I have been thinking that we need more of a discussion about Mariah's music in here for some time. So here's a topic to for everyone to get their teeth into. Toothpicks on the table to the left. :P You can tear this post apart if you like, I know it is rather long. These are just my opinions of the songs on this album. Feel free to discuss these views below and post your own. :funky: For the people who don't have the album, the music video to Vision of Love is posted here.

 

Vision Of Love

 

Fantastic build up to this song both musically and vocally. Slow but powerful in my opinion. Mariah's first ever single. Very impressive vocals. Has a very steady beat through this song. From the beginning of the song we have no idea how powerful the vocals on this track are. Outstanding song with a well matched video suitable to the lyrics. One small point is that I think it should have more of a musical bridge in this.

 

There's Got To Be A Way

 

Deceptive slow start to this track, becomes real catchy. This was Mariah's fourth single from this album, though it should have been released earlier. The beats are more varied, slows for the verses speeds up for the chorus. It's a very well put together song. Bit repetitive in the chorus. Builds up to more of a crescendo near the end. Superb vocals on here. Timeless track this, as it just fades away with no apparent slowing of the beat.

 

I Don't Wanna Cry

 

Nice slow beat to start this track off. The beat picks up slowly and the vocals become more powerful before slowing down again. Vocals pick up with the chorus as does the beat again. Powerful, though not as powerful as the first two. There is a lack of constancy with this as it is a bit up and down for my liking. The ending is very slow, but stops a bit abruptly for my liking. Aside from the above points, a great song.

 

Someday

 

Fast beat this to start with, and continues throughout the song. Mariah's third single in the UK The song is a bit fast for Mariah, I remember thinking that when I first heard this 15 years ago. This was a bit repetitive to be released at all in my opinion.

 

Vanishing

 

Much slower to begin with. This appears to be a filler track and is rather repetitive. Nice use of the backing vocals, though a musical bridge would have made this song more listener friendly. Very impressive vocal by Mariah on this track about mid way through. Not too struck on this track overall though.

 

All In Your Mind

 

Long, slow introduction to this track both musically and vocally. Picks up after a minute, and adds the use of backing vocals which are well suited to the lyrics. Very powerful lyric by Mariah is featured just before the three minute mark. This is a superb track, with a little bridge near the four minute mark. Like another track it just fades away.

 

Alone In Love

 

This was a slow start, though there was a barely suppressed indication that it should have been faster in the beginning. This song is a bit out of time musically in places around the halfwayish mark. This is another filler track as there is nothing that stands out musically on this track. The backing vocals are far too quiet on this track. I'm not impressed musically with this.

 

You Need Me

 

Bit of a rockier start to this track, bit novel compared to what has gone on before. Bit electric sounding, the beat goes up and down showing a lack of constancy. The vocals are more constant, the backing vocals are too quiet for this track. It gets a bit more constant halfwayish, though the musical bridge is ruined with some unnecessary "Oh"s. This track fades away like a couple of others.

 

Sent From Up Above

 

More of a beat here, though it is almost immediately suppressed. It comes back when the vocals commence albeit a bit slower. The backing vocals are a bit more prominent on this track. The chorus is rather rockier than on previous tracks and ends rather repetitively.

 

Prisoner

 

Fast start. Very novel track here with some MCing in the beginning of this track. Perhaps this should have been released as it is more of an upbeat track with the point stated above. The one point against this would be the speed of the verses. It would be difficult to fully appreciate this song on its own. I remember thinking this when I first heard this. More of a Double A Side possibility had it been considered at the time. More MCing near the end of this track.

 

Love Takes Time

 

This was Mariah's second single in the UK. Nice slow start, builds up gradually. Gentle backing vocals on this track. Very suitable pace, matches the title. Very impressive song, only issue is that there should have been a musical bridge. The song cries out for one. Ending very sudden compared to some of the tracks we've heard.

 

Conclusion

 

An excellent debut album, though the singles could have been more spaced through the album. Three of the singles released off this album are in the first four. I don't know whether anyone else feels this way, but the singles have to be spread through the album. If they are mostly grouped together, it implies to me that the other songs are no good.

Someday is NOT repetitive. :o

It's a great album, best song is Love Takes Time, and second best is There's Got To Be A Way - pity it only made no54 in the UK charts :(

Great review John. I won't write my own full review for this album but here's how I'd rate the songs out of ten and some comments.

 

Some marks may seem a bit low but that's because this is a Mariah-only rate and hence I use higher standards. Most Mariah singles would get 10 if I compared them to songs by other artists.

 

1. Vision of love (10/10 - tune. I know lots of people who hate Mariah but can admit this is good)

2. There's got to be a way (4/10 - I have little time for popstars singing about social injustice)

3. I don't wanna cry (8/10 - it's alright but they can't all get 10)

4. Someday (10/10 - one of my all-time Mariah top ten. Best break-up song ever if you don't like to wallow. Then, as discussed, it's 'Without You')

5. Vanishing (9/10 - strong, haunting ballad. Though 'Everything Fades Away' is easily Mariah's most ghostly ballad)

6. All in your mind (10/10 - love the Snow White bits)

7. Alone in love (5/10 - meh)

8. You need me (9/10 - ridiculous song. What's with the Hair Metal intro? Great fun though)

9. Sent from up above (5/10 - meh)

10. Prisoner (9/10 - again, ridiculous song. Rapping, Mariah? Really? Love it - it's hilarious)

11. Love takes time (10/10 - she was really very good at ballads at this time. Then after the massive success of 'My All' she favoured latino-inspired ballads ('After Tonight', 'I Only Wanted') which were not as good)

Edited July 13, 200618 yr by Tim

Just my opinion Kelly. I think that she overuses the title in the chorus, and the beat is repetitive in some places.

 

Thanks Tim. :)

Just my opinion Kelly. I think that she overuses the title in the chorus, and the beat is repetitive in some places.

 

Thanks Tim. :)

It's one my favourite Mariah songs. :P

 

Mariah Carey is one of my favourite Mariah albums, so I shall do my review at some point. :lol:

Oh well, since i've got spare time on my hands today I decided to do a review of my own! :D

 

Vision Of Love - The infamous debut. A definate favourite amongst fans, but for me this song really lacks something, the vocals aren't the usual Mariah-belters, a couple of high notes here or there, but for me, this could have been left as an album track. 7/10

 

There's Got To Be A Way - At the beginning it sounds like a very early 80's track, the vocals are quite good, not Mariah at her best, but good enough. The lyrics don't seem to fit with the song if you get me? I would expect the lyrics to be on a ballad not an upbeat track, anywho, not one of my favourites. 6/10

 

I Don't Wanna Cry - Now I never paid much attention to this track until Tim recommended it to me a long time ago, amazing lyrics, the chorus always seems a bit short to me, I would love it to be longer. It doesn't fit the usual criteria for a Mariah ballad, maybe that highlights it's brilliance i'm not sure. One of my favourites on the album. 8/10

 

Someday - Now this is a track that I can honestly say is one of my favourite Mariah tracks ever, this is the perfect break up song, not a moody one, weeping because he's left you, but a confident belter with amazing lyrics and vocals that is sure to set anyones break up on the right tracks. Perhaps holds my favourite lyric ever in a song with "You were so blind to let me go" because it's not an arrogant statement, but a confident one, which I know I can relate to, when he leaves you for some blonde. Joint favourite track on the album! 10/10

 

Vanishing - Never liked this track, I don't know whether it's because i'm always on a high after Someday and then Vanishing comes on and kinda depresses me again. The vocals are fantastic, but the lyrics and the whole song in general don't interest me. 5/10

 

All In Your Mind - Now back to the good tracks, the start reminds me of a track I like off the film 'The Manequin' absolutely gorgeous silky vocals, very whispery, but with a good strong chorus, I also have fallen in love with the bridge "When you look in my eeeeeeeeeyeeeeeees" leading into another great chorus, a nice strong message about a paranoid boyfriend, which i'm sure we've all witnessed at some point eh? Anywho great song. 9/10

 

Alone In Love - Nothing special really about this track, quite standard lyrics, good vocals in places, a lot of riffing (which anyone that knows me, knows a good bit of warble pleases me greatly) one of the less prolific tracks on the album, but still good for an album track. 7/10

 

You Need Me - This track really, really bares a strong resemblance to a lot of Whitney Houston for me, very similar sounding to So Emotional at the beginning with the guitars, another womens empowerment anthem, quite along with lines of Someday and Prisoner in terms of lyrics. A different side of Mariah with the sound, I quite like it. 8/10

 

Sent From Up Above - The tune at the beginning of this track reminds me of Can't Let Go for some reason, I can kinda hum Can't Let Go over the start, maybe that's just me? It's like a retro, more poppy version of Fly Like A Bird. Very catchy, very casual, it also reminds me of something i've heard of Sister Act, maybe it's the choir I don't know! Fabulous vocal just before the 3 minutes mark, a big belter, amazing track in all. 9/10

 

Prisoner - Another one of those tracks I can say is one of my favourite Mariah songs ever. Like Someday, it's such a girls anthem. The rapping is beyond genious, it really is, that maybe why I love the track so much, it suits her so well, it's not too much rapping either, just a little bit here and a little bit there which makes the song utter perfection for me. Also a fabulous break up song, if he didn't treat you right, this is the song for you! Each chorus has an infectious beat that you can't help singing along to (provided you know the words) but it's a definate mover, absolutely fabulous vocals. I have been listening to the album to refresh my memory and changing the song once I remember what it's like but I cannot switch this song. not one fault I can pick out, a song that is belted out and sang to perfection. Utterly flawless. 10/10

 

Love Takes Time - Hmmm. This song has always been a bit 2 sided to me, somedays I can listen to it and love it and never have it off, and somedays I detest it. It was a big hit for Mariah, standard vocals, standard lyrics, it was successful as I said, but this should have been left as an album track to make way for the fabulous Prisoner in my opinion, nice enough really. 8/10

 

:D

Kelly, you and I have given (vaguely) similar scores to the songs.

 

The best song is 'Someday' IMO.

 

John, Kelly - your thoughts?

I agree Someday along with Prisoner is the best track on the album, both songs are utterly flawless for me, not one fault I can pick. :wub:

Love these reviews..i give all song 11 out of 10..too good..i just need to listen to them now..:)

1. Vision Of Love - 9/10 - First single from the great Mariah, I like it live, but it is just a radio song if you ask me, I usually skip over this track enless it's a live version.

2. There's Got To Be A Way - 9/10 - Love this song! It's inspirational and the high notes and arrangement gets the message across :P.

3. I Don't Wanna Cry - 8/10 - It's alright, not the best, not the worst, Mariah has shown dislike to this song in the past :o

4. Someday - 9/10 - It's good, like the lyrics, but not nearly the best song!

5. Vanishing - 10/10 - BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM! It's sooo nice and meaningful, really slow, one of Mariah's most emotional songs to date! Amazing vocals 'the voice' :wub:

6. All In Your Mind - 8/10 - Love the high notes! Great song :P

7. Alone In Love - 9 /10 - So emotional, love it :D

8. You Need Me - 8/10 - Sexy song with sexy backing, great :)

9. Sent From Up Above - 7/10 - Worst song on the album, it's still a nice track though, way above filler material!

10. Prisoner - 10/10 - possibly the second best song on the album, **** knows why this wasn't a single, the lyrics suit the Butterfly Album :P

11. Love Takes Time - 10/10 - This is also a close for second best song on the album, the lyrics, the way it's sang, all superb :D

Love these reviews..i give all song 11 out of 10..too good..i just need to listen to them now..:)

Bless you!!! Glad you think so. :)

Merci

Beaucoup. ^_^

I see that there are marks given out of 10 in here. That's too difficult for me to do, I'll stick with the comments. :) I'm listening to this album again. (M.R.H. is being suffered intensely here as I am on a Mariah spree :D )

 

Great review John. I won't write my own full review for this album but here's how I'd rate the songs out of ten and some comments.

 

Some marks may seem a bit low but that's because this is a Mariah-only rate and hence I use higher standards. Most Mariah singles would get 10 if I compared them to songs by other artists.

 

1. Vision of love (10/10 - tune. I know lots of people who hate Mariah but can admit this is good)

2. There's got to be a way (4/10 - I have little time for popstars singing about social injustice)

3. I don't wanna cry (8/10 - it's alright but they can't all get 10)

4. Someday (10/10 - one of my all-time Mariah top ten. Best break-up song ever if you don't like to wallow. Then, as discussed, it's 'Without You')

5. Vanishing (9/10 - strong, haunting ballad. Though 'Everything Fades Away' is easily Mariah's most ghostly ballad)

6. All in your mind (10/10 - love the Snow White bits)

7. Alone in love (5/10 - meh)

8. You need me (9/10 - ridiculous song. What's with the Hair Metal intro? Great fun though)

9. Sent from up above (5/10 - meh)

10. Prisoner (9/10 - again, ridiculous song. Rapping, Mariah? Really? Love it - it's hilarious)

11. Love takes time (10/10 - she was really very good at ballads at this time. Then after the massive success of 'My All' she favoured latino-inspired ballads ('After Tonight', 'I Only Wanted') which were not as good)

Someday is a track that should have been released second from this album, it would have proved diversity on the part of Mariah.

 

Vanishing is too bland a track to follow Someday. It's a bit like taking the stairs two at a time (best analogy I can come up with, it's the heat). I doubt if I would have rated this track as high as that based on what preceded this track alone.

 

Meh? :huh: Does this mean that you don't like these tracks or something? :unsure:

 

Oh well, since i've got spare time on my hands today I decided to do a review of my own! :D

 

Vision Of Love - The infamous debut. A definate favourite amongst fans, but for me this song really lacks something, the vocals aren't the usual Mariah-belters, a couple of high notes here or there, but for me, this could have been left as an album track. 7/10

 

There's Got To Be A Way - At the beginning it sounds like a very early 80's track, the vocals are quite good, not Mariah at her best, but good enough. The lyrics don't seem to fit with the song if you get me? I would expect the lyrics to be on a ballad not an upbeat track, anywho, not one of my favourites. 6/10

 

I Don't Wanna Cry - Now I never paid much attention to this track until Tim recommended it to me a long time ago, amazing lyrics, the chorus always seems a bit short to me, I would love it to be longer. It doesn't fit the usual criteria for a Mariah ballad, maybe that highlights it's brilliance i'm not sure. One of my favourites on the album. 8/10

 

Someday - Now this is a track that I can honestly say is one of my favourite Mariah tracks ever, this is the perfect break up song, not a moody one, weeping because he's left you, but a confident belter with amazing lyrics and vocals that is sure to set anyones break up on the right tracks. Perhaps holds my favourite lyric ever in a song with "You were so blind to let me go" because it's not an arrogant statement, but a confident one, which I know I can relate to, when he leaves you for some blonde. Joint favourite track on the album! 10/10

 

Vanishing - Never liked this track, I don't know whether it's because i'm always on a high after Someday and then Vanishing comes on and kinda depresses me again. The vocals are fantastic, but the lyrics and the whole song in general don't interest me. 5/10

 

All In Your Mind - Now back to the good tracks, the start reminds me of a track I like off the film 'The Manequin' absolutely gorgeous silky vocals, very whispery, but with a good strong chorus, I also have fallen in love with the bridge "When you look in my eeeeeeeeeyeeeeeees" leading into another great chorus, a nice strong message about a paranoid boyfriend, which i'm sure we've all witnessed at some point eh? Anywho great song. 9/10

 

Alone In Love - Nothing special really about this track, quite standard lyrics, good vocals in places, a lot of riffing (which anyone that knows me, knows a good bit of warble pleases me greatly) one of the less prolific tracks on the album, but still good for an album track. 7/10

 

You Need Me - This track really, really bares a strong resemblance to a lot of Whitney Houston for me, very similar sounding to So Emotional at the beginning with the guitars, another womens empowerment anthem, quite along with lines of Someday and Prisoner in terms of lyrics. A different side of Mariah with the sound, I quite like it. 8/10

 

Sent From Up Above - The tune at the beginning of this track reminds me of Can't Let Go for some reason, I can kinda hum Can't Let Go over the start, maybe that's just me? It's like a retro, more poppy version of Fly Like A Bird. Very catchy, very casual, it also reminds me of something i've heard of Sister Act, maybe it's the choir I don't know! Fabulous vocal just before the 3 minutes mark, a big belter, amazing track in all. 9/10

 

Prisoner - Another one of those tracks I can say is one of my favourite Mariah songs ever. Like Someday, it's such a girls anthem. The rapping is beyond genious, it really is, that maybe why I love the track so much, it suits her so well, it's not too much rapping either, just a little bit here and a little bit there which makes the song utter perfection for me. Also a fabulous break up song, if he didn't treat you right, this is the song for you! Each chorus has an infectious beat that you can't help singing along to (provided you know the words) but it's a definate mover, absolutely fabulous vocals. I have been listening to the album to refresh my memory and changing the song once I remember what it's like but I cannot switch this song. not one fault I can pick out, a song that is belted out and sang to perfection. Utterly flawless. 10/10

 

Love Takes Time - Hmmm. This song has always been a bit 2 sided to me, somedays I can listen to it and love it and never have it off, and somedays I detest it. It was a big hit for Mariah, standard vocals, standard lyrics, it was successful as I said, but this should have been left as an album track to make way for the fabulous Prisoner in my opinion, nice enough really. 8/10

 

:D

For me, Vision Of Love is one of the best tracks from this album. It could easily be left as a filler in hindsight, but it was one of the first songs I really appreciated back when I was young and I suppose that this has made me in favour of this song. If I had never heard Vision Of Love, my opinion might have been very different.

 

I see that you see my meaning here about Vanishing following Someday.

 

Love these reviews..i give all song 11 out of 10..too good..i just need to listen to them now..:)

11/10? Ok. :lol: There is a link to the video for Vision Of Love if you'd like to do a review of this one track? Might be an idea to close your eyes whilst it's playing so the video does not distract you. :)

 

1. Vision Of Love - 9/10 - First single from the great Mariah, I like it live, but it is just a radio song if you ask me, I usually skip over this track enless it's a live version.

2. There's Got To Be A Way - 9/10 - Love this song! It's inspirational and the high notes and arrangement gets the message across :P.

3. I Don't Wanna Cry - 8/10 - It's alright, not the best, not the worst, Mariah has shown dislike to this song in the past :o

4. Someday - 9/10 - It's good, like the lyrics, but not nearly the best song!

5. Vanishing - 10/10 - BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM! It's sooo nice and meaningful, really slow, one of Mariah's most emotional songs to date! Amazing vocals 'the voice' :wub:

6. All In Your Mind - 8/10 - Love the high notes! Great song :P

7. Alone In Love - 9 /10 - So emotional, love it :D

8. You Need Me - 8/10 - Sexy song with sexy backing, great :)

9. Sent From Up Above - 7/10 - Worst song on the album, it's still a nice track though, way above filler material!

10. Prisoner - 10/10 - possibly the second best song on the album, **** knows why this wasn't a single, the lyrics suit the Butterfly Album :P

11. Love Takes Time - 10/10 - This is also a close for second best song on the album, the lyrics, the way it's sang, all superb :D

Looking at the scores, I am guessing that this album is a favourite Kalen? ^_^

 

More comments from me later.

I see that there are marks given out of 10 in here. That's too difficult for me to do, I'll stick with the comments. :) I'm listening to this album again. (M.R.H. is being suffered intensely here as I am on a Mariah spree :D )

Someday is a track that should have been released second from this album, it would have proved diversity on the part of Mariah.

 

Vanishing is too bland a track to follow Someday. It's a bit like taking the stairs two at a time (best analogy I can come up with, it's the heat). I doubt if I would have rated this track as high as that based on what preceded this track alone.

 

Meh? :huh: Does this mean that you don't like these tracks or something? :unsure:

For me, Vision Of Love is one of the best tracks from this album. It could easily be left as a filler in hindsight, but it was one of the first songs I really appreciated back when I was young and I suppose that this has made me in favour of this song. If I had never heard Vision Of Love, my opinion might have been very different.

 

I see that you see my meaning here about Vanishing following Someday.

11/10? Ok. :lol: There is a link to the video for Vision Of Love if you'd like to do a review of this one track? Might be an idea to close your eyes whilst it's playing so the video does not distract you. :)

Looking at the scores, I am guessing that this album is a favourite Kalen? ^_^

 

More comments from me later.

Kalens favourite album is Rainbow. :P

I meant that it was one of his favourites, not his all time favourite Mariah album. :)

 

Any more conclusions about this album? :)

I meant that it was one of his favourites, not his all time favourite Mariah album. :)

 

Any more conclusions about this album? :)

It's probably my 2nd favourite. :P

Any more conclusions about this album? :)

 

It's around the middle of my Mariah list. I think it's terrific but I think that about almost all of her records.

 

It is also approximately a million times better than 'Emotions' or 'Charmbracelet'.

 

It is one of my fav Mariah albums, in no paticular order my fav 5 Mariah studio albums are probably:

 

Glitter

Music Box

Rainbow

Mariah Carey

Charmbracelet

 

 

 

It changes alot though :P

Edited July 21, 200618 yr by KDavies