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Whitney vs MC (114,172) by Lambi from USA
Yeah, Whitney's addiction just has the "ghetto" connotation, while Mariah's is seen as "prescribed". It's kind of like the poor and rich versions of the same thing, but they're both essentially hooked. Dependency is really just a euphemism for addiction.

That said, I do have a little more empathy for Mariah because she deliberately avoided Alison's path. She never intended to be on anything and genuinely wanted more out of life. She was drugged against her will in 2001, and the medication just never stopped. The doses are probably much higher now, especially since taking it intensively in 2017.

Whitney lived with the heartbreak of letting go of her true love and coped via substance abuse. Sadly, she got too deep into it. I genuinely felt so sad watching her be such a hot mess at the VMAs. No one seemed to care either, they literally let her on stage. It was heartbreaking to see someone so gifted and once revered, in that state.

Big stars never seem to have decent health, a good public image, and a happy family all at the same time. There always seems to be a huge tradeoff for the wealth that comes with superstardom. Let's keep Mariah in our prayers as she continues the fight for her sanity and legacy.
(Wednesday 15 July 2026; 00:56)
this is a reply to message 114,162
Daydream 30 (114,171) by Bobby A from United States
The excitement about Daydream 30 had me thinking today, why was MC so disappointed about her Grammys loses in 1996? MC probably felt that Daydream was her best album of her career at that point. She recorded the greatest pop songs of her career at that time with Fantasy, One Sweet Day, and Always Be My Baby. However, the whole album was overlooked by the Grammys. Why? There are reasons why MC's Daydream and India Aire's Acoustic Soul were both overlooked by the Grammys in 1996 and 2002 that should be discussed. Both are unique female singers who sound and compose like no other female artists.
(Wednesday 15 July 2026; 00:14)
I could never forget about Daydream (114,170) by Bobby A from United States
It seems like MC is doing the Daydream and Glitter anniversaries differently this year. I think she is going to drop the digital edition separately two Fridays in September with physical pre-sales for November and December.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 22:38)
this is a reply to message 114,149
Whitney vs MC (114,169) by Lambi from USA
In my opinion, the reason Whitney is held to a higher standard is because her mainstream TV live performances were almost always well done. She consistently delivered on the biggest stages, so that became the expectation people had of her.

Her command on stage also had a sheer confidence that felt completely innate. The only time I really felt that from Mariah was at the 92 Grammys. Probably because of the pressure of being labeled a studio singer, Unplugged came just a month later.

Mariah had formidable live performances too: the 96 Rotterdam Hero and the undubbed 95 MSG VOL were extraordinary, but they were really only exposed to true fans.

Post 97, her TV performances just weren't as effortless, and by the 2000s they were often partly lipped. Certain notes were obvious struggles, the studio magic never really translated as well on TV, with only a few exceptions.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 21:48)
this is a reply to message 114,159
MC / WH addiction (114,168) by nancy from Switzerland
MC's brother Morgan once said she's on bipolar meds mixed with alcohol and could end up like Whitney. Also Eminem mentioned in a song she has an alcoholic mind. It could be that this has been said to ruin her reputation. (??) We all know that she loves her champagne splashes. But I really don't think that she is a heavily drug addict like WH. Maybe she smokes some weed. I hope her kids give her inner peace and strength.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 19:56)
Whitney vs MC (114,167) by T from USA
I've seen other people mention on other fan boards that Mariah may have a substance abuse problem ever since she got hooked on opioids in 2013 during her broken shoulder era. Stella had claimed Mariah was hooked but Mariah's lawyers shut her down. She did go back into treatment in 2016. However in those other fan boards if anyone brings it up they get banned for trolling for about two months. It's totally dictatorship. So it's nice to come onto a board with actual free speech.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 19:04)
this is a reply to message 114,162
"If We" (114,166) by Billy from Greece
So, I'm playing the Glitter soundtrack at the moment and what a lost opportunity was "If We". When I first heard the album, I remember "If We" was such a revelation, such a wow moment. The melody, the way the verses were structured (especially Nate Dogg's), the way Mariah stacked her vocals, and being so current, so new yet leading the pack, if you know what I mean. How can she not not know her for the rest of her life after watching your efforts being usurped by an opportunist? I know I would. Glitter forever.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 18:16)
Whitney vs MC (114,165) by Dave from USA
The main difference was, Mariah herself has acted like it wasn't what it was. Still, to this day, she acts as if it was just lack of sleep. Whitney was honest about her flaws and faced up to them, including the aforementioned ridicule and scorn when she tried a comeback when her voice was in a complete state of decay, yet, still performed live. Mariah doesn't do that. She lives in her own reality. People respect when you are putting you genuine self forward. Mariah has always put out a brand later in her career rather than the actual person who isn't perfect.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 17:03)
this is a reply to message 114,159
Whitney vs MC (114,164) by Bill from the UK
Indeed. I saw some video of her in a supermarket and she was clearly on something. Either high as a kite or severely impacted by some disease that renders her unable to freely move. It's like she has Parkinson's or is in a state of withdrawal or something. Lord knows what is going on with her, but it is so worrying.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 15:22)
this is a reply to message 114,162
Whitney vs MC (114,163) by Bill from the UK
Great post Eddie.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 15:20)
this is a reply to message 114,156
Whitney vs MC (114,162) by Sasha from Nomansland
Who says Mariah isn't a drug addict, an alcoholic, or hooked on medication? We've witnessed several incidents in recent years where her behavior suggested she was likely under the influence, and you can't just blame it all on her bipolar disorder. She was bipolar for years without anyone knowing and it didn't show. Perhaps she's currently managing to hide her addictions and keep them somewhat under control. I don't think her behavior on stage in recent years has been any more acceptable or classy than Whitney Houston's. The difference is that Whitney was openly a junkie, whereas Mariah is just good at keeps it hidden. For now.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 14:55)
this is a reply to message 114,159
Whitney vs MC (114,161) by TheButterflyReturns from United States
Substance use disorder in the context of celebrity often gets glamorized in a way that it wouldn't with non-celebrities. I'm not arguing that it should be stigmatized, but having it glamorized in the context of figures like Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, etc under the guise of an artistic archetype is just as bad.

Whitney and others never got the help they needed for substance use disorder, but people would somehow rather celebrate the "authenticity" than grapple with the sad, warped lives many of these people led.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 14:17)
this is a reply to message 114,159
Whitney vs MC (114,160) by TheButterflyReturns from United States
I don't. Whitney was grounded. This is the same woman who said she made too much money to smoke crack in a taped interview, right? There's a line between "authenticity" and delusion, and I think WH crossed that line in the late 90s and early 00s. Once Robyn Crawford left WH's circle, her life really went downhill in a way that ultimately led to her death and the death of her daughter. I don't understand how someone so self destructive can be remembered with such rose-colored glasses.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 14:04)
this is a reply to message 114,156
Whitney vs MC (114,159) by Zachariah from Croatia
I guess you all are better person then me because I have a problem to have admiration and respect for her remarkable career while she killed it with her drug abuse and bullshitting in Oprah interview how she is saved and found the Lord while Mariah was mocked and ridiculed for years after experiencing a very public mental health crisis.

That contrast has always stood out to me. It made me question why addiction was often met with sympathy and her "connection" with her public, while mental illness became the subject of jokes and criticism.

Being completely honest - I would rather see diva persona anytime than a sweaty "crack is wack" persona.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 10:34)
this is a reply to message 114,156
Whitney vs MC (114,158) by Jamie from UK
Fantastic post Ed. I used to defend Mariah to the hills now I don't. I'm honest about her current ability and quite open that I will not go to her concerts again at this time. Whilst it's sad, I find being honest more helpful to myself. Maybe Mariah needs to start being more honest or at least the people around her.
(Tuesday 14 July 2026; 09:17)
this is a reply to message 114,156
Daydream 30 (114,157) by MusicfanJ from Germany
If this is true, it would be fantastic. My fan heart will be celebrating. I so hope it's true.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 17:16)
this is a reply to message 114,154
Whitney vs MC (114,156) by Edward from USA
Perception matters, my dear, especially when it comes to being taken seriously as an artist. Whitney was always Whitney. At her peak, she was phenomenal, and at her lowest, she never relied on smoke and mirrors to convince people she could still sing the way she once did. Everyone knew her voice had declined, but she still got on stage and sang. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but people respected the honesty.

She also remained grounded. Even during the darkest periods of her life, she came across as authentic and self aware. She could sit down for an interview, have an intelligent conversation, laugh at herself, and connect with people. That authenticity went a long way in shaping how the public perceived her.

In my opinion, Mariah is actually the superior overall vocalist. Her range, agility, musicality, and songwriting place her in a league of her own. But somewhere along the way, as Britney once said, she started believing her own hype, and everything went downhill from there.

The biggest issue isn't even the vocal decline itself. It happens to every great singer eventually. Aretha's voice was basically shot by the time she passed. The difference is how Mariah chose to handle it. She leaned more and more into heavy lipping, to the point where entire concerts often feel more choreographed around playback cues than live singing. There's a huge difference between using backing tracks for a difficult climax or to protect your voice and essentially lipping through 80% of a concert.

Whitney was booed in Australia and criticized elsewhere because people could hear that her voice wasn't what it once was. Some fans even walked out. But she still stood there and sang. She didn't try to convince the audience they were hearing something they weren't. Whether people enjoyed the performance or not, there was an honesty to it that earned respect.

People also forget that Whitney remained remarkably consistent for nearly two decades. Even on "Just Whitney", released in 2002, she still sounded very good considering everything she was dealing with. Mariah's vocal consistency, on the other hand, began to decline much earlier, only about seven years into her career. She could still blow and make great albums like "Glitter", but reproducing that level of singing live became increasingly difficult, and that's what stayed in people's minds.

Then there's the performance aspect. Whitney remained a natural entertainer almost until the end. Mariah, by contrast, has become increasingly limited on stage over the past decade. Whether it's because of physical limitations, high heels, or simply her bipolar condition, she often appears stiff and overly cautious, which only reinforces the perception that everything is carefully controlled.

So yes, I still believe Mariah is the greater overall artist. But I also think she bears the responsibility for the way she's perceived today. It's not just because her voice changed. It's because of the image she cultivated, the reliance on heavy lipping, and the over the top diva persona that eventually ended up lifting her feet from solid ground and devouring her.

Legacy isn't built solely on vocal ability, chart records, or awards. It's also built on credibility, authenticity, and the impression you leave on people. That's why artists like Whitney, Barbra Streisand, and Celine Dion continue to command a certain level of universal respect. Their accomplishments matter, but so does the way they've carried themselves.

Mariah's legacy is extraordinary, and nothing can erase what she's accomplished. But perception matters. It's what people remember when your name comes up in conversation. Sadly, even many of her longtime fans who once proudly wore her name on their heads now prefer to keep it to themselves. I don't think that's because we've stopped loving her. It's because, over the years, she's made it increasingly difficult for us to defend her, people can't seem to separate the legendary artist from the diva persona she's keeps holding on to. She really thinks the diva persona is killing it, and she's actually right about it.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 17:16)
this is a reply to message 114,139
Daydream 30 (114,155) by TheButterflyReturns from United States
"Like the hermit with his puzzle
Like the pitbull with no muzzle
Like Travolta with no hustle
Schwarzeneggеr with no muscle..."
(Monday 13 July 2026; 15:46)
this is a reply to message 114,154
Daydream 30 (114,154) by Zachariah from Croatia
We are getting a double album - Daydream 31 and Someones Ugly Daughter and then later 25th anniversary for Glitter.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 14:41)
this is a reply to message 114,153
Daydream 30 (114,153) by TheButterflyReturns from United States
I think Glitter 25 is also coming this year since the soundtrack album and movie have been removed from streaming services. She confirmed she's working on the Glitter deluxe edition earlier this year.

The timing for Daydream 30 is better this year since she doesn't have a new album coming out and isn't finishing up an anniversary tour (The Celebration of Mimi) like she was last year.

I'm glad she took a break from touring earlier this year to rest. She had a lot going on in 2025.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 13:28)
this is a reply to message 114,142
Jay Z Concert. (114,152) by Dave from USA
I was really hoping Mariah would have been one of the people he brought out and performed Heartbreaker. I was almost sure she would be there somewhere since they have had such a close working relationship in the past and she has always praised Beyonce. It makes me think those reports years ago when she left Roc Nation about them falling out may have some truth to it, which would be a sad thing since they all seemed cool with each other back then.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 12:54)
I could never forget about Daydream (114,151) by TJ from Norway
Five times yes. I hope she reads your message, in case she needs to do some changes.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 11:04)
this is a reply to message 114,149
I could never forget about Daydream (114,150) by TJ from Norway
That makes me sad. Daydream with a new remix album, with updated remixes would be nice (ala what Madonna did this year when she re-released one of her earlier work). I just hope it's not old remixes that you find on all the cd-singles from the 90's.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 10:25)
this is a reply to message 114,140
I could never forget about Daydream (114,149) by Bill from the UK
I hope the album gets a high-res remaster, as it's her only Sony album (not including Unplugged) to have not received that treatment. It should obviously have the Chick album on it with Mariah's vocals, some select remixes, some more unearthed b-sides as I'm sure there's more than what appeared on The Rarities, and to top it all off, the audio of the London leg of the Daydream Tour, for which I was an attendee.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 08:07)
this is a reply to message 114,144
HQ album artwork (114,148) by Bill from the UK
Try fanart.tv or album art exchange. I uploaded all MC's single covers to the latter that I spent hours painstakingly correcting and perfecting in Photoshop.
(Monday 13 July 2026; 07:25)
this is a reply to message 114,127

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