Mariah Carey divides both critics and fans with 'Obsessed'
The new Mariah Carey single – "Obsessed" – released Tuesday has divided both music critics and fans alike. In the sassy song, Carey raps of her disdain for Eminem, dismissing him by saying, "You're a mom and pop, I'm a corporation." This track is the first off of her album "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" due out Aug. 25, just six days before the cut-off of the Grammy Awards eligibility period.
Whether "Obsessed" will reap Carey a fourth record of the year bid at the Grammys is up for debate. The critical response to the single was mixed. Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times said the song, "is certainly more lively than her earlier work with The-Dream (the bedroom slow-dance "My Love"). Unfortunately,
it's an even more anonymous Carey than ever before. One of the biggest
selling points of "E=MC2" was Carey dropping the over-the-top howling,
and learning how to sing with a more restrained range. She thankfully
left the showboating to the "American Idol" kids, and stayed closer to
the rhythms. Yet "Obsessed" again sells out the songbird to her
producers."
However, for Melinda Newman of HitFix, "The song is a rhythmically-driven, mid-tempo slice of summer delight, full of insults delivered in a innocent, sugary sweet questioning way by Carey, which only adds to its appeal." And Glenn Gamboa of Newsday thought, "Carey plays it cool on the track that she co-wrote with The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. She coos confidently, riding the laid-back beat, probably holding back the laughs as she insults again."
Mariah Carey's last studio album – "E=MC2" – included the track "Touch My Body" which was her 18th No. 1 single. That achievement broke the record long held by Elvis Presley for a solo artist. Mariah Carey now sits just two songs away from The Beatles who piled up 20 chart-toppers in their career. The prospect of "Obsessed" becoming her 19th number one is being hotly discussed in our forums.
To Troy, "The song is definitely a grower! I don't get the "Touch My Body" comparison at all but yeah, the beat is sick!! #19 fo' sho!!!"
musicboy said, "I really love the song, is the type of beat she has to do right now, very "Migrate" (which had to be a single instead of "Loving u long time" and "I stay in love"). The auto-tune is appropiate, the lyrics are great, very urban, original to her, I can see this to be the #19, for sure."
Kenny thought it, "Excellent. I was hoping for something faster but this is still perfect for the summer. Clever lryics, The Dreams production can never fail, its catchy, I can't wait till this goes #1!"
However, jarretj said, "I don't know if I see this being "HUGE" though. you know? Sure its a good beat ... listened to it a couple times but it's nothing groundbreaking for her by any means nor is it a song I think that will have a major impact on her career."
Admitted DCurrie, "As much as I still love "Touch My Body", Mimi, Tricky & Dream stepped up about 10 blocks ahead with this one!"
And Mr Talented said, "I really like "Obsessed." It's not nearly as catchy as "Touch My Body," but it's certainly a better song and record overall."
bildo10 raved, "Loved it. It's miles better than "Touch My Body". The beat is great, and the lyrics are clever. I did hear auto-tune, but I don't think it overpowered the song."
But DJWoolf thought, "The beat is too "Touch My Body 2.0" for my taste. It sounds too autotuned, too, which is a turn-off in my book. I guess it'll get better with repeated listens."
24fanatic thought, "Mariah came at him (Eminem) 10X harder without having to rap, use explicit lyrics, or even mention him by name! She even had the guts to put her track out as the lead single, making damn sure everybody knows who she's targeting too! All I gotta say, is GET IT MC!!! Mariah absolutely killed it with this!"
HerMadjesty admitted, "I really wanted to like the new single, but here are my first impressions: the Auto-Tune is really tired and Mariah's the last artist who should be using it, not sure how I feel about the drug references, and I was expecting it to be more uptempo but it was midtempo at best. I did like "oh-uh-oh-uh-oh" parts and the vamping at the end was nice."
And Gucci said, "I'm not crazy about it. Let's start with the good. This is so much better than "Touch My Body" and the production is rather catchy. Now onto the bad. The lyrics are down-right awful, the cover is a hot mess and what's up with the auto-tune? It's like Mimi is taking notes from Beyonce."
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Photo: Island Def Jam
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i love mariah's upcoming track its catchy and it rips eminem im not a fan of his at all and hate the way hes making comments about mariah shes moved on why cant he its not like they were dating or married. and i dont like gucci's comment theres no out of tune notes on obsessed so dont know what you've been listening to and woah!!! bout beyonce shes a brilliant singer love every track shes done shes such a lovely humble person shes knows what shes doing shes sold millions and sold out her concerts so no need to dis beyonce or mariah
Posted by: Pamela S | June 28, 2009 at 05:08 PM
I like the song too. Many fans of Mariah Carey will love this song....
Posted by: rockeesta999 | June 22, 2009 at 07:56 PM
Love mariah's new single working with the dream and tricky stewart how could u go wrong she can pick better material from their catalog better than janet!
Posted by: Ronald Adams | June 22, 2009 at 07:16 PM
I THINK THE SONG IS FIRE AND ITS DIFFERNT. WE ALL WANTED MIGRATE RELEASED AND SO I GUESS SHE TRIED TO PLEASE US AND YU GUYS DNT LIKE IT! WTF? ANYWAYS YALL NEED TO CLM DOWN CUZ SHE SED THE ALBUM HAS BIG BALLADS AND THE NEXT SINGLE WILL BE A BALLAD. WE ALL KNO MARIAH CAN BLOW! SHE DOESNT HAVE TO PROVE IT ON EVERY DAMN SONG!!!! OBSESSED IS HOT!!!
Posted by: BEAST | June 22, 2009 at 10:11 AM
mariah sings phenomenal everybody needs to stop hateing.Hands down she can sing way better than all yall on this page.Its clear the haters are jealous and obsessed with her.you go Girl!!!!!
Posted by: kathleen | June 21, 2009 at 01:51 PM
One of her worst songs in this decade.
Nothing so special about this song other than calling Eminem-delusional times.
Eminem 1 / Mariah 0
Posted by: Delusion | June 21, 2009 at 09:51 AM
I have always been a fan of Mariah's since her first debut in 1990 but this song "Obsessed" is just awful.
Mariah is so much better then this. I agree, she is dumbing down her talent. She was blessed with an amazing voice yet, she refuses to use it any longer. I'm starting to wonder if she still can.
Posted by: Lauren | June 20, 2009 at 02:37 PM
I think Obsessed is an extremely catchy, addictive track that is sure to dominate the radio airwaves and Billboard singles charts. Everyone criticizing Mariah's new work ( she dosent sing anymore, OMG shes using autotune, too many rappers) needs to consider the fact that shes simply making music that is current and fresh instead of retreading the same old tired middle of the road Adult comtemporary sound shes utilized for years in the 90s. I for one am glad shes decided to keep her music aligned with the changing trends in pop music. Thats how shes been able to dominate the charts for almost 20 yrs. Obsessed will be another HUGE hit.
Posted by: Lamar | June 20, 2009 at 09:59 AM
the problem with the notion of a Prince & MC collabo is that every woman that Prince touches turns to shit!
Posted by: Mineola | June 19, 2009 at 12:52 PM
omq i love this sonq.
Posted by: izzy | June 19, 2009 at 09:44 AM
yoo this song is hot i was like damn mimi dissd em hahaha thts wat he get go head gurl bm0r3
Posted by: ec | June 19, 2009 at 08:52 AM
GREAT SONG MARIAH!!!THE SONG IS HOT
Posted by: MICHAEL | June 19, 2009 at 06:56 AM
Mariah Carey is a Vocalist, like Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, she continues to forget that, but using less talented producers and fluffy forgettable material. Mine Again, Thanks for Nothing, I wish you well should have been singles so the younger generation can her the VOICE that launched a thousand wannabes. LA REID is a FOOL, he ruined her LAST CD with wrong single choices, and i think the idoit is doing it again. Mariah's fans know what a hit is. Release the Ballad Girl, and touch the core, u did it in 05 with We Belong Together, u can do it again
Posted by: Ty2phine | June 19, 2009 at 05:20 AM
Go Mimi!!
Go Obsessed!!
Go M.O.A.I.A.!!
Go Grammy Payback!!
Booo haterzzz!!!
Posted by: Mimi Forever | June 19, 2009 at 01:59 AM
Meant: I Wish You Well!
Posted by: Renee | June 19, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Mariah has already blown everyone out the water. She's havin' fun and her song Obsessed is fun. I LOVE it! You can't put Mariah in a box - she defines herself. She still does meaningful songs like I Wish You Will on E=MC2. Following Beyonce? That's a joke, and I love Beyonce.
Posted by: Renee | June 19, 2009 at 12:35 AM
I totally agree with 24fanatic, Mariah did an awesome job and cutting Eminem down to size without using rap, explicit lyrics or using his name. Mariah is awesome.
Posted by: Aryana | June 18, 2009 at 08:58 PM
I have been a huge MC fan since she came out in 90, I really think that everyone should not focus SO much on the fact that she used Auto Tune in her new song. SO WHAT! We all know she can sing, we all know she has an amazing voice, its something different from her, something that we would not expect, and thats what makes it good! I think her voice sounds great computerized. I also think its about time someone fired back at Feminem, he is always talking ish about EVERYONE, and for him to call MC a "C***" and a "F****** W****" on his record, shows that he has no respect for women what so ever! I think this is a classy F.U. song from MC, and I think the album is going to be her best yet!
Posted by: MCFan | June 18, 2009 at 07:19 PM
How is critical reception mixed. Most of it is favorable. Rolling Stone, EW, Newsday, MTV, and FMQB, all gave it positive reviews. The only review that was mixed was the LA times. 4 > 1.
Posted by: MJfan22 | June 18, 2009 at 05:56 PM
I dig this song better than Touch My Body. Here she is more gutzier than before. Previously she would images and metaphors to describe this fool named Eminem, but this time she really hit on the head with this new cleverly written song. I don't care about auto-tone so much, because what is the most important part is her music and how she has evolved with her music. Not all her songs will be used with auto-toned. Mariah is not stupid, she knows what she is doing. Even on E=MC2, there was only one song that auto-tone, and that was Migrate, so why are people complaining. She is making the music not only for herself, but for us her fans. I have most of her albums in my home and what is nice to hear is her evolution as an artist, how she sounds different from the old era Carey, but then again there are songs on the last few albums that have had remnants of her old sound, which is good. She hasnt completed abandoned her old former self. She is only exploring new territories and is one of the first of the older bunch that is doing that. Even Celine Dion and Whitney Houston are starting to do those things, so what's your problem with Mariah doing that. Is it because she is a woman? Or are y'all jealous that she might conquer the charts again????
Love ya MC. I am totally obsessed with OBSESSED!
Posted by: Lee JohnSiebritz | June 18, 2009 at 05:47 PM
I love 'Obsessed' !!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Manu | June 18, 2009 at 05:46 PM
I like the song, but I agee with blogger, Gucci. She's seems to be 'dumb-downing' her talent. She continues to produce with rappers. This 'techno' sound is not music, really. It's a device, in my opinion, devised by rappers who can't sing, i.e., Kanye. She is way above her female peers, talently. Try a change in production partners, like Baby Face or imagine a Prince & MC collaboration! Each would make better use of her singing abilities. Her music is beginning to sound repetitious. I want her to soar, not become mediocre. It's like she needs to be liked by the rapper world. I don't understand it. Hope she ventures away from the rappers for awhile after this album. Not that there is anything wrong with rappers, it's just that they seem to have one note, style. The girl has 6 octaves for heaven's sake. She should be blowing everyone out of water, every time she opens her mouth!
Posted by: GC | June 18, 2009 at 05:18 PM