Mariah Carey’s Music Knowledge Goes Deep During ‘Track Star’ Episode, From ‘Crazy Train’ to ‘Keep Ya Head Up’
MC had no problem at all picking out songs by Janet Jackson, Donell Jones and DeBarge.
The Mariah Carey Universe runs on a different wavelength than the one here on Earth. For one, as any in the Lambily knows, time does not exist for MC, who once claimed “I don’t know her” about singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, later clarifying that she simply is not acquainted with Lopez, not that she doesn’t know of her existence… maybe.
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But when Carey dropped by Jack Coyne’s popular Track Star podcast this week to test her name-that-tune knowledge, the singer was put to the test by having to really focus on songs by other artists at a time when she, admittedly, has been much more keyed in promoting her just-released 16th studio album, Here For It All.
The game is pretty simple: host Coyne plays the guest a song and they try to name the artist, and if they are really music nerds, the song as well. Coyne gave Mariah a lay-up to begin, playing Janet Jackson’s “If,” which Mariah immediately picked out as a Ms. Jackson classic, saying “we love Janet. Who doesn’t love Janet?”
It took just a few notes for MC to spot Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much,” saying it was too easy to pick up on the instantly iconic voice of her 1994 duet partner on a cover of the Lionel Richie-penned “Endless Love.” Carey said she was a “huge fan” of the late R&B crooner. “Luther was a huge and still is a huge inspiration to me,” Carey said. “His voice, the quality of his voice, the way that he presented himself in every way… ‘Never Too Much’ is my favorite.”
She also easily nailed Marvin Gaye as the singer of “Got To Give You Up,” explaining to Coyne that her musical aptitude began at home listening to her mother, an opera singer, singing around the house. And while she had no stumbles identifying 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up,” Mariah said her favorite ‘Pac song is actually the late rapper’s 1993 Billboard Hot 100 No. 12 hit “I Ain’t Mad At Cha.”
Coyne tried to trip Mariah up with some rock, though she tagged Fleetwood Mac’s “Gypsy” instantly and let Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” run a bit just so she could hear the iconic “aye-aye-aye-aye,” telling Coyne that when she was growing up she’d crank Ozzy once in a while.
She was 6-for-6 thanks to DeBarge’s “I Like It” and kept it perfect with “Is This the End” by New Edition and The Clark Sisters’ “You Brought the Sunshine,” instantly recognizing the Detroit gospel group that she duets with on “Jesus I Do” from the new album.
Carey also ripped off songs by Donell Jones (“U Know What’s Up”), Brandy (“Angel in Disguise”) and, of course, her own “Play This Song” with Anderson .Paak from the new album, running the table to a 10-for-10 score.
Watch Carey on Track Star below.
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