‘The Emancipation Of Mimi’ can easily be labelled as Mariah Carey’s most comprehensive album in the diva’s illustrious career.
The songstress, who had faced a number of personal difficulties in the early 2000’s – included a few commercial duds, both in music and movies, turned this 2005-released LP into a mega-comeback-moment. And boy, did it deliver!
Not only did the album manage to capture the sound of the mid 2000’s, but it also gave her fans her most vocally satisfying work till date.
Not to say, that her work from the 90’s was anything short of spectacular, but her team of co-producers brought out the perfect sound of retro, that almost takes you back to Motown in some moments, and amalgamated that with a fresh-sounding Hip-Hop and the modernized delivery of Carey, turning this into a true modern day classic.
Today, we rank all of this best-selling album’s tracks (the original release, of course), from best to.. not necessarily the “worst.”
Here’s the countdown:
14) Say Somethin’
A sensual jam, assisted by Snoop Dogg – driven by all the sexual fantasies that go-on in your head while cruising at clubs. It isn’t a memorable production or a song, as compared to some of the other cuts on the LP, but it’s still quite a bop.
13) To The Floor
The chemistry between Nelly and Mariah is off the roof on this one. Thematically similar to Say Somethin’, ‘To The Floor’ edges out slightly with a sleeker hook and sweeping vocals.
12) Joy Ride
An easy-listening, smooth ride with Miss Carey, that even with all it’s simplistic lyric, is driven by her beautiful, and at parts subtle, vocal delivery.
11) It’s Like That
One of her most naturally, effortlessly sultry and sexiest songs ever. It’s Like That kicked off the whole era of ‘Emancipation..’, and it remains one her signature uptempos of all time.
10) Get Your Number
A flat-out hip swinging dance-number with that definitive early 2000’s sound of Jermaine Dupree. Get You Number is one of the best uptempos on the album.
9) Mine Again
This Grammy-nominated tune is a sweeping ballad about lost-love and second chances. And Mariah’s awe-inspiring vocals, makes you contest that the artist was truly at her peak around this time – even when you compare her to her early 90’s self.
8) Fly Like A Bird
One of the most top-notch studio vocal performances in MC’s career. And that’s saying a lot. With all it’s theatrics, and vocal acrobats and a Gospel-inspired production, this songs makes up for what it lacks during the verses, with a breath-taking climax, that takes it to the skies.
7) I Wish You Knew
A sweeping ballad and often over-looked ballad on the album, that reaches it’s absolute heights during eargasmic climax, featuring some of the best vocals heard on this album.
6) One And Only
Mizz Carey was at her most effortlessly coolest form around this time, so even when she did Hip-Hop it did not really seem like a reach. This song still remains and sounds just as fresh, even if you still can’t rap-along to Twista’s part, after all these years.
5) Shake It Off
One of those tracks from this album, along with We Belong Together, that you just can’t help but sing-along to (perhaps because you can, to some extent). Shake It Off is Mariah’s way of nodding-goodbye to an unworthy lover in the most divalicous way possible.
4) Stay The Night
Co-written and co-composed by Kanye West along with Carey, this song depicts a perfect, serenading scene of some serious sexual tension between two people, as one of them attempts to hold back and ‘not fall back in.’ With Carey’s sweeping vocals, it just reaches different heights.
3) Your Girl
The production on this short-length jam depicts the overall theme of this whole album – a nearly perfect amalgamation of the pre-motown sound and modern-day Hip-Hop, with vocals to transcend both eras. How they managed to curate this melody, which sounds very 60’s and very 90’s at the same time, we have no idea – but this is a clear classic cut on this LP.
2) Circles
Circles has some of the most awe-inspiring vocals on the album, especially after the bridge. A heartbreaking post-breakup song about all the heartache that comes with one’s inability to quickly move on. And Carey nails every bit of it.
1) We Belong Together
It’s difficult to pick a number one from an album that is loaded with so many undeniable bops, but We Belong Together just takes the cake for being one of her most effortlessly charming tunes. Right from the first keys on the piano that start the song on a buttery note, it builds up and creates on of the most memorable climaxes of her career. It’s her definitive classic.
In short, The Emancipation Of Mimi is clearly a classic that transcends time.
Which were your favorite cuts from this album?