Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse: Mariah Carey’s Long Journey To Her 14th Album

It looks like Mariah Carey is finally going to be releasing her 14^th album this month after years of delays. That album, now being called Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse is scheduled for a May 23rd release by Def Jam Recordings. This will be Mariah’s first album on the Def Jam label, since the announcement of the disbandment of The Island Def Jam Music Group in April of 2014. In that announcement it was revealed that Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, and Motown Records would be re-launched as separate entities. Mariah first signed with Island Def Jam in 2002 after the commercial failure of her film and soundtrack, Glitter.  (September2001)

Glitter (2001 Trailer)

Laurence Mark Productions/20th Century Fox/Columbia Pictures

Mariah Carey

“We Belong Together”

From The Emancipation Of Mimi

Island Records/IDJMG

“Don’t Forget About Us”

From The Emancipation Of Mimi

Island Records/IDJMG

From E=MC2 

Island Records/IDJMG

From Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel 

Island Records/IDJMG

Mariah began the early stages of working on the album in February 2011 while she was still pregnant with her twins, Moroccan Scott, and Marilyn, The progress on the album got put on the back burner when  Mariah began to suffer from complications caused by the pregnancy. In an October 2011 interview with ABC’s 20/20 Mariah revealed that her pregnancy was very difficult on her. She suffered from high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes. She would say, “I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to walk properly again, It was a huge strain. I would sit and then someone would have to help me up. I couldn’t go even to the loo by myself. It was just like, ‘What are we doing? Are we going to the hospital?’ No, I’m gonna stick it out, I’m gonna keep taking this medicine to keep these babies in… I made it to 35 weeks and then the doctor said it wasn’t safe anymore” With complications like that it is perfectly understandable why Mariah became distracted from the creation of an album.

However that was just the beginning of her personal struggles that would slow down production. The next came in January 2012 when her husband, host/actor/rapper/producer, Nick Cannon suffered from what she called “minor kidney failure.” Nick’s health troubles continued in February 2012 when he was hospitalized again for blood clots in his lungs. In March, 2012, he announced that he had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, lupus nephritis, which was the cause of his previous health problems.

In August of 2012, Mariah revealed in an Island Def Jam phone conference that Clizbeats participated in, that those issues served as a source of inspiration for what was intended to be the first single from her 14^th album.

That single was the appropriately titled, “Triumphant (Get Em).” With production by frequent collaborators Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, and guest appearances by Maybach Music Group’s Rick Ross and Meek Mill, it had all the makings of a perceived hit. However since the song had two verses from two different guest rappers, many critics felt  that Mariah was taking a backseat to Ross and Meek on the track, as a result the song underperformed and was scrapped from the album.

Mariah Carey Featuring Meek Mill And Rick Ross 

“Triumphant (Get Em)”

Island Records/IDJMG

Mariah Carey

“Almost Home”

From Disney’s Oz: The Great And Powerful Soundtrack

Walt Disney Records/The Island Def Jam Music Group

Mariah Carey Featuring Miguel 

“#Beautiful”

From Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse

Island Records/IDJMG And Def Jam Recordings (2014)

Sadly, despite the success of “#Beautiful”, the album’s momentum would become derailed from health problems once again. In July of 2013 when filming a music video for one of “#Beautiful’s” many remixes, it was reported that Mariah had dislocated her shoulder after a fall on set. In October of 2013 she revealed how painful how painful that experience was in an interview she did with CNN. In that same interview she talked about how writing the song that would become the second single was a big part of helping her recover as she learned to deal with the pain of physical therapy. That song, was the Rodney Jerkins co produced, “The Art Of Letting Go.” When it was originally released as the then intended title track of the album on November 11^th, it was met with universal praise and was seen as Mariah returning back to her roots as it got many comparisons to her 1990 debut, “Vision Of Love.”

Mariah Carey 

“The Art Of Letting Go”

From Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse

Island Records/IDJMG And Def Jam Recordings (2014)

Mariah Carey 

“You’re Mine (Eternal)”

From Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse

Def Jam Recordings 

“You’re Mine (Eternal)” (Remix)

From Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse

Def Jam Recordings 

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George Michael

“One More Try”

From Faith 

Columbia/Epic Records

It may have taken a while, but at the end of the day this elusive album may turn out to have the music that shows Mariah at her best. Her friend and frequent collaborator, Jermaine Dupri has stepped up both as her manager (Replacing Friend/Former American Idol Judge/Producer, Randy Jackson) and co-executive producer of the project. This is exciting because JD, Mariah, and JD’s protégé, Bryan-Michael Cox have come together on multiple occasions to create some of the stand our songs in her discography. Who knows, after so many false starts for so many different reasons, Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse may be worth the wait after all.

Track listing