Mariah Carey: Rainbow Album Review

Welcome back everyone, today we are going to continue with Mariah Carey’s album cycle with her seventh album Rainbow. Let me just say this, at this point in her career she was eager to get out of Columbia and remove any and every trace of Tommy Mottola from her. But Columbia countered by essentially blackballing her. Especially when it came to one of her personal cuts (we’ll talk about that one shortly). On man I haven’t mention on this review cycle was Walter Afanasieff. He was Mariah main producer/songwriter for the first six albums but this was the first in which Walter Afanasieff did not work on. Sources differ on how the divorce happened some said it was label politics other said Mariah evolution while many alleged his close affiliation with Tommy Mottola (the butter knife incident comes to mind). So she decided to make Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis the main producers of this album.  So let’s dive into the Rainbow.

                                Mariah Carey "Rainbow"

1. Heartbreaker (ft. Jay-Z): We got the song that defined the era of Rainbow. I remember giving this song an honorable mention on  my Best Songs of 1999. The song used the Staci Lattisaw “Attack of the Name Game” sample and both versions are fun. The content is pain and heartbreak experienced after being betrayed by a partner, highlighting the singer's emotional vulnerability and the struggle to move on. While Jay-Z verse he understands why he’s being called the Heartbreaker even though he implies that Mariah was the toxic one. The performances on this song is fun in a way we never see Mariah. This is one song I can overlook the content as it’s fun on the ears (AMAZING)

2. Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme): And this was the song that caused this album to get lowballed. Context, Mariah wanted this to be the third single but the label wanted more hip-hop crossovers to be next. So Mariah decide to air out some of the issues on her website lobbying the lambs to request this song to radios. Long story short, Sony obliged but a what cost they only gave her a limited radio push and they didn’t promote this as much. Kind of a shame because the song is excellent, shocker. A what do you know Diane Warren help write this. It’s an empowerment song but it’s moreso a message to Mariah herself. To bad the song is remembered for other reasons but this is a great listen. Please go revisit (AMAZING)

3. Bliss: This song should be called whistle register the song. That’s all I can remember from this song. And that’s the sad part, the rest of the song isn’t much. It’s sensual song that does do much. It’s one of the song that you can skip (DECENT)

4. How Much (ft. Usher): Marian reunites with Jermaine Dupri and is now teamed up with Usher and this song sounds like a cut from Destiny’s Child, an album JD also produced for. Tupac also go a credit as this song interpolates “Me and My Girlfriend”. That’s my problem, I don’t think the Y2K sound works for Mariah. Give this to a Y2K artist ie. Brandy, Monica, Mya, 702 or DC this might’ve worked better. Just don’t think Mariah was a fit here (DECENT).

5. After Tonight: We go back to the Latin based songs and this is basically the My All of the album. Since I like My All, I think this is also in that territory of quality might like it more than My All. Mariah had a nice love making session with her partner but she is concern that after the night ends, they won’t remember anything. I guess this is good enough (GOOD)

6. X-Girlfriend: We have another Y2K song and with the previous entry in How Much not working what makes you think that this one will work. Again, Mariah is not a fit here as vocally she’s all over the place trying to fit in. I’ve heard some comparisons to No Scrubs, in which Kandi wrote for and she also wrote this as well. Listen to the end of the bridge does the whole ex-girlfriend. Content isn’t getting their either it’s telling the ex-girlfriend to move on I’m with him now. Honestly speaking, this might be Mariah’s first true bad song. One needing to skip (BAD)

7. Heartbreaker (Remix): Remix produced by Missy Elliott and the first thing that comes to mind is the song “It Aint No Fun If the Homies Can’t Have None” by Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg. Already discussed the content but the remix replaces Jay-Z verse with Da Brat and I forget how talent of a rapper she was, although she threatens to shoot somebody in her verse. And Missy, as one of the female hip-hop GOATS, she provides a great verse as she warns her partner if he keeps breaking her heart, she’ll leave. I wouldn’t say the remix overshadow the original but I had as much fun. I’ll stick up for this (GOOD)

8. Vulnerability (Interlude) (N/A)

9. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now): This is a Phil Collins cover song so lets just say I’m not the biggest Phil Collins fan. His soft rock music is not for me. His music is for the adult contemporary crowd. So coming into this song I didn’t know what to expect. Let me say this the original is solid, just not for me. There actually two versions, one is with Mariah solo where vocally she does her thing even though she starts to screamsing in the end. Version two has boyband Westlife, they make the song choir feel but they don’t add nor takeaway from the song. As a whole, I was lukewarm with the original and I’m lukewarm with this. Okay at best (DECENT)

10. Crybaby (ft. Snoop Dogg): Seeing this title and feature I did not know what to expect. This could go in any direction, that’s what you’ll get with a Snoop record. This is something, it’s about Mariah crying literally that it. At least Snoop comes in as a comforting piece telling Mariah don’t cry you’ll be fine and when you find the right one you’ll make them other girls cry. I don’t feel happy this, a song about crying isn’t going to bring me joy. But Snoop doesn’t make this a disaster. I say take it or leave it (DECENT)

11. Did I Do That?: I went on reddit and lookup what is the worst Mariah song and a lot of fans said this song. Well, this one is but not for my nostalgia. This song samples Silkk the Shocker’s “It Aint My Fault” ft. the disgraced Mystikal and that’s a song I like (specifically part 1, part 2 is a waste). But the song uses the Part II line where Mystikal says “Did I Do That” the famous Urkel catchphrase. I think the song comes down to Mariah herself where once again she don’t fit with the No Limit sample. The content tries to highlight a toxic relationship, might be the only time Tommy Mottola is referenced, she was in love but realized that it was a mistake to fall for that. Give this to someone like Monica, she would do better because for a song that requires charisma Mariah doesn’t show that. Sample might save this but lambs you have permission to skip this. (BAD)

12. Petals: This is another personal cut from the album as it shine the light on her estranged family, her sister in particular. They always had a sketched past, especially after Mariah became massive and they haven’t spoke to each other since 1994 (as of 1999). The also highlighted that she looked up to Tommy Mottola because her dad didn’t have a major role in her life. Then Mottola’s children from a previous relationship, they were close to her in age and had a better relationship with them over him and the divorce broke that bond too. But in the end she says she got love for them all, even with all the harsh circumstances he put her through. Petals is really gut-wrenching, especially given that her sister had died back in August 2024. This is amazing, check it out (AMAZING)

13. Rainbow (Interlude) (N/A)

14. Thank God I Found You (ft. Joe & 98 Degrees): Final song on the album and it’s another significant song of the era, even if most lambs are torn on it. Many forget that this was oneof her 19 #1 hits and it’s probably the most forgettable of the bunch. Nowhere near bad, I think this is good. Content is self-explanatory but I want to shine the light on the features. Joe has great chemistry with Mariah but 98 presence here is miniscule. They only sing the chorus and have an adlib or two on the song since Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wanted male harmonies on the chorus and 98 was the first boyband to come calling. In all, the song is lowkey Mariah & Joe perform well. It’s good if not great, just don’t listen to the Nas remix that sounds like a totally different song (AMAZING)

Final Thoughts: I get Mariah wanted to do some experimenting with this album but there where some misses and home of the first true bad Mariah song. After a streak of eights, we back to the average 7/10 as this was Mariah’s weakest album to this point. Next album or soundtrack we talk about Glitter, and all the twist and turns that era had. 

Best Songs: Heartbreaker (ft. Jay-Z), Can’t Take It Away (Mariah’s Theme), Petals, Thank God I Found You (ft. Joe & 98 Degrees)

Worst Songs: X-Girlfriend, Did I Do That

7/10