With 19 No. 1 smashes on the Billboard Hot 100 spanning four decades and nine more that reached the top 10, there was no way that performers could even scratch the surface of Mariah Carey’s voluminous catalog of hits Friday night (Jan. 30) when she was honored as MusiCares’ Person of the Year in Los Angeles, but they gave it a try.
To be sure, tackling songs by one of the greatest pop vocalists of all time is not for the faint of heart and add on the nerves of performing in front of said vocalist and credit is due for any of the artists who even felt up to the task. In general, the performers fell into three buckets: Belters, devotees and innovators.
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Jennifer Hudson, who opened the show with a medley of Carey’s hits, including “Vision of Love” and “Make It Happen,” obviously fell in the belter category, as one of the few vocalists with the mighty prowess to power through Carey’s hits. It was an audacious beginning that surely did nothing to quell any butterflies subsequent performers may have had.
Also falling squarely in the belter class were Kesha with a spiky version of the swaggering “Obsessed,” Adam Lambert, who delivered an expressive, heartwrenching take on “Can’t Let Go” from the B stage in the middle of the floor, and Teddy Swims, who built his way up to the full force of Harry Nilsson’s “Without You,” a rare case of a Carey cover.
The devotees smartly didn’t try to match Carey’s pyrotechnics, instead delivered sturdy, sweet homages that were reverential in the best possible way f— rom Charlie Puth’s emotional “I Still Believe,” John Legend’s piano and string-laden inspired version of “Hero” and trio FLO’s gorgeous rendition of “Dreamlover.”
The innovators were led by the Foo Fighters, with The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen on lead vocals as the make-shift unit provided the most creative and revelatory performance of the night. They delivered electrifying versions of two songs from Carey’s grunge (yes, you read that right) album, Someone’s Ugly Daughter, which she recorded in 1995 under the name Chick with a different singer taking lead vocals. They powered through the heavy “Hermit” and the poppier “Love Is a Scam” with thrashing verve. The Foos’ guitarist Pat Smear, who had been sidelined with a broken foot when the band played a benefit two weeks ago, is such an avid Carey fanboy that he returned to the stage, playing seated with his broken appendage in a cast and extended.
Maggie Rogers didn’t upend her version of “Honey” in quite so drastic a fashion, but she started the tune as a languid slow groove before turning up the heat. Billy Porter, who also proved to be one of the style icons of the night with a straightened ombre bob, glittery eye shadow and a floor-length white and gold duster over gold velvet pants, freestyled through a compelling take on “Always Be My Baby,” while Icelandic sensation Laufey delivered a jazzy, rhythmic rendition of “It’s Like That” that felt fresh and innovative.
Instead of a single host, a number of artists introduced the singers, though it seemed a lost opportunity to have top-tier acts including Stevie Wonder (who teasingly held a harmonica the whole time as if he were going to play at any second), Babyface, Richard Marx and (especially) SZA only speak instead of perform.
Universal Music Publishing Group chairman/CEO Jody Gerson introduced Carey, declaring, “I would argue that she is the architect of the modern pop vocal,” while also praising Carey’s songcraft. “Her songs are structurally sophisticated with key changes, extended bridges, modulations and unconventional phrasing,” she continued. “She blends pop accessibility with R&B, gospel and hip-hop songwriting traditions in ways that open the door to genre fluid pop, especially for female artists who follow. Mariah is not only one of the most successful songwriters in popular music history, she is, quite simply, one of the very best.”
Carey, who follows such past honorees as Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen and Dolly Parton, called the evening “overwhelming in the best possible way,” as she looked around the room, commenting how blessed she felt to be surrounded by “so many friendly and familiar faces, people I’ve worked with, people I’ve long admired, even people I thought I’d never see again,” adding the last part with a laugh.
In addition to her musical accomplishments, Carey was also honored for her philanthropy, for which she is renown. She has supported many charities related to disaster relief, HIV/AIDS education and Make-A-Wish, and also founded in 1995 Camp Mariah, her eponymous summer camp she runs in conjunction with the Fresh Air Fund.
She stressed the importance of continuing to give back generously to MusiCares, which serves as the Recording Academy’s philanthropic arm and is dedicated to helping those in the music community. “But tonight is not only about me, it’s about this incredible organization, MusiCares, whether it’s providing health care, financial support or simply offering a shoulder to lean on, MusiCares reminds us that behind all the glitz and glamor, there are real people who need care and community… We have to remember this organization thrives because of generosity, yours, mine, ours.”
The evening closed the only way it possibly could: Even though Christmas is in the rearview mirror and it was 85 degrees in Los Angeles on Friday, Jon Batiste led several of the performers and presenters, including Kesha, Puth, Porter, FLO, Rita Wilson and Gayle King, in a spirited rendition of Carey’s holiday classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” complete with a wintery, snow-laden backdrop. Though honorees have the option to perform — most recently, both Jon Bon Jovi and The Grateful Dead did a handful of numbers — Carey opted to limit her participation to the second half of “All I Want for Christmas,” joining the merry carolers on stage as the evening concluded.
Check out Mariah Carey’s MusiCares setlist below:
Medley featuring “I Don’t Want to Cry,” “My All,” “Vision of Love” and “Make It Happen” (Jennifer Hudson)
“Hermit” and “Love Is a Scam” (Foo Fighters and Taylor Momsen)
“I Still Believe” (Charlie Puth)
“Obsessed” (Kesha)
“Hero” (John Legend)
“It’s Like That” (Laufey)
“Can’t Let Go” (Adam Lambert)
“Honey” (Maggie Rogers)
“I Know What You Want” (Busta Rhymes, Chante Moore, Spliff Star)
“Always Be My Baby” (Billy Porter)
“Dreamlover” (Flow)
“Without You” (Teddy Swims)
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Jon Batiste and ensemble)
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