She is, of course, the diva's diva and, for the purposes of this exercise,
you are her "little lambs". Until, that is, she comes to the enquiries about
nose ops and how her ex-husband smells.
It's 10:30pm when Q finally gets the nod to enter Mariah Carey's bedroom. Suite
4600 of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York is a $3000-a-night den of
scented candles, hardwood furniture and floor-to-ceiling views of Manhattan.
It's been a long evening - Carey has just sung her 1993 single Hero at an awards
ceremony across town. But even with this daunting itinerary she is full of
michievous vigor.
"Has one flown all the way from London to see me?" she enquires in a comedy
accent of passable, Joan Collins-esque loucheness, before leaping onto the bed
in her black form-hugging dress and heels. "Please don't make me get up. I'll
answer everything if you let me lie down."
"Comedy Carey" is a new proposition. She was discovered by ex-Sony boss Tommy
Mottola - whom she married in 1993 and divorced five years later - and her
five-octave voice has helped herself 160 million albums and singles, and secured
a reputation as the diva's diva en route.
Despite her return to the homegirl roots with 2005's career-reviving The
Emancipation of Mimi, there are suspicions the diva still lurks within. Today,
members of her entourage engage in a discussion over what side of her face can
be photographed and whether she will "walk" if Tommy Mottola or her age (37) are
mentioned.
In the event, she doesn't seem bothered by any of these as she rolls over on the
bed and grabs a pillow for comfort. But if annoyed by a question, she will
address the letter writer by name, as though she fully expects Q to fly back to
Britain and hunt the impertinent reader down for an explanation.
"So," she enquired with a twinkle. "What have the little lambs been writing in
about, then?"
We know about the big ballads. We know about "street" Mariah. But do you have a
secret stash of rock albums that you love? (
Mike Jennings, Battle )
I can only think of No Doubt's Don't Speak as the closest thing to a rock record
that I enjoyed belting out in the car or somewhere. I might pretend to play
along with my [Fender] Hellow Kitty guitar if the mood takes me. Did I try to
get Led Zeppelin reunion tickets? Well, I would have loved to. That would be
something. But, no. When I'm in album mode I'm listening to hip hop beats. I
don't have room for Stairway To Heaven.
You used to work in a hair salon. Could you still give me a short back and
sides? (George Duffy, Ashby de la Zouch )
Nice work, Goerge, but I only worked there for one day. I did go to beauty
school in 11th grade but I dropped out. That gives you some idea of the standard
of hair care you'd be getting. But a short back and sides is a military-style
razor cut, right? I could give it a try, but I don't think I'd be bringing much
to the table. Or your social life.
You wrote poetry as a kid. Was it any good? Give us a quick burst.
(
Matt Shriver, Basingstoke )
I'm definitely not giving you a quick burst, Matt, but I will say that I
suffered for my art as a poet. I had a little writing pad that i wrote my verses
in and my teacher in third grade accused me of copying the poems from somewhere
else. He was a horrible man. What was his name? I'm not outing him because he'll
come after me and sue me and he ain't getting a dime of my money. Teachers are
supposed to be an inspiration. This guy lowered my self-esteem from zero to
below.
You live in a big apartment in New York. How much is your electricity bill?
(
Alicia, via email )
I have no idea. That is terrible. I'm not there that much. I think it would be
pretty normal. It's not like I'm running a fountain or funfair rides there. I
try not to waste electricity and water. [Film director] Penny Marshall told me
about these new light bulbs that last for 10 years and use a fraction of the
energy. I ordered some. Ask me next year, Alicia, and I'll have that bill cut in
half. [Q mentions the urban myth that the everlasting light bulb has been
invested, but the secret is locked in a vault because it would ruin the
light-bulb industry] I heard that once, too. I'm ready to use whatever influence
I may have to get that light-bulb recipe out onto the open market. Aren't they a
pain in the butt to change?
On The Emancipation of Mimi you were using all kinds of funky street slang, such
as, "Them chickens is ash, I'm lotion". Can you give me some new street talk so
I can be a step ahead? (
Laetitia Knowles, via email )
That line is about girls in a nightclub rivalry situation. Two girls want the
guy and in an arrogant moment one is saying she has the better skin. It's not
something I've said in real life. But I don't know if I have any current street
talk for you, Laetitia. Don't you have your own cockney slang? [Adopts bad
cockney accent] Awright, mate! Blimey!
Do you stay in touch with Ant and Dec? (
Kirsten James, Truro )
They are funny guys. I really like that youthful sense of humour. The wedding?
[In December 2001 Carey was maid of honor at the spoof nuptials of Dec and Cat
Deeley on Saturday morning kids' TV show SM:TV, alongside Frank Skinner, Denise
Van Outen and Hear Say. The "marriage" lasted less than a minute] I was there
for the whole marriage. You should have worked at it, guys!
Is it true that you had an operation on your nose to allow you to sing so high?
(
Emma Skinner, via email )
No. It is completely untrue, Emma. I think you need to take care what internet
pages you read. I must say I have never heard that one before. One of the
reasons for my range is I have nodules on my vocal chords, and my mother says
I've had them since I was a kid. That's why I have the high register as well as
the breathy register and the belting register. I can do this [emits a sort of "Breeeeee"
sound] and I can be husky. The only thing that really affects my voice is sleep.
Sometimes if I'm exhausted I can hit the really high notes. Am I a moody cow
without enough sleep? Is that an English thing? Calling someone a cow? Why are
you down on your cows? They're pretty useful and easy-going animals from what I
can see.
You've just launched a new perfume. If you were going to create a Tommy Mottola
scent, what ingredients would you use? (
Dara Yazdani, Hove )
Dara, you come from a place called Hove? Does Jay-Z know about this? [Carey's
Def Jam label boss Jay-Z is nicknamed J-Hova or Hove] We should make him the
mayor of your town. Anyway, what kind of question is that? Dara, you're not
being kind. I think it's fair to say that I am not going to be creating a
fragrance for him at this point in my life. He has his own life, his own stuff.
Hey, we love everybody and wish them all well.
The tabloids have called you a bit of a diva, though I'm sure they've suggested
things. But what's the most diva-ish thing you've ever done? (
Jason Bradbury, Mansfield )
[With a cut-glass English accent] Jason, darling, what on earth makes you think
that I am a diva? I am baffled, shocked and appalled. I've never done one diva-ish
thing in my entire life, though I happen to be lying on a bed in high heels from
the gentleman from Q magazine. The actual definition of a diva is a woman who
sings well. The secondary definition is a woman who is difficult to deal with. I
hope I am the first. I don't think I am the second. But these days everyone is a
diva. "Oh, she's the diva of chocolate chip cookies. He's a real diva of garbage
collection." If I'm a diva it's because I get the joke. I don't believe I am
truly nasty and act in a bad way.
When was the last time you spoke to your Glitter co-star Max Beesley?
(
Paul Waggoner, Manchester )
Random question! What are you driving at, young man? It was at an event with
Naomi Campbell. Max came over to the after-party and it was all very nice. Why?
Did you hear something different?
Is it true that you employ a technical person to work your TV, DVD and
Blackberry (
John Morato, Spain )
No, John, and I'll have you know I was using SkyTel pager, which is like a
Blackberry, before anyone else. Before a big show I have to do "vocal rest"
where I'm not allowed to speak for maybe two days. It's soooo boring having to
write notes, so I was texting before most people. That blilliant scientist guy
[Stephen Hawking] - I need his voice machine for when I'm on vocal rest. I'd
like a machine where I can just think and it comes out in a robot voice. Can you
hook me up with that? But no, I don't employ someone to work my gadgets for me.
Having said that, if you're a guy and you're in my house, then believe me,
you're going to be on your knees fixing something or working out the plugs.
That's your job.
What's the weirdest rumour you've heard about yourself?
(
J George, Ealing )
One of the ones from Q! The one you just read about my nose, that's freaky. When
I had $5 to live on I was still hitting the high notes. Think, people! How did I
do that before this fantasy nose op? The truth is I'm quite boring. I'm just as
likely to be sitting in front of the TV with a bag of chips, watching my
favourite show that I TIVO'd [America's version of SkyPlus], as the next person.
If you were a complete unknown, do you think you could win X-Factor?
(
Jason Bradbury, Mansfield )
You can win that show? How? To me it's all about escaping from aliens or
something... [After several minutes confusion, she realises she's confused it
with X-Files]. Oh, X-Factor. Well, I'd hope to give it a good shot. I mean, I am
pretty flattered sometimes when young singers say they want to sing like me.
That's nice. I think I'd do OK. Simon Cowell is a judge over there? Well, I'd be
a battle, but I'd hope I could just edge it by being sweet to the other judges.
Have you ever been mobbed in a limo and thought, "I wish I could just get out of
here, get on the subway and be regular"? (
Clive Langley, Peterborough )
You know, I honestly do think about this sometimes. Would I rather none of this
had happened and I was just plain old Mariah? The answer has to be no. And
that's because... I am not very good with directions. I could get one train, no
problem. But if I had to change trains, then, God, you wouln't see me for weeks.
I actually think that being in the public eye does start to erode your sense of
direction. Mostly I get taken to the studio or the venue or wherever. I respond
well to doors being opened. But if you left me to find my own way home on the
subway, I'd curl up in a ball and call for help. The subway presents me with too
many options.
You've said, "I don't even know what dating is." Isn't that a little sad?
(
Steve Reffine, Milan )
Yes, Steve, it sucks. I guess it's sad. But I'm not the only one. My friend
Melissa outside [Carey's friend is in the next room] says the same. "What is a
date supposed to be like in the 21st century?" It's a bit old-fashioned, a bit
formal. I mean, I don't need to know if the guy can afford to buy dinner, do I?
With me it just moves from hanging out to boyfriend without too much formality.
I like the sound of speed-dating, though. I like the idea of 14
mini-relationships each lasting three minutes and then you go home alone.
What's the worst piece of advice anybody's ever given you?
(
Iain Hayes, Burton upon Trent )
"Hey, listen, I've got a good idea how you should do this." That's it. There are
many examples they all begin with that line. In my job there are a lot of people
who think they know best. Some do and some don't. I've really learned to listen
to my own instinct, then if it goes wrong I am responsible. It took me a while
to figure it out, but I'm a grown woman. I'm in charge.
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