Mariah Carey - 'Bye Bye'
Right, first of all, shut up, OK? Don't be putting that sneer on your face just because Mariah is Mariah and can sometimes come across as being about as sincere as Alexa Chung giving a compliment. And don't assume that just because this song contains a clear attempt to poke people in tender spots, particularly anyone who is grieving the loss of a close friend or relative, that it's all cynical manipulation of emotion, with the aim of securing The All-Important Death Dollar.
The thing is, any song of support to people who are in the midst of grief will look more than a little self-serving to the casual observer, unless you're that person in that situation. I was flicking through some of the comments that accompany the different versions of this video on YouTube, and while a certain amount of them are standard YouTube comment fare (basically cowards yelling abuse from a very safe distance, yawn!) there are a few from people who have found this song to be genuinely useful.
And if that's the case, who are we to say they're wrong? I for one am enormously pleased to hear a Mariah Carey song which isn't about how sexy she is, and how we all really want to get close to her. I mean there's that Christmas one, but that's only for winter. You can at least play this one in the sunshine without feeling like a simpleton who can't let Santa go.
Musically, the song rests on the ultimate chord sequence for people who are seeking reassurance and emotional warmth from their music. It's that perpetually decending run of circling, calming chords which has been used in pastoral classics like Pachelbel's Canon, 'Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space' by Spiritualized, 'All Together Now' by the Farm, and erm...'Basket Case' by Green Day. It's infallible!
Also, the video, specifically the home movies of Mariah meeting her fans, and the look on their faces when they shake her hand or she signs their poster...it's just really touching. So, call it cynical, call it manipulative, call it Michael Jackson-style 'Heal The World' hubris, call it what you like, I won't have a word said against this.
Apart from the fact that it has no proper melody, it's just those lovely chords and some singing. That's the only thing.
Otherwise, give her a break, people, she's trying to be nice!
Download: Out now
CD Released: June 23rd
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 19th Jun 2008, katstevens wrote:Mariah never does anything by halves, does she? When she does bonkers, it's all unicorns and laserquest. When she does sentimental, expect dying grandmothers stroking a baby kitten. And of course, when she's cross, it's Mariah law...
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