Mariah Carey seems to be facing a backlash lately that is similar to what she faced back in 2001 with Glitter. It's hard to zero in on one thing, but here are some factors that are contributing to Mariah's demise.
E=MC2 Commercial Disappointment
Months before the original release date for her upcoming album, Mariah had already been receiving bad buzz. Just before the release of the single “Obsessed,” many have noted that many of Mariah Carey’s previous singles from E=MC2, an album Mariah released in April of 2008, have performed poorly.
After the number one hit “Touch My Body,” the single “Goodbye” peaked at number 19, and the rest of the singles from the album failed to make the top 40. For someone known for scoring hits, this is considered a major disappointment.
Obsessed
“Obsessed,” the first single from Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, received excellent reviews. However, radio programmers and listeners have not been so kind. A month after the single received its first airing, the song has failed to crack the radio airplay charts. The song was held back from an iTunes release until the week ending July 11: This is something that record companies do in order to guarantee a high debut.
“Obsessed” was digitally released on Tuesday morning, July 7, to possibly take commercial advantage of Mariah’s performance at Michael Jackson’s funeral. It climbed to number 4 on the iTunes chart , ensuring a debut at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, the song has since declined in sales and drops to number 20 in only its second week on Billboard.
Making things worse for Mariah are some of her most faithful fans. One, in particular, has set up a site calling for donations from other fans to help the single on the charts.
Mariah Album Delayed
When a superstar delays an album after the first single fails (relatively speaking), the announcement is not met with open arms. A Perez Hilton headline reads, “Trouble!!! Mariah’s New Album Delayed!” Idolator posted an article that states,“Could there also be panic over the cool response that the album’s lead single “Obsessed” has received from radio and retail so far?”
Mariah Carey at Michael Jackson Memorial
Some have suggested that Mariah Carey used Michael Jackson’s memorial to promote the single “Obsessed” since it was released to iTunes the same exact morning. Overall, Mariah has received a lot of negative publicity for her performance of the Jackson 5 hit, “I’ll Be There.” Many have concluded that Mariah Carey has lost her singing ability.
Whitney Houston
Another power-voiced diva who is always compared to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, is scheduled to release a new album in the next couple months as well. As Mariah found out with The Emancipation of Mimi. the media just loves a comeback. Talk over Whitney Houston’s new album I Look to You seems to be taking up space that Mariah usually gets.
Conclusion: Mariah Carey Faces Uphill Battle with New Release
People like to tear down celebrities as fast as they build them up. Mariah Carey is experiencing this for the second time in her career. She broke down the first time after both the movie and album Glitter were commercial bombs.
The possible flop of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel may not be a bad thing according to many long-time fans who say this could force Mariah to re-examine her act and be more resourceful with her talents.
 |
