Mariah Carey Turns 50

Mariah Carey Turns 50

Mariah Carey turns 50 years old today – or, as she would say, marks the 38th anniversary of her 12th birthday today. Because she is eternally 12.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you probably know that Mariah is a favorite around these parts. She has given us three decades of hits (and shade), and is easily among the most successful musicians ever. She is a vocal beast and the musical genius that most of your faves are pretending to be.

Unfortunately, because she’s a woman – a pretty and glamorous one at that – Mariah has never gotten her just due. A lot of her work has been relegated to fluff status because she doesn’t fit any of the prototypes preferred by the music critic class. Also, a lot of people don’t even know that she writes and produces all of her songs — with covers being the exception.

Fortunately, what Mariah has lacked in critical acclaim is more than made up for in commercial success. She has sold over 200 million albums worldwide — making her the highest-selling female artist ever — and has registered 19 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 — just one No. 1 hit shy of the all-time record. She had a US No. 1 hit every single year of the ’90s and is the only artist in history to have a No. 1 hit in four different decades. She has also written more No. 1 hits than other woman in history. And the list goes on and on and on.

Mariah’s legacy is further cemented by the long list of megastars who cite her as an influence, including Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Ariana Grande.

Mariah’s 30 years in show business have been nothing short of eventful, and when her biopic is eventually made, it is going to be a good one. From a bitter ex-husband sabotaging her career to a crazed ex-manager blackmailing her (and thereby forcing her to reveal her mental health struggles), she has had more than her fair share of drama. However, after each devastating low, she somehow bounces back to a history-making high.

Mariah Carey is a true model of resilience and longevity, and hopefully, she will get the recognition she deserves while she’s still with us.

In celebration of her 50 years of life, below are my five favorite* Mariah songs.

“Underneath the Stars”


“Melt Away”


“Dreamlover”


“Honey” (Bad Boy Remix) [featuring Mase & The LOX]


“Fantasy”



*This changes from day to day.

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