News and Gossip Archive June, 2002

Saturday June 29, 2002

MOTTOLA TO LEAVE SONY?

Sony Music boss Tommy Mottola's in play. The music honcho is pushing for an early contract renewal with the Japanese electronics giant, but talks have stalled industry sources said. Meanwhile, the man behind superstars Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, and Bruce Springsteen, is said to have had offers from other entertainment companies. Mottola's current contract expires in March, 2004. He's believed to be one of the highest paid music execs in the world, with a salary approaching $10 million.
Music insiders said the Japanese may be reluctant to commit to a hefty increase during an industrywide downturn. Sony declined to comment. "He may be demanding salary increases that are greater than they want to give," said music attorney George Gilbert. "But given the talent pool, no one who is available has the experience he has."
Since Mottola took over Sony Music in 1988, sales tripled to $4.8 billion, making Sony the world's No. 2 music giant. With the most stable management team in the industry, Mottola is credited with propelling careers of an array of divas including ex-wife Mariah Carey, and for sparking a Latin explosion with artists Ricky Martin, Shakira, Lopez and Marc Anthony. Sony Music's operating profits last year were flat at $152 million. Its U.S. market share is No. 3 behind Universal and Warner.

(New York Daily News)

Friday June 28, 2002

PALS SAY TYRESE IS "JUST THE MAN" FOR MARIAH

Mariah Carey's fledging relationship with fellow singer Tyrese is just what she needs to lift her out of trench of misery, pals enthuse. The musical pair were spotted enjoying time together on 20 June 2002 at trendy New York eatery Serafina, where she had stopped by to pick up her cousin Sean, who's staying with her while visiting from the prestigious Harvard University.
After spending a little time sipping wine and chatting with friends, the curvaceous beauty asked to be introduced to the hunk. The glamorous pair chatted together till closing time at 4am, when they took our their pagers and exchanged numbers. And pals of the star, who was dumped by her boyfriend Luis Miguel last year, leading to her emotional meltdown, believe Tyrese's love attention is just what Mariah needs to add to her positive reversal of fortune in the past few months.
Mariah has also signed a $20 million deal with Universal Records, after being dumped by Virgin. A pal tells American tabloid The Star, "Mariah looks rested and happy and doesn't ramble on like she used to before her breakdown. The only piece missing in her life is a new guy. But judging by how well she and Tyrese got along, he may be just the man to capture her heart."

(WENN)

Thursday June 27, 2002

ASHANTI HITS THE UK

Record label Def Jam will host a star studded party next week to celebrate the album and single release of R&B star Ashanti. The singer's debut single, Foolish, is out on 8 July with an album to follow. The album has already hit the No 1 spot in the US. The party will be one of Def Jam's finest with record company Godfathers Lyor Cohen and Russell Simmons in attendance especially for the occasion. The pair recently signed Mariah Carey to the Def Jam label and diva Carey is rumoured to be attending the party and performing.
Ashanti will be performing on the night and guests will include high profile celebrities from the UK as well as big name US label mates. Ashanti has already featured in the UK Top 10 twice this year with her collaborations with Ja Rule (Always On Time) and Fat Joe (What's Luv). Ashanti and Ja Rule will be doing a signing at the Virgin Megastore, 14-16 Oxford Street, London on Wednesday 3 July.
In related Ashanti news, the star has started an alternative career away from musc, as a poet. The singer is set to release a book of poetry and reflections entitled "Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections Of Love". The book is expected to hit shops in November.

(WorldPop)

Wednesday June 26, 2002

GLITTER ARGENTINA FAN PREMIERE

Nobody remembers an argentinean gathering of Mariah Carey fans in the last years. Although Mariah's popularity in Argentina is undeniable ("Music Box" went Platinum, "Daydream" was 2x Gold, "Butterfly" and "Rainbow" were certified Gold), the country's musical taste is strongly influenced by classic rock bands, both local and international.
Mariah got more publicity for her long romance with Luis Miguel, and her ballad in Spanish ("El Amor Que Soñé" topped charts for weeks back in 1995), than for her extensive and awarded discography. The ferocious economical and social crisis in which Argentina saw itself involved last year, hindered several theatrical releases that didn't guarantee a massive audience. Hence, Glitter's release was postponed twice, until the decision to release it on video directly was made.
As Mariah fans, we were not satisfied with this decision, and decided to have our own premiere in a unique event. The celebration was held at "Planet Music", a cozy theme pub in downtown Buenos Aires, where the walls are packed with music memorabilia, ranging from Elvis awards to picture discs and autograped photos from the likes of Queen, The Beatles, U2 and Prince.
The event was preceded by a marketing campaign that involved the Internet, as well as posters and flyers at selected clubs, restaurants, and record stores of Buenos Aires. More than 35 participants gathered on Sunday, June 9. The pub was decorated with Mariah posters, banners, butterfly shaped mobiles, and balloons. Fans were greeted with music from the movie, including songs from Blondie, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, SOS Band, Luther Vandross, D-Train, and Art Of Noise, as well as Mariah's renditions of "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" and "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life", to name some. We liked the idea of familiarizing the audience with the 80's club ambience that would surround them when watching "Glitter".
For many fans, it would be their first "Glitter" experience. We also had five walk-ins that were curious of the posters outside, and decided to stay to watch the movie. Everybody kept extremely quiet during the film, even the waitress watched it when not serving drinks and food to lambs. Some girls cried in some of the more intense scenes, and everybody loved the funny parts, including the "Loverboy" video shoot. When the movie was over, we all agreed on our opinions of "Glitter", a totally entertaining film with a classic love storyline, and credible performances by Mariah and the rest of the cast.
After that, it was time for prize giveaway. We had four lucky winners of Mariah CD's and posters. We took the remaining time to get to know each other better, and share pizza, burgers, and beer. (Like the combo?) We felt we were part of a unique celebration, and were grateful to be able to share our intimate passion for Mariah with those who felt the same. Nobody was excluded, we were a like a big family.
We videotaped greetings for Mariah from the participants, and were touched by the thought that Mariah would have loved to be part of the celebration, and more so, by the hope that she would at some point watch the greetings herself! Later on, we presented a three-hour video marathon, comprised of never-seen-before in Argentina live presentations, remix videos, and rare footage. Many fans were pleasantly surprised by images of Mariah they were watching for the first time ever.
Five hours after the party had started, the staff of the pub invited us to evacuate "Planet Music". They were simply astonished by how Mariah had put a spell on us for so long. Otherwise, we would still be there watching videos, listening to her music, and chatting away. We all felt that night was our very own daydream.

(Johann & Tomás)

Tuesday June 25, 2002

JACKSON WANTS TO TERMINATE MOTTOLA

Michael Jackson reportedly wants to "terminate" Sony records boss, and ex-husband of Mariah Carey, Tommy Mottola. Jacko is currently embroiled in a bitter battle with his record company, blaming them for the flop of his last album Invincible due to under-promotion - and, according to website Playlouder, the eccentric singer called Mottola an "evil, evil man" when speaking to a 2000 strong fan-club audience in London earlier this month.
The site reports Jackson as saying, "Mariah Carey, after divorcing Tommy, came to me crying. Crying. She was crying so badly I had to hold her! She said to me 'this is an evil man, and Michael, this man follows me'. He taps her phones and he's very, very evil. She doesn't trust him. We have to continue our drive until he is terminated. We can't allow him to do this to great artists, we just can't." The comments are believed to be taken from an amateur video of Jackson's speech, which website Muchmoremusic claims to have seen, confirming that the star disparages Mottola in his address.
In other news upcoming British pop act Liberty X have a secret weapon in their bid for chart domination - superstar Michael Jackson. The fivesome were known as "Flopstars" when they were rejected for the band manufactured by U.K reality TV show Popstars, but they silenced detractors by signing to Richard Branson's record label and inventing themselves as a hip, streetwise alternative to winning rivals Hear'Say. Michael who is in England is said to be so charmed by the group that he's offered to help them break America - even giving them a place to stay! A source says, "The band are gearing up to crack America. They have already booked a long trip to Los Angeles for August. Michael thought this was the perfect opportunity to invite the five of them to stay at his Neverland ranch during their time in LA. The band are really excited and can't wait to meet him."

(WENN)

Tuesday June 25, 2002

FRENCH LAMBS GATHERING REVIEW

June 22nd was a lambs day in France because it was the day of the French gathering organized by Mariahfanclub.com. 25 Persons were there to celebrate Mariah and have fun together. They came from Paris and its suburb of course but also from other French areas. There even was a wonderful little American girl named Maggie who is the Mariahangel.com and MariahPlanet.com's webmaster, who was visiting Paris at this time so she joined us to share a special moment with the French lambs.
We all met at "Opera" in front of the steps, and after a group picture, we went to the restaurant where a whole room was booked for us. There were Mariah posters on the walls and of course Mariah music in the background (rare remixes and live performances). The fans start to chat and show each other their Mariah collection. Then, it was time for some special announcements.
First of all, we exclusively presented the new part of our website which is going to open next week. After the loby that you may know, we are now ready to open the 2nd floor which is Mariah's bedroom, a whole area dedicated to Mariah as a person: her family, her psychology, her tastes, and of course her messages to the fans. Moreover, in the lift which brings you in the upper floors, the fan-club members will be able to adjust some things in their profile and to access a French map where they will see what other fans live in their area in order to meet them. The French lambs were very happy about that.
Then, we announced and launched the Rainbow Princess Network special project: a rose for Mariah. A special and original rose is gonna be genetically created, and this new specie will have the name of Mariah. Of course, this operation is not free (around 800 dollars) but the French lambs were very excited by this idea and they all gave some money during the gathering so now we already have 120 dollars. The first rose shoud blossom for the next spring and all the persons who have contributed will be gathered in a special fan-book Mariah will receive along with the first rose.

After all these great news, everyone was ready to have fun. Then, we did a very animated Mariah quizz (!) with some prizes to win, and to decide between the best scores, the players were invited to share their ideas about what would be the perfect gift they could do to Mariah, and all the others fans voted for the best gift. Then, it was time to make a little visit to special shops in Paris where they sell rare Mariah items. After that, everyone exchanged their phone numbers and emails and promise to see them soon. All the meeting was filmed and the tape will be given to Mariah. Pictures are not available yet.

(MariahFanClub.com)

Tuesday June 25, 2002

MARIAH'S NEW ALBUM

Here's a message Mariah Land received:

I can't reveal my name or company that I do work for but what I can give you is information on the next Mariah Carey album. Currently Mariah is in the studio with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. She is scheduled to remain with the pair until the end of this week and take a few days off to gather and write more songs for the record. DJ Quik has agreed to work on another track with Mariah in the next upcoming weeks.

So far, she has completed about a half dozen tracks for the album that she is satisfied with. No word yet on the first single or album title. So far she has completed [several] tracks with Jermaine Dupri, (including "Distant Lover"). Other songs that she has completed are the 7-produced "Reach For The Sky", "Next Time", and "Satisfy", which Michael Jackson put vocals in the background. I've heard a rough copy of this song and it has a club/dance feel to it. Their voices go great together from what I've heard so far. "Closest To You" is another track. I will give you more information when I receive it. I would appreciate that you don't reveal my name or e-mail address, or company I work for because I could get in trouble with my company. Thank you.

(Mariah Land)

Sunday June 23, 2002

POP IDOL JUDGE SAVAGES J-LO

Jennifer Lopez's skills as a singing superstar have been attacked by the British man behind the Pop Idol TV show. Tough-talking Simon Cowell, who is currently serving as one of three judges for hit TV show American Idols - a series aimed at finding the next big superstar in the entertainment world - insists that J-Lo is a lacklustre performer who would never get a recording contract from him.
He says, "Jennifer Lopez is not my cup of tea. I think she's good, not great, and certainly not on the level of Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey. She's definitely not a star". Brutally honest Cowell, 42, and his co-judges, '80s pop star Paula Abdul and Grammy-winning producer Randy Jackson, give wannabe stars the opportunity to strut their stuff for the chance to hit the big time if they prove victorious.

(Codejunkies)

Saturday June 22, 2002

HAPPY MARIAH RECORDING AGAIN

Details are beginning to emerge of Mariah Carey's new label deal. After splitting from Virgin with less than a year's service, Carey eventually decided on a reported $20 million move to Island/Def Jam where she will form her own label. Sources close to the 32 year old star suggest Carey is determined to get her career back on track following the less than impressive "Glitter" project, although it is hoped that she will now seek creative advice from experienced label execs unlike her Virgin stint when she called all the shots. Carey is already in the studio working on a new soon-to-be-released album, which is reported to include more live musicians and ballads. Of the new deal, Carey commented: "I'm incredibly happy."

(Blues & Soul Magazine)

Friday June 21, 2002

MARIAH'S OUT BURNING THE 4 A.M. OIL

Mariah Carey is in town tending to her ailing father and staying up almost all night again. The singer-actress, dressed in a white tank top, jeans and a glittery butterfly necklace, rolled into the weekly Candyland party at Serafina around 2:30 a.m. and sipped wine and water with friends. There she was introduced to R&B singer Tyrese. Carey and the 23-year-old crooner and model hit it off, chatting about future projects. At closing time, just after 4 a.m., they each whipped out their pagers and exchanged numbers.
"Mariah visited her father in the hospital late Wednesday night before heading to the studio to work on her music," says her rep, Cindi Berger. "Then she swung by Serafina to pick up her cousin Sean, who's visiting from Harvard and is staying with her." Berger says Carey hit the party "for all of 20 minutes", but bystanders swear she stayed closer to two hours.
After the 32-year-old Carey's breakdown last year, and her legendary trouble sleeping, let's hope she turns off her beloved pager long enough to get some rest. Buddies Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio also turned up at the party. They sat together until the "Gangs of New York" star's constant pager play bored his pal, who cast his net at another table - one packed with pretty girls, who were happy to dance with Spider-Man.

(New York Daily News)

Friday 21 June, 2002

BRITNEY TOPS FORBES POWER LIST

Top 10

01. Britney Spears
02. Tiger Woods
03. Steven Spielberg
04. Madonna
05. U2
06. *NSync
07. Mariah Carey
08. Oprah Winfrey
09. Michael Jordan
10. Tom Hanks

Britney Spears has become the most powerful celebrity in the world, according to an influential poll. The pop star topped the Forbes Global Celebrity List which ranks the influence of celebrities from the worlds of showbiz and sport. Shooting up from fourth place, she pipped golf superstar Tiger Woods to the top. Spears earned $39.2m (£26m) in 2001, and appeared on TV or radio 373 times.
The chart takes into account media coverage, earnings and website downloads to rank the showbusiness players. Director Steven Spielberg polled third place, despite the critical panning of his last movie AI: Artificial Intelligence. Madonna, who is currently enjoying a run in West End play Up for Grabs, is at number four.
U2 are the only non-American personalities to make it into the top 10, sitting at number five, having earned $69m (£46m) during 2001. The highest charting British star is Sir Elton John at number 24, followed by Harry Potter author JK Rowling at 34.
Birmingham-born Ozzy Osbourne, who has seen a resurgence in his career thanks to an MTV fly-on-the-wall TV show, is at number 85. He can expect to see his chart placing rise next year after he and his family signed a multi-million pound deal for a second series of The Osbournes.
A bad box office year for Tom Cruise, with Vanilla Sky being relative flop, has seen his bankability fall considerably. He as dropped from number one in 2000 to not featuring at all in the top 100 this year. Meanwhile ex-wife Nicole Kidman has entered at number 27 after earning $15m (£10m). She appeared to have been content to stay in the shadows of her superstar husband but when he ended the relationship after 13 years she positively thrived in her professional life. Her hit movies included Moulin Rouge and The Others and she also scored a number one single in the UK with a duet with Robbie Williams.
Forbes warned last year that Cruise's position at the top, would suffer following his divorce, having earned $43m ($29m) in 2000. Cruise will be crossing his fingers that his next movie Minority Report, directed by Spielberg, will once again push him firmly to the top.
Friends star Jennifer Aniston looks to be the breadwinner in her household at the moment having earned $24m (£16m) in 2001, placing her at number 28. But husband Brad Pitt, star of Fight Club and Snatch, does not figure in the top 100 at all. Female Friends stars Lisa Kudrow and Courtney Cox-Arquette also make the chart but male co-stars Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Matt Le Blanc are omitted.

(BBC News)

Thursday June 20, 2002

DJ QUIK ON WORKING WITH MARIAH CAREY

DJ Quik is one of the producers who have worked on new material with Mariah Carey, who recently signed a recording contract with the Island Def Jam music group. Quik, the beatsmith behind Truth Hurts' R&B single "Addictive", said that he and Carey have worked on one uncompleted track. Quik recently explained the feel of the song. "It's kinda summery. It's like a real happy track, 808-driven, warm. It's like my old stuff, like stuff I used to do, like, Tonight and Black, like all my old records."
After their initial meeting, Quik said Carey did not hesitate to work with him. "I met her through a friend of mine. My boy Benny introduced me to her. She said she likes my music," he said. "I told her I'd always been a fan of hers, 'Let's get in the studio and work.' And usually when you say that it's always just like Hollywood talk, 'Hey, hey, hey, let's do lunch. Ha. Bye. Bye. Bye.' But she was like serious. So we got in the studio and started working. That's what I like, that reality."
DJ Quik's album, Under Tha Influence, was released earlier this month. "Trouble" featuring AMG is the album's first single. He is preparing to release the Paul Simon interpolation "50 Ways" as the album's second single.

(Launch)

Thursday June 20, 2002

ALICIA KEYS WAS EXPECTED TO BE A MARIAH CLONE

Singing Superstar Alicia Keys had problems getting her career off the ground when was starting out - because she was expected to be a clone of Mariah Carey. The star, 21, got her first record deal with Columbia Records when she was a teenager, but she was quickly discouraged when she realised that she wasn't expected to be herself.
She explains, "I felt they wanted me to be a clone of Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston, and I couldn't do that. I'm very low maintenance. I like people to concentrate on what's simple, so I can focus on what's important to me - music. I'm not the sequined-dress type or the high-heeled type or the all-cleavage type. I'm not coming like that for no one."
The Grammy-winning songstress adds, "I very much wanted to write my own songs, produce my own songs, really be involved in the creative process. And a lot of people told me that I wouldn't be able to do that. I didn't listen to what they said. I ignored them completely and continued to write and sing what I felt and learn music as I know it."
Alicia eventually joined music mogul Clive Davis at his new label J Records and has not looked back since. She says, "They loved the fact that I had my own thing, my own vibe, 100 per cent me. You should never be afraid to be different. You should not always listen to what other people tell you, because they don't always know."

(WENN)

Wednesday June 19, 2002

MICHAEL JACKSON DISSES HIS OLD LABEL

Michael Jackson is telling his former label to beat it. And he has some shockingly harsh words for his former boss. Jackson has blamed Sony for the failure of his latest album, "Invincible", and at a fan rally blasting the label, the Moonwalker lashed out at Sony head Tommy Mottola. Jackson went on stage at the Equinox nightclub in London brandishing a sign that read "Sony kills music" and called his former boss "evil" and the "devil", according to various sources. "He said that Tommy's way of doing business must be terminated," a source tells the Scoop. "It was pretty harsh stuff."
Sony released a statement that said, in part, "Over the years Sony Music has gone to great lengths to create and maintain a worldwide audience for Michael Jackson's music... We are extremely proud of all we have accomplished on Michael Jackson's behalf." The label has, however, clashed with other artists, including George Michael, and, according to Jackson, Mariah Carey "cried in his arms" about the treatment by Mottola, who also happens to be her ex-husband.
Jackson is reportedly also close to signing a new recording contract with Harrod's owner Mohammed Al Fayed, the controversial, publicity-hungry father of Dodi Al Fayed, who died in a car crash with Princess Diana. Several reports, including one in the London Express, say that Jackson flew by helicopter with Darryl Hannah and magician David Blaine to meet with Al Fayed. Jackson's rep couldn't be reached for comment.

(MSNBC)

Wednesday June 19, 2002

MICHAEL JACKSON CALLS SONY HEAD TOMMY MOTTOLA THE DEVIL

Michael Jackson condemned Tommy Mottola, the head of Jackson's label Sony Music, when the artist attended the Exeter Charity fundraising event Friday (June 14) in London. Jackson, who is upset with Sony's handling of his latest album Invincible, called Mottola the "devil". Jackson added that he is now a free agent, Reuters reported.
"I just owe Sony one more album, it's just a box set, really," Jackson said to a throng of screaming fans. "So I'm leaving Sony a free agent, owning half of Sony. And I'm leaving them, and they are very angry because they never thought that this performer, myself, would out-think them." His friend, renowned psychic Uri Geller, invited Jackson to the event. Jackson also advocated peace during his talk. "We have to stop the prejudice, we have to stop the hating, we have to stop living in fear of our own neighbors."
Additionally, Jackson has teamed with attorney Johnnie Cochran and Rev. Al Sharpton whose National Action Network coalition works to help prevent artists from being exploited financially by labels. "Record companies have to start treating their artists with respect, honor, and financial justice," Jackson said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Epic Records, the Sony Music label to which Jackson is signed, did not respond to Launch by press time.

(Launch)

Tuesday June 18, 2002

MARIAH'S "HERO" CARNIVAL CONTINUES

The saga of Mariah Carey's song "Hero" moves to federal court tomorrow. As I told you yesterday, former limo driver Christopher Selletti has been claiming for more than a decade that he wrote the poem that became this hit song. He's sued Mariah in the past only to have his case dismissed. But his attorney believes that a great deal of evidence was suppressed and that lies and evasions led to the dismissal.
Does Chris Selletti deserve his day in court? After six years of reporting this story, I say yes. It's time for all the evidence and testimony to be played out in front of a jury. Tomorrow's court date is interesting because a new law firm is involved: Debevoise and Plimpton.
Because Selletti has sued Carey's lawyers at Parcher and Hayes, they had to retain D&P. The lead lawyer on this case for D&P seems to be Mary Jo White, former U.S. attorney in the southern district, or Manhattan. All eyes will be on this situation since Jonathan Liebman, a defendant named by Carey, also used to toil in the U.S. attorney's office. And Judge Denny Chin got his start in the same office prior to White and Liebman. This should be interesting!

(Fox 411)

Monday June 17, 2002

MARIAH "HERO" SUED FOR $20 MIL

Mariah Carey has a legal case that won't go away. On Friday, I was faxed papers showing that Christopher Selletti is suing her again over the song "Hero". He wants $20 million in damages. Selletti is also suing Carey's attorneys, Orin Snyder and Jonathan Liebman (now with Brillstein Grey Entertainment) and her songwriting partner Walter Afanasieff. He accuses them of falsifying evidence and lying in the "Hero" case.
Selletti has tried suing Carey before over "Hero", only to have his case dismissed. But, as I first reported six years ago, there is a lot of questionable stuff in this case - enough to warrant a real trial with real testimony presided over by an objective jurist. But Judge Denny Chin has consistently done strange things regarding this case and these participants. In the 60-plus page document, Selletti's attorney Jeffrey Levitt cites many of Chin's odd decisions.
At the center of this case is Selletti's contention that he gave a copy of a poem he wrote to R&B star Sly Stone in 1991 from a book of poems he kept with him. Selletti had been Stone's driver while he recorded with Earth, Wind and Fire around the same time that Carey was in the same studio. Stone, Selletti says, agreed to help place the lyrics, then gave them to Carey or someone associated with her. Those lyrics, Selletti says, became "Hero". When he saw what had happened, Selletti mailed himself the lyrics, thus creating a homemade copyright.
However, Carey's case becomes murky when it comes to dates: her lawyer insisted to Chin in court that the song "Hero" was written for the 1992 movie Hero starring Dustin Hoffman. Unfortunately, Carey's notebook shows that the writing session for the song did not take place until a month after the movie Hero was released. Of all the pieces of information Judge Chin ignored in the case, this seemed to be the most blatant. It's not possible to write a song for a movie that's already playing in theaters.
Sources who worked on the movie "Hero" and its soundtrack confirmed for this reporter back in 1998 that Carey was never supposed to write a song for the movie. A source close to the soundtrack insisted: "We reached out to Afanasieff and he sent in some instrumental music. But [director] Stephen Frears rejected it. There was never any discussion of Mariah being involved." Sandy Isaac, one of the movie's producers, said that as far as he knew Carey was never asked to participate.
Carey, at the time, was knee-deep in plagiarism cases. She settled two of them with a million bucks apiece on the grounds that the writers of the songs involved would say she was innocent of wrongdoing. In two cases - the songs "Emotions" and "Fantasy" - Carey simply lifted the entire recordings from existing songs, then paid the writers afterward.
In the worst case, over the song "Can't Let Go", Carey's then-manager Randy Hoffman, a partner of her husband Tommy Mottola, went to see a potential damaging witness wired up to a hidden tape recorder. He hoped to make the guy contradict himself. The witness stood his ground, but the tape wound up in the court record. I reported on its existence for the first time in 1998.
Why Carey just doesn't settle with Selletti may have more to do with practicality than pride. After "Hero" came out she pledged the proceeds from it to a charity. She ultimately made a $200,000 contribution to a fund for the victims of the Long Island Railroad shooting. "Hero" has since become an anthem for her. Letting go of it now, after 10 years, would seem unthinkable. And yet Selletti has been steadfast in pursuing this case. Attorney Levitt has carefully and painstakingly laid out the history of the case for Judge Chin. The big question is whether or not the Judge will read this document, or whether it's time for new eyes to get Chris Selletti his day in court.

(Fox 411)

Monday June 17, 2002

EMINEM ADMITS DATING MARIAH

Hip-hop superstar Eminem has admitted he did have an affair with pop diva Mariah Carey - and he raps about it on his new album. The rapper dated songbird Mariah last year when she split up with Latin crooner Luis Miguel. Spokespeople for both stars strenuously denied the claims at the time, but Eminem has now confirmed that they had an affair and has poured his heart out in two tracks on his latest album The Eminem Show.
He reveals, "There is truth to the story. Now I respect her as a singer but on a personal level I'm not really feeling it. I just don't like her as a person. I learned a lesson from it - don't believe the hype. She doesn't really have it all together."
But the controversial badboy is not so restrained when rapping about Mariah. On "Superman", he lets fly with, "Bitch, if you died, wouldn't buy you life/ What you trying to be my new wife?/ What you Mariah? Fly through twice/ But I do know one thing though/ Bitches they come, they go." And in "When The Music Stops", he says he would rather get hooked on drugs than get back with Mariah. He raps, "What the f*** you take me for? A joke? You smoking crack?/ Before I do that, I beg Mariah to take me back."
In other Eminem news, his new album has topped the US pop charts for the third week in a row, propelling its sales tally to a hefty 2.4 million copies, according to Soundscan. The Eminem Show, the Detroit rapper's third major-label release, sold 808,708 units in the week that ended on June 9, more than the combined totals of the next nine albums in the charts.

(WENN)

Monday June 17, 2002

MARIAH CAREY RUSHES TO BE WITH AILING FATHER

Her own medical problems now apparently behind her, singer and actress Mariah Carey hurriedly flew back to New York from the Italian island of Capri to be at the side of her hospitalized father, Alfred Carey, reports the New York Daily News and New York Post.
"He is seriously ill," Carey's rep, Cindi Berger, confirmed to us. "She has visited him daily, and she's planning a special surprise to lift his spirits on Father's Day." Carey, now 32, was born in Huntington, New York. Her parents are Patricia Hickey (Irish-American) and Alfred Roy Carey (African American/Venezuelan), according to the Internet Movie Database. Alfred and his famous daughter had been estranged until recently.
An engineer, Alfred and his wife, Patricia, a singer, divorced in 1973. Mariah was 3 at the time. "When I was younger, I saw him every week, and after that I didn't see him for a long time," Mariah once remarked. But "over the past few years, they've gotten quite close," said Berger. She declined to identify the illness.
Carey apparently was named by her mother after the Lerner & Lowe song, "They Call The Wind Mariah," which around the time of her birth was being heard in the musical, "Paint Your Wagon."

(Z100)

Sunday June 16, 2002

JIMMY JAM ON WORKING WITH MARIAH ON ALBUM

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are among the producers working with Mariah Carey on her Island Def Jam debut that has not yet been scheduled for release. The duo, which has produced for Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and Boyz II Men, among numerous others recently explained the types of songs they are collaborating on with Carey.
Jam said the songs they have recorded with Carey so far, are primarily slow-tempo: "The things we're doing with here are very much classic, singer-songwriter type songs, ballads, that really explore the range and the incredible voice that she has. Just letting her be an artist," he noted. "You know, we're co-writing all of the songs with her, co-producing with her, and we've done, I think four or five songs thus far, and we're really happy with all of them. Not sure whether all of them will get used or not, but we're really happy with what we've done thus far. She's very re-energized, very excited, and thus far been a fun project to work on."
Jam didn't know, however, whether Carey would address her nervous breakdown last year that resulted in her being hospitalized: "I'm not sure. We haven't dealt with it yet," he said. "But that doesn't mean that we won't maybe deal with it or maybe she'll address it. Although, it wouldn't be the crux of the album. It would maybe be one song on an album that addresses it. But it wouldn't be like, become a theme for an album."
In addition to Jam and Lewis, Carey is reportedly working DJ Quik, and the Murder Inc. production camp, whose credits include Ja Rule, Ashanti, and J. Lo.

(Launch)

Sunday June 16, 2002

THEY'RE STILL AT IT

I can exclusively reveal their secret affair has now been going on for four months. This week the controversial rapper finally admitted that I was right in February when I told the world he and Mariah were together. "There is truth to the story," he confessed. But he claimed they were no longer an item. Well they most definitely are still seeing each other. Mariah told a friend this week: "He's a very special person in my life. He's made me laugh again."
The couple have enjoyed a string of secret dates in Los Angeles. Now Mariah has flown to Detroit, where the rap star lives. A highly placed source in the Mariah camp told me: "They've been seeing each other for around four months. They've tried to keep their relationship very secret, going to great lengths to avoid being photographed together. She didn't know he was going to confirm your story. They are still meeting secretly but at none of the obvious places. It seems Mariah's on a good thing and doesn't want to let go."
The couple first hit it off after Mariah was dumped on New Year's Eve for the second time by boyfriend Luis Miguel. Eminem became a shoulder to cry on and I revealed in February that the pair were enjoying romantic trysts at LA's Sunset Marquis Hotel.

(News Of The World)

Saturday June 15, 2002

EMINEM: YES I DATED MARIAH

Eminem has admitted he did have a fling with Mariah Carey - and I can reveal he raps bitterly about her on his No 1 album. In one of pop's weirdest romances, Em dated the troubled singer as her relationship with Latin crooner Luis Miguel began to fall apart. At the time both camps strenuously denied an affair between the stars. But now Eminem has confirmed they dated and has poured his heart out in two tracks, Superman and When The Music Stops, on his new album, The Eminem Show.
Eminem revealed: "There is truth to the story. Now I respect her as a singer but on a personal level I'm not really feeling it. I just don't like her as a person. I learned a lesson from it - don't believe the hype. She doesn't really have it all together." In typical Eminem style, he doesn't hold back with his feelings in the two telling tracks.
On Superman he rants: "Bitch if you died, wouldn't buy you life/ What you tryin' to be, my new wife?/ What you Mariah? Fly through twice/ But I do know one thing though/ Bitches they come, they go." And in When The Music Stops he says he would rather get hooked on drugs than get back with Mariah. He raps: "What the f*** you take me for? A joke? You smokin' crack?/ Before I do that, I beg Mariah to take me back."
Stories of a romance between the pair surfaced a month before Mariah suffered a nervous breakdown last summer. She had met the rapper to discuss working together but increasingly turned to him as her three-year affair with Luis crumbled. The pair had a series of dates at LA's posh Sunset Marquis Hotel. Their romance hit the rocks after just a few months as Mariah's mental health deteriorated, culminating in her suicide bid. The final straw came when Eminem refused to work with the troubled diva on an album.

(The Sun)

Saturday June 15, 2002

EMINEM "DATED" MARIAH

Eminem has confirmed he dated Mariah Carey last year, just before she plunged into a nervous breakdown. The infamous rap superstar and pop princess were rumoured to have enjoyed a string of romantic engagements last summer. However, only now has the speculation been confirmed by the "Don of Disgust", with a couple of tracks on his new album "The Eminem Show" also seemingly alluding to their relationship.
According to UK tabloid The Sun, Eminem recently confessed: "There is truth to the story. Now I respect her as a singer but on a personal level I'm not really feeling it. I just don't like her as a person. I learned a lesson from it - don't believe the hype. She doesn't really have it all together".
Meanwhile, on both "Superman" and "When The Music Stops", Carey appears to be namechecked in less than positive terms. On "Superman", he raps: "Bitch if you died, wouldn't buy you life/ What you tryin' to be, my new wife?/ What you Mariah? Fly through twice/ But I do know one thing though/ Bitches they come they go."
In other Eminem news, "The Eminem Show" has become the biggest-selling album in America this year. The follow-up to "The Marshall Mathers LP" has shifted over 2.4 million copies in just two weeks on-sale.

(DotMusic)

Saturday June 15, 2002

MICHAEL JACKSON PUTS PRESSURE ON SONY

Marc Schaffel, the Executive Producer of Michael Jackson's "What More Can I Give" project, has sent an open letter to the chairman of Sony Electronics, Mr. Idei, in Japan. The letter urges Sony and Mr. Idei to release two charity singles - or to at least let another record company release them. The songs which were completed last October, one in English, and the other in Spanish "Todo Para Ti", include over 35 of the top recording artists from around the world. Many Grammy award wining people have been involved in this; the English version was produced by award winning Michael Jackson, and the Spanish version by award winning K.C. Porter.
Hoping to raise tens of millions of dollars from each release worldwide, proceeds would be used to benefit the victims of the September 11 attacks on the USA, and many children charities worldwide. Mr. Schaffel feels the current political situation between Sony and Michael Jackson may be preventing the singles from coming out for the one-year anniversary.
The singles, which Sony originally agreed for release after the tragic events of 9-11, were postponed last November due to Sony's decision not to release them at the same time of Mr. Jackson's "Invincible" album. Mr. Schaffel says he will also call upon famed attorney Johnny Cochran to look into this situation as he has heard Mr. Cochran and his associates will also be investigating Sony's handling of Mr. Jackson's "Invincible" album.
Mr. Schaffel feels that time is of the essence, and if the singles are not scheduled for release now they will not be ready to be released for the anniversary. According to Schaffel, "Michael Jackson's last charity project 'We are the World' has currently raised over 65 million dollars for charity. I feel these two records combined with the proper marketing could do the same. I would like to see Sony at least have the decency to let a neutral third party record company release the songs, and to have Sony grant the permission for their artists to be released, as other labels were willing to do from the beginning for Sony."
Mr. Schaffel says he has been told that given the blessing from Sony, and the clearances for their artists, one of the other labels that have offered to release the songs would do so immediately. Everyone who has heard the two songs feel they are both number one hits, and they will raise a lot of money for good causes. Schaffel states several charities, who would be potential recipients have called wanting to lend their support in pushing Sony publicly for the releases, and several Michael Jackson based fan sites have offered support, even going as far as offering to boycott Sony if they are not willing to let the projects continue.

(PRNewswire)

Thursday June 13, 2002

EMINEM TAKES AIM AT MARIAH

Eminem's new album, The Eminem Show, is "without" limits. It's sold over 2 million copies in just two weeks. And while the controversial rapper is making records he is also making headlines - again. This time it's in Rolling Stone magazine, where he targets some big-name pop stars. "I really wish that I could just put the music on and let it speak for itself and just sit back and not have to do anything," Eminem told Access.
The music does speak volumes, but Eminem also shoots straight from the lip in an interview with Rolling Stone's Anthony Bozza, which includes candid revelations on his romantic life since the end of his tumultuous marriage. Anthony sat down with Access Hollywood to talk about the interview. The first rumor addressed was that Eminem was dating Kim Basinger, his co-star from their upcoming film 8 Mile. "No, he's not involved with Kim Basinger more than playing her son on-screen," said Bozza.
There was no truth to stories of a fling with Spice Girl Emma Bunton either. But then the truth gets stranger than fiction... Eminem and Mariah Carey actually attempted a romance. "There was a potential relationship going on, but Eminem said when he got to know her better, he didn't like what he got to know," Bozza told Access. In the magazine, Eminem specifically talks about Mariah, saying: "I just don't like her as a person. I gotta be honest. I have respect for her, but she really doesn't have it all together."
So who holds the key to Eminem's heart? Only his daughter, Hailie. But despite his love for her, Eminem makes it quite clear he has no plans for more children or another marriage, feeling it would be a fate even worse than his scariest travel nightmare: "I would rather be on a coach flight with *NSync, at the back of the plane, in the last row, in them seats that don't go back..."
The issue of Rolling Stone magazine hits newsstands on June 14.

(Access Hollywood)

Saturday June 8, 2002

MARIAH NOMINATED FOR BILLBOARD AWARD

Mariah Carey's pop-funk hit "Loverboy" has been nominated for a Billboard Music Award in the category of Top R&B/Hip-Hop Single Sales. Her competitors include Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious", Lil Romeo's "My Baby", and Usher's "U Remind Me". Carey's "Loverboy" sold nearly 500,000 copies in its first three weeks of distribution and made Rolling Stone's Best Selling list, coming in at number one. Lil Romeo's "My Baby" also made the list, racking in at number seven, while Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious" didn't make the list. However, the single was big competition for "Loverboy" and even kept it out of Billboard's top slot on the Hot 100. Curiously enough, Usher's "U Remind Me" wasn't released as a commercial CD single, like many other of today's contemporary hits.
Presented by Heineken, the awards ceremony will be held Aug. 9 at the Billboardlive venue in Miami Beach, at the close of the three-day Billboard-AURN R&B/Hip-Hop Conference, which is to be hosted at the nearby Eden Roc Resort. The American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) will provide coverage of the conference and the awards ceremony to more than 400 U.S. radio stations. The awards are based on recordings' and artists' performances on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts over the year beginning with the June 2, 2001, issue and ending with the May 25, 2002, issue.
Carey has won nearly twenty Billboard Music Awards in the past, including 1999's Artist of the Decade.

(Billboard)

Saturday June 8, 2002

CAREY'S MAKE-A-WISH DEDICATION

Amid the glitz of Mariah Carey's forbid glare lies a golden heart. Carey is one of the few celebrities who assess children's heartfelt dreams and turn them into reality as she begins an unprecedented partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. Ms. Carey has announced a contribution of $100,000 to the charity, to grant wishes related to the performing arts nationwide for children with life-threatening illnesses. Such arrangements, where a benefactor designates significant funds to underwrite a specified type of wish experience, are typically made by the charity with corporations. Ms. Carey's commitment represents the first of its kind from an individual celebrity in the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America's history.
"We are delighted that Mariah Carey has chosen our children to benefit from her outstanding generosity," said Paula Van Ness, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief operating officer. "She knows that many of our children wish to either meet a famous performer or enjoy a special experience through the performing arts, and understands the hope, strength, and joy her commitment will provide. We are truly grateful."
Beyond her financial support, Ms. Carey has also committed to speak publicly on the Foundation's behalf through the media, and to act as a liaison with the celebrity community to support the wish-granting process. All the while, she continues to fulfill the many wish requests the Make-A-Wish Foundation receives from children who especially want to meet her. Such wishes have become reality several times in the past. On September 20, 2001, Erika Swiggum, 18, of El Segundo, California, and Vanessa Primrose, 11, of Sacramento, California, realized their dream of meeting the pop music superstar in a very special way. As part of their experience, Erika and Vanessa joined Ms. Carey as they walked the red carpet together to the screening of Carey's movie "Glitter" at the Mann's Village Theatre in Westwood.
In January 2000, Carey gave up her seat at the American Music Awards so two Dream Come True children could watch her perform and accept her award. Later, Ms. Carey took them along with her to a Rolling Stone magazine photoshoot where they were able to get more aquatinted. The following month on February 26, 2000, Ms. Carey met with wish child Anna Chan, 15, who has fought Hodgkins Lymphoma, backstage at her concert at Wembley Arena. A chauffeur driven limousine whisked Anna off for an early dinner in the West End before the concert. Having watched the show in the company of all the other VIPs - Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer, Denise van Outen and Martine McCutcheon to name just a few. Anna was then escorted backstage for a special meeting with her heroine, an experience which, she told us she will never, ever forget.
Another one of Carey's dream-come-true presentations occurred in November 1997 when she met up with Janel Spiegel of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Spiegel had been suffering with Vascular Neurosis for nearly a decade when she saw Carey perform several songs on the NBC-TV show "Saturday Night Live". After the performance, Spiegel was taken backstage where she met the performer and chatted for over an hour. This makes just one of many times Ms. Carey has lent her hand in helping children and those less fortunate worldwide.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 81 chapters in the United States and its territories and 22 international affiliates spanning five continents. This year marks the 21st year of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which has granted more than 83,000 wishes to children around the world since 1980.

(Make-A-Wish)

Thursday June 6, 2002

MARIAH "RENTS" FOR NEXT FILM ROLE

According to Rock Online Italia, Mariah will be gearing up to film "Rent-A-Husband", co-starring Italian actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta ("The World Is Not Enough"). The film, which also stars Alessandro Gassman ("La Bamba") will tell the story of Maria (Cucinotta) who travels to America after locating her lost husband (Gassman), who immigrated to the country several years before. When she arrives, her nostalgia is turned to heartache when she discovers that her husband is now living with and married to another woman (Carey).
The film will be an international co-production between the Cristaldi Pictures, Five Mile River Films, and Medusa Distribution corporations and will begin filming in September in both the USA and Canada. The film is scheduled to be directed by Ilaria Borelli, while Massimo Cristaldi will serve as producer.

(Rock Online Italia)

Thursday June 6, 2002

RECORDING WITH MARIAH

David Gleeson is a Grammy award-winning engineer whose list of credits includes Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. On his working with the two divas, Carey being his first choice of topic, he says the way that his work on Carey's 1993 album "Music Box" was brought together in the following process.
"Generally the way that Walter Afanasieff, Mariah, and Dana Jon Chapelle [her main vocal engineer] work is to sit down at the piano, knock out some ideas and put them down very loosely onto tape; probably just a cassette, which each of them will then take a copy of and work on. Usually, Walter will put the cassette up and, together with a programmer, start working on a basic sequence for it. He'll send various drafts of that to Mariah, she'll work on the lyrics and they'll bounce ideas back and forth. Once the programming mix is ready to put down, with all of the various different synths, samplers, drum machines and everything else balanced correctly, a 48-track reel is created to cut vocals to. At that point Dana and Mariah will work alone on the vocals for however long it takes, and then those reels will get sent back for additional guitar and keyboard overdubs at Walter's studio, the Record Plant in L.A. or somewhere like that."
Gleeson's work with Walter often comprised tracking everything but the vocals. "That's where most of my credits come from on projects with Mariah and Celine. They already have their engineers for the vocals, and they don't really get involved in the tracking sessions, which are Walter's forté. There again, in some cases I will record Mariah's guide vocals when Dana's not around. For instance, with the track 'Butterfly' itself, I remember Mariah coming into the studio and the song being written - maybe some writing had already been done beforehand - and we put a microphone up for her in the control room. She sang along while Walter played the piano for her and we recorded that 48-track, but she then re-tracked the vocals later on. Nevertheless, the real feel of the song was worked out when she and Walter routined it in the studio on that day."
Moving on to fellow diva Celine Dion, Gleeson says the process is quite similar, though the singers' styles differ from one another. Gleeson said "It's pretty much Walter's style to work out the track on a one-to-one basis with a cassette recorder sitting on the piano. To a large extent he'll then take that basic recording and combine it with the elaborate ideas that he has in his head to create the song as he visualizes it. He'll get a performance on tape, largely featuring himself as well as some session musicians, and after a great amount of production has gone on in the studio the artist will then come back and do the vocal. It's at that point that the preferred vocal engineer will step in, and in Celine's case that means Humberto Gatica."
In regards to Walter's piecemeal-styled recording process, Gleeson says "It's obviously great when you have a really together band clicking on a hot take, but there again it's also good to be able to put something down for a while and then come back to it later with more objectivity. The technology that we have enables that, it's not difficult to do and often it can really help creatively."

(Fairlight Online)

Thursday June 6, 2002

LESS IS MORE?

Am I the only person to notice that there is a new disease in town? One that seems to have crept up without us paying attention and now seems to be spreading like wildfire? I feel that it's my duty to inform you of this curious disease that seems to afflict the modern day singer. The disease in question? The "over-singing syndrome" (OSS). This rapidly spreading illness which affects mostly female artists, has become chronic and there seems to be no cure.
It seems that many singers, for whatever reason, feel the need to sing every note, in every variation, in every pitch making up new notes in their quest for "greatness", culminating in overusing such devices in a single song. Forget about the wonders of the melody and its importance to be heard and understood, OSS singers want us to forget all about that and have us focus on them screaming down a microphone, at the highest pitch known to man or woman. They mistake bombarding us with unnecessary notes as greatness, style and charisma.
So who are the main carriers of this affliction? There are quite a few, but the most notable are; Mariah Carey (in my opinion the absolute queen), Beyonce Knowles, Christina Aguillera and the relative new kid on the block Anastacia. Ill-informed critics crow that these singers and those who emulate them have voices to "die for". I beg to differ. Talk to anyone who's ever had singing lessons (or indeed to a singing coach) and they will tell you that the "techniques" of these singers leave a lot to be desired.
Listen to any Mariah Carey track (except Vision of Love which was how she should always sing) and you will hear that her voice, in my opinion, lacks tone, soul or character. She unwittingly demonstrated how weak her voice really is when a few years ago she took part in a "VH1 Diva's Live" concert along with Aretha Franklin, Faith Hill, Gloria Estefan and Celine Dion. Mariah mistakenly believed that her voice would outshine Aretha, You had to feel sorry for the young pretender as Ms Franklin wiped the floor with her, without even breaking into sweat. What it also showed was that a "million octave" range does not maketh the singer.
What is this culture that in order to be considered a great singer you need to out-sing even yourself? Surely the voices that young singers should admire are those that don't rely on what I call the "extra bits" or "warbling" but use it as an enhancement not a replacement for hearing the melody and soul of a song. Singers who have got it right are Whitney Houston, Beverley Knight, the late Aaliyah, Mary J Blige, Brandy, Alicia Keys, Faith Evans and Lauryn Hill to name a few. Those from the "old school" such as Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer, Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick and many more, you can learn a lot from. I should mention Jazz singers Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn and such like who have wonderful voices, which scream "character". Even the "Latin" voices such as Celia Cruz conveys passion. They have brilliance in conveying not only what is sung, but also what they don't sing. These singers allow you to savour the words, the melody and how the song is sung.
When you get Beyonce Knowles murdering the beautiful Bee Gees song, Emotions, by creating notes that just weren't needed, you wonder who told her that "more is great" and "even more is better". In my opinion the person with the best voice in Destiny's Child is Kelly Rowland. She strikes the balance between singing and adding that little bit extra when needed. She knows how to express a note without over doing it. She knows it's not about hitting every note all of the time, it is about conveying the words and feelings you want to put across. Christina Aguillera has a great voice but lately she has caught the OSS bug. The other newcomer in the mix, Anastacia, has believed people when they tell her that her voice sounds black and therefore in order to "maintain" such high regard, she sings in this weird fashion that only someone like Macy Gray can get away with.
I just hope I don't see the day when with every song I hear, I have to wade through the unnecessary screaming to get to what a song is all about. Can't we just have the character, style, passion and melody right from the start?

(Precious Magazine)

Wednesday June 5, 2002

DAVID MORALES: MARIAH'S GREAT WORKING WITH

House music pioneer, David Morales, was recently interviewed and profiled by the dance music magazine, Speed Garage. In the lengthy interview, he mentions that working with Mariah Carey is always a great experience. Without further ado, here is the Mariah-related excerpt:

Speed Garage: How did you begin collaborating with Mariah Carey?
David Morales: I was asked to do a remix of her "Dreamlover" record and I didn't like the original. There was no way I was going to remix it, it was too fluffy, too poodle. I said, there is no way I can do this, can she re-sing it? They told me yeah. It was the first time a remix became a re-vocal. That's when the remixing game changed was with an artist really getting involved. Because she writes her tunes, she was able to re-work it and re-sing it the way that she wanted it to. Some artists because they did not write it, they may not be able to re-sing it another way so it sounds strange. With Mariah, she hit it. She was great working with. She knows what she is doing. We developed a great relationship.

(Speed Garage)

Wednesday June 5, 2002

BARBRA'S FINALLY FLOWN THE CO-OP

Barbra Streisand finally unloaded her lemon of a Central Park co-op. The apartment's great. Building's great. Neighborhood's great. Location is great. Not great is Streisand. Folks might say - me, I'm not saying it, understand - but people might say she didn't make friends there thus nobody was making it easy for her to sell. Me, I'm not saying it. I'm just repeating what residents who know are saying.
The woman's been trying to get rid of the place five years. Doesn't even use it when she comes to town. She opts for a hotel. With the pad being three apartments cobbled together, she started by listing it for $10 mil. Lotsa luck. The board rejected all prospective buyers, including Mariah Carey. The price was dropped. Then dropped again. Then dropped more. Then, more.
First husband, Elliott Gould, who originally found the initial small apartment, plus their son, Jason, who now has his own home, personally schlepped personal belongings out the door last week. Elliott was very sad. He'd always flopped there when he was in town. Sighed Elliott: "I've been here 35 years."

(New York Post)

Monday June 3, 2002

A NAME GAME TO HELP MARIAH WITH HER LABEL

Mariah Carey is no dummy. No, I'm not talking about her decision to sign with Interscope Def Jam Group. I'm not talking about her decision to return to ballads in an attempt to become a hitmaker again. Or her choice of three of the top music industry execs to run her career. Those were all no-brainers considering the options she had open to her. I'm talking about her decision to put off naming the label she will launch with her new album until she can come up with the right name. Names are serious business.
Since she's in the studio working on her new album, she probably won't have a lot of time to think up names, so it seemed like a good time to help her out. The best record label names tend to be the simplest, like Sun or Chess, though chances of Carey's picking something like Sympathy for the Record Industry or Kill Rock Stars weren't high, anyway. She could try something meaningful from her life - such as Greenlawn, where she went to high school, or Huntington Bay, where she grew up. But where's the street cred in that? She could call on some of her favorite symbols, which also happen to be her hit albums, such as Rainbow or Butterfly or Music Box. There's Wisegirl, after her new movie, in which she gets better reviews than her big-screen debut, "Glitter". In fact, if she were really daring, she could name the label Glitter after the movie and the record that unexpectedly put her on this new career path.
Taking the name of her most public failure and whipping it into a success could be the ultimate revenge for her unceremonious treatment at Virgin Records - that and enjoying the $ 28 million check the company gave her to sever their ties. One music industry type jokes that she should call her label Slut, as in the "anti-Virgin", but something tells me that won't win out. Another suggests Shoes, after the "MTV Cribs" episode done while Carey was still "exhausted", a look into her lavish lifestyle that became even more entertaining as she showed off hundreds of pairs of shoes in a closet the size of many Manhattan studio apartments. Others say it doesn't matter what she calls her company, waxing Shakespearean about "What's in a name?"
What they forget, though, is when the name doesn't come first, you end up with an unfortunate mouthful like, well, "Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theatre." Now, I don't begrudge the Jones Beach folks' desire to make some extra cash or Hilfiger's desire to further attach himself to the rock and roll lifestyle. But let's face it, that's quite a name. Of course, the move is already on to shorten it. Obviously, the easiest way is to return it to the original Jones Beach, but that's not fair to Hilfiger, who shelled out a reported $ 40 million for the naming rights. After all, change is good. Nevertheless, Jones Beach now desperately needs a new nickname.
Here are some possibilities: The Tommy: The "the" is very important to familiarity, as in t he Garden, and it also seems friendly, as if Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theatre is somehow a friend. If Mr. Hilfiger wants to take this friendship to the next level, he can hand out free jeans to Long Island, and I'm sure we'll agree to call it "My Tommy" and force Rosie O'Donnell to come up with a new nickname for Tom Cruise. Hilfiger: Yeah, it's a lot of brand extension, but it also makes the huge amphitheater sound like a hip little club in the East Village. Hipster One: "Did you see Bonnie Raitt last night?" Hipster Two: "Yeah, I caught her set at Hilfiger. She was amazing." THA Jones Beach Theater: The "tha" is very cool, very today, as in Jennifer Lopez's new album, "J to tha L-O." Of course, the next step would then be "THA J.BeT," or "J.BeT" for short. That has a certain ring to it, but it depends on context. Please do not say, "Dude, are you going to THA J.BeT to check out Michael Bolton?"
Considering the importance of Jones Beach to the summer concert season, finding it the right nicknames is worthwhile - unless, of course, they decide to sell the name to someone else in 2004 and we're stuck coming up with creative ways to avoid calling it "Verizon Jones Beach" or "The Clear Channel". Which brings us back to Mariah. She seems well on the road to recovery. She's got a braintrust in place to bounce ideas off of this time. Maybe she should name her label after the famous Jay-Z rhyme, one of my personal favorites: "On Fire".

(Variety)

Monday June 3, 2002

MARIAH'S SPARKLING TREND

Pop superstar Mariah Carey is known for setting (and sometimes un-setting) trends throughout the fashion industry. Surely you remember spandex jumpers, black boot-cut pants with button-up shirts, butterfly burettes, rainbow tank tops, frayed jeans, and the lackluster "Mariah Bandeau". But now it seems Mariah is once again rearing in yet another trendy item. This time around it's crystallized tattoos - a sparkling, temporary, and reusable faux made of the finest Austrian crystals by Swarovski. Fellow singer Pink and model Anna Sui have also been recently spotted wearing the shimmering pieces. For all her crystal-istic needs, Mariah prefers Dork-A-Licious, a rising company that in many ways she helped to establish.
"Mariah found out about us via word-of-mouth," says Dork-A-Licious co-founder, Brian Cooperman. "Through her business, word quickly spread and we were able to set up a boutique in Los Angeles. Now we've put one in Santa Monica, as well as another in LA." It seems that Mariah has ordered dozens of Dork-A-Licious's butterfly and heart tattoos, and even had a special American flag tattoo prepared for a pre-game Super Bowl party.
Mariah fans and fashion foes alike can also get into the action through Dork-A-Licious.com, where they can custom order their own crystallized tattoos and will find themselves looking, what else, but dork-a-licious (in a strictly high-fashion and contemporary manner).

(mcarchives.com)