wine vocally if you like, or at least as far as I am concerned she is!!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love a calm, laid-back singer? It makes everything just so relaxed and joyful. This is much like her back in the older days, love it. Excited for the new record!
ReplyDeleteA strain-free, straightforward show is never a bad thing these days!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Sad that I couldn't catch her tour back when she came to my country about 4 years ago. LOL.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or do her high belts sound weird? Like a little scratchy...
ReplyDeleteLoving her chest voice though :D Enough whispering Mimi!
They have for a while now. The higher she belts, the coarser she sounds.
ReplyDeleteIncredible song, and although it would have been touched over in the studio, this is actually a live recording! Likely the one from the actual benefit concert she performed it at. She sounds great, though I don't really like her mid-range any more... She sounds dreary.
ReplyDeleteI like, I like laid back Mariah. Plus she not whispering the verses or chorus is always good. I like the placement for her when it comes to singing live, that way there no need to lip all the extra high parts. It is interesting in hearing where Mariahs voice sits today. Listening to her her you would say she is Dramatic Soprano.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you mention that she can sound dreary, I often thought that about some of the vocals on Memoirs' but even she managed to make it sound good lol
ReplyDelete"dreary" is actually a good, i was thinking that it sounded a little monotonousness in parts- as stuey mentioned it was a problem that Memoirs had (Though I LOVE that album). Perhaps this is why she mixes it up with the thinner, airy timbre.
ReplyDeleteyep, I think this might be the way she needs to record to make sure she can hit all the notes live . I'm happy with that.
ReplyDeleteI am so late I just heard this but... damn this is good. Am I in love?
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