TBH, it's almost a miracle that she still can sing like this if you put together all the issues she's been through with her voice AND her mental/emotional health which is major factor. Nodules, age, super demanding songs, all the years she's been in the industry and she still super active, anxiety, nerves, the pressure, her mental sate, the lack of sleep, having kids. When she's relaxed (or she has something to prove) she still slay hard (Beacon '14 after Rockefeller scandal being the prime example, she got like a mini vocal peak in December that year). And 2013 is one of her most agile Eras ever, especially in her falsetto. Btw, check the acapella version of "Endless Love" from May '19. She gave us the belts, the resonance, the fluidity, the clearness, the tone. Now that was a vocal moment!.
You are allll the way right. Mariah Carey has been through HELL! God has pulled her out, but I'm sure she still has some hard emotions to deal with because of that.
Factors that contributed to Mariah's vocal decline: 1. nodules 2. insane schedule, especially in the 90s (new album year after year and concert tours) 3. vocally demanding repertoire 4. lack of sleep and rest 5. alcohol
She also has bipolar disorder with incredible highs and lows and which comes with a lot of insomnia. So, even if you wanted to rest the insomnia kicks in. I suspect her bipolar disorder played a role in releasing album after album. I do think music helped save her life cause living with bipolar disorder is super hard.
TAKEAWAY: Has she lost her voice? NO. Has her voice changed after 30 years of excessive singing and performing? Yes. Can she still deliver unmatched vocal moments with proper rest and preparation? ABSOLUTELY.
Things that make mariah seem like a bad singer: 1. Her confidence - her confidence was not as good as 90s and effected her voice 2. Hard songs - all her songs she makes are at least 90% harder to sing than modern songs 3. Preserving voice - she still hits high belted notes like its nothing, but she reduced hittting them cause it will make her voice go bad quicker.
Although her voice has definitely changed, she still sings better than most of the girls on the charts today. She will always be the songbird supreme to me
I also believe she is able to sing better than most singers today. Its just her confidence that doesnt make her notes sound as fluid and dodges notes. shes also old, so she doesnt want to damage her voice more, so shes dodging
It's the loss of fluidity and agility that's jarring for me. Other facets of her voice is still there but what I enjoyed the most about Mariah's voice is the effortless connections between her registers which is very crucial for her heavenly breathy vocals and agility in general. She can't do them no longer but it's understandable with ageing and the nodules. Any who, she is still unmatched in terms of vocal prowess and music success anyway. Queen lives on!
Totally agree! Her loss of agility is the biggest loss for me. Her runs and riffs nowadays are not as fast and precise as they used to be. She's lost one of the factors that used to make her stand out. That's sad.
I just like to point out that people forget that her songs aren't just your average pop star songs, her songs are difficult as it is. The human voice is not designed to be singing her songs day in day out like she was doing in the 90s.
She was partying like every night and not sleeping :/. She deserved to experience that, but it’s like she never stopped. Alcoholism is in her family too
I won't say shocking. I believe that Mariah's decline was gradual. Till 96, the voice was equally good in each year. 97 onwards, the tone matured but inconsistentcy became evident, rasp kicked in, 2000 onwards rasp was out for the most part, and 2005 onwards the voice has declined consistently with small improvements in 2010 and 2019.
Indeed 97 was the start of it and once it started it really was like a bull run. She had a better voice during her TEOM but still not comparable to days before butterfly. listening to her now in interviews, her voice sounds even lower.
1990-1998 was her prime for me. She had additional rasp in Butterfly years, but she had increased agility and still impressive upper belts. Not every prime year is going to be peak 1995
She's not just attacked by her large nodules she's also living in constant fear because of her nodules. She's fully aware of her condition and she knows anytime soon once her nodules reach its climax, it means over for her. That's why as much as possible she wants to preserve it and at the same time doing what's essential for her-singing and writing songs. Yet people want to hear the 90s Mariah. She's been dealing with double standards for decades. Can we just appreciate this woman? The moment she stops singing VOL, I'll Be There, Hero, When You Believe, One Sweet Day, etc. It will be the end for all of us, she's one and only. And you can never find another artist like her -a great singer, songwriter, producer, and director.
@@Ben-qp4yt Same. But it is a positive sign that Mariah can still sing her songs live despite having difficulty accessing her upper range(her technique and range is still there). People who criticize nor call her can't sing anymore don't know how difficult Mariah has been through since day 1. She always makes things easy whenever she sang her songs, especially in her prime. That distinguishes her from her peers, Mariah is a type of artist that needs a lot of rest. I wonder if Mariah didn't push herself too far and Tommy not trying to destroy her nor overwork Mariah. Maybe her nodules are not as bad as today.
Its lack of vocal care, rest, routine, preparation as well as drinking and mental health issues. Mariah is and always will be #1 tho. I'm just tired of the excuses. I'm not saying she has to do anything she doesn't want but it's not helpful to come up with excuses and just be "yes men/women". Just look at Cyndi Lauper... she is older, has been singing longer, has a tremendous range as well, has extremely demanding songs and singing style (rock, blues, pop, theatre etc) and yet she hasnt seen a decline and still sounds just about the same.
@@tgosselin2528 Do you know she just had no proper real rest til 2010 with her miscarriage and her babies ? She released almost one album each year, she was a machine for the label, pushing her vocals to the extremes and when she was drained she had to record Rainbow in 3 months, tours etc. So she didn't proper care for her voice... I agree
@Penny Perry And where is Patti's musical career? What iconic songs does she have which are globally known? When did she go on a world tour? What experiments did she do with her voice? If she didn't even have a quarter the workload of Mariah then there's no reason why she shouldn't maintain her voice.
Her voice may change but her musical intelligence still stays the same! I love how she improvises and changes some demanding parts of her songs while singing and still manages to make them sound artistry
I wouldn’t be surprised if her vocal chords are damaged , she gave us everything she had , with nodules , there are so many legendary videos of her singing her heart out . I’m so thankful we have them .
What most people don’t realize is her voice was already damaged from the start. How do you learn how to sing around nodules? I thought you were supposed to get them removed asap! Did she think she would not be able to hit the whistle register anymore?
@@latashajordan2893 I get that. But she claims that nodules are the reason she can hit those hight notes. That's false anyway. I don't think she was trained properly as far as her whistle notes are concerned.
@@beldin2987 even in tokyo 1996 you can hear her voice lost some of the quality. She always had a fragile voice and too demanding songs. In some aspects her voice was having its peak (1994, ease in belting, better technique -->but the strenght/volume was a bit decreased),... the quality of her voice was going down by day one.
Beldin 2 you’re mixing things up, when the video mentions the staccato she’s been using more often as of late, it’s not referring to the stylistic choice she made when she decided to make her sound more urban, with more r&b and hip hop influence. That was just a sound she prefers and couldn’t adopt earlier (at least more frequently) because she wasn’t allowed to. That change in sound started on the butterfly album, but rainbow was more aggressive. When she sings like she’s rapping (more like a melodical rap), it’s just a conscious decision she made, and, to me, she made it brilliantly in songs like breakdown.
@@souljazz3563 she most definitely can still sing fluid. It just depends on her vocal condition. Im guessing a combination of nerves and trying to get past her nodules, which is why the girlier her tone, the more fluid she is
I think Mariah has become very self conscious about the unreliability of her voice, so her singing is kind of stiff now, that's why phrasing is detached and harsh. But when she's relaxed, man, her fluidity comes back immediately. You see it mostly in candid moments, when she is not nervous
I can only imagine how painful it is for her to sing a song, only to hear a declining note or skill, one after the other. As a vocalist, this is got to be a very vulnerable and a very traumatizing experience. Especially if singing is what you are known for and what you love most!!!...Luckily she has a huge catalogue; record breaking #1s; a legendary status and has made her self a christmas, household brand. 💕 her!!! Respect the queen!!!!
I’ve also noticed Mariah sounds amazing and looks like she’s having fun when she’s preforming in other countries she just seems more relaxed then when she’s in the states
This is an amazing video but may I add something? I honestly think that she isn't pushing herself anymore. And this is a good thing. She was extremely pressured during the 90's. She had to be the best one. During the 2000's she was pressured to make a comeback. And she did all of this. But now she's older and wiser. She's making other choices to keep her current voice intact. As you said, her vocals were so complicated, her runs were CRAZY. she doesn't want to do them anymore cause it's harder for her now. She can do it but she would probably be very fatigued after a show or a single performance. To be honest I love the way she sings now. I don't compare her current voice to her old voice cause that's unfair with her.
This isn't fully related to the video but it's probably worth noting that good vocal technique doesn't always ensure one's vocal longevity, we've seen classically trained singers like Julie Andrews (whose voice was ultimately ruined by a botched surgery) developing nodules after decades of using similar technique, whereas more casual singers like Sheryl Crow accessing high belting and whistle register in her 50s. Frankly speaking, what defines a good vocal technique is a rather controversial discussion itself, since we know that different genres and singing styles require different approaches. If the singer sings with unconventional methods while showing no real signs of vocal damage over time (check out Mike Patton or even just Paul McCartney), as listeners we can't simply claim that they are using an 'unhealthy' technique. Additionally, I think factors like the singer's vocal stylings, lifestyle, working schedule, health condition etc. contribute more to the preservation of their voices in the long run.
She is still incomparable. She’s a human being like the rest of us and like us she has flaws. She’s been performing for 30 years and has gone through changes in that time. It’s amazing that she can still give what she does.
As a Lamb, I really appreciate what Mariah is able to give now rather than not appreciating even the little runs she do or her improvisations. Change is the only constant thing in this world and everything is bound to change. I'd rather celebrate her now than when she's gone, when people will only realize her true contribution to the entire music industry and see her influence to the other great singers.
Yes her voice sounded like it was recovering pretty nicely in 2019 and she adding vibrato back into her songs as well. I hope for Christmas this year we get to hear her perform considering quarantine seems to be doing wonders for her vocal condition.
Well, she has a lower and thicker voice than before so yeah she can access her lows easier but they aren't really "better." She still pushes down quite a bit. And she absolutely did not sound like 1992 in 2019 lol
@@queenofvegas8761 when she sang Emotions, in 2020 and I think also 2019, when she sang the line "I feel good, I feel nice, I've never felt so satisfied", her tone reminded me of Emotions era when she said it because of the way she styled it
I think a major reason behind the changes to her voice when she's performing 'live' is she used to put a lot of pressure on herself before/leading up to the performance (ie. strict vocal rest/care and preparation) and once she got on stage she was more comfortable and undeniably more confident... now its far more like the opposite. She is less focused on vocal care/rest/preparation and as a result, once she gets on stage she is under an immense level of internal pressure and stress leading to an utter lack of confidence and constant fear & worry. To compensate, rather than address the real issues, she came up with these bandaid fixes like those pointed out in this video (ie. shorter, choppy, pushy techniques and placement/positioning which results in an unpleasant tone).
Nah i think after glitter movie failure she might have started using drugs or something and depressed a lot. Her voice deteriorated a little bit in emancipation of mimi album. Also singers voice can be deteriorated by old age.
Yes, you said it. “Pressure” She’s a grown woman and is no longer under control by Tommy or an oppressive label constantly pushing her to use her voice more and more and more. She sounded astounding in the 90s largely to do with the fact she was under constant “pressure” and control. If she wants to kick back and not push herself to that level anymore it’s her decision. We’ve heard how this quarantine has helped her voice too. It’s in a healthier state currently due to the 9 month rest she’s had. Personally, she already gave the world her supernatural talent. She doesn’t need to prove anything vocally anymore, she literally did it all.
I've always struck me that even in her prime she had trouble really sustaining notes more than a few seconds and never had stable vibrato. That doesn't mean shit to her ability or beautiful in her voice tho.
idk, many people are really stupid, or ignorant, I don't know, but, to think that the voice of the mariah should be the same, it is completely idiotic, she has already shown us everything, including that she is one of the greatest artists in the world, she needs to be respected
@@Heroliesinyou yes, she made an enviable career, nobody gets anything like it these days, last year she was dominating everything with a really memorable song
@@yurigabriel2600 It's because Mariah keeps setting herself up to fail. She keeps doing these high-profile televised performances when she must know that her voice is not consistent enough to deliver with such high stakes. You don't see Cèline performing on Dick Clark's productions or anything of that sort, she stays in her lane on Vegas, and as a result the average person doesn't notice or care that Cèline's voice isn't as solid as it was in her youth.
@@briannab4037 but Mariah still does a lot with her voice, we don’t know what her voice does, because she has nodules and can’t control to make her voice healthy on TV shows. but, I understand what you say, and it makes sense
@@briannab4037 That's a good point. And actually, notice how since 2018, she hasn't done many huge televised performances. It was that horrible manager St*lla she had who really did damage to her reputation. Nowadays, she does fewer performances, gets proper rest in between, and she sounds the best she has in a decade.
Well, done for a non-scientific/academic analysis. This is one of the best I've seen of someone analyzing Mimi. Fair and balanced. Keep up this high quality work!
When she was young no body could keep up with her. Now days she aged and it is normal. SHE IS A LIVING LEGEND AND WE ALWAYS LOVE HER EVEN IF SHE CANT SING ANYMORE.
The INSIGHT! The RECEIPTS! The EDITING! The effortless SHADE to the pathetic Haters (0:47 💯 yep, let em' know!) I think utilizing a headier mix would help but then again the exacerbated condition of her voice (nodules) probably makes it much harder (considering her struggle with head voice.) Excellent video once again! 🌟
@@lydob2471 In a classical sense it's at least risky. Her use of glottal attack and stecatto to replace her legato and vibrato imo accelerated the decline. I get that over singing and constant work and lack of rest played a role. But I think her legacy outruns her technique. She gave us ranges and sounds we'll never see again and I say at her own peril.
@@lydob2471 Mariah is one of my faves honestly but when I realized what she did to achieve that it and I got a little more 'musically inclined' I started to lean into technically proficient singers. I would say Whitney is my alltime fav, Beyonce's up there and I think Brandy is severely underrated and satisfies my need for more than belting.
I have been waiting for this video for so long😭 A lot of her vocal abilities are actually there, it's just the huge difference of her vocal tone that makes ppl conclude that she lost her voice. The resonance in her midbelts nowadays is just oustanding, and she has utilized her whistle register more often (even hust for fun).
Her tone is the real gem. She's one of the very few singers whom you can easily identify just from the first two notes like Karen Carpenter, Dionne Warwick, and Billie Holiday.
what makes me sad are her melismas. It agonizes me when she pauses from note to note. with you said in the video, separate notes. seems to have a lot of difficulty.
honestly, she hasnt lost as much her voice as much as people make it seem. She still looks like shes hitting those notes as effortlessly as the 90s, its just age. Shes just preserving it so she doesnt loose her voice therefore ending her singing carrier. common sense
your voice inevitably changes after THIRTY YEARS. nonetheless, mariah still sounds incredible and will always reign supreme. she is a musical genius; her writing and production, vocal layering and structures are superior to anybody else's. her musical skills can never diminish with age but only become even more nuanced (as shown by her recent We Belong Together remix)
Mariah is one of our Vocal Trinity. Shame to those who downgrade her because of the changes in her voice. 😊😊😊😍😍😍😍.. Respect is something those people need.
Oddly, I find her a much more fascinating singer than I would if her voice was still perfect. I think some loss in natural ability has led her to be far more creative in-studio - sure, there are singers who will out sing her on stage, but they can't do what she does in the studio, which is her true instrument (think songs like Camouflage and the Art of Letting Go). It also keeps things interesting because I am always listening for those moments of greatness and never know what I'm going to get. Would it be awesome if she still had her Daydream voice? Yes, but I don't think I would be nearly as fascinated by her as an artist if that were the case. Just some thoughts I had watching this video!
Aside from the anatomy of it all and the drinking, as a singer myself, mental health plays a big part in your voice. We all know Mariah suffered from bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and pressure since 2000s until god knows when, and it has definitely affected not only her voice, but her overall confidence esp in singing live. I can relate to that bec i couldn't sing for almost 2yrs when i was in my depression moment. I just dont have the energy to do what i love. I thought i lost my voice completely. Now im in a better place mentally, my voice starts to come back and can sing again
💯 agree. It’s the staccato thing vs legato that really does me in now. That loss of fluidity and connection is such a shame. It’s got to be the nodules that has caused that. And the lack of vibrato. In any case at least we have the prime years, back then she was sensational. Great video mate 👍
As a Lamb, I'd like to say that I totally agree with this video. Let's go to the topics Vocal range: she lost the ease on upper belts and does them more rarely, same thing on 7th octave whistles Belting: I prefer her mid-belts nowadays, they're more powerful and resonante Agility: she isn't as fluid in her chest voice, but she has her moments in whistles and falsetto (and in chest voice too) Vibrato: in caution era she started using it more, especially on falsetto, whistles, and low belts What caused: for me, it's her nodules, very difficult songs, the drinking and the fact she's a non-stop artist (in the 90's she released 7 albuns and 1 EP went on tour 3 times and performed on tv shows and events constantly, singing it all live). Also, she lost confidence, especially om TV shows, we can see when she's confident, she can sing really good (2020 home performances, for example)
@@butterflyera But for mariah, I think the nodules makes her unsure if it will crack. U can watch the end of her GMA live performance in 2013 I think. She hit a note and her voice cracked prompting her to immediately move the mic away. She could do surgery or learn to perform around it which I believe she chose the latter.
@@songwaikit8718 not trying to argue but i agree that nodules can crack your voice in an unnatural way, but its not the cause of her chopping up the notes
Aretha, Patty, Celine, Mariah, Whitney, their voice changed like older lady. It's shocking really! They even look like an older lady! How come?! 😨. Even Beyonce and Christina Aguilera can't hit the notes they usually hit and their fluidity changed drastically? They changed! They don't sounds like when I first heard them in the 90s. They're all still in their 20s right? I thought celebrities can't age. We don't expect athletes that were born in the 70s to have the exact same strength they have in their 20. But with singers people expect them to have the same voice and strength like 30 years ago?! Espescially Mariah, she has been attacked the most. People expect her to not only sound like when she was just 20 years old, but to also have the same appearance. She's in her 50s for god sake! Let us just appreciate her legendary voice and her music.
@@imthatchickyoulike98 Mariah can still sing too! But of course it's nowhere near their prime. They're older now. It's natural for them to look older and be weaker. Just glad we still have them
Great video! The loss of the legatto is indeed sad. It also seems like she never sings soft and airy nowadays. I can only assume it's all because of the nodules.
She's a singing legend who gave us so many amazing songs and nobody can take that from her. Will always be a fan of her from the bottom of my heart. ♥️
I love how you ended the video - that she is still with us. That despite the hate she is getting from other people, she is still with us. That's why I love her. She is the QUEEN of RESILIENCE.
Mariah Carey said nodules on vocal cords were the cause of her voice decline. Nodules on vocal cords are caused by overusing your voice over a long period of time or misusing your vocal cords over a long period of time. Even so, these nodules allowed Mariah Carey to sing over many octaves. she is still good, she gave everything in 30+years #Reminder for all!
I have nodules and i cant barely speak... It's hard not be able to say words i cant even raise my voice without cracking and always having allergies and sore throat because of mocuse and watch Mariah singing recording and giving Interviews like she does. Makes me appreciated her even more...
I think Mariah is and always will be #1 To be fair, it isn't necessarily a guarantee as singers age, just the most likely outcome. Cyndi Lauper barely lost anything at all as she aged.
And Sir Paul McCartney can still give a 3 hour live show with no signs of vocal fatigue, even hitting his highest note when he was 71 in 2012. I think some singers simply have more durable vocal cords, or they kept a really disciplined lifestyle that helps preserve their vocal quality / stamina. 😅
I've been loving mariah since I'm 10 years which is around 2002, being a malaysian, during that time there's not much access to her performance. I only able to buy her Album/CDs most of the time. To me, as long as she's willing to stay in the industry, and performs for her fans, that shall be more than great. She got nothing else to prove, she is one of the living legend of our era that we should all appreciate. After all, it's all for entertainment, it doesn't always have to be so intense. Always be ready to forgive when she crack her voice or anything, she already gave us too much to love and appreciate. Long live for Queen Mariah.
I say the same thing. It’s like when they here Mariah’s name they say she can’t sing anymore but as soon as somebody mentions Whitney, they show sympathy ( not that I wouldn’t) and say that she was going thru things and make excuses ( although they are true )
@@Number-ek1hf omg that's the word that I wanted to use. Sympathy. Yes, I really don't understand why they have double standards. It seems like they always want her to be perfect while other artists are okay to have downfalls.
I know this is a pretty unpopular opinion, but I prefer her current voice than her 90s-00s one. I love the huskiness and deeper tone she has now. She may have lost range, but I don't mind it really.
@Lizzie Smith Kind of, I'm sure she can still hit the upper range notes but she hasn't and constantly lowers the key of her songs. Her new songs also have less range even in studio.
I've noticed in my own voice that when I attack and force my performance too hard, too often, it wears out and wrecks the shit out of my vocal chords. When I keep it clean, more relaxed and allow the air to do the work, for long enough, and stay away from those major damagers, it eventually straightens the problem out and I sound much stronger/in control of my breath support. Crowds of people and expectations you put up in your mind can greatly affect your performance in terrible ways. Taking care of yourself and getting out of your own mind are essential, and I recognize Mariah as someone with major anxiety problems that can play it off really well- most of the time- because I am that type as well.
it's a miracle that she still can sing like this in her age, she's a fuckin human and singing for almost 30 years or more, her voice has definitely changed compare to her voice way back then but she still sings better than most of the girls on the charts today
Yes. Thank you! Finally somebody recognizes that she is still a real artist, one that sings, writes and produces her music, a true living legend. However you left out on the possible reasons of her "scratchiness" menopause. Women are very hormonal, most of their functions are regulated by hormones (men too but is less dependant on sexual hormones compared to women) the low production of estrogen can lead to dry brittle hair, change in skin texture if it's oily or not, it also takes a toll on the voice, it becomes raspier, chords less elastic and muscle constriction may even be augmented because of lower lubrication, decreased cellular regeneration, makes them feel more tired also and nervousness can be increased because their mood becomes more volatile, not to mention the fact that Menopause is the slap in the face for women to know that they are really already aging so it takes a huge toll on their psyche, self worth, etc it a transition period difficult to comprehend even for them and may be alarming in some cases. Because of her nodules she is also prone to fast weight gain because when they are swollen the fastest way to bring them back down is with the use corticosteroids which in long term dosages can make you gain weight, loose sleep, dry mouth and overall a bad self image. She is very conscious about her body, people has fat shamed her unnecessarily so when on stage when she has gained weight she seems uncomfortable. It's easy to know is because of steroids and the reason is that when she is heavier her voice is clearer, you don't get unintended polyphonic sounds (unlike E=MC2 era, where she was super skinny but anything above C5 had a background whistle, watch her performances at the X factor UK 2009 where she sang I stay in love and Hero. During the bridges you completely hear a high pitched unintended whistle) she has better support and overall agility but because of her body she skips a lot, her face swells weirdly also, that is called "Full Moon face" and is a side effect of steroids and probable first symptoms of Cushing Syndrome which is a very delicate health condition brought up by the excesive use of exogenous steroids, the Adrenal glands know there is enough Cortisol in the body so they stop producing it basically shutting down affecting many chemical reactions in the body and can easily cause death, also this is variable, sometimes less steroids do more damage in a cycle than other days so it's really tricky however is her only option when the nodules really act up. So those to things would complete your video and make it even better.
@@briannab4037 thank you. Is my firm believe that to judge vocals you need to see the entire context. The legato thing has more to do because she is using stripped backtracked it's really complicated to to judge. In the end her best way to see her cibtiduon is IWFC the late show
The most notable change, era wise was after 2013... 2014-2017 her voice was really dark also (divorce/bad team/stella 😡)... 2018 to now her voice sounds better it’s looks and sounds like she’s really trying to care for her voice better now
When your vocal cords are inflamed it is more difficult to hold notes, Mariah prefers to do stacato because they are shorter sounds, they dont need as much air and there is less chance of vocal cracking.
I’ll put a positive spin on it. How damn impressive is it that she was such a great vocalist in her prime that she can’t even sing her old songs the same way? That means her peak vocal performances were THAT complex and otherworldly. It’s not like there’s a plethora of vocalist that can sing her old songs either.
I agree that she is still trying to use her voice in the same ways she always had. With all of her amazing vocal showcases and monumental live performances forever accessible online - there is no need for Mariah to continue to perform those songs, especially since they no longer seem to be comfortable for her. As a life long fan, I would love for Mariah to leave her catalog alone .. long enough for the world to miss it, rather than compare it. Instead, I would just like to see her continue to focus on evolving and being inspired by new ideas. Truth is - selfishly - I want as much art out of Mariah as I can possibly receive while she is with us because that woman is ALWAYS in her PRIME … I don’t need her voice being used up BY HER OWN CATALOG. I need that voice being forever inspired by its own present abilities and nuances. Most of all, I need for Mariah to stay connected to her instrument.
Her vocals have gotten breathy and more whispery in the 2000s. In the 2010s, her voice has gotten huskier, so she's lost a lot of that "youthful, brightful" sounding voice she once had. Having a huskier voice isn't bad, it just means your voice has matured (just hear Barbra Streisend and her recent performances. She sounds a lot huskier than in her prime years). Also, Mariah's a light lyric soprano, so her voice is more susceptible to damage overtime when she oversings.
"Let`s respect and appreciate her when she´s still with us"....Directly to my heart and thoughts. She`s still one of the greatest singers of all times. Haters RESPECT her and Lambs appreciate and support her more.
I had the pleasure of growing up and got to listen to Mariah's career from the start... I still think she is the best I've heard at her peak, and yes I enjoy Whitney (R.I.P.) but I'd give the nod to peak Mariah. But let's be honest, she didn't take care of her voice, yes over time everyone declines but frankly she was blessed with a gift and she didn't take care of it. It's hard for me to see, but it's the truth. Great work on the vid too.
I observed, her voice changes every after concert tours she did. Her voice changed after the Daydream Tour, the Adventures of Mimi Tour, and the 2015 residency shows. Her singing styles also changes in between those tours.
I noticed the change when power ballads became more frequent in number. It used to be in the 90s as I remember them, power ballads were for stage performances and special songs. 1 or 2 tracks on a song. It seems that for a while I want to say in the mid thousands everyone everywhere needed to hear a power ballad and every artist wanted to deliver one. I feel like that’s what she’s trying to do. I love her voice and her style, but I really appreciate her early ballads. It’s a great video, you have studied Mariah and her style greatly.
Even tho her vocal isn't that good as her prime. But her musicallity just gets better every year. Her runs is less fluid and slower. But her musicallity in it is rlly good that sometimes for me her runs today are better than her prime
*CONSTANTLY ACCESSING THE WHISTLE REGISTER HAS (AND CONTINUES TO) DESTROYED MARIAH'S VOICE AND GIVEN HER VOCAL NODULES!* Her doctor told her this back in the early 2000s (Rainbow/Glitter era).
Such a detailed explanation, backed out with clear videos and examples for a legendary vocalist, and one of my favorites female singer/songwriters. 👏👏👏 P.S- Nodules are a real bad bitc*,trust me on that. The strength that she showcases to still get out there and tour constantly inspires me. 👑
*Mariah is naturally between Mezzo and Contralto with a dramatic upper extension due to her vocal morphology* Her signature sound is Soprano and therefor she might as well be called such. Her fragile voice with her using her nodules as an extension, aggressive rangy technique and exhaustion all caught up with her. I noticed specifically her riffs/runs went from a rapid legato to almost a stacatto. She changed her technique to airy vocals (because she often had poor cord closure) and started using glottal attack to achieve cord closure to produce higher notes in the late 90's to mimic her original range but are all just unsustainable. Vibrato and Agility always suffer under glottal attack. As much as I love her and she inspired me to sing, once I got better she became a good example of "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" I love technique based critiques, her technique and choices were questionable.
I read somewhere that the reason why she did so much without resting is that she knew her voice would eventually decline due to noudles she was born with and she wanted to give her best b4 that happens, and I'm glad she did
@@lydob2471 I don't know that I agree with that because her technique became such that it caused damage. Normally the reasons you avoid the techniques I brought up are because that level of cord closure is damaging. Its like having dry cracked feed but you wont use lotion and want to walk around barefoot all day lol. It eventually becomes hard to go back.
Yes, a lot of people still don't realize that Mariah is different coz she uses her nodules for extra range (upper and lower) . One channel once said that whistle reg is purely from vocal cords which isn't true.
@@charfree6888 Yeah I learned that there's multiple methods to achieve "whistle" tones but ultimately, in a classical sense, a true whistle note is a vibratory headvoice/falsetto function. Mariah uses the stationary freeze ur cords and push air thru which is technically a hack and even men can do it. She has said on multiple occasions she's not the 'technically trained' singer people think she is and uses her nodules to create a higher range.
The main problem in her voice in this decade is her inconsistency and also nerves and tired but if she is rested and has a great confident she can deliver a prime-ish vocals.
very well done. i think her changing voice is a mixture of natural aging, constant live performance (overuse), style choices and i suspect less training.
I’m excited to watch. Edit: the only critique is that all those clips you shown of her belting clearly before you dug into your critiques were from before 2018 and for me this was when the rasp (let’s be real it’s just strain) in her mid range (A4-E5) became a consistent issue to a point where there’s more strain than not (although she was starting to regain some clarity at the end of 2019).
@@alexandrefreitas5320 she doesn’t attempt belts that would risk her actually losing her voice (as in when you’re ill and can’t speak) anymore so your comment doesn’t make sense
@@Solo-vh9fm I don't understand what your comment has to do with mine. I said I thought it wasn't strain (but rasp instead) because straining with nodules takes a toll on the voice even if it's just mid belts. Her belts also sound resonant and free most of the time
@@alexandrefreitas5320 the point is most of her belts (above A4) aren’t free or resonant anymore. It’s not just rasp, rasp has a different sound to it. Rasp basically sounds like you have mucus at the back of your throat, strain sounds scratchy. Some of the belts on the song Outside are the best examples of her rasp, while her upper belts on ABMB or OSD (studio version) are strained, if you want to compare
@@alexandrefreitas5320 btw I’m not saying she didn’t have resonant belts at all. The C#5s in Emotions in December and February were certainly resonant.
TBH, it's almost a miracle that she still can sing like this if you put together all the issues she's been through with her voice AND her mental/emotional health which is major factor. Nodules, age, super demanding songs, all the years she's been in the industry and she still super active, anxiety, nerves, the pressure, her mental sate, the lack of sleep, having kids. When she's relaxed (or she has something to prove) she still slay hard (Beacon '14 after Rockefeller scandal being the prime example, she got like a mini vocal peak in December that year). And 2013 is one of her most agile Eras ever, especially in her falsetto. Btw, check the acapella version of "Endless Love" from May '19. She gave us the belts, the resonance, the fluidity, the clearness, the tone. Now that was a vocal moment!.
♥️
You are allll the way right. Mariah Carey has been through HELL!
God has pulled her out, but I'm sure she still has some hard emotions to deal with because of that.
She is getting old and she still sings AMAZING some people are just disrespectful
@@nh2201 crazy and delusional - its obvious when she lips. She cant lipsync well.
@@nh2201 She doesnt fool anyone - you either wrongly assume shes lipsyncing or stupid
Factors that contributed to Mariah's vocal decline:
1. nodules
2. insane schedule, especially in the 90s (new album year after year and concert tours)
3. vocally demanding repertoire
4. lack of sleep and rest
5. alcohol
6. stress
7. trains no more
@Galaxy Records not rlly. Pregnancy is good for the voice as it forces you to rest and take it easy.
@Cohab Records when she was pregnant she was singing like back in the day.
She also has bipolar disorder with incredible highs and lows and which comes with a lot of insomnia. So, even if you wanted to rest the insomnia kicks in. I suspect her bipolar disorder played a role in releasing album after album. I do think music helped save her life cause living with bipolar disorder is super hard.
alcohol??? sir, are you suddenly a medical expert?
TAKEAWAY: Has she lost her voice? NO. Has her voice changed after 30 years of excessive singing and performing? Yes. Can she still deliver unmatched vocal moments with proper rest and preparation? ABSOLUTELY.
Unmatched? No but shenis g9od
Girl she lost her damn voice stop.
@@mrbroadwaydork not gonna lie she has alot of unmatched moments but for Mariah's standard it's not unmatched lol.
@@mirasqaud5791 she obviously did not dahhling.
stop it, she sounds like a cat getting skinned alive.
Things that make mariah seem like a bad singer:
1. Her confidence - her confidence was not as good as 90s and effected her voice
2. Hard songs - all her songs she makes are at least 90% harder to sing than modern songs
3. Preserving voice - she still hits high belted notes like its nothing, but she reduced hittting them cause it will make her voice go bad quicker.
@Lizzie Smith
Don't be so pathetic
@@DETTERIOR not you calling people pathetic when you're a morrisette fan lmao, you're the definition of pathetic
@@pambinobequeno5062 morrisette better enjoy her voice until she gets old
Mariah should’ve listened to her mother on how to preserve her voice. Her mother was like 70 something still singing opera perfectly fine.
@@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736she didn’t have nodules lol. Look how badly Julie Andrews voice got deleted by nodules
Although her voice has definitely changed, she still sings better than most of the girls on the charts today. She will always be the songbird supreme to me
I also believe she is able to sing better than most singers today. Its just her confidence that doesnt make her notes sound as fluid and dodges notes. shes also old, so she doesnt want to damage her voice more, so shes dodging
I hate when people say that, because it’s simply not true. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
@@lizziesmith7444 not ariana grande not beyonce not alicia keys not jasmine cephas jones stop playin now everyone sings better than her now
@@lizziesmith7444 LIZZIEEEE
@@lizziesmith7444 thats not something to be proud of. Lol
It's the loss of fluidity and agility that's jarring for me. Other facets of her voice is still there but what I enjoyed the most about Mariah's voice is the effortless connections between her registers which is very crucial for her heavenly breathy vocals and agility in general. She can't do them no longer but it's understandable with ageing and the nodules. Any who, she is still unmatched in terms of vocal prowess and music success anyway. Queen lives on!
THIS. She can hit the notes but its like she cant sing an entire song with fluidity. Still a legend tho
Totally agree! Her loss of agility is the biggest loss for me. Her runs and riffs nowadays are not as fast and precise as they used to be. She's lost one of the factors that used to make her stand out. That's sad.
She is still WAY MORE AGILE than a bunch of new artists from the 2010s though...
Daniel Tran you’d be surprised by some of the runs and melismas on her audiobook then...
That said, she still has EXCEPTIONAL moments of vocal agility here and there.
I just like to point out that people forget that her songs aren't just your average pop star songs, her songs are difficult as it is. The human voice is not designed to be singing her songs day in day out like she was doing in the 90s.
😂😂😂😂😂
True, she's unmatched
She performs more often now than she did in the 90s
@@maurogentile7669 which should be commended but had she not done so much lip-syncing before the world wouldn’t be shocked at how she sounds now
The sharp contrast between the Daydream and Butterfly eras was shocking.
She was partying like every night and not sleeping :/. She deserved to experience that, but it’s like she never stopped. Alcoholism is in her family too
I won't say shocking. I believe that Mariah's decline was gradual. Till 96, the voice was equally good in each year. 97 onwards, the tone matured but inconsistentcy became evident, rasp kicked in, 2000 onwards rasp was out for the most part, and 2005 onwards the voice has declined consistently with small improvements in 2010 and 2019.
Indeed 97 was the start of it and once it started it really was like a bull run. She had a better voice during her TEOM but still not comparable to days before butterfly. listening to her now in interviews, her voice sounds even lower.
1990-1998 was her prime for me. She had additional rasp in Butterfly years, but she had increased agility and still impressive upper belts. Not every prime year is going to be peak 1995
Have you all listened to her butterfly album? That is one of the best albums of all time her voice was amazing on it
Mariah's voice has become a little bit lower than it used to, but noticeably becomes heavier and often powerful than her light soaring 90's vocals.
her mid-belts are so good now
It’s not her voice itself that is lower ( her tone is actually girlier now ) but it’s her tessitura that lowered
One problem was overworking. Especially during the end of the 90s and Charmbracelet-E=MC2
Mariah was also excessively touring in the 2010s even more tiredness than TAOM
She's not just attacked by her large nodules she's also living in constant fear because of her nodules. She's fully aware of her condition and she knows anytime soon once her nodules reach its climax, it means over for her. That's why as much as possible she wants to preserve it and at the same time doing what's essential for her-singing and writing songs. Yet people want to hear the 90s Mariah. She's been dealing with double standards for decades. Can we just appreciate this woman? The moment she stops singing VOL, I'll Be There, Hero, When You Believe, One Sweet Day, etc. It will be the end for all of us, she's one and only. And you can never find another artist like her -a great singer, songwriter, producer, and director.
one day i hope she gets the surgery.
@@Ben-qp4yt Same. But it is a positive sign that Mariah can still sing her songs live despite having difficulty accessing her upper range(her technique and range is still there). People who criticize nor call her can't sing anymore don't know how difficult Mariah has been through since day 1. She always makes things easy whenever she sang her songs, especially in her prime. That distinguishes her from her peers, Mariah is a type of artist that needs a lot of rest. I wonder if Mariah didn't push herself too far and Tommy not trying to destroy her nor overwork Mariah. Maybe her nodules are not as bad as today.
Mariah has become one of my favorites in recent months😍🥰
Welcome fellow lamb 😍😘😊
I officially became a lamb in 2019😭
5 albums down now more 11 to go!🌟🎶
It's aging, singing extremely and edgy vocal demanding songs + nodules.
Its lack of vocal care, rest, routine, preparation as well as drinking and mental health issues. Mariah is and always will be #1 tho. I'm just tired of the excuses. I'm not saying she has to do anything she doesn't want but it's not helpful to come up with excuses and just be "yes men/women".
Just look at Cyndi Lauper... she is older, has been singing longer, has a tremendous range as well, has extremely demanding songs and singing style (rock, blues, pop, theatre etc) and yet she hasnt seen a decline and still sounds just about the same.
@@tgosselin2528 you think that cyndi can sing like mariah or mariah's songs?lol😂😂😂
@@ismaelm.mbaangue9147 😭😭🤣
@@tgosselin2528 Do you know she just had no proper real rest til 2010 with her miscarriage and her babies ? She released almost one album each year, she was a machine for the label, pushing her vocals to the extremes and when she was drained she had to record Rainbow in 3 months, tours etc. So she didn't proper care for her voice... I agree
@Penny Perry And where is Patti's musical career? What iconic songs does she have which are globally known? When did she go on a world tour? What experiments did she do with her voice? If she didn't even have a quarter the workload of Mariah then there's no reason why she shouldn't maintain her voice.
Her voice may change but her musical intelligence still stays the same! I love how she improvises and changes some demanding parts of her songs while singing and still manages to make them sound artistry
Mariah and intelligence, don't go together
@@thomasjust2663now don’t lie
@@thomasjust2663 yes because she writes majority of her songs without assistance 🙄 when will you haters STOP
I wouldn’t be surprised if her vocal chords are damaged , she gave us everything she had , with nodules , there are so many legendary videos of her singing her heart out . I’m so thankful we have them .
What most people don’t realize is her voice was already damaged from the start. How do you learn how to sing around nodules? I thought you were supposed to get them removed asap! Did she think she would not be able to hit the whistle register anymore?
Exactly!💯💯💯💯 she still sounds good to me
@@girlbrittneygirl She had got them Removed 10 years ago
@@latashajordan2893 I get that. But she claims that nodules are the reason she can hit those hight notes. That's false anyway. I don't think she was trained properly as far as her whistle notes are concerned.
@@girlbrittneygirl Yeah, it could be a Possibility that she wasn't Trained Properly with her Voice.
I seen her live last year and no one can convince me she can’t sing
Saw her back in 2018 and I agree. She was insane.
I totally agree! saw her in concert at the manchester areana she was totally amazing her voice wow
No videos do her voice proper justice tbh! She sounds SOOO f*cking powerful live in concert!
lol she sucks now stop lying 😂😂😂
Have you seen the live performance of all I want for Christmas, it was absolutely awful, she definitely can't sing like she used to
She’s still great, I just wish she’d focus on making her singing a bit more fluid.
Sometimes I find her constant use of staccato a bit redundant.
She can't sing fluently anymore. Her voice lost agility and a 'youthful tone'
@@beldin2987 even in tokyo 1996 you can hear her voice lost some of the quality. She always had a fragile voice and too demanding songs. In some aspects her voice was having its peak (1994, ease in belting, better technique -->but the strenght/volume was a bit decreased),... the quality of her voice was going down by day one.
@@beldin2987 wottt ? She only used staccato extensively like 2013 and up lol
Beldin 2 you’re mixing things up, when the video mentions the staccato she’s been using more often as of late, it’s not referring to the stylistic choice she made when she decided to make her sound more urban, with more r&b and hip hop influence. That was just a sound she prefers and couldn’t adopt earlier (at least more frequently) because she wasn’t allowed to. That change in sound started on the butterfly album, but rainbow was more aggressive. When she sings like she’s rapping (more like a melodical rap), it’s just a conscious decision she made, and, to me, she made it brilliantly in songs like breakdown.
@@souljazz3563 she most definitely can still sing fluid. It just depends on her vocal condition. Im guessing a combination of nerves and trying to get past her nodules, which is why the girlier her tone, the more fluid she is
I think Mariah has become very self conscious about the unreliability of her voice, so her singing is kind of stiff now, that's why phrasing is detached and harsh. But when she's relaxed, man, her fluidity comes back immediately. You see it mostly in candid moments, when she is not nervous
I felt that too when I saw her in Toronto in 2022
I can only imagine how painful it is for her to sing a song, only to hear a declining note or skill, one after the other. As a vocalist, this is got to be a very vulnerable and a very traumatizing experience. Especially if singing is what you are known for and what you love most!!!...Luckily she has a huge catalogue; record breaking #1s; a legendary status and has made her self a christmas, household brand. 💕 her!!! Respect the queen!!!!
I’ve also noticed Mariah sounds amazing and looks like she’s having fun when she’s preforming in other countries she just seems more relaxed then when she’s in the states
The states have a dark energy.
This is an amazing video but may I add something? I honestly think that she isn't pushing herself anymore. And this is a good thing. She was extremely pressured during the 90's. She had to be the best one. During the 2000's she was pressured to make a comeback. And she did all of this. But now she's older and wiser. She's making other choices to keep her current voice intact. As you said, her vocals were so complicated, her runs were CRAZY. she doesn't want to do them anymore cause it's harder for her now. She can do it but she would probably be very fatigued after a show or a single performance. To be honest I love the way she sings now. I don't compare her current voice to her old voice cause that's unfair with her.
This isn't fully related to the video but it's probably worth noting that good vocal technique doesn't always ensure one's vocal longevity, we've seen classically trained singers like Julie Andrews (whose voice was ultimately ruined by a botched surgery) developing nodules after decades of using similar technique, whereas more casual singers like Sheryl Crow accessing high belting and whistle register in her 50s. Frankly speaking, what defines a good vocal technique is a rather controversial discussion itself, since we know that different genres and singing styles require different approaches. If the singer sings with unconventional methods while showing no real signs of vocal damage over time (check out Mike Patton or even just Paul McCartney), as listeners we can't simply claim that they are using an 'unhealthy' technique. Additionally, I think factors like the singer's vocal stylings, lifestyle, working schedule, health condition etc. contribute more to the preservation of their voices in the long run.
Agree. Also, genetics. Some people just can't prevent vocal deterioration as they age when if they take care of their voices well.
Excellent point! 👍
Exactly! Everybody’s organism is different. Some people smoke their whole life and they’re fine
I think some people’s voices can just take more of beating than others.
Shepherd's Chapel Network !!!!!!! Pastor Murray is an Anointed Servant of GOD who teaches the Word of GOD with Authority!!!!!!!
She is still incomparable. She’s a human being like the rest of us and like us she has flaws. She’s been performing for 30 years and has gone through changes in that time. It’s amazing that she can still give what she does.
As a Lamb, I really appreciate what Mariah is able to give now rather than not appreciating even the little runs she do or her improvisations. Change is the only constant thing in this world and everything is bound to change. I'd rather celebrate her now than when she's gone, when people will only realize her true contribution to the entire music industry and see her influence to the other great singers.
Viral Videos Amen!
Hot take: her low notes are better than her prime. In 2019, a lot of times when she sang Emotions, her vocal tone literally transported back to 1992.
Yes her voice sounded like it was recovering pretty nicely in 2019 and she adding vibrato back into her songs as well. I hope for Christmas this year we get to hear her perform considering quarantine seems to be doing wonders for her vocal condition.
@@ekl7804 well
Well, she has a lower and thicker voice than before so yeah she can access her lows easier but they aren't really "better." She still pushes down quite a bit. And she absolutely did not sound like 1992 in 2019 lol
@@queenofvegas8761 when she sang Emotions, in 2020 and I think also 2019, when she sang the line "I feel good, I feel nice, I've never felt so satisfied", her tone reminded me of Emotions era when she said it because of the way she styled it
I think a major reason behind the changes to her voice when she's performing 'live' is she used to put a lot of pressure on herself before/leading up to the performance (ie. strict vocal rest/care and preparation) and once she got on stage she was more comfortable and undeniably more confident... now its far more like the opposite. She is less focused on vocal care/rest/preparation and as a result, once she gets on stage she is under an immense level of internal pressure and stress leading to an utter lack of confidence and constant fear & worry. To compensate, rather than address the real issues, she came up with these bandaid fixes like those pointed out in this video (ie. shorter, choppy, pushy techniques and placement/positioning which results in an unpleasant tone).
Nah i think after glitter movie failure she might have started using drugs or something and depressed a lot. Her voice deteriorated a little bit in emancipation of mimi album. Also singers voice can be deteriorated by old age.
@@amornoro2076 drugs?? Constant drinking, yes but drugs??🤨
@@jordan-lv1uk alcohol is a drug
Yes, you said it. “Pressure” She’s a grown woman and is no longer under control by Tommy or an oppressive label constantly pushing her to use her voice more and more and more. She sounded astounding in the 90s largely to do with the fact she was under constant “pressure” and control. If she wants to kick back and not push herself to that level anymore it’s her decision. We’ve heard how this quarantine has helped her voice too. It’s in a healthier state currently due to the 9 month rest she’s had. Personally, she already gave the world her supernatural talent. She doesn’t need to prove anything vocally anymore, she literally did it all.
@@amornoro2076 She revived her voice after Glitter actually...and deteriorated again by TAOM
I've always struck me that even in her prime she had trouble really sustaining notes more than a few seconds and never had stable vibrato. That doesn't mean shit to her ability or beautiful in her voice tho.
I thinks it's really because of her nodules she's struggling sustaining high notes for a few seconds
idk, many people are really stupid, or ignorant, I don't know, but, to think that the voice of the mariah should be the same, it is completely idiotic, she has already shown us everything, including that she is one of the greatest artists in the world, she needs to be respected
I agree with you. She's proven herself too much already. I don't see these pressure on other artists.
@@Heroliesinyou yes, she made an enviable career, nobody gets anything like it these days, last year she was dominating everything with a really memorable song
@@yurigabriel2600 It's because Mariah keeps setting herself up to fail. She keeps doing these high-profile televised performances when she must know that her voice is not consistent enough to deliver with such high stakes. You don't see Cèline performing on Dick Clark's productions or anything of that sort, she stays in her lane on Vegas, and as a result the average person doesn't notice or care that Cèline's voice isn't as solid as it was in her youth.
@@briannab4037 but Mariah still does a lot with her voice, we don’t know what her voice does, because she has nodules and can’t control to make her voice healthy on TV shows. but, I understand what you say, and it makes sense
@@briannab4037 That's a good point. And actually, notice how since 2018, she hasn't done many huge televised performances. It was that horrible manager St*lla she had who really did damage to her reputation. Nowadays, she does fewer performances, gets proper rest in between, and she sounds the best she has in a decade.
Well, done for a non-scientific/academic analysis. This is one of the best I've seen of someone analyzing Mimi. Fair and balanced. Keep up this high quality work!
When she was young no body could keep up with her. Now days she aged and it is normal. SHE IS A LIVING LEGEND AND WE ALWAYS LOVE HER EVEN IF SHE CANT SING ANYMORE.
The INSIGHT! The RECEIPTS! The EDITING! The effortless SHADE to the pathetic Haters (0:47 💯 yep, let em' know!)
I think utilizing a headier mix would help but then again the exacerbated condition of her voice (nodules) probably makes it much harder (considering her struggle with head voice.)
Excellent video once again! 🌟
Thank you! I love you!
@@aintnootherfan hi, some ppl r saying that her voice damaged bcoz of bad technique, is that true bcoz I think her technique was great
@@lydob2471 In a classical sense it's at least risky. Her use of glottal attack and stecatto to replace her legato and vibrato imo accelerated the decline. I get that over singing and constant work and lack of rest played a role. But I think her legacy outruns her technique. She gave us ranges and sounds we'll never see again and I say at her own peril.
@@Sloppyjoey1 😘😘 thanks, who r u other fav vocalist
@@lydob2471 Mariah is one of my faves honestly but when I realized what she did to achieve that it and I got a little more 'musically inclined' I started to lean into technically proficient singers. I would say Whitney is my alltime fav, Beyonce's up there and I think Brandy is severely underrated and satisfies my need for more than belting.
I have been waiting for this video for so long😭 A lot of her vocal abilities are actually there, it's just the huge difference of her vocal tone that makes ppl conclude that she lost her voice. The resonance in her midbelts nowadays is just oustanding, and she has utilized her whistle register more often (even hust for fun).
Her tone is the real gem. She's one of the very few singers whom you can easily identify just from the first two notes like Karen Carpenter, Dionne Warwick, and Billie Holiday.
what makes me sad are her melismas.
It agonizes me when she pauses from note to note. with you said in the video, separate notes.
seems to have a lot of difficulty.
especially when we all know how insanley agile she was 😩
Me too, her legato (the opposite of staccato) was so amazing.
Thats exactly what makes me sad as well. She was basically the queen of melisma when she came out.
honestly, she hasnt lost as much her voice as much as people make it seem. She still looks like shes hitting those notes as effortlessly as the 90s, its just age. Shes just preserving it so she doesnt loose her voice therefore ending her singing carrier. common sense
your voice inevitably changes after THIRTY YEARS. nonetheless, mariah still sounds incredible and will always reign supreme. she is a musical genius; her writing and production, vocal layering and structures are superior to anybody else's. her musical skills can never diminish with age but only become even more nuanced (as shown by her recent We Belong Together remix)
Mariah is one of our Vocal Trinity. Shame to those who downgrade her because of the changes in her voice. 😊😊😊😍😍😍😍.. Respect is something those people need.
Oddly, I find her a much more fascinating singer than I would if her voice was still perfect. I think some loss in natural ability has led her to be far more creative in-studio - sure, there are singers who will out sing her on stage, but they can't do what she does in the studio, which is her true instrument (think songs like Camouflage and the Art of Letting Go). It also keeps things interesting because I am always listening for those moments of greatness and never know what I'm going to get. Would it be awesome if she still had her Daydream voice? Yes, but I don't think I would be nearly as fascinated by her as an artist if that were the case. Just some thoughts I had watching this video!
I fully agree with you. There is more interpreation in the 2010s
Aside from the anatomy of it all and the drinking, as a singer myself, mental health plays a big part in your voice. We all know Mariah suffered from bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and pressure since 2000s until god knows when, and it has definitely affected not only her voice, but her overall confidence esp in singing live. I can relate to that bec i couldn't sing for almost 2yrs when i was in my depression moment. I just dont have the energy to do what i love. I thought i lost my voice completely. Now im in a better place mentally, my voice starts to come back and can sing again
I miss her agility and vibrato!! Excellent video always
Love X-tina to death. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻Mariah too.
Aguilera Vocals if you listen to her audiobook you’ll see that her agility has gone nowhere
It's a miracle that she still can sing with her 5 octave range after 30 years with nodules.
💯 agree. It’s the staccato thing vs legato that really does me in now. That loss of fluidity and connection is such a shame. It’s got to be the nodules that has caused that. And the lack of vibrato. In any case at least we have the prime years, back then she was sensational. Great video mate 👍
As a Lamb, I'd like to say that I totally agree with this video. Let's go to the topics
Vocal range: she lost the ease on upper belts and does them more rarely, same thing on 7th octave whistles
Belting: I prefer her mid-belts nowadays, they're more powerful and resonante
Agility: she isn't as fluid in her chest voice, but she has her moments in whistles and falsetto (and in chest voice too)
Vibrato: in caution era she started using it more, especially on falsetto, whistles, and low belts
What caused: for me, it's her nodules, very difficult songs, the drinking and the fact she's a non-stop artist (in the 90's she released 7 albuns and 1 EP went on tour 3 times and performed on tv shows and events constantly, singing it all live). Also, she lost confidence, especially om TV shows, we can see when she's confident, she can sing really good (2020 home performances, for example)
In a nutshell its a combination of nodules, ageing, impossibly difficult songs and public pressure.
It’s mostly because she’s 50 now. She always had nodules
The staccato hits me also really hard...I have constantly that feeling that she's choking.
It’s confidence. When I am afraid to sing high notes in front of overs. I notice that I would also chop it up like how Mariah does it now
@@butterflyera But for mariah, I think the nodules makes her unsure if it will crack. U can watch the end of her GMA live performance in 2013 I think. She hit a note and her voice cracked prompting her to immediately move the mic away. She could do surgery or learn to perform around it which I believe she chose the latter.
@@songwaikit8718 not trying to argue but i agree that nodules can crack your voice in an unnatural way, but its not the cause of her chopping up the notes
@@butterflyera what do you think is the reason?
@@songwaikit8718 her confidence.
Aretha, Patty, Celine, Mariah, Whitney, their voice changed like older lady. It's shocking really! They even look like an older lady! How come?! 😨.
Even Beyonce and Christina Aguilera can't hit the notes they usually hit and their fluidity changed drastically? They changed! They don't sounds like when I first heard them in the 90s.
They're all still in their 20s right? I thought celebrities can't age.
We don't expect athletes that were born in the 70s to have the exact same strength they have in their 20. But with singers people expect them to have the same voice and strength like 30 years ago?! Espescially Mariah, she has been attacked the most. People expect her to not only sound like when she was just 20 years old, but to also have the same appearance. She's in her 50s for god sake! Let us just appreciate her legendary voice and her music.
Atleast Céline can still sing and still have her upper belts. Can still sing up to C6
But ya know, I like their low notes both
@@imthatchickyoulike98 Mariah can still sing too! But of course it's nowhere near their prime. They're older now. It's natural for them to look older and be weaker. Just glad we still have them
Don't touch celine, ew. She actually bothered to keep her voice intact and succeeded. She can outsing her 90s self
I agree with this. Patti labelles voice became extremely raspy when she turned 50 but it went away. I think the age makes their voices inconsistent
Great video! The loss of the legatto is indeed sad. It also seems like she never sings soft and airy nowadays. I can only assume it's all because of the nodules.
She's a singing legend who gave us so many amazing songs and nobody can take that from her. Will always be a fan of her from the bottom of my heart. ♥️
I love how you ended the video - that she is still with us. That despite the hate she is getting from other people, she is still with us. That's why I love her. She is the QUEEN of RESILIENCE.
Mariah Carey said nodules on vocal cords were the cause of her voice decline. Nodules on vocal cords are caused by overusing your voice over a long period of time or misusing your vocal cords over a long period of time. Even so, these nodules allowed Mariah Carey to sing over many octaves.
she is still good, she gave everything in 30+years
#Reminder for all!
She Still Sings Great
I have nodules and i cant barely speak... It's hard not be able to say words i cant even raise my voice without cracking and always having allergies and sore throat because of mocuse and watch Mariah singing recording and giving Interviews like she does. Makes me appreciated her even more...
I think Mariah is and always will be #1
To be fair, it isn't necessarily a guarantee as singers age, just the most likely outcome. Cyndi Lauper barely lost anything at all as she aged.
@Lizzie Smith ok but who said that there needed to be a fight? Just appreciate both.
And Sir Paul McCartney can still give a 3 hour live show with no signs of vocal fatigue, even hitting his highest note when he was 71 in 2012. I think some singers simply have more durable vocal cords, or they kept a really disciplined lifestyle that helps preserve their vocal quality / stamina. 😅
@Lizzie Smith absolutely not, Mariah has better lows, Cyndi is a better belter and has a better head voice. Don't understimate Cyndi.
@@narutohyuga1845 it’s a comment not a fight😭🤣
@@IamCatharinemme i know, but I wanted to make it clear that pulling other singers into this is pointless
Well done she’s still a legend
People just don't understand how hard nodules are ! Sometimes you have it sometimes you don't
I Agree💯
I've been loving mariah since I'm 10 years which is around 2002, being a malaysian, during that time there's not much access to her performance. I only able to buy her Album/CDs most of the time.
To me, as long as she's willing to stay in the industry, and performs for her fans, that shall be more than great. She got nothing else to prove, she is one of the living legend of our era that we should all appreciate. After all, it's all for entertainment, it doesn't always have to be so intense. Always be ready to forgive when she crack her voice or anything, she already gave us too much to love and appreciate.
Long live for Queen Mariah.
Your disclaimer about haters is so boss!
Great video! I'm just wondering why when it comes to Mimi, the world seems to be so critical whereas other artists receive understanding.
I say the same thing. It’s like when they here Mariah’s name they say she can’t sing anymore but as soon as somebody mentions Whitney, they show sympathy ( not that I wouldn’t) and say that she was going thru things and make excuses ( although they are true )
@@Number-ek1hf omg that's the word that I wanted to use. Sympathy. Yes, I really don't understand why they have double standards. It seems like they always want her to be perfect while other artists are okay to have downfalls.
I guess because she's so gifted, and people expect more from her....
You can't ask the same to other singers that are not gifted like her...
@@Number-ek1hf maybe because Whitney died, if Mariah wouldn't be alive they would act the same
Because her fans dissing other singers trying to prove Mariah still has it
Excellent analysis! Mariah Carey is one of my favorite artists (along with Christina Aguilera)! 😁😉👍🔥💥
I know this is a pretty unpopular opinion, but I prefer her current voice than her 90s-00s one. I love the huskiness and deeper tone she has now.
She may have lost range, but I don't mind it really.
😂😂 yes very unpopular
@Lizzie Smith Kind of, I'm sure she can still hit the upper range notes but she hasn't and constantly lowers the key of her songs. Her new songs also have less range even in studio.
@@vocalsbycyrus
her range is now sometimes is bigger than that of her prime, it’s only the belts who lost their ease
@@aricarey1474 Its deff not bigger then her prime lmao
My favorite time for her voice for me is probably Rainbow era.
I've noticed in my own voice that when I attack and force my performance too hard, too often, it wears out and wrecks the shit out of my vocal chords. When I keep it clean, more relaxed and allow the air to do the work, for long enough, and stay away from those major damagers, it eventually straightens the problem out and I sound much stronger/in control of my breath support. Crowds of people and expectations you put up in your mind can greatly affect your performance in terrible ways. Taking care of yourself and getting out of your own mind are essential, and I recognize Mariah as someone with major anxiety problems that can play it off really well- most of the time- because I am that type as well.
thank you for this
it's a miracle that she still can sing like this in her age, she's a fuckin human and singing for almost 30 years or more, her voice has definitely changed compare to her voice way back then but she still sings better than most of the girls on the charts today
Yes. Thank you! Finally somebody recognizes that she is still a real artist, one that sings, writes and produces her music, a true living legend. However you left out on the possible reasons of her "scratchiness" menopause. Women are very hormonal, most of their functions are regulated by hormones (men too but is less dependant on sexual hormones compared to women) the low production of estrogen can lead to dry brittle hair, change in skin texture if it's oily or not, it also takes a toll on the voice, it becomes raspier, chords less elastic and muscle constriction may even be augmented because of lower lubrication, decreased cellular regeneration, makes them feel more tired also and nervousness can be increased because their mood becomes more volatile, not to mention the fact that Menopause is the slap in the face for women to know that they are really already aging so it takes a huge toll on their psyche, self worth, etc it a transition period difficult to comprehend even for them and may be alarming in some cases. Because of her nodules she is also prone to fast weight gain because when they are swollen the fastest way to bring them back down is with the use corticosteroids which in long term dosages can make you gain weight, loose sleep, dry mouth and overall a bad self image. She is very conscious about her body, people has fat shamed her unnecessarily so when on stage when she has gained weight she seems uncomfortable. It's easy to know is because of steroids and the reason is that when she is heavier her voice is clearer, you don't get unintended polyphonic sounds (unlike E=MC2 era, where she was super skinny but anything above C5 had a background whistle, watch her performances at the X factor UK 2009 where she sang I stay in love and Hero. During the bridges you completely hear a high pitched unintended whistle) she has better support and overall agility but because of her body she skips a lot, her face swells weirdly also, that is called "Full Moon face" and is a side effect of steroids and probable first symptoms of Cushing Syndrome which is a very delicate health condition brought up by the excesive use of exogenous steroids, the Adrenal glands know there is enough Cortisol in the body so they stop producing it basically shutting down affecting many chemical reactions in the body and can easily cause death, also this is variable, sometimes less steroids do more damage in a cycle than other days so it's really tricky however is her only option when the nodules really act up. So those to things would complete your video and make it even better.
I had actually not thought of the menopause angle before! You always give very detailed and in-depth responses in your comments.
@@briannab4037 thank you. Is my firm believe that to judge vocals you need to see the entire context. The legato thing has more to do because she is using stripped backtracked it's really complicated to to judge. In the end her best way to see her cibtiduon is IWFC the late show
She is happy now and as a lamb, that's what matters most to me.
I think her using staccato is a stylish choice, MIAM and Caution World Tour had some fluid runs
i loved this video! great job ♥
The most notable change, era wise was after 2013... 2014-2017 her voice was really dark also (divorce/bad team/stella 😡)... 2018 to now her voice sounds better it’s looks and sounds like she’s really trying to care for her voice better now
i get that same “scratch” when i belt too long and too quickly without warming properly
When your vocal cords are inflamed it is more difficult to hold notes, Mariah prefers to do stacato because they are shorter sounds, they dont need as much air and there is less chance of vocal cracking.
I’ll put a positive spin on it. How damn impressive is it that she was such a great vocalist in her prime that she can’t even sing her old songs the same way? That means her peak vocal performances were THAT complex and otherworldly. It’s not like there’s a plethora of vocalist that can sing her old songs either.
10:04 Mariah in Jamaica 🇯🇲 was FIRE! 😭❤❤❤❤❤❤👌🏾
The hate Jamaica gave her....... the media was disgusting here
Omg I'm early yassss!❤️
My favourite era 😘😘😘😘👑🌟🧚♀️👸🤩
@@lydob2471 omg hiii!❤️
@@butterflyera4628 u just gained a new subscriber😊
@@lydob2471 omg thanksss! ❤️
@@butterflyera4628 no problem 😊
I agree that she is still trying to use her voice in the same ways she always had. With all of her amazing vocal showcases and monumental live performances forever accessible online - there is no need for Mariah to continue to perform those songs, especially since they no longer seem to be comfortable for her.
As a life long fan, I would love for Mariah to leave her catalog alone .. long enough for the world to miss it, rather than compare it. Instead, I would just like to see her continue to focus on evolving and being inspired by new ideas.
Truth is - selfishly - I want as much art out of Mariah as I can possibly receive while she is with us because that woman is ALWAYS in her PRIME … I don’t need her voice being used up BY HER OWN CATALOG. I need that voice being forever inspired by its own present abilities and nuances. Most of all, I need for Mariah to stay connected to her instrument.
What I love about your videos is that you always put so much study in the contents, which makes us feel "educated". Keep it up bro!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I totally agree with everything
Everthing Fades Away
Her vocals have gotten breathy and more whispery in the 2000s. In the 2010s, her voice has gotten huskier, so she's lost a lot of that "youthful, brightful" sounding voice she once had. Having a huskier voice isn't bad, it just means your voice has matured (just hear Barbra Streisend and her recent performances. She sounds a lot huskier than in her prime years).
Also, Mariah's a light lyric soprano, so her voice is more susceptible to damage overtime when she oversings.
Her voice transitions during 2000-2002 is when her voice matured.2009-2011 is the transition to her current tone.
The voice is amazing, I don't hear or see a difference... She still sounds the same to me all her life, sounds perfect and beautiful 😘💓 xoxo
that only means you have a bad ear.
This is absolutely wonderfully done. Bravo
"Let`s respect and appreciate her when she´s still with us"....Directly to my heart and thoughts. She`s still one of the greatest singers of all times. Haters RESPECT her and Lambs appreciate and support her more.
Right!💯💯💯💯
I really appreciate this video, you're amazing ❤️❤️
I personally think the note separation is intentional. I think she likes that style better with the sound of her voice.
This is why I love her 😭❤️ and this is why I love your channel ❤️
I had the pleasure of growing up and got to listen to Mariah's career from the start... I still think she is the best I've heard at her peak, and yes I enjoy Whitney (R.I.P.) but I'd give the nod to peak Mariah. But let's be honest, she didn't take care of her voice, yes over time everyone declines but frankly she was blessed with a gift and she didn't take care of it. It's hard for me to see, but it's the truth. Great work on the vid too.
Very good video, fair and supportive
I observed, her voice changes every after concert tours she did. Her voice changed after the Daydream Tour, the Adventures of Mimi Tour, and the 2015 residency shows. Her singing styles also changes in between those tours.
I noticed the change when power ballads became more frequent in number. It used to be in the 90s as I remember them, power ballads were for stage performances and special songs. 1 or 2 tracks on a song. It seems that for a while I want to say in the mid thousands everyone everywhere needed to hear a power ballad and every artist wanted to deliver one. I feel like that’s what she’s trying to do. I love her voice and her style, but I really appreciate her early ballads. It’s a great video, you have studied Mariah and her style greatly.
Even tho her vocal isn't that good as her prime. But her musicallity just gets better every year. Her runs is less fluid and slower. But her musicallity in it is rlly good that sometimes for me her runs today are better than her prime
She is one of the best vocalists to ever walk this earth perod!!!! She a vocal virtuoso And she's an exceptional songwriter who writes all her songs..
*CONSTANTLY ACCESSING THE WHISTLE REGISTER HAS (AND CONTINUES TO) DESTROYED MARIAH'S VOICE AND GIVEN HER VOCAL NODULES!*
Her doctor told her this back in the early 2000s (Rainbow/Glitter era).
this was the video i was searching for! so in-depth, honest but respectful
Such a detailed explanation, backed out with clear videos and examples for a legendary vocalist, and one of my favorites female singer/songwriters.
👏👏👏
P.S- Nodules are a real bad bitc*,trust me on that. The strength that she showcases to still get out there and tour constantly inspires me. 👑
Darling we together 😍😍
*Mariah is naturally between Mezzo and Contralto with a dramatic upper extension due to her vocal morphology* Her signature sound is Soprano and therefor she might as well be called such. Her fragile voice with her using her nodules as an extension, aggressive rangy technique and exhaustion all caught up with her. I noticed specifically her riffs/runs went from a rapid legato to almost a stacatto. She changed her technique to airy vocals (because she often had poor cord closure) and started using glottal attack to achieve cord closure to produce higher notes in the late 90's to mimic her original range but are all just unsustainable. Vibrato and Agility always suffer under glottal attack. As much as I love her and she inspired me to sing, once I got better she became a good example of "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" I love technique based critiques, her technique and choices were questionable.
I read somewhere that the reason why she did so much without resting is that she knew her voice would eventually decline due to noudles she was born with and she wanted to give her best b4 that happens, and I'm glad she did
@@lydob2471 I don't know that I agree with that because her technique became such that it caused damage. Normally the reasons you avoid the techniques I brought up are because that level of cord closure is damaging. Its like having dry cracked feed but you wont use lotion and want to walk around barefoot all day lol. It eventually becomes hard to go back.
@@Sloppyjoey1 yes very true 😪😪 still love her
Yes, a lot of people still don't realize that Mariah is different coz she uses her nodules for extra range (upper and lower) . One channel once said that whistle reg is purely from vocal cords which isn't true.
@@charfree6888 Yeah I learned that there's multiple methods to achieve "whistle" tones but ultimately, in a classical sense, a true whistle note is a vibratory headvoice/falsetto function. Mariah uses the stationary freeze ur cords and push air thru which is technically a hack and even men can do it. She has said on multiple occasions she's not the 'technically trained' singer people think she is and uses her nodules to create a higher range.
That’s a very long video when in reality the answer is simple
She aged.
She started at 20 and she’s now 52 of course her voice has changed
The main problem in her voice in this decade is her inconsistency and also nerves and tired but if she is rested and has a great confident she can deliver a prime-ish vocals.
You're right. Regardless of where change in ability, she is still and will always be a legend.
Amazing analysis!
2019/20 Mariah's tone >>> 2015/16/17 tone. SSFT 2016 tone was really light but I prefer her balanced 2018 onward sound
very well done. i think her changing voice is a mixture of natural aging, constant live performance (overuse), style choices and i suspect less training.
I’m excited to watch.
Edit: the only critique is that all those clips you shown of her belting clearly before you dug into your critiques were from before 2018 and for me this was when the rasp (let’s be real it’s just strain) in her mid range (A4-E5) became a consistent issue to a point where there’s more strain than not (although she was starting to regain some clarity at the end of 2019).
It's definitely not strain. If she strained that much with nodules she would not be able to belt like she does
@@alexandrefreitas5320 she doesn’t attempt belts that would risk her actually losing her voice (as in when you’re ill and can’t speak) anymore so your comment doesn’t make sense
@@Solo-vh9fm I don't understand what your comment has to do with mine. I said I thought it wasn't strain (but rasp instead) because straining with nodules takes a toll on the voice even if it's just mid belts. Her belts also sound resonant and free most of the time
@@alexandrefreitas5320 the point is most of her belts (above A4) aren’t free or resonant anymore. It’s not just rasp, rasp has a different sound to it. Rasp basically sounds like you have mucus at the back of your throat, strain sounds scratchy. Some of the belts on the song Outside are the best examples of her rasp, while her upper belts on ABMB or OSD (studio version) are strained, if you want to compare
@@alexandrefreitas5320 btw I’m not saying she didn’t have resonant belts at all. The C#5s in Emotions in December and February were certainly resonant.