Here Is Mariah Carey

In March 1992, following the release of her first and second studio albums Mariah Carey (1990) and Emotions (1991), Mariah Carey performed a concert on the American television program MTV Unplugged. They chose the 2,700-seat Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, New York, for its grand architecture, strong acoustics, and proximity to Carey's house with newlywed husband Tommy Mottola. In a chapter from her 2020 memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey, Carey states that she disagreed with the choice: "Even though it was a beautiful, classic theater, it was not the setting I would have chosen, to be sure; nor would most twenty-year-olds in the early 1990s." == Production ==

in Here Is Mariah Carey (1993) Rather than being sold, 4,500 tickets for the event were distributed by Carey's fan club, local radio stations, and those with connections to the production. Several rows closest to the stage were reserved for fan club members, and two rows in the middle section were removed for a camera dolly. Most of the filming at Proctor's occurred over two nights on July 15 and 16, 1993, with nine cameras using 35mm film. Non-concert footage was primarily filmed at Carey's New York estate. Lawrence Jordan—who directed Carey's MTV Unplugged performance and music videos for "Someday" and "I Don't Wanna Cry"—also directed Here Is Mariah Carey. Due to her fans' presence, Carey considers the video's production the first time she realized her level of fame. Two set designs which are meant to create an operatic yet funky atmosphere adorn the stage for the concert. The first act features monolithic abstract shapes inspired by Boris Aronson's sculptures in the 1958 Broadway production of The Firstborn that are colored blue-gray to complement Carey's skin tone, and the second features several fabrics and drapery. Both include openings that allow light to protrude while a painted cyclorama acts as a background. Platforms of varying heights and wrought iron railings inspired by those of Josep Maria Jujol are also present. An earlier set design plan which called for a revolving stage that would mechanically rotate between the two acts was changed due to camera and budget limitations. The band—which has a near-identical composition to the one in Carey's MTV Unplugged performance—is situated on the left side of the stage while the background singers are on the right, standing in front of the string players. == Summary ==

Here Is Mariah Carey switches between scenes of Carey singing in Proctor's Theater and those outside of it. The video begins with Carey telling children from the Albany Police Athletic League to believe in themselves to achieve their dreams. After entering the theater's stage, Carey opens with performances of "Emotions" and "Hero". Her background singers discuss working with her while sitting on a park bench, then Carey sings "Someday" and "Without You". After reminiscing about singing as a child with her mother on the front porch of a building, Carey performs "Make It Happen". In the countryside, she rides a horse and explains her love of nature. Back at the theater, Carey sings "Dreamlover" accompanied by three background dancers, and then "Love Takes Time". While in her house, she cooks pizza with two friends, and they get in a food fight. Afterward, Carey sings "Anytime You Need a Friend" backed by the Refreshing Springs Church Choir. With her friends outside, she discusses her experiences trying to enter the music industry. Carey performs "Vision of Love" and then "I'll Be There" with Trey Lorenz and members of the Albany Police Athletic League on stage. Near the production's wrap party in a grassy field, the band talks about working with her, and Carey and her songwriting partners Walter Afanasieff, David Cole, and Robert Clivillés explain how they collaborate. After Carey discusses the making of the "Dreamlover" music video, it is shown in full. == Broadcast and release ==

Here Is Mariah Carey was first shown on November 25, 1993, on NBC. Here Is Mariah Carey received 19 million viewers and a rating and share of 11.0/21, meaning 11 percent of American households with a television watched the program, and 21 percent with one in use were tuned in to the special. Out of the primetime network programs, it ranked third for the night, Sales of Music Box resulting from the broadcast caused the album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart for the first time. Outside the United States, the special was broadcast in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Columbia Music Video issued Here Is Mariah Carey on VHS in the United States on November 30, 1993. Releases in the United Kingdom and France followed in February 1994, and a DVD in 2006. Sony Pictures Entertainment released it for digital download and rental worldwide on December 7, 2021. The video is approximately one hour long and includes more non-concert footage plus the "Dreamlover" music video, which were not shown on the NBC broadcast. Performances from the concert received releases independent of the Here Is Mariah Carey video. In 1993, Columbia released a CD maxi single of "Hero" which includes audio of Carey's Proctor's Theater performance of the song as the second track. The following year, the label released it as a standalone promotional CD single. In 1994, that of "Dreamlover" was included on certain CD singles and twelve-inch singles alongside "Without You" and "Never Forget You". It was later included on a digital maxi single with other versions of the song. Carey's performances of "Hero" and "Without You" are the songs' music videos. == Critical reception ==

Here Is Mariah Carey received positive reviews from critics. the Lansing State Journals Mike Hughes felt her voice had "moments of luminous beauty", and Steve Morse of The Boston Globe thought she "sings like a songbird". Toronto Star television critic Greg Quill wrote that the performance "affirms her extraordinary vocal abilities". Elaine Lim in the New Straits Times and Roger Catlin in the Hartford Courant agreed that Carey proved she could sing just as well live as in a studio. Morse and Mike Duffy of the Detroit Free Press viewed Carey's rendition of "Without You" as the musical highlight. According to Catlin, the number of filming angles and high quality of the audio "make the delivery sound a little artificial". Carey's depiction received critical commentary. Morse found her life as presented in the home movie footage to be an unlikely reality, According to American Songwriter contributor Jacob Uitti, "her sweet voice and sweetness during this show showcase both her power and potential." == Commercial performance ==

Here Is Mariah Carey debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Top Music Videos chart for the week ending December 18, 1993. It peaked at number four three weeks later and spent two years on the chart, becoming her longest-charting video. It rose to number one the following week, and spent six consecutive weeks atop the chart. Here Is Mariah Carey is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in the United States, and Gold in the United Kingdom and France by the British Phonographic Industry and the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, respectively. == Track listing ==

Credits adapted from VHS inner cover. == Credits ==

Personnel adapted from DVD closing credits except where noted. Production • Lawrence Jordan – director • Mariah Carey – executive producer • Randy Hoffman – producer • Al Smith – producer • Walter Afanasieff – music producer • Jack Gulick – co-producer • Daniel Pearl – cinematography • Cabot McMullen – production design • Steve Cohen – lighting design • Diane Martel – choreography, director (track 11), home movie footage • Emilio "Stretch" Austin Jr. – choreography (track 11) • Patty Lamagna – associate producer • Judy Minot – editing • Michael Maloy – editing • John Alberts – audio post production • Mike Guzauski – remix engineer • Mike Scott – assistant remix engineer • Vinnie Violandi – colorist • Wyatt Smith – assistant editor • John Lowe – assistant director • Kevin Mazur – photography • Billy B – make-up for Carey • Sid Curry – hair for Carey • Basia Zamorska – stylist Instruments • Walter Afanasieff – keyboards • Dan Shea – keyboards • Ren Klyce – keyboards • Vernon Black – guitar • Randy Jackson – bass guitar • Gigi Gonaway – drums • Peter Michael – percussion • Gary Cirimelli – MIDI keyboard tech • Laurie Bishop – strings • Melanie Evans – strings • Elaine Gervais – strings • Linda Hanley – strings • Margaret Hickey – strings • Karen Russell – strings • Paula Shaw – strings • Martha Vivona – strings Performers • Cindy Mizelle – background vocals • Deborah Cooper – background vocals • Melonie Daniels – background vocals • Kelly Price – background vocals • Shanrae Price – background vocals • Trey Lorenz – guest vocals • Refreshing Springs Church Choir – choir • Emilio "Stretch" Austin Jr. – dancer • Henry "Link" McMillan – dancer • Jamel "Loose Joint" Byrd Brown – dancer == Charts ==