Mariah Carey - “Nothing Is Impossible”

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. Mariah Carey does not sound anywhere close to how she did in her prime in the 1990s or in her legendary mid-aughts comeback. 20-30 years is a very long time and it shows in Carey’s weathered vocals on her recently-released 16th album “Here For It All”. At 56 years old, Mariah is in her legacy artist era, performing her old hits on spot dates and mini tours around the world throughout the year. Her fame and commercial power peaks every year during the holiday season starting on November 1st and continues until December 26th, buoyed by her two popular Christmas albums and the titanic success of her eternal 1994 hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. Therefore, in many ways this album feels like more of a low stakes gift to her longtime fans, lovingly called “The Lambily”.

The classy “Here For It All” features solid production with an eye towards the past with modern production flourishes. The songs are very age-appropriate and harken back to the golden era of soul/r&b of the 1960s and 1970s. However, my favorite track is the 1990s-flavored “Nothing Is Impossible”, a ballad that sound like it could have been part of Carey’s 1994 landmark album “Music Box”. The lyrics reference “a gruesome fall” and the eventual rise from the ashes with the help of a “spirit”, an obvious call to Carey’s Christian faith. Despite the religious reference, the song’s lyrics are generic enough that anyone can relate to them. Carey’s vocals struggle to hit the crescendos she used to hit with ease decades ago, sapping the rising energy that culminates in the dramatic ending when an extended high note comes out of nowhere in the last 30 seconds.

While longtime fans may feel frustration with her pared down vocals, Mariah’s current vocal state actually adds layers and textures to this song that a 25 year old Carey could never conjure up. Mariah sounds like a woman who has been through life’s major ups and downs and come out of them a survivor. The strained vocals give new life to the lyrics and the overall feeling of the song. “Nothing Is Impossible” effectively bridges the 90s-style production of her glory days and her current voice, essentially showing how Mariah would sound like in the 90s with today’s voice. A fun thought experiment and an even better listening experience, you should check out “Nothing Is Impossible” and her whole “Here For It All” project! With a projected chart placement at number four on the Billboard 200 in its debut week (outselling current stars like Doja Cat and Young Thug), Carey’s fans continue to support their idol, warts and all.