The incomparable Mariah Carey just dropped her 16th studio album Here For it All and it did not disappoint. Every track just oozes raw soul and authenticity – the only way we know Mariah to be.
I have been a fan of Mariah since virtually the beginning. Her 1995 album Daydream was one of the first albums I bought, and it was a cassette too! I wish I knew where it was now.
Two tracks off Here For it All were already commercially released earlier this year: Type Dangerous and Sugar & Sweet, the collaboration with Kehlani and Shenseea, creating the anticipation for the full album release.
Having listened to the extended album now, some notable favourites right off the bat are the very first song on the album called Mi. I was immediately enamoured by it with its light-hearted and catchy tone. The song is about celebrating self-empowerment and personal joy and is sure to become another one of her many hits.
You can catch the official lyric video here:
Another favourite is the second song on the album ironically called Play This Song featuring R&B singer Anderson .Paak. The song talks about the heartache after a breakup and boasts a sultry, sensual tone with a nostalgic, throwback vibe to it. The corresponding music video shot in black and white amplifies the intimate nature of the song and also highlights the chemistry between the two. Sources online are speculating whether the two are dating or not, but Mariah has remained mum about this thus far. I think they make a cute pairing regardless.
Check out the video here:
Another song I want to highlight is Mariah’s exceptional cover of Sir Paul McCartney‘s 1973 ballad My Love that he had penned for this wife Linda at the time.
Mariah’s version was beautiful as she brought her own warmth and soul to an already great song. Her vocals transformed the song into a subtle, R&B-infused ballad over a slower, stripped-down arrangement.
Have a listen to the song here:
Last, but certainly not least, I want to share how great the title track is. Here for it all is a unique, six-and-a-half minutes of pure soul and balladry, really giving that ’90s Mariah feel infused with the maturity of her modern-day vocals. The song talks about the importance of courage and resilience in the face of adversity and standing with someone through life’s challenges, no matter what.
What makes this track stand out in particular is how it transforms into a gospel-influenced outro at around the 4-minute mark, where Mariah showcases her deep appreciation for her faith, making the entire track feel more like an experience rather than just a song. It is very fitting as the album’s title track and is positioned perfectly as the final song, giving the album the perfect send-off.
Watch the lyric video here:
What I love about this album is that it has just the right amount of tracks on it. I find that when there are too many songs on an album (no matter who the artist is), it becomes harder to listen through them all and truly appreciate each track. There are 11 songs on Here For it All, allowing you to comfortably go through and appreciate every one of them.
I have been a fan of Mariah for years, and I can only hope that in this lifetime, I will get the opportunity to see her perform live in concert one day. It’s definitely something on my bucket list. Let’s hope another tour is in the works.
This album gives me Unplugged era vibes from 1992, where Mariah performed an unforgettable, intimate concert with a live band and studio audience. Many of the tracks on Here For It All would perform very nicely in a similar setting, like the title track, of course, along with Play That Song, My Love, and Confetti & Champagne, to name a few.
Overall, the “lambs” are very happy to see our queen back in her glory. If you have listened to the new album, share your thoughts in the comments. I would love to hear them.
Also, what are your all-time favourite song(s) by Mariah? Share below. I’ve got too many to name!
Sarah Warsi 