Having gotten two anniversary editions in close succession this year, I’ve realized how Mariah’s team approaches anniversary albums can be a mixed bag at times, but she is really leading the charge in this space (often imitated, never duplicated). I can’t really think of any of her peers that are using this space to cement or reflect on their legacy like she has been.
It isn’t a perfect approach. There are quite a few missed opportunities for some albums, and we’ve all read the stories of people’s orders getting canceled, shipped late, arriving damaged etc. (myself included). Which can leave a poor taste in one’s mouth. There are also questionable tracklist choices like including tracks already available on streaming or YouTube in anniversary editions over something more “rare” or not having the new tracks available on physical copies.
That said, you can really tell her and her team are doing their best to go the extra mile for these. She mastered Butterfly in Dolby Atmos herself, getting the Here is Mariah Carey Concert on streaming, demos, new behind the scenes footage, extended takes, etc. These purely for cash grabs for so many artists. 1 new track/remix and a colored vinyl. The end. However, Mariah’s really going into the vault and digging for gold. It’s a true fan service. Like unearthing Lead The Way (1997)?! A regular fan isn’t even thinking about that. But she KNOWS the lambs have speculated and wondered and now she’s finally giving it to us. It makes being a lamb really fun now that studio content is less frequent.
I also think there’s something to be said for how these anniversary celebrations show that even as she’s reaching back further into her catalogue, she’s still got her ear to the streets of the music scene, working with remixers like Kaytranada, Solange, Rochelle Jordan, Amorphous, etc. All this said, I’m pumped!! For Glitter this Friday!!
