EW's Simon Vozick-Levinson and Missy Schwartz, and Essence.com's Emil Wilbekin live-blogged today's emotional memorial to Michael Jackson and said this during Mariah's performance:
| Simon: And here's Mariah Carey singing "I'll Be There." Emil: She's breaking down while she sings... Emil: Trey Larenz joining Mariah. He sings back-up on all of her albums and concerts Missy Schwartz Imagining little MJ singing this as a kid is almost too much for me. I imagine it's hard for Mariah, too. Simon: This song is a real tearjerker even in the best of times. Hearing it now...wow. Emil: I think Mariah is choked up...I couldn't do this....Incredible!!!! Emotional Simon: Yes -- kudos to Mariah and Trey for getting through this song without breaking down in sobs. True professionals. Emil: I'm crying at work!!! Simon: I think people in offices around the world are getting choked up right now. |
And Los Angeles Times' writers Ann Powers and Todd Martens shared their thoughts on Mariah's performance.
| What: Mariah Carey's 'I'll Be There.' A No. 1 hit for Carey, who covered the Jackson 5 hit on her 1992 "MTV Unplugged" album. The ballad was an early sign of Jackson's strength as a vocalist, a childlike innocence conveyed with near expert phrasing. The Times' Ann Powers is inside Staples Center, and she offers that "Carey's version of the Jackson 5 song symbolizes innocence for her too -- it was one of her early hits, and a curly haired, cherubic Carey has been featured singing it in many televised Jackson tributes this last week. For Jackson's fans, the song recalls a period when the star made history as one of the first black teen idols to find acceptance across color lines." At the memorial: In the very first verse Carey -- in a black, glittery dress -- made it clear that this would be a more restrained, elegant rendition of the song. Singing through the emotions, Carey was at a near-gasp in the song's opening moments. Her partner on the 1992 cover, Trey Lorenz, made an appearance here as well, heightening the performance's gospel undertones. Lorenz, in fact, showed off more vocal dynamics than Carey. But a more subtle Carey is a more graceful one. Inside the venue, Powers noted that Carey's take began in a tiny voice, as if to honor the boy Michael. When Carey found that Lorenz almost bowled her over, that's when she turned her voice up a notch to match her singing partner. Lorenz sang Michael's name in falsetto, and Carey added "Never Can Say Goodbye..." Very tasteful. |
USA Today had two positive mentions of Mariah's performance.
Maria Puente in a recap of the event:
| "Mariah Carey sang sweetly." |
Elysa Gardner in a review of the performances:
Hear the sadness in her voice
Mariah Carey set the stage for a succession of reverent musical tributes with a dramatic but un-divalike performance. Re-creating her hit cover of the Jackson 5 classic I'll Be There with Trey Lorenz, Carey seemed tentative at first, her trademark hand gestures betraying emotional intensity more than technical affectation. As her voice gained power and confidence, its slight hoarseness made the lyrics seem more plaintive. "We never will say goodbye," Carey sang at the end. She added, speaking softly, "We miss you."
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