SUPER special thanks to @TristanKennethMusic for talking with me and giving me the 411 when I had little direction on how to start! He actually has music out so be sure to go support him! Shoutout to the @flylikealamb9260 channel for talking about the frequency of Mariah's whistles! And thank you to all the Lambs for being SO PATIENT with me as I got the bravery to put this all together! You guys are AMAZING!
So glad to hear your take! I find that fans and Lambs love different parts of Mariah's career for different reasons. It all makes up one big mosaic of appreciation and I'm glad you have a part in that! Oh! And thanks for watching! 😁
@@oneilgerald This one is a little unfair in terms of age and if u were a listener when she first came up with Vision of Love by mid 1990... Others do enjoy more her urban "hip hoppy" stuff which were also more "comfortable" to sing...
To make such a well informed, fact based, educational script is one thing. However, to then put such detail into the graphics & editing, really make this a high class documentary that could be aired in prime time tv. I thoroughly enjoyed the expertise and knowledge shared here. Well done!!
Excuse me while I cry real tears! 😭😭😭 Thanks so much for getting the message and appreciating the hard work! DEFINITELY some blood, sweat and tears went into this. And hopefully I can lead a team and host some type of show on this stuff! Your time in leaving this comment is SO appreciated! 🥰
Mariah carey is so incredible jumping to low notes to high notes like a wind flowing all over the place. Her singing technique is suicidal. The control is insane and the airy breathy technique are almost impossible to duplicate. Her voice has a lot of flavours and it tastes good.
@@oneilgeraldI liked that you used the phrase "the most free" and not "the best" because vocal quality is VERY subjective in my opinion. I REALLY like that you explained that the increase in her modal voice decreased her use of her whistle register. That explained so much. I've never quite understood the mechanics behind using the the whistle register but this makes a lot of sense. I remember going on a choir trip with a friend who lost his chest voice but gained a whistle register. It was WILD! Great video per usual, man. This is great break from the true crime and drama content I normally consume lol.
Soooo glad you enjoyed! The whistle register/modal voice thing is still something I'm discovering myself through Mariah! (I even had some myself when I lost my voice a few times!) Thanks so much for watching and for the consistent loyalty and see you in the next one!
I've loved Mariah since her spectacular debut, and always admired her brilliance as a singer songwriter and producer. Her skills allowed her to adapt through the changes in her voice over the years. My personal favorite era vocally is Music Box, IMO is when her voice had the most balance and resources. This video is a great reminder that there's something to be appreciated about every era and every album was like a post card of a period of her life and how she kept giving us high quality through everything, you pointed that out beautifully 👏💖
She's always been trying to work hard around on her ever changing voice. It must've been exhausting trying to figure out how to sing the same songs when your voice always changes.
Your breakdown and presentation was almost as magical as this one of kind songbird's voice. I have loved Mariah since I first heard Vision of Love back in 1990 while driving down Santa Monica Blvd in Cali, and I never wavered or went astray. I love every album, every collaboration, and the evolution of her voice and stylistic singing choices. You did this living legend justice. Bravo.
Such an intelligent and detailed analysis of the most remarkable and incomparable vocals ever in history. You did justice to the Queen, the greatest, the songbird supreme, the queen of Christmas, the one and only Mariah Carey 👑 🐐❤️❤️❤️❤️
The first time I heard "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and she soared with that powerful belt on "GLORY to God!" I nearly fell out of my chair. Simply one of the greatest vocals I've ever heard!
Definetly, a prime is when the singer has an outstanding discography and can hit many optaves. Mariah never lost anything or had a sturuggle until the later 2010's, oviously now she may not be able to hit all the notes she once could, by 2010 she had 5+ albums that were marked as the greatest of all time by many, and she had no limitations even if she was preganant or whatsoever, by 1994, her discography was great but it was not outstanding and hadn't built the legacy that emancipation of mimi would. So i so agree with you.
This was such a great analysis! I love this! Good work! I love how much you spelled out her evolution. Mariah’s artistry is something we need to make sure that we NEVER discredit, regardless of her changing ability.
OMG wow! So glad that you enjoyed it! And I agree. We owe a LOT to Mariah's artistry and so we should definitely take more time to give her her flowers while she's still here! 🥰
This video content is incredible work! It’s a masterclass on her voice. It was super enjoyable to listen to as well as get your insights and commentary on what worked for her and how it shaped her music. Thank you for all the hard work you put into this. Well done! 🎉
There's literally something you could love from every single album from this musical genius called Mariah Carey. I love what she did when she was younger, I love what she did when she got a bit older and I love what she does even now like the album caution. Not to mention ods like "I don't", "in the mix" for a TV show, "somewhat loved" which is such a good bop! Even "Fall in love at Christmas" to mention a few... She is just amazing! Music starts with M and ends with C❤
i absolutely love this video! as a lamb, i’m so appreciative of your analysis and adaptation of mariah’s voice. many people, including other lambs, often criticise the change in her overall voice, but you’ve offered positive and truly constructive criticism, without leaning into harsh opinions. people are quick to say mariah can’t sing anymore, that she’s lost her range or strength, but as a devoted lamb, i believe her voice has simply evolved-not diminished. mariah remains one of the greatest vocalists ever, blending styles and tones with ease and proving her relevance in the 21st century. her ability to adapt and innovate after 34 years in the industry is extraordinary, and her talent has only grown more refined and creative. thank you for this thoughtful and uplifting take. mariah hasn’t just set the standard for modern pop; she’s redefined it and continues to soar. she will always be one of a kind.
The Voice that launched a million singers and a million dreams. I still remember where I was the first time I heard Vision of Love come on the radio and I could not believe what I was hearing, by the time it got to the whistle I was holding on for dear life. I thought to myself WHO is this?! And this person is going places LOL. We are so lucky to have had Mariah in our lifetime. Amazing tribute video. P.S. my faves are debut to Butterfly.
I’ve been waiting on this for FOREVER! 🥹 that end piece, “mariah’s voice is the triumph of a caged bird that finally got to fly free,” made me a little teary. I couldn’t have said this better myself.
This was a great video! For the sake of her own mental health. I think the thing I want most for Mariah is to always be in a place where she is the one satisfied with her own vocal condition. Her different sounds will always be immortalized in the songs so people need to release that "I want the old mariah back" pressure from her. For me its just seeing her on stage in certain eras where she is visibly not that confident in her voice has been the heartbreaking part. She definitely still does not get the credit she deserves considering the force she has been in the music industry. She also should not have had to "prove" herself as many times as shes had to when no one else has.
@@SquidProQuo80 Beyoncé quite literally is the face for that lol….especially if we’re being technical and ability…I mean in 2024 we are still hearing bey do things we’ve never heard from bee
In my opinion, Mariah's vocal prime (again for me Lol) was her Merry Christmas 1994 album. Her vocals were absolute magic! Listen to how she sounds in All I want For Christmas Is You, O Holy Night, Christmas Baby Please Come Home, Jesus Oh What A Wonderful Child. Her vocals in Music Box 1993 and Day Dream 1994 was absolutely phenomenal too. Which makes sense because she was recording the Merry Christmas album from 1993-1994; which explains how crazy her vocal capabilities were.
Such a good video! As a lamb I sometimes loose the appreciation for her voice, because I’m so focused on the technique and analyzing everything. The fact that she’s still singing for us and touring, like we’re so lucky! Such an unique artist, let’s appreciate this! 😍
Thank you so much! I feel the same way! Singers like Mariah are so great, it can seem like the most important thing sometimes is technique. The hope with a video like this was to give us a chance to focus on celebrating her and also seeing her impact more holistically! Again thanks for watching!
Mariah s vocal transitions are absolutely outstanding and unmatched. Almost as impressive as Mariah’s mind-blowing range is the fact that throughout a staggering five octaves of notes at her disposal, she uses them all with always perfect accuracy. Think about it: of course, the first and most important job of a singer is to be on-pitch. That doesn’t seem like a big deal in and of itself. But when you think about Mariah’s ability to move from the lowest depths of her range to piercing whistle register without so much as a pause, and remain on pitch every time, it truly is incredible. Not only is Mariah able to move between notes fluently, her movement in and out of vocal registers is unparalleled. She can move from chest to head, head to whistle, and - astoundingly - chest to whistle seemingly effortlessly.
Same thing happens to me all the time. When my falsetto is more accessible, my head vice shrinks. When my head voice is higher, my falsetto is lower. It's more so about how it feels like falsetto and head voice overlap in the same spot of vocal placement, and the machine can't use both voices in the same spot with the same flexibility in the same sitting, because one calls for more free and relaxed anatomy; whereas the other requires controlled tension (aka, compression). Sometimes I can use both at about a 8 or 9, but never both at 10. It's like going from doing sit ups to leg ups.
I hardly ever watch voice analysis videos like this, but you got me! Well done! Your analysis was insightful, intelligent and respectful. I hope Mariah sees it.
Oh no. I can't believed someone did this to Mariah's entire vocal range and also most of her songs and definitely LOVED how it was interpreted, analyized and described in detail. As someone growing up and been listening to her from her 1st album as a kid to an adult, this definitely (this video) highlights the changes of her voice album per album including what she experienced during her period creating her album. Not just her voice tbh, but also her writing skills. I am for one is always wary of her lyics and it DOES reflect a lot what she is going through at her point in life during those times. One other thing that she also mentioned in one of her interviews (for those who are following her live performances), aside from ample rest, the weather condition matters. If it's too chilly, she can't belt it out as it damages her throat. But if it's just righ, she can belt it out and whistle it out very well.
This is truly remarkable and intellectually engaging. Your portrayal of the depth of her voice, as well as its connection to the various peaks and valleys of her life, is commendable. Excellent work!
Why do we have to argue about when her prime was instead of considering that a singer can have multiple primes? Even in sports, athletes can experience multiple peaks in their careers. If you look at athlete statistics, their performance often follows an up-and-down trend rather than a constant rise or fall. The same applies to singers. However, since music isn’t measured by a specific metric but rather by personal preference, discussions about when her prime was will always be subjective and endless. Personally, I can identify at least five distinct prime moments in Mariah’s career where certain aspects of her voice were at their strongest: • 1990-1993: Raw, sheer vocal power • 1995: Peak freedom in her higher belts • 2000-2003: Peak falsetto and best tone • 2005: Peak vocal expression • 2010: Peak tonal weight (e.g., “Make It Happen” live, 2010) • 2013: Absolute peak agility • 2020-present: Peak low notes It’s always hard-and honestly unrealistic-for me to pick just one moment in her career and call it her prime. Mariah has evolved in so many ways over the years, showcasing different strengths at different times.
It's funny, the athlete analogy is one I almost brought into this video. All in all, this video is my take. It's not comprehensive, especially since I wouldn't call myself a Lamb. But thanks for the input and for watching!
Discussing her vocal prime is not subjective. It CAN actually be analyzed and objectively measured. It’s a fact that vocally Mariah’s prime was from 1991-1996. 1997-1998 is where the unnatural raps had started to kick and and then she repealed in 2005 vocally big since 2008 till now she’s been vocally inconsistent and has vocally deteriorated since.
I love me some Mariah, you can tell her voice has changed so much over the years. From when I first got into her in 97 with Butterfly to the Latto Remix of Fantasy. The uniqueness of her is that she can sing her songs to adjust how voice is on a given day. She will re arrange it in a lower key so shes not belting. Butterfly to Memoirs is her best run. Shout to You Had Your Chance and You Got Me from Charmbraclet shes on fiyahh on those tracks.
Thank you! Absolutely fantastic video. Mariah is a legend because her of astounding voice and beautiful songwriting skills and I love that you acknowledge both while breaking-down the changes in her voice. She has navigated these changes adeptly and astutely while still putting out incredible, timeless, quality music. ALL singers' voices changes as time moves on but Mariah is still here touring and putting out great music because she's an artist who understands music and her vocal abilities. I'll always love her. I wonder if you would ever do a video about Barbra Streisand whose voices changed (lowered) significantly since her around her mid-50s.
For me it's amazing how Mariah continues to blossom and grow as an artist because as I was with my mother a few months back, I actually cried to "One Sweet Day" which is the duet she did with Boyz II Men.
The vocal changes are a lot more evident if you analize her live singing, as most of her albums have incredible vocals regardless of her vocal condition, but they didn't really reflect what she could deliver live after 97, and even more after 2010. Her belting range started to be very inconsistent and she started to lip most of her upper belts after 97-98. Besides, I want to point out that she was pregnant in 2010 while recording Merry Christmas II You and her live vocals got really stronger during that time, while MIAMTEC was released in 2014 and her babies were 3 years old already, her live vocals during that time had already changed a lot from what she sounded like in 2010 when she was pregnant, her belting on that record didn't reflect at all her live vocals, her live belting was more inconsistent and her tone changed aswell in comparison to 2010. The vocals, especially upper belting, for this album are actually very infamous between her fans as they sound very fake. One thing that might have also affected this era was an accident she suffered in 2013 while filming 'Beautiful', she fell and had cracked a rib, dislocated her shoulder, fractured her arm and had nerve injury, she had to take corticoids and use orthopedic gloves for a long time, not to mention the stress as it happened between the time she was promoting her album. Her tone started to change the most after this, wich also might have been aggravated with time due to menopause. That said, I think the Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour in 2016 was when she had most ease accessing her upper belts for the last decade, or at least it was when she felt the most confident attempting high notes live, like the F5 in Always be My Baby, something she didn't do live since 96.
I also hope he does a follow up video that includes live vocals for the very same reasons you outlined here. That was kind of the gem of the Beyoncé's Voice Is Changing series, the inclusion of live vocals as anything can happen with a little studio magic. The issue he might run into though is that Mariah has such a complex playback system that it might be an unreasonable ask for him to sort through thousands of performances to figure out where she is lipping verses where she is actually singing live. Lifelong lambs don't even get it right sometimes and O'Neal has been transparent that he isn't as familiar with her voice and performance lore as he was Beyoncé's.
The live experience with Mariah is definitely another 20-40 minute video by itself, haha. I chose to zoom in on the studio because of her emphasis on being a songwriter over being a singer. Her presentation in studio was more controlled and throughout her career where we've more of the full extent of her creativity. I feel like with the way she described music in her book, the studio was her most authentic space, so it was the place that made sense for me to start in. I definitely have more work to do though! Thanks for the input!
Facts! While you can hear the changes in her voice throughout her studio albums, you can hear them even more during the live eras. The good changes and the bad ones.
Mariah Carey’s voice is special in any era. She’s never lost her ability to sing in any part of her register. Another important fact is that Mariah did so many remixes of her songs to suit different audiences. Also, she’s achieved so many achievements throughout her stellar career that she can simply retire. Yet she doesn’t. Mariah has done so much and she is still with us and alive. She’s a miracle. Great video - nice to see all of her amazing albums Bring on the new album in 2025!
Rainbow is my first Mariah album.. But Ive been introduced to her through butterfly.. But ive known her earlier works especially hero and without you.. So breathy vocals was i mostly know her of
Loved the video! Please do a reaction video to her original version of Miss you Most (at Christmas). IMHO, it's one of her best vocal performances enjoying her prime years. Love and blessings to your channel❤❤❤
30th anniversary of all I want for Christmas is you this year number 1 please let’s do it!Also she made a new live Valentine’s Day version of we belong together in 2021 I think during lock down she sounded amazing ❤
IVE BEEN SAYING THIS AND IT FELT LIKE NO ONE BELIEVED ME 😩😩😩. I was and always will be the biggest Mariah fan. I was even a fan of Glitter had the movie and the soundtrack. That’s how deep my love is. However, she is GOAT but her voice is gone. Just is. Sad. But she didn’t set the bar she is the bar. She showed that already. Cemented her legacy.
Nowhere in this video did O'Niel say her voice is gone. I think you need to relisten because probably the reason nobody believes you is you're saying something untrue.
Excellent video ! I love ur work ! I feel like there's a decline in her voice between the Me.Mariah album and the Caution album in terms of vocal agility, in the song Portrait for ex, to me she has a hard time hitting higher notes and doing runs, and this is the case now, even singing live it sounds like she doesnt want to accept this current voice that she has, and is singing above her current vocal abilities. The Me.Mariah album was phenomenal both vocally and musically and is one of my faves from her. However Caution to me is the only album of hers that I dont appreciate that much
Thanks so much! I will say. If Mariah is having trouble accepting the voice she currently has, we have a lot of work to do in helping her do that. And I also reeeeally enjoyed MIAM!
it should be noted too that her belts in the Charmbracelet and TEOM were extremely more mixed, light and nasally than in the earlier parts of her career.
Mariah's 90-96 voice sounded best to me. And it's crazy how her voice sounded more grown and mature, than it does today. She started out with a full, warm, soulful and soultry voice- watch "We're not making love anymore" which the sang at only 19 years old with Michael Bolton, or "If it's over" at SNL" in '92, one of my absolute favorites. Her voice towards the end of 90s/early 2000s sounded great but different, because it got a little "shriller" and she developed more rasp and vocal cracks, which I loved back then but today I know it was a sign of voice damage.. Speaking of it, I can't stand when ppl always come with the argument she has nodules..She has been lipsyncing forever. There a videos showing how allllll the way since at least 2000 she was lipsyncing. So I wonder what was she resting from? I think she is too deep into this prodigy thing and above real vocal training with a vocal coach or even speech therapist. The voice is a muscle and can be trained. But instead she dried her vocal cords out by being under the influence of lord knows what and alcohol. And these days she always seems sedated on stage. 😞This year however, from the clips I have seen, she's more into singing live again, but it's just not the same. She's out here once a year to collect her coin during Christmas season, maybe a little gig here and there throughout the year, but I don't think she is really interested in building her voice up again. Maybe she's ready to retire. I mean look at Patti Labelle, the woman is 80 and hitting the craziest notes. And she's touring. It's your gift, but you gotta honor it.
I'm trying to make sense of your comment. Mariah had nodules before her career officially began, that's how she accessed her whistle. What does her lip syncing in the 2000s disprove? Of course she was, the nodules were there at least 20 years prior to the new millennium. Or can you clarify why you think the nodules are not connected to her vocal deterioration?
Hey! Thanks for your comment! I think the factor that people underestimate is what I mentioned about the whistle register-modal voice struggle. Have a listen to that section again at 4:11 and you'll see there's a lot more factors that need to be considered when it comes to Mariah's voice. Also, I thinks handled the mega-fandom the best she could for such a young popstar.
she hasn't always been lipsyncing this much. her concerts until christmas of 2023 were always at least 60% live and almost always in the 70-80% range whether that is acceptable or not is subjective, i guess, but it's probably not uncommon in the pop music industry not to make it worse but the first time she lipsynced was not 2000 haha it was 1994, and it was a televised performance of Without You in Top of the Pops a point i absolutely do agree with tho is that she doesn't need "vocal rest" considering her voice is if anything being underused, she needs some sort of vocal coaching, and probably needed it already in 1997, more or less when the vocal damage started. i guess alcohol doesn't help either, there are literally clips of her in the TAOM tour in 2006 drinking champagne which surely can't be good, and weed may be harmful too, she doesn't take any hard drugs tho lol it would be a lot more noticeable
Que sejamos sensatos, Mariah sempre foi uma cantora com pouca base teórica, mas isso nunca a impediu de fazer boa música e ter uma ótima percepção musical, ela sempre foi uma cantora "natural", ou seja, instintiva, assim como ele disse no vídeo. Porém não podemos ignorar que esse instinto foi o que prejudicou sua voz, Mariah sempre cantou com sua extensão vocal, ela sempre usou TUDO e foi justamente isso que deteriorou sua voz, a voz é como dinheiro, se vc usar tudo de uma vez, alguma hora irá ficar sem ele. Embora ela não seja mais a mesma cantora, nunca terá o legado apagado.
Mariah sacrificed longevity to give us an insane catalog. And I think it was a wise choice, conscious or unconscious. Her voice is simply not normal, and she shouldn't be categorized with other singers. I know, as a lifelong lamb, you want her to be able to blow away all the haters' faves, all the time, at every concert, but it's simply not fair or realistic. It's most likely we will never see a voice like hers again. So to have the amount of material we have is a tremendous gift.
Honestly, her less usage of whistles during Music Box and Daydream could be attributed to the critics nagging her about “overdoing” and “showing off” her whistles. That’s why when Rainbow happened she just went all out ex: Bliss.
SUPER special thanks to @TristanKennethMusic for talking with me and giving me the 411 when I had little direction on how to start! He actually has music out so be sure to go support him!
Shoutout to the @flylikealamb9260 channel for talking about the frequency of Mariah's whistles!
And thank you to all the Lambs for being SO PATIENT with me as I got the bravery to put this all together! You guys are AMAZING!
I'm so glad she recorded Merry Christmas when she did, her vocals in that era were perfect.
So glad to hear your take! I find that fans and Lambs love different parts of Mariah's career for different reasons. It all makes up one big mosaic of appreciation and I'm glad you have a part in that! Oh! And thanks for watching! 😁
@@oneilgerald Glitter/Charmbracelet eras are my favorite
Agree
@@oneilgerald This one is a little unfair in terms of age and if u were a listener when she first came up with Vision of Love by mid 1990... Others do enjoy more her urban "hip hoppy" stuff which were also more "comfortable" to sing...
Mariah's vocal ability definitely overshadows the genius that is her song writing. Would love an analysis focusing on just the writing.
Agree
Couldn't agree more!
Her vocabulary is next level. 📝🔥👑🥇
To make such a well informed, fact based, educational script is one thing. However, to then put such detail into the graphics & editing, really make this a high class documentary that could be aired in prime time tv.
I thoroughly enjoyed the expertise and knowledge shared here. Well done!!
Excuse me while I cry real tears! 😭😭😭 Thanks so much for getting the message and appreciating the hard work! DEFINITELY some blood, sweat and tears went into this. And hopefully I can lead a team and host some type of show on this stuff! Your time in leaving this comment is SO appreciated! 🥰
Mariah carey is so incredible jumping to low notes to high notes like a wind flowing all over the place. Her singing technique is suicidal. The control is insane and the airy breathy technique are almost impossible to duplicate. Her voice has a lot of flavours and it tastes good.
a Biblical effort, a must watch for any Lamb, new or experienced.
Right???
Not Biblical!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
@@oneilgeralddefinitely New Testaments!
I've never clicked on a video so fast! Got this saved for later today.
YES! Hope you enjoy it! Come back to this comment and let me know what you think!
Just started the video and the quality of editing is already VERY impressive. Will give more thoughts later on. @@oneilgerald
@@oneilgeraldI liked that you used the phrase "the most free" and not "the best" because vocal quality is VERY subjective in my opinion. I REALLY like that you explained that the increase in her modal voice decreased her use of her whistle register. That explained so much. I've never quite understood the mechanics behind using the the whistle register but this makes a lot of sense. I remember going on a choir trip with a friend who lost his chest voice but gained a whistle register. It was WILD! Great video per usual, man. This is great break from the true crime and drama content I normally consume lol.
Soooo glad you enjoyed! The whistle register/modal voice thing is still something I'm discovering myself through Mariah! (I even had some myself when I lost my voice a few times!) Thanks so much for watching and for the consistent loyalty and see you in the next one!
I've loved Mariah since her spectacular debut, and always admired her brilliance as a singer songwriter and producer. Her skills allowed her to adapt through the changes in her voice over the years. My personal favorite era vocally is Music Box, IMO is when her voice had the most balance and resources. This video is a great reminder that there's something to be appreciated about every era and every album was like a post card of a period of her life and how she kept giving us high quality through everything, you pointed that out beautifully 👏💖
She's always been trying to work hard around on her ever changing voice. It must've been exhausting trying to figure out how to sing the same songs when your voice always changes.
Thank you for the empathy here! Only God knows what it's been to uphold such a huge vocal standard!
Your breakdown and presentation was almost as magical as this one of kind songbird's voice. I have loved Mariah since I first heard Vision of Love back in 1990 while driving down Santa Monica Blvd in Cali, and I never wavered or went astray. I love every album, every collaboration, and the evolution of her voice and stylistic singing choices. You did this living legend justice. Bravo.
Such an intelligent and detailed analysis of the most remarkable and incomparable vocals ever in history. You did justice to the Queen, the greatest, the songbird supreme, the queen of Christmas, the one and only Mariah Carey 👑 🐐❤️❤️❤️❤️
The greatest vocalist of all time her prime was 2010 when she was pregnant she had the same power and ease as the 90s and the agility of the 00s
The first time I heard "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and she soared with that powerful belt on "GLORY to God!" I nearly fell out of my chair. Simply one of the greatest vocals I've ever heard!
Merry Christmas 2 you was her 3rd prime after Charmbracelet era
Definetly, a prime is when the singer has an outstanding discography and can hit many optaves. Mariah never lost anything or had a sturuggle until the later 2010's, oviously now she may not be able to hit all the notes she once could, by 2010 she had 5+ albums that were marked as the greatest of all time by many, and she had no limitations even if she was preganant or whatsoever, by 1994, her discography was great but it was not outstanding and hadn't built the legacy that emancipation of mimi would. So i so agree with you.
Legendary rock vocalist Ann Wilson from Heart was unmatchable in her prime. A true power vocalist in her prime.
Nope its Whitney
This was such a great analysis! I love this! Good work! I love how much you spelled out her evolution. Mariah’s artistry is something we need to make sure that we NEVER discredit, regardless of her changing ability.
OMG wow! So glad that you enjoyed it! And I agree. We owe a LOT to Mariah's artistry and so we should definitely take more time to give her her flowers while she's still here! 🥰
This video content is incredible work! It’s a masterclass on her voice. It was super enjoyable to listen to as well as get your insights and commentary on what worked for her and how it shaped her music. Thank you for all the hard work you put into this. Well done! 🎉
It was a labor of LOVE! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch!!!
There's literally something you could love from every single album from this musical genius called Mariah Carey. I love what she did when she was younger, I love what she did when she got a bit older and I love what she does even now like the album caution. Not to mention ods like "I don't", "in the mix" for a TV show, "somewhat loved" which is such a good bop! Even "Fall in love at Christmas" to mention a few... She is just amazing!
Music starts with M and ends with C❤
You do such great work on this channel! Loved this video, the editing and graphics are great too. The ending was also perfectly said!
Thank you SO much for the kind words and for watching! It was a lot of work, but the message is out there now!
i absolutely love this video! as a lamb, i’m so appreciative of your analysis and adaptation of mariah’s voice. many people, including other lambs, often criticise the change in her overall voice, but you’ve offered positive and truly constructive criticism, without leaning into harsh opinions. people are quick to say mariah can’t sing anymore, that she’s lost her range or strength, but as a devoted lamb, i believe her voice has simply evolved-not diminished. mariah remains one of the greatest vocalists ever, blending styles and tones with ease and proving her relevance in the 21st century. her ability to adapt and innovate after 34 years in the industry is extraordinary, and her talent has only grown more refined and creative. thank you for this thoughtful and uplifting take. mariah hasn’t just set the standard for modern pop; she’s redefined it and continues to soar. she will always be one of a kind.
The Voice that launched a million singers and a million dreams. I still remember where I was the first time I heard Vision of Love come on the radio and I could not believe what I was hearing, by the time it got to the whistle I was holding on for dear life. I thought to myself WHO is this?! And this person is going places LOL. We are so lucky to have had Mariah in our lifetime. Amazing tribute video. P.S. my faves are debut to Butterfly.
I’ve been waiting on this for FOREVER! 🥹 that end piece, “mariah’s voice is the triumph of a caged bird that finally got to fly free,” made me a little teary. I couldn’t have said this better myself.
Ah! Thanks for waiting on me through to the end! And I love that conclusion. Thanks for highlighting it.
Damn good youtube doc on Mariah's voice and artistry; the caliber of your offerings is growing, O'Neil. Top-notch
That was a beautiful conclusion. Great video.
The conclusion is probably my favourite part of the whole thing. I really hope people hear the message. Thanks for highlighting it and for watching! 🥰
This was a great video! For the sake of her own mental health. I think the thing I want most for Mariah is to always be in a place where she is the one satisfied with her own vocal condition. Her different sounds will always be immortalized in the songs so people need to release that "I want the old mariah back" pressure from her. For me its just seeing her on stage in certain eras where she is visibly not that confident in her voice has been the heartbreaking part. She definitely still does not get the credit she deserves considering the force she has been in the music industry. She also should not have had to "prove" herself as many times as shes had to when no one else has.
She's the Greatest Vocalist of All Time... it's not even debatable!
Whitney Houston is 😝
@@klion3924...dead
Whitney is by far.. Mariah is a better overall artist
@@SquidProQuo80 Beyoncé quite literally is the face for that lol….especially if we’re being technical and ability…I mean in 2024 we are still hearing bey do things we’ve never heard from bee
@@BeytheevirtusoI agree. Technically Beyoncé is the greatest in all of pop music history
This was such a beautiful tribute to Mariah. I love the points you made at the end especially.
You’re a treasure O’Neil! *gets comfy*❤❤
In my opinion, Mariah's vocal prime (again for me Lol) was her Merry Christmas 1994 album. Her vocals were absolute magic! Listen to how she sounds in All I want For Christmas Is You, O Holy Night, Christmas Baby Please Come Home, Jesus Oh What A Wonderful Child.
Her vocals in Music Box 1993 and Day Dream 1994 was absolutely phenomenal too. Which makes sense because she was recording the Merry Christmas album from 1993-1994; which explains how crazy her vocal capabilities were.
you tore this up! her voice is changing and that's okay!
Been waiting for this for a longgg timeee now 😍😍😍
Thank you for being patient!!! Hopefully you enjoy it!
Such a good video! As a lamb I sometimes loose the appreciation for her voice, because I’m so focused on the technique and analyzing everything. The fact that she’s still singing for us and touring, like we’re so lucky! Such an unique artist, let’s appreciate this! 😍
Thank you so much! I feel the same way! Singers like Mariah are so great, it can seem like the most important thing sometimes is technique. The hope with a video like this was to give us a chance to focus on celebrating her and also seeing her impact more holistically! Again thanks for watching!
another great video. respectful. honest. intriguing.
Thank you SO MUCH! I appreciate the comment and the time in you watching! ☺️
Mariah s vocal transitions are absolutely outstanding and unmatched.
Almost as impressive as Mariah’s mind-blowing range is the fact that throughout a staggering five octaves of notes at her disposal, she uses them all with always perfect accuracy.
Think about it: of course, the first and most important job of a singer is to be on-pitch. That doesn’t seem like a big deal in and of itself.
But when you think about Mariah’s ability to move from the lowest depths of her range to piercing whistle register without so much as a pause, and remain on pitch every time, it truly is incredible.
Not only is Mariah able to move between notes fluently, her movement in and out of vocal registers is unparalleled. She can move from chest to head, head to whistle, and - astoundingly - chest to whistle seemingly effortlessly.
Oh my GOD I can’t wait!
Ah I'm so glad you're anticipating! Hope you enjoy! ☺️
I’ll never stop rocking with you. I love this channel 🎶
🥹🥹🥹
Great video as always… I’ve been wanting to have a conversation about MC for MONTHS! But have no one to talk about it with. Like she’s too good!
So glad you could be a part of this conversation! She's so great! 😄
Same thing happens to me all the time. When my falsetto is more accessible, my head vice shrinks. When my head voice is higher, my falsetto is lower. It's more so about how it feels like falsetto and head voice overlap in the same spot of vocal placement, and the machine can't use both voices in the same spot with the same flexibility in the same sitting, because one calls for more free and relaxed anatomy; whereas the other requires controlled tension (aka, compression). Sometimes I can use both at about a 8 or 9, but never both at 10. It's like going from doing sit ups to leg ups.
I hardly ever watch voice analysis videos like this, but you got me! Well done! Your analysis was insightful, intelligent and respectful. I hope Mariah sees it.
SO INFORMATIVE OMG
10/10 on the script and video production!!
Okay, this was incredible. I'm impressed.
Oh no. I can't believed someone did this to Mariah's entire vocal range and also most of her songs and definitely LOVED how it was interpreted, analyized and described in detail.
As someone growing up and been listening to her from her 1st album as a kid to an adult, this definitely (this video) highlights the changes of her voice album per album including what she experienced during her period creating her album. Not just her voice tbh, but also her writing skills. I am for one is always wary of her lyics and it DOES reflect a lot what she is going through at her point in life during those times.
One other thing that she also mentioned in one of her interviews (for those who are following her live performances), aside from ample rest, the weather condition matters. If it's too chilly, she can't belt it out as it damages her throat. But if it's just righ, she can belt it out and whistle it out very well.
Love the video. Everything about it
loved this analysis!!! would love more stuff like this on the vocal evolution of other artists too!
This is truly remarkable and intellectually engaging. Your portrayal of the depth of her voice, as well as its connection to the various peaks and valleys of her life, is commendable. Excellent work!
Why do we have to argue about when her prime was instead of considering that a singer can have multiple primes? Even in sports, athletes can experience multiple peaks in their careers. If you look at athlete statistics, their performance often follows an up-and-down trend rather than a constant rise or fall. The same applies to singers.
However, since music isn’t measured by a specific metric but rather by personal preference, discussions about when her prime was will always be subjective and endless. Personally, I can identify at least five distinct prime moments in Mariah’s career where certain aspects of her voice were at their strongest:
• 1990-1993: Raw, sheer vocal power
• 1995: Peak freedom in her higher belts
• 2000-2003: Peak falsetto and best tone
• 2005: Peak vocal expression
• 2010: Peak tonal weight (e.g., “Make It Happen” live, 2010)
• 2013: Absolute peak agility
• 2020-present: Peak low notes
It’s always hard-and honestly unrealistic-for me to pick just one moment in her career and call it her prime. Mariah has evolved in so many ways over the years, showcasing different strengths at different times.
It's funny, the athlete analogy is one I almost brought into this video. All in all, this video is my take. It's not comprehensive, especially since I wouldn't call myself a Lamb. But thanks for the input and for watching!
@@oneilgeraldits a great content! I enjoyed it
Discussing her vocal prime is not subjective. It CAN actually be analyzed and objectively measured. It’s a fact that vocally Mariah’s prime was from 1991-1996. 1997-1998 is where the unnatural raps had started to kick and and then she repealed in 2005 vocally big since 2008 till now she’s been vocally inconsistent and has vocally deteriorated since.
@@rydercdaniels4475 that is highly incorrect! What do you consider vocal prime? Let’s start there! Is it agility, low notes, high belts, emotions?
This analysis is so accurate! Please one for Christina Aguilera
I love me some Mariah, you can tell her voice has changed so much over the years. From when I first got into her in 97 with Butterfly to the Latto Remix of Fantasy. The uniqueness of her is that she can sing her songs to adjust how voice is on a given day. She will re arrange it in a lower key so shes not belting. Butterfly to Memoirs is her best run. Shout to You Had Your Chance and You Got Me from Charmbraclet shes on fiyahh on those tracks.
Thank you! Absolutely fantastic video. Mariah is a legend because her of astounding voice and beautiful songwriting skills and I love that you acknowledge both while breaking-down the changes in her voice. She has navigated these changes adeptly and astutely while still putting out incredible, timeless, quality music. ALL singers' voices changes as time moves on but Mariah is still here touring and putting out great music because she's an artist who understands music and her vocal abilities. I'll always love her. I wonder if you would ever do a video about Barbra Streisand whose voices changed (lowered) significantly since her around her mid-50s.
Compassionate, nuanced and brilliant analysis 🔥
This was a spectacular dissertation on Mariah’s voice.
Amazing video❤
This is amazing I love it
Great analysis as always O'Neil!
Really appreciate your approach to this topic. It is delicately handled while not being oblivious to Mariah’s present vocal condition.
I really enjoyed this! Thanks and I appreciate your time and work.
COME ON CONCLUSION! I love your video essays so much
😮💨🔥👌🏾 Bravo man
I respect your research on doing this video. IM JUST WOWED!!!
For me it's amazing how Mariah continues to blossom and grow as an artist because as I was with my mother a few months back, I actually cried to "One Sweet Day" which is the duet she did with Boyz II Men.
Thank you for this! Spectacular
oh facts were spoken at the end of the video!
She is the only vocalist whose voice was more mature and professional when she just started. 1995 was the end of it.
😪
Wow, that outro segment was profound! “We are so fixated on how Mariah sounds that we fail to see the connection to the turmoil in her life” 🔥
The vocal changes are a lot more evident if you analize her live singing, as most of her albums have incredible vocals regardless of her vocal condition, but they didn't really reflect what she could deliver live after 97, and even more after 2010. Her belting range started to be very inconsistent and she started to lip most of her upper belts after 97-98. Besides, I want to point out that she was pregnant in 2010 while recording Merry Christmas II You and her live vocals got really stronger during that time, while MIAMTEC was released in 2014 and her babies were 3 years old already, her live vocals during that time had already changed a lot from what she sounded like in 2010 when she was pregnant, her belting on that record didn't reflect at all her live vocals, her live belting was more inconsistent and her tone changed aswell in comparison to 2010. The vocals, especially upper belting, for this album are actually very infamous between her fans as they sound very fake. One thing that might have also affected this era was an accident she suffered in 2013 while filming 'Beautiful', she fell and had cracked a rib, dislocated her shoulder, fractured her arm and had nerve injury, she had to take corticoids and use orthopedic gloves for a long time, not to mention the stress as it happened between the time she was promoting her album. Her tone started to change the most after this, wich also might have been aggravated with time due to menopause. That said, I think the Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour in 2016 was when she had most ease accessing her upper belts for the last decade, or at least it was when she felt the most confident attempting high notes live, like the F5 in Always be My Baby, something she didn't do live since 96.
I also hope he does a follow up video that includes live vocals for the very same reasons you outlined here. That was kind of the gem of the Beyoncé's Voice Is Changing series, the inclusion of live vocals as anything can happen with a little studio magic. The issue he might run into though is that Mariah has such a complex playback system that it might be an unreasonable ask for him to sort through thousands of performances to figure out where she is lipping verses where she is actually singing live. Lifelong lambs don't even get it right sometimes and O'Neal has been transparent that he isn't as familiar with her voice and performance lore as he was Beyoncé's.
The live experience with Mariah is definitely another 20-40 minute video by itself, haha. I chose to zoom in on the studio because of her emphasis on being a songwriter over being a singer. Her presentation in studio was more controlled and throughout her career where we've more of the full extent of her creativity. I feel like with the way she described music in her book, the studio was her most authentic space, so it was the place that made sense for me to start in. I definitely have more work to do though! Thanks for the input!
Facts! While you can hear the changes in her voice throughout her studio albums, you can hear them even more during the live eras. The good changes and the bad ones.
Love when you do these!!!!! Let me lock in
Mariah Carey’s voice is special in any era. She’s never lost her ability to sing in any part of her register.
Another important fact is that Mariah did so many remixes of her songs to suit different audiences.
Also, she’s achieved so many achievements throughout her stellar career that she can simply retire. Yet she doesn’t.
Mariah has done so much and she is still with us and alive. She’s a miracle.
Great video - nice to see all of her amazing albums
Bring on the new album in 2025!
I love how she and her voice adapted to the current "trendy" style of music when she released them. true living legend!
loved the video
Her catalogue is the most interesting to me because each eras have a distinct different tone ❤
Yes you better preach! That closing statement is chef kiss ❤️✨ I wish all fans/lambs would get and understand that
2:02 I see what you did there
Who got it got it 🥰
I have to be honest! I didn't even realize I did it until I looked it up! SO COOL!!!! 😉
The video I've been waiting.
Your patience is something I'm SUPER thankful for!
This is so beautiful
Always: thank you for your expertise and respect. Books can be written about that fickle and magical voice.
BOOKS! Thanks so much for dropping in and watching! 😇
Rainbow is my first Mariah album.. But Ive been introduced to her through butterfly.. But ive known her earlier works especially hero and without you.. So breathy vocals was i mostly know her of
There will never be another like her 🦋
This has got to be one of the MC videos we Lambs and the GP should be watching...
Loved the video!
Please do a reaction video to her original version of Miss you Most (at Christmas). IMHO, it's one of her best vocal performances enjoying her prime years.
Love and blessings to your channel❤❤❤
Thanks so much for watching! I'll be honest, I may not get to Miss You Most, but I appreciate the reccommendation! ☺️
30th anniversary of all I want for Christmas is you this year number 1 please let’s do it!Also she made a new live Valentine’s Day version of we belong together in 2021 I think during lock down she sounded amazing ❤
What an excellent video!!
Thank you very much for watching!
beautiful essay 🥹👏👏👏
You're a really good writer, O'niel ✍🏾
IVE BEEN SAYING THIS AND IT FELT LIKE NO ONE BELIEVED ME 😩😩😩. I was and always will be the biggest Mariah fan. I was even a fan of Glitter had the movie and the soundtrack. That’s how deep my love is. However, she is GOAT but her voice is gone. Just is. Sad. But she didn’t set the bar she is the bar. She showed that already. Cemented her legacy.
Nowhere in this video did O'Niel say her voice is gone. I think you need to relisten because probably the reason nobody believes you is you're saying something untrue.
Excellent video ! I love ur work ! I feel like there's a decline in her voice between the Me.Mariah album and the Caution album in terms of vocal agility, in the song Portrait for ex, to me she has a hard time hitting higher notes and doing runs, and this is the case now, even singing live it sounds like she doesnt want to accept this current voice that she has, and is singing above her current vocal abilities. The Me.Mariah album was phenomenal both vocally and musically and is one of my faves from her. However Caution to me is the only album of hers that I dont appreciate that much
Thanks so much! I will say. If Mariah is having trouble accepting the voice she currently has, we have a lot of work to do in helping her do that. And I also reeeeally enjoyed MIAM!
Thanks for this heavily informative video
Soooo glad you enjoyed! 🥰
As a massiveeeeeeee lamb and singer, this is pure brilliance!!! ❤❤❤❤🦋🦋🦋
This was so in depth. Came to hate at first but I was like ok ok. Come thru with the science. 🧬
it should be noted too that her belts in the Charmbracelet and TEOM were extremely more mixed, light and nasally than in the earlier parts of her career.
Thank you someone who gets it!!!!
Mariah's 90-96 voice sounded best to me. And it's crazy how her voice sounded more grown and mature, than it does today. She started out with a full, warm, soulful and soultry voice- watch "We're not making love anymore" which the sang at only 19 years old with Michael Bolton, or "If it's over" at SNL" in '92, one of my absolute favorites. Her voice towards the end of 90s/early 2000s sounded great but different, because it got a little "shriller" and she developed more rasp and vocal cracks, which I loved back then but today I know it was a sign of voice damage.. Speaking of it, I can't stand when ppl always come with the argument she has nodules..She has been lipsyncing forever. There a videos showing how allllll the way since at least 2000 she was lipsyncing. So I wonder what was she resting from? I think she is too deep into this prodigy thing and above real vocal training with a vocal coach or even speech therapist. The voice is a muscle and can be trained. But instead she dried her vocal cords out by being under the influence of lord knows what and alcohol. And these days she always seems sedated on stage. 😞This year however, from the clips I have seen, she's more into singing live again, but it's just not the same. She's out here once a year to collect her coin during Christmas season, maybe a little gig here and there throughout the year, but I don't think she is really interested in building her voice up again. Maybe she's ready to retire. I mean look at Patti Labelle, the woman is 80 and hitting the craziest notes. And she's touring. It's your gift, but you gotta honor it.
I'm trying to make sense of your comment. Mariah had nodules before her career officially began, that's how she accessed her whistle. What does her lip syncing in the 2000s disprove? Of course she was, the nodules were there at least 20 years prior to the new millennium. Or can you clarify why you think the nodules are not connected to her vocal deterioration?
Hey! Thanks for your comment! I think the factor that people underestimate is what I mentioned about the whistle register-modal voice struggle. Have a listen to that section again at 4:11 and you'll see there's a lot more factors that need to be considered when it comes to Mariah's voice. Also, I thinks handled the mega-fandom the best she could for such a young popstar.
Once a year to collect her coin? Spoiler: Thats her job. Maybe you should get one yourself.
she hasn't always been lipsyncing this much. her concerts until christmas of 2023 were always at least 60% live and almost always in the 70-80% range
whether that is acceptable or not is subjective, i guess, but it's probably not uncommon in the pop music industry
not to make it worse but the first time she lipsynced was not 2000 haha it was 1994, and it was a televised performance of Without You in Top of the Pops
a point i absolutely do agree with tho is that she doesn't need "vocal rest" considering her voice is if anything being underused, she needs some sort of vocal coaching, and probably needed it already in 1997, more or less when the vocal damage started. i guess alcohol doesn't help either, there are literally clips of her in the TAOM tour in 2006 drinking champagne which surely can't be good, and weed may be harmful too, she doesn't take any hard drugs tho lol it would be a lot more noticeable
Very well said❤
Thank you!
Its Mariah Carey's Course featuring Mr. O'neil Gerald as the Professor❤👏
Que sejamos sensatos, Mariah sempre foi uma cantora com pouca base teórica, mas isso nunca a impediu de fazer boa música e ter uma ótima percepção musical, ela sempre foi uma cantora "natural", ou seja, instintiva, assim como ele disse no vídeo. Porém não podemos ignorar que esse instinto foi o que prejudicou sua voz, Mariah sempre cantou com sua extensão vocal, ela sempre usou TUDO e foi justamente isso que deteriorou sua voz, a voz é como dinheiro, se vc usar tudo de uma vez, alguma hora irá ficar sem ele.
Embora ela não seja mais a mesma cantora, nunca terá o legado apagado.
Perfect analogy!
Mariah sacrificed longevity to give us an insane catalog. And I think it was a wise choice, conscious or unconscious. Her voice is simply not normal, and she shouldn't be categorized with other singers. I know, as a lifelong lamb, you want her to be able to blow away all the haters' faves, all the time, at every concert, but it's simply not fair or realistic. It's most likely we will never see a voice like hers again. So to have the amount of material we have is a tremendous gift.
I love how this went from Mariah's vocal register abilities to a philosophy on self reflection 😀
so glad youtube suggested me channel
This is such an educational treat for Mariah fans. Its like a TED talks for lambs. 🤣🤣🤣 bravo!!! Thank you for this. 🐑🐑🐑
Thank you, thank you! So glad to see that the hard work is appreciated! 🥰
Has changed
Honestly, her less usage of whistles during Music Box and Daydream could be attributed to the critics nagging her about “overdoing” and “showing off” her whistles. That’s why when Rainbow happened she just went all out ex: Bliss.
WOW. JUST SIMPLY WOW! ❤
The E=mc² album had such a consistent formula. The last choruses are layered with a whole octave higher on practically all of em