Mariah Carey's 'Touch My Body': Even better as a piano track?

roberto Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 08:52 AM EST

Further, i also said that all Mariah songs sound the same. On second thoughts, i think they do not. It is a matter of taste and the genre she works on (hip-hop). It could be the case that Mariah music is so catchy that you may bore yourself after repeated exposure to it.

roberto Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 02:39 PM EST

I think i made the impression i don't find Mariah extremely talented! She's actually awesome. There's no doubt about it. For an artist to have such a long line of #1s on equal footing with the Beatles, there must be something extraordinary about her talent. Millions of people all around the world who have enjoyed her music throughout almost 20 years, can't go wrong. I just wanted to point out about songwriting, but even on this i am not sure because i don't know how songwriting unfolds, because i am not a musician. I guess that if Mariah can sing the tune at different musical ranges, she must have a perfect pitch and music tunning to sing the same melody at many vocal ranges. Madonna, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be a gifted musician, because she has performed horribly on some live events, for example, the 1998 Mtv video music awards where madonna was singing ray of light gave too much to beg from the Queen of pop/dance. She was not actually singing but crowing. Awful!

Rodrigo Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 10:42 AM EST

I agree that Mariah's voice isn't the same anymore, but She can still sing very difficult songs, reaching either really hight notes or down lown ones.
What I like about Thouch My Body is the way mariah and her Backup singers harmonize. Over the years, Mariah has been improving this ability and in her New album, she delighted the fans harmozing to her own voice many times. Sometimes she sings the same part in three different tones producing such a beautiful effect.
I don't know anything about Madonna, So I cant make a comparison.

Rodrigo Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 10:36 AM EST

I agree that Mariah's voice isn't the same anymore, but She can still sing very difficult songs, reaching either really hight notes or down lown.
What I like about Thouch my body is the way mariah and her Backup singers harmonizes. Over the years Mariah has been improving this ability and in her New album, she dilighted the fans hamozing to her own voice many times. Sometimens she sings the same in three different tones producing such a beautiful effect.
I don't know anything about Madonna, So I cant make a comparison.

Reign Sat, Jun 28, 2008 at 08:06 AM EST

Wow! That was great! Can you send to me the piano lyrics, I want to play it also. Thanks!

Rachel Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 07:31 PM EST

Can you send the piano sheet lyrics to me because i'd want to be able to play it.

roberto Sun, Apr 6, 2008 at 01:37 PM EST

I love Madonna and Mariah very much. It is true that mariah is not inventive in her songs, because most of them sound pretty similar. Further, Mariah songwriting skill is difused because on most of her albums, she co-writes with more than 3 or 4 songwriters so that you don't really know which of them bled over the most of the song. Further, Mariah voice is impressive but recently she doesn't sound as in her 90's albums, her voice has deteriorated quite soon for her age and i am always wondering why it she doesn't click like in her marvellous vocal performance in "without you" . Madonna voice is also good although lacks the wide range and vigour of mariah's. Madonna is more creative that mariah. She cowrites and produces more of her song. She can make out super hits on almost all kinds of musics, such as: hip-hop, dance, electronica, pop, rock, R&B... Her creativity is much more flexible and therefore her works are much more appealing to wider audiences.

Tommy Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 12:10 PM EST

I'm not sure I understand why there's a comparison in the first place. Mariah was known in the beginning as a serious, soulful singer; Madonna was the dance queen. Sure, their respective talents overlap, but they don't even really cater to the same crowd since Mariah's taken an R&B angle lately and Madonna seems to be heading toward hip hop-infused dance tracks. Why compare them when they're both good entertainers?

Jonathan Sat, Mar 22, 2008 at 07:58 AM EST

Mariah music..sounds the same. She play safe and really not pushing the music creativity. I saw the video and I am ashamed. Its sellingg prostitution. Excuse me mam...put your clothes back on.

Emerelda Sat, Mar 22, 2008 at 07:55 AM EST

Touch my body..what? I dont think so. Common I like your music years ago but now? touch you for what? Are U gonna sing that song live when you are 50's? Airplay doesnt count? Sales does. Airplay doesnt bring cash. Its all about cash and lotta cash

Fu Fu Sat, Mar 22, 2008 at 07:52 AM EST

Mariah put your clothes on. We know you can sing before, but just get some brains. Her video, acting and performance boring.....

KC Fri, Mar 21, 2008 at 11:22 AM EST

I'm always fighting my husband who thinks Mariah makes bad music. What can we do to get her to release a remix with a softer piano mix like this and maybe some strings. It really is lovely music, some just can not hear past their impression to whats really going on in the melody - which she adds to with her voice. I think we could reduce the numbers of people who will impale themselves when she smashes the Beetles record if she release a special edition or something.

Sara Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 09:16 PM EST

I actually love both Mariah and Madonna, but I wanted to correct Keith's comment from March 10th. "Take a Bow" was actually written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

Jason Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 01:02 PM EST

Even Britney knows Mariah has good melodies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wofrcZaH5eI

Fatima Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 11:18 AM EST

About Madonna...

"being frozen out of radio because she doesn't pander to the street cred format"

obviously you haven't read about her next album. It's all urban with Timbaland and Pharell.

fredric Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 09:25 AM EST

Yes, Mariah can sing. But it would be nice if she could do so fully clothed.

soulman Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 10:12 PM EST

It would pain me if this devolved into a Mariah vs. Madonna shouting match, but there is absolutely no way that Madonna has better songwriting chops than Mariah. No way. They both have a serious ear for melody, but Mariah has got Madonna trumped in the overall songwriting department. Has anybody really listened to the "Confessions on a Dancefloor" lyrics? They're obvious and underwritten (songs like "Sorry") and just plain awkward ("Let It Will Be").

Jordan Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 06:27 PM EST

Listen to this beautiful piano version of "Fly Like A Bird"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CjtOvBy0Cc
A lot of Mariah's songs have great melodies and chords.

Mike Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 06:16 PM EST

Mariah has some of the best melodies out there - "Always Be My Baby," "Someday," "Breakdown." I didn't realize she wasn't given credit for that. People love to hate on popular people.

Nancy Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 06:07 PM EST

It grew on me. At first I was thinking of directing Slezak to The Swell Season - Marketa Irglova plays a mean piano! But by the end I was really enjoying it.

Keith Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 05:48 PM EST

Madonna is a great shocker and from time to time crafts a good song like "Live to Tell" or "Take a Bow" but Mariah Carey as far as songwriting and Vocal talent is in another league.Sorry but Mariah is the real deal as far as music is concerned, Madonna is more worried about shocking and making money and the good thing is that she is honest about it.

Jenna Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 05:41 PM EST

this artist is so talented!!!

B Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 05:39 PM EST

Mariah is great. I'll leave it at that. But who gives a crap what I or any of you think?? If you don't have anything nice to say, then why are you contributing to negativity in the world? I won't point any fingers here but these comment things online are driving me crazy.

Andrew Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 04:49 PM EST

This is a very nice piano song. For all of you trying to compare Madonna and Mariah, you can't. It's apples and oranges. It's like comparing McDonalds and Olive Graden. They're both great in their own ways. They're both rewarded and celebrated. They're both legends, leave it at that.

Joshua Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 04:35 PM EST

I am a huge Mariah and have to admit that I was worried at first how it was going to be. I loved it. As for the comment about Madonna. I am also a Madonna fan but find it out that other fans out there say that she doesn't write with co-writers. If you actual own any of her other cd's you would notice that she has worked with some big name co-writers i.e. Babyface and on her new album Timberland and Timberlake. Those are "current" producers and co-writers. I just want to be clear that everyone that was huge and the 80's and 90's are trying to stay current and in the game along with the new artists that are coming out. I find it hypcritical to downplay Mariah's talents against Madonna's. Let's be honest Mariah actually has an amazing voice and many respected artists have criticized Madonna for not having that great of a voice and more of an entertainer than singer.

SallyinChicago Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 04:19 PM EST

I like it I like it....it will be an instrumental -- TRUST ME!

Ben Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 03:28 PM EST

Oh, Dave... dem's fightin' words. Madonna has written nearly everything she has performed, and even by herself -- without help from producers or sampling... (not that she doesn't collaborate, too, or sample). While Madonna may have less numebr 1s on the chart, that has less to do with the quality of her songwriting and more to do with a) he being frozen out of radio because she doesn't pander to the street cred format, b) because she does her own thing instead of the same thing over and over (a la Mariah), and c) because she doesn't price her singles at 49 cents to make them so cheap they'll become number 1. I enjoy some of Mariah's work, even her hoochie stuff, but she's not the best songwriter. She just has popular producers and HAD a decent voice.

GeeMoney Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 03:19 PM EST

When Mariah made her self-titled first album, as well as 'Emotions', 'Music Box' and 'Daydream', I think that everyone could agree that she was at the top of her game. I think that she's struggled to find that critical and mega-success ever since. But I must say 'The Emanicpation of Mimi' was a good album, and so far, this single 'Touch My Body' is pretty good. I'm looking forward to her album soon.

But to answer the question.... I like the song better the way it is.

Derek Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 03:11 PM EST

I think Mariah has co-written and co-produced every one of her songs which many people do not know. And she has an incredible voice.

Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 02:56 PM EST

I think this song is absolutely beautiful. Mariah used to be my fav when she first came out. I bough all the albums up until Music Box. Nowadays she sucks. Hate her songs and she doesn't really sing her a$$ off like she used to. She sort of just sing-talks, especially in this song. I miss my old, "Vision of Love" Mariah.

paige Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 02:18 PM EST

i think mariah is underrated as an a***ole

soulman Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 02:04 PM EST

Mariah is a great songwriter. This fact should have been common knowledge 10 years ago.

kevin Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 01:43 PM EST

i agree, she is underrated as a musician.

Shiraz Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 01:34 PM EST

I'm seriously hooked on this, I think i've played it 100 times already, this would make a fantastic ballad with Mariahs vocals sung live - and yea, after listening to this, i'd have to agree that Mariah is seriously underrated as a musical artist

shane Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 01:25 PM EST

Nice

dave Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 01:09 PM EST

I agree with everything else written, but I have to add that Mariah really is a great songwriter. Almost every song she ever recorded was written or co-written by her. Need I remind you that 17 of those songs hit #1 on the charts. Only half of Madonna's songs were written by Madonna & none of Whitney's or Diana Ross' songs. Whether or not you like Mariah's songs you have to give her credit for that.

Agustin Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 12:52 PM EST

Mariah: Sooo overrated. And trying to be sexy too? Oh, God!

Kate Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 12:48 PM EST

This version just makes me sad that the lyrics are so vapid and overly sexualized... imagine the possibilities if the lyricist had been as talented as the composer... oh, and enjoying elevator music does not make you ancient, Slezak, it makes you amazing... but I knew that anyway : )

paige Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 12:24 PM EST

so a pop song makes a good piano piece. well hello, elevator music has been doing this forever! i'm not impressed. and i wont be impressed when i hear it while i'm on line at the bank... dont give mariah too much credit there slezak, i'm sure many people in her team helped her out with this one... typical mariah trash.

jess Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 12:08 PM EST

i didn't realize the song had that much to it. good stuff!

Martha Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 11:47 AM EST

Sorry, Slezak, but I'd have to go with (a). This sounds about like any New Agey piano song when you leave out the production and melisma.

MCM Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 11:40 AM EST

Sorry but even a middling melody can be rendered into something beautiful on a piano. The melody is still nothing special, it's what surrounds it that makes it pleasant.

Ben Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 11:36 AM EST

Hell, I'm just glad this isn't another Slezack American Idol post... Is it EW or AI-EW?

Ben Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 11:35 AM EST

I'd be more convinced of Mariah's writing chops if she didn't have several other co-writers who are established songwriters on their own.

QueenC Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 11:24 AM EST

I find it hilarious that people actually post videos of their muzak covers... yet I must admit, I'm a bit jealous of their skills!