Could Mariah Carey Make A Second Comeback?

[NeRD]

So...

Mariah has been away from the mainstream music scene for more than a year now. Sure she released a Christmas album last year, but her last full-length studio album was released in September 2009. Memoirs wasnt a complete flop, but sales were relatively subpar compared to the smash that was TEOM or even E=MC2. Her Christmas album also faired moderately.

Alot of things have changed since then. She's gotten pregnant, had twins, and turned the big 4-0, which to some Pulse users is a death sentence when it comes to having success on Pop radio. One thing about Mariah though is that she has always managed to have an ear for what is "hot" and has always been able to adapt to the current musical climate.

A few details have emerged about her upcoming album. She's went back into the studio with JD and Randy Jackson, who had a big part in the creation of Charmbracelet and TEOM.

So the question is; Could Mariah release a new album in 2012 and become hugely successful again? If so, what direction should she go as far as image/music is concerned?

[HolidayGuy]

Hugely successful? Probably not. Moderately successful? Sure.

I'd like to see the music shift somewhat, but we'll probably hear similar stuff to what she has done with the producers before.

[Lockheart]

I think so but she needs an update of her sound without actually deviating from her signature sound. Shes Mariah, her lambs are loyal.

[Dreams]

Hmm, the odds are against her but you never know. She's very talented after all.

Her teaming up with DJ doesn't sound too promising though...

[Deleted]

Definitely.

[Deleted]

I don't really think she needs a "comeback". Her last studio album and Christmas album both went Gold. Her last studio album scored a Top 10 Hot 100 hit (which went top 5 Urban, top 5 Rhythmic, and top 10 Mainstream Top 40). If the question is whether or not she's going to have a comeback on the level of the one she had in 2005 (with multiple #1s and selling millions), then no.

[Me. I Am l!nk!nfan815...]

The odds are definitely against her but Mariah is one of those artists that can defnitely surprise. She's extremely talented, her melodies and sound are recognizable and if she gets the right single(s) out she could slay, easily.
She's had an amazing career, broken records left and right, sold millions of records worldwide. She doesn't need to proof anything. As long as she gives me great music I'll be happy lamb, any hits will be just icing on the cake.

[hidizzyguy]

Mariah is fucking dependable and consistent. Memoirs, one of her commercially "lower" points, sold, give or take, similarly to what Rihanna just sold with what is considered one of her "higher" points.

Her lambs are loyal - and if she just continues with her formula, great vocals, on well produced tracks, she is going to be pretty moderately successful for the rest of her career.

Will she ever be TEOM big? Well, I think that's up to the label.

[HolidayGuy]

^Adele is TEOM big right now- and it's very unlikely that Mimi would see that kind of success at this point.

hidizzy- Memoirs had an opening of 30K less than what RiRi's album sold, which isn't that far off, but RiRi's album is likely to sell more in the long run, I'd think.

[NeRD]

I think she will surprise alot of people next year. You'd be surprise to know how many people, including the younger generation still LOVE Mariah Carey.

[Hefty Hanna]

Absolutely. With the right material, watch out.

[horchata]

I think she will.

[K.]

Yes, but unlikely. She has poor taste.

[Deleted]

She doesn't really need to. If she can maintain the success of Memoirs and Merry Christmas II You with the odd hit single now and again into her forties she'll be doing better than most. It'll be interesting to see if she loses her grip on what's hot with her next album like most artists do once they hit the big 4-0.

[#LisaRinna]

Dec 2, 2011 14:15:14 GMT -5 K. said:

Yes, but unlikely. She has poor taste.

Poor taste for what?

[think pink.]

She needs to under go an image overhaul first.

[Black Jesus]

She won't top Emancipation of Mimi but she could definitely have another successful album.

[BadRomance]

I'd say yes but I'd be very surprised if she tops Emancipation of Mimi.

[Deleted]

She's obviously not going to top Mimi.

[Deleted]

If she goes back to the being the Mariah I love, which is the 90s-esque Mariah and not the urban-wannabe-ghetto fab Mariah then yes. But sadly, I don't see that happening.

[Lozzy]

Well yes, she could. But I don't expect it to happen.

[Positive Tension]

I think she could have a moderately successful comeback- e.g. a platinum selling album with one or two top ten singles, but that would require a lot of promotion, hype, and a change in her music. If her next album is anything like Memoirs, then I think she'll struggle to even get gold.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I'm never going to rule her out again. Back in 2003 or 2002, I said she'd never get another major hit again because she had so many flops in a row and it seemed like her image was so lame and dated. Then BAM!

So I'm going to say she'll be back.

[dbhmr]

I'm not sure. I mean, I would never say a music force like Mariah Carey couldn't do something surprising, but I don't expect it. She really had something to prove last time, after such a dramatic fall from grace. This time, she's just sort of transitioning from superstar to former superstar who's still popular with a solid following. Unless she comes out with another Memoirs disaster, she shouldn't have a problem selling gold with her albums.

[silab]

So long as she does not come out with an album like Memoirs, she will. E-MC2 had a potential to at least sell half of what Emancipation sold but they released the wrong singles that screwed up its potential.

[Tea-why]

I think she could, but not if she tries to recreate TEOM.

[Deleted]

She needs to work with some new people because so far with Jermaine Dupri, Bryan Michael Cox, James Wright, and Randy Jackson the answer is NO. Not here for Charmbracelet part 2.

[bornfearless2000]

She could but it will be HARD, i mean really hard.

She has big fan base which means she will have moderate success.

BUT if she wants to achieve big time like her prime time, She really needs to throw away that sexy image. THAT DOESN'T SUIT HER AT ALL.

The world/the public loves Mariah , the simple innocent Mariah who sings about Love and not about sex.

[spooky21]

Mimi level success is unlikely but then again, even the Gagas, Beyonce's and Rihanna's of the world aren't hitting Mimi level success either and they are the reigning queens. Unlike most of the other divas from the 90's, Mariah still has the most crossover appeal and is still considered a competitor to the younger girls.

I suspect Mimi can pretty easily get to E=MC2 numbers if she launches the right first single.

I also suspect Mimi still has her eye on that Beatles record. She's only 3 away and many fail to realize that she has an arsenal at her disposal to go for it. Even if she can't craft them herself, she's still hot enough to sing hooks a la Rihanna and still has a lot of "featuring" potential.

I think Mariah will be hungry enough to drop competitive material until she breaks the Beatles record.

[Deleted]

Unlike Rihanna, all of Mariah's #1's are her own, and none are featurings. Do you think she would really resort to featurings just to break the record? Is breaking that particular record really THAT important to her?