It’s hard to believe it, but Mariah Carey is celebrating yet another milestone for a beloved multiplatinum album. This time, it’s her 2005 classic The Emancipation Of Mimi that’s marking two decades since its release. The singer has been making sure to mark the special occasion with the standard anniversary treatment: a jam-packed 20th anniversary deluxe edition featuring B-sides, unreleased tracks and revamped and remixed versions of songs, including exciting new remixes of “Say Something” by Solange and “Don’t Forget About Us” by Kaytranada.
Including the original album and the tracks added to the 2020 vinyl reissue, which features “Don’t Forget About Us,” “Sprung” and “Secret Love,” this new edition boasts 40 tracks and is sure to be a collectible for any of Mariah’s Lambs. And those willing to shell out some coin can pick up the new album in a commemorative five-LP vinyl release that includes a letter to her fans and photos from the era in the packaging.
Mariah is also feeling very giving this time, as she gives us something extra special with a live, stripped-back performance of some Mimi classics with “Mariah Carey Live: The Mimi Sessions.” The visual offers a rare moment for Mariah lovers, featuring only the elusive chanteuse and musical director Daniel Moore on piano. The acoustic performance reframes many Mimi tracks, which were heavily produced jams, into intimate moments that allow the singer to show off her pipes.
Only five songs from the album make the cut this time around, but they are tracks that many consider fan favorites. Mariah, clad in a black catsuit, opened with a stirring take on “Don’t Forget About Us” that allowed her to warm up her pipes (and eventually hit her signature whistle tone at song’s end). She then sang “Circles,” one of the album’s most straightforward ballads, giving it a brief moment in the spotlight.
With things in full swing, she launched into a rendition of “Say Somethin’.” The song surprisingly sparkled even without the throwback production from The Neptunes and verse from Snoop Dogg (though Mariah did imitate one of Snoop’s many ad-libs on the song, cracking herself up in the process). A short, sweet riff on “Your Girl” then led into what was Mimi’s biggest single (and one of the biggest hits of Mariah's entire career), “We Belong Together.” She gave the song the deference it deserved, performing it longer than any of the other songs and giving it a certain charm like only she can.
Like Mariah Carey herself, The Emancipation Of Mimi remains a timeless classic, and this performance, along with the massive anniversary edition of the set, solidifies why it’s continued to be one of the crown jewels of the singer’s discography. Join MC in marking the set’s platinum anniversary by heading below to listen to The Emancipation Of Mimi (20th Anniversary Edition) and then checking out the songstress stripping things back in “Mariah Carey Live: The Mimi Sessions.”
Mariah Carey The Emancipation Of Mimi (20th Anniversary Edition) [Amazon][Apple Music][TIDAL]
