A more lubricious slow jam than Carey would have countenanced a decade before, it was also witty: “If there’s a camera up in here then I’d best not catch this flick on YouTube.” 26. It is a shame that the E=MC 2 album’s opening track, the Danja-produced, T-Pain-featuring Migrate, was never released as a single, but the record’s big hit was charming nonetheless.

Perhaps understandably, she sings the hell out of it. There is a neat circularity about Carey’s cover of the ballad I Still Believe: it was originally recorded in 1987 by Brenda K Starr, for whom a pre-fame Carey sang backing and who pressed Carey’s demo tape on CBS executive Tommy Mottola, helping to secure her a record deal. The live version of I’ll Be There – a highlight of the MTV performance that became a US No 1 – answered them with considerable aplomb. Lauryn Hill’s guest appearance turned out to be in sampled form, but never mind: the real power is in Carey’s heartfelt vocal.Ĭarey’s appearance on MTV Unplugged was a big deal: she had previously avoided live performances, which led to questions about how well her voice might hold up on stage. Written and recorded in 2011, but – in Carey’s own words – “left in a holding pattern for a special reason”, this eventually came out this summer, by which time its lyrics, not least the line “we’re all in this together”, sounded weirdly appropriate.

Mariah carey old songs list