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The problem with every lamb - HFIA charts (111,790) by T from USA

Well said. Even that latest interview produced by Spotify with Kelly Rowland she calls out that younger artists for pretending to not be about getting a hit. Mariah knows they are all in this to be popular and get hits. The lambs use her no hits as defense mechanism and all of a sudden paint her to be some kind of martyr that is only doing this for the art. Let me break it to you, she ain't in Asia right now for the art.
(Friday 10 October 2025; 14:31)


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The problem with every lamb - HFIA charts (111,789) by BFF from United States

Fans care about the charts because Mariah cares about the charts. She has marketed herself as the "biggest selling female recording artist in US history" since the early 2000s. The Forbes magazine article about her partnership with Gamma explicitly stated she and the team were interested in surpassing The Beatles' record for most #1 singles in United States history. She wouldn't launch into festive overdrive every year to notch more weeks at #1 for AIWFCIY if she didn't care about charts.

Mariah has always been willful, ambitious and tenacious; and it is one of the things I have always admired about her. I don't expect a number one record every single time, but I definitely want Mariah to succeed. I love her ambition and the fact that she is a boss lady in a way that Beyonce and Taylor Swift can only dream about.
(Friday 10 October 2025; 14:15)


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In Your Feelings (111,788) by T from USA

This is exactly it. The era needs saving, not the album. If In Your Feelings becomes a hit (which all of a sudden the lambs seem to be against hits) then more people will be exposed to the album and listen to this great body of work. Sometimes I forget how sensitive the lambs are, it's like many of them operate on the eternally twelve frame of mind as well.
(Friday 10 October 2025; 13:49)


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In Your Feelings (111,787) by Bobby A from United States

In Your Feelings sits at #43 on the Mediabase Urban AC chart with 46 plays this week without being officially released as a single.

(Friday 10 October 2025; 11:29)


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In Your Feelings (111,786) by Lara from Middle East

I guess it's not that it needs saving as much we wanted it to reach more people because it's really good. People are sleeping on it.
(Friday 10 October 2025; 11:05)


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In Your Feelings (111,785) by Jamie from UK

Why does it need saving? The album is fantastic, a mature body of work that we have been waiting for, for a long time. Good quality songs that touch the heart. Who exactly does the era need saving from? From what I've read on here most fans are happy and are enjoying the music. Isn't that what it's about? Like many have said to chart top 10 after 35 years is amazing. Nothing needs saving in my eyes. Thank you Mariah for giving us this gem.

(Friday 10 October 2025; 09:36)


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Mariah and Gamma (111,784) by Zachariah from Croatia

I hope so too. I would love a video for Nothing Is Impossible and for I Won't Allow It.
(Friday 10 October 2025; 09:32)


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The problem with every lamb - HFIA charts (111,783) by MhieMhie from Vietnam

The problem is that they are enslaved to Mariah's charting power like anything that she outputs must be a hit, a number 1 or even a top 5.

They forget Mariah the musician and artist and dwell on chart positions. Yes, there is a thrill to it like gambling but afterwards it's just a number. Albeit, the curse was initiated by herself too. An artist who is commercially successful yet maintains art integrity is hard to find.

I would rather have her do 25 quality albums than work for the charts dominated by artists who cared about numbers. If you know you know.
(Friday 10 October 2025; 06:36)

Jesus I Do (111,782) by Bobby A from United States

I predict Jesus I Do will be #1on the Billboard Gospel chart in 3 weeks. Also, I predict MC and The Clark Sisters will perform Jesus I Do at one of her Christmastime Las Vegas shows in December. The song is about to take off this month.

(Thursday 9 October 2025; 23:42)

Mariah and Gamma (111,781) by jaker20 from US

I just hope they release more videos. Even Caution had 3 videos released, and i'm sure Mariah can do more if she really wants to. Tate's You Broke Me First is literally just her walking in front of buildings, I don't think that's a costly video, especially now that Mariah's independent, she hopefully have a bit more options on how things get done and decided.

(Thursday 9 October 2025; 22:55)


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Nothing Is Impossible (111,780) by Randy from USA

The reason MC means more to me than Whitney, Janet and Madonna, my other favorites, is her supernatural ability to pen how I've felt or how I'm feeling. Creepy, right? Whitney was my favorite singer until I heard Outside on Butterfly. The 17 year old lone gay male with 13 aunts and uncles and 27 cousins. Not one of them, to this day, are gay. Or at least out about it. MC's music was something special to me. Songs like Close My Eyes, Can't Take That Away, Petals and Through The Rain all meant a lot to me and as an r&b fan I was tired of romantic love as a subject matter. That's how a black man ended up with Jewel, Sarah Mclachlan, Paula Cole and the Dixie Chicks on my CD shelf. My point is that I get why Mariah refuses to tell us who or what certain songs are about so that we can have our own experiences with them. Lately Languishing and Right to Dream are my go to MC fare as I lost my mom and my 19 year career as a teacher in the past two years. What makes Right to Dream the best Mariah Carey song ever written is not that it's hopeful. Many Mariah songs are hopeful. Right to Dream is a sad song about hope. It's something you can listen to in the moment and not feel like your trauma is being brushed aside with toxic positivity. Life has really scraped your back with razor blades doused in alcohol but you have a right to dream there's more for you than this. I said this in my review and ima say it here. When I first heard the first verse of Nothing Is Impossible, I thought yeah yeah yeah another Hero, Through The Rain, Can't Take That Away and Make It Happen. Then the word gruesome, broken, stolen and the strings yall. The strings. I cried the very first time I heard it. There have been instances in the past week where I've played the song four times in a row. Mariah has been through something. Recently. Notice how low the long note is. How her voice cracks at times when she's going for belts. Today, what inspired this message, I had a moment at my new gig. I stopped, played the song. And felt better. I thank you Mariah. For sharing this song and your gift of music with us all.
(Thursday 9 October 2025; 22:24)

Philippines concert (111,779) by TJ from Norway

Nice to read such good reviews. It's almost like it's the same person behind both articles.

(Thursday 9 October 2025; 18:05)

Thoughts on the marketing theme for HFIA album (111,778) by Stacey from USA

"Certified diamonds like the songs I wrote." Such a great line. Seriously, in this age of music, streaming and all that, to see MC debut a new album after 30+ years in the industry, in the top 10 should be celebrated. One thing I noticed with this new album is the lack of collaborations. Hallelujah. It's just Mariah and the music. The arrangements are gorgeous. Some of the chords send chills up my spine, give me goosebumps. There is such a depth of maturity to this album. Something that was missing with Caution, MIAM. HFIA is a beautiful body of work. Stop nagging, analyzing everything to death and enjoy this gift.

P.S. I didn't say you were nagging. Just making a general comment to everyone.

(Thursday 9 October 2025; 18:02)


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In Your Feelings (111,777) by T from USA

I think IYF is the only shot she could have at saving this era with a song. But it needs a duet, it needs Bruno Mars. It's the only song on the album that is fresh in a way that it doesn't sound exactly like something she's done before but it at the same time it slightly harkens back to her glory 2005 days. The diamonds throughout the album artwork is cool, she's a rich bitch and she knows it.
(Thursday 9 October 2025; 17:20)

Thoughts on the marketing theme for HFIA album (111,776) by MusicfanJ from Germany

I thought all the diamonds should show that she's the ultimate diva and that she likes it. Any other thoughts?
(Thursday 9 October 2025; 10:52)


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Mariah and Gamma (111,775) by Shezz from Pk

I agree. She's happy and producing good music and lets be honest in this streaming age and as a legacy artist, no amount of brilliant songs is going to get her to sell Emancipation numbers.

The only thing is she nor Gamma must be phased by the numbers or chart positions. The fact that she posted the [Billboard] chart update means she's happy and has made peace with it.

We all want the deluxe version of HFIA with the new [SZA] collab and Paul [McCartney] on My Love. If the album dies after the first week, they might not be inclined to release the deluxe version. Maybe they can do just a digital version and not invest in physicals.

I wonder if the live snippets she posted for HFIA and IYF were part of something bigger planned or they were just done for pre release promo.

Surely after 7 years in the making this can't be it for such a beautiful well received album. These sporadic Celebration of Mimi tour dates are just so poorly planned by her team.

(Thursday 9 October 2025; 06:44)


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Thoughts on the marketing theme for HFIA album (111,774) by T from USA

I noticed the CD insert booklet has a theme of diamonds on every page. She's also wearing a giant diamond on the cover and the CD itself showcases her diamond butterfly ring. Was this a purposely chosen theme or is this just a case of not having a strong idea so diamonds are a girls best friend? Butterfly had the theme of butterflies on the album artwork, Rainbow had rainbows. Could she possible mean she's here for it all the diamonds?
(Thursday 9 October 2025; 03:56)

Mariah and Gamma (111,773) by Edward from USA

"Gamma is the right place for her, there's not a lot of pressure to produce, and it's all about her, not a hundred features. She has the best career now, she's just spoiled the fans that she has to be charting because a big part of her career is built on being a hitmaker. But she's doing just fine, and she's happy, and so should we. If Mariah makes more HFIA with middling chart position and be able to do what she wants, I would be happy."

I couldn't have said it better myself. People just need to relax, support her, and enjoy the music. None of her one-off projects since "Caution" have matched the quality of any track on "HFIA", and I'm very happy about that.
(Wednesday 8 October 2025; 23:11)


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Mariah and Gamma (111,772) by jaker20 from US

How do you know Gamma didn't make money from Mariah? Record production is a lot cheaper now than in the 90s, and she's literally their best selling artist right now globally. Unlike these streaming artists, she is actually selling records. Not 90s level but she's selling physicals. And she's touring too. Her bottom line is slightly different than regular artists because she's also a Christmas artist who has yearly career, possibly for the rest of her life if she wants to. Independent and yearly career, its what many artists can only envy. Unlike many artists, she has something to look forward to.

The problem is the charts. Don't look at them. It's skewed perception. It's dominated by streaming which does not bring profits unless they tour. Even the late 2000s and 2010s artists are no longer in the scene because there's no money in streaming even though they are charting. Every song on an album can now chart on the singles chart, and then they still don't break even. What Lizzo's teas on this. Only the tech companies make money from it. What an absolute joke.

Gamma is the right place for her, there's not a lot of pressure to produce, and it's all about her, not a hundred features. She has the best career now, she's just spoiled the fans that she has to be charting because a big part of her career is built on being a hitmaker. But she's doing just fine, and she's happy, and so should we. If Mariah makes more HFIA with middling chart position and be able to do what she wants, I would be happy.

(Wednesday 8 October 2025; 17:57)


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Mariah and Gamma (111,771) by T from USA

This is exactly right. I mean, it was in Gamma's own press release at the start of this album era that said they wanted big success including more #1's from Mariah. Whether they were expecting it for this album or the next who knows. But she did get back on the Hot 100. I'm not sure if that counts as success to them. I wonder if she would've just kept the best of these songs and worked a little more on new ones and went for an Emancipation 3 moment would have that made a difference in the sales? I'm also starting to see people say they have stopped playing this album a lot less already and I'm thinking, wow seven years to make an album and people can't even spin it for more than seven days?
(Wednesday 8 October 2025; 17:48)


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Kate Lanier (screenwriter) on Glitter (111,770) by Billy from Greece

I always get so sad when I revisit the Glitter era from people that worked on it. You see how undermined Mariah and the project was and the general public having no clue and just making her a punching bag at the time. You can see the Kate Lanier speaking on Glitter around the 11th minute of the video.
(Wednesday 8 October 2025; 17:36)

Mariah and Gamma (111,769) by BFF from United States

I think a lot of recording artists make the mistake of believing that producing art alone is enough. The music industry is a business and that means turning some kind of profit is necessary. If you want something to be successful, you have to work hard for it. In the major label system, artists often complain about being exploited and sometimes they are. But the reality is that the record companies invest a lot of money in the artists. So some level of discomfort has to be tolerated in order to ensure a project's success. Mariah worked really hard in the early 1990s producing some stuff that the label wanted and some stuff that she was passionate about. The commercial clout she built allowed her to pivot to passion projects from 1997-2001 with some great (Butterfly) and not-so-great (Glitter) results.

Gamma's leadership can talk endlessly about being "independent" and nurturing artists, but it will not be a successful enterprise if it continues investing money in projects without delivering numbers to support the infrastructure of the company. And I'm sure investors will begin pulling out if Gamma continues with a poor track record.

The "Type Dangerous" video looked expensive to me. Why invest all of that money into the first single, drop the ball with "Sugar Sweet", and release the album right before Mariah pivots to international tour dates for "The Celebration of Mimi" and a Vegas Residency for Christmas?
(Wednesday 8 October 2025; 16:15)


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Dallas Austin (111,768) by T from USA

It's probably Mariah's choice. I can't see their schedules not matching up in 35 years at least once if there was a real desire to do so. I just remembered he wrote and produced Cool for Gwen Stefani in 2004. What a hit. Interesting the movie Mariah's 2nd husband Nick Cannon played in "Drumline" was based off Dallas Austin life story.
(Wednesday 8 October 2025; 15:07)


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Mariah and Gamma (111,767) by Chris from UK

HFIA is a cohesive, emotionally expressive piece of art. To everyone worried about the numbers, and thinking Mariah should be with a major label, I don't think these things matter anymore. The album sold well, Mariah sounds great, in every interview she seems genuinely engaged and has that sparkle back in her eyes.

It's early days, but Gamma appears to be the right label [for] Mariah. I'd take a company that prioritizes my mental wellbeing over profits any day.
(Wednesday 8 October 2025; 14:22)

Article: Mariah Carey debuts in Billboard's top 10 (111,766) by Lambi from USA

I agree with this. It really is pathetic. Mariah is objectively a legacy artist, but she still benefits from the kind of exposure usually reserved for brand new acts. She's on the biggest award shows, getting crazy levels of visibility. She's booked for major festivals, top podcasts, radio shows, and late night appearances, everything.

She put in three solid months of organic promotion. Real, thorough, hard work, the kind you can't fake. That alone deserves better numbers. It makes me wonder if there's any leg to Bobby A's claim.

Let's be honest: Mariah has been flopping since MOAIA. She's had more than enough trial and error to know what doesn't work. I agree that HFIA doesn't have a groundbreaking single, but I think they did a lot of things right with the promo.

Maybe it's time to put my investigatory hat on.
(Wednesday 8 October 2025; 11:42)


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