Review Summary: Mariah bites her thumb at the haters, and it sounds like the gates of heaven.
Aside from being a promotional device for her sophomore album Emotions, Mariah Carey's MTV Unplugged set in 1992 was intended to disprove critics who had her pigeonholed as a studio artist. It's true that Mariah was focused and tenacious in the studio, both as a vocalist and as a producer. But her comfort in the studio was contrasted by her fear of life as a touring artist, which could (and ultimately would) wear down her primary instrument with demanding performance schedules. Nonetheless, it was decided that she'd appear for a short set on MTV Unplugged to prove, once and for all, that she had chops outside of the studio too. The gig was a smash hit; three months after it aired on MTV, the performance was given a proper release and eventually certified 4x Platinum.
Throughout a 28-minute runtime, Mariah and her backing band breathe new life into her songs with an acoustic treatment. These tunes do especially well in a live setting, stripped of the calculation present in her early work. The backup vocalists in particular are just divine, adding extra bounce to an already grooving band. Although Mariah's sound during this time period was pop, here it's more gospel, soul, and funk, a refreshing change that helped propel her artistry to new heights and crystallize a prolific touring career.
Mariah shoots straight for the heart from the very first track, a passionate rendition of her hit “Emotions,” landing an impressive vocal intro before things really get going. Her stage presence is exhilarating, and her self-assurance is audible as she speaks to the audience, engaging them to create intimate show space while keeping the energy and setlist flowing. It's all very professional, but you can hear her beaming too—she loves it up there. Before an impromptu closing ballad, Mariah thanks the audience for their support, and you can feel the room swell as she touches on the vulnerability of performing live:
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You know I'm not used to doing this, and you guys made it great for me, so, I just wanna thank you, so much. Thank you."
No? That didn't make you tear up? It sounds more genuine when she says it, promise.
