CINÉ TÉLÉ REVUE

An album, a movie and married for almost two years: everything is good for the singer who admits being abused during her first marriage. Now she's 39 and tells us she's the happiest person in the world. Exclusive interview in London.

"You know Mariah's album is already #1 on the US Billboard R&B? That she's in a movie called Precious and that she's proud of it?" just a reminder from the American singer's assistant who's running everywhere in Mariah's hotel where she was having her interviews.

Three hours later, Mariah is ready for our exclusive interview. True to her reputation, as usual, the star is late!


In the hall, a lot of shopping bags and a lot of assistants. Behind the door, you can hear some laughter, the singer is in a good mood. The German journalist has just left, we can start. Mariah is smiling, her brushed hair and impeccable make up are perfect but we can easily see that she's very tired. But the show must go on! So no matter if all that promotional thing is hard to handle. The singer is very glamourous as usual: in black, high heels and of course a plunging neckline... her signature.


Marital Abuse
The time when Mariah was wearing long sleeves and turtleneck is gone! Since Rihanna's aggression in February by Chris Brown, her ex-boyfriend, Mariah told in November on Larry King show how marital abuse could be hard and how Tommy Mottola, her ex-husband and Sony Music boss, was in control of her life and her career. It was hard to get out of it for one who had her first business deal in that company!

They finally divorced in 1997, the Sony contract ended and Mariah had a nervous breakdown. But now, Mariah is back and enjoys it every minute. "I had the chance to meet Nick Cannon and I can tell soulmate exists. You know it's that kind of love because of... a lot of things. We laugh, we like the same things, we love music and create things. Actually, there's so many things that our love is hard to explain."

So if words cannot tell that's love, Mariah chose to make this the theme of Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel. Don't forget that the amazing singer is also a songwriter.

"Love is a big source of inspiration but not only! Especially for this album. Sometimes, feelings like anger, laughter are the inspiration for a song... as it was the case for 'Obsessed'. Of course, there are love songs, ballads. 'H.A.T.E.U.' is about deep emotions. I think that each one of us already could feel this type of things when one says: 'I love you but I can't wait to hate you'."

Obviously, she knows anger! With "Obsessed," Mariah found a way to sort Eminem out! In the video, you can see her in a disguise... as a stalker who really looks like the rapper. When you ask Mariah about that, she's very... diplomatic. "I never said that song was about him. I don't know why he's talking about me all the time, I just don't get it! I'd rather not listen to him! If in the future he was able to be nicer maybe I could be able to accord him some credits but right now it's just impossible. My song is for everybody and I'm really glad it's #1." After "Obsessed" was out, the rapper said that Mariah will be sorry if she keeps talking.

Whether true or not, fans enjoyed seeing Mariah playing with her image. Just like in Precious, a Lee Daniels movie, that was in Cannes this year. She's playing a social worker absolutely not "glamorous." Is that the real Mariah? "You cannot say that cause there was a lot of make up... red things under my eyes and my nose, they even put a little mustache!" But her performance is deeper. "Lee told me that I had to change my walk 'cause obviously I'm always on tiptoe even without my (9 cm) high heels! He brings me back to the floor. So all the Mariah's things that everybody knows were out!"

But it's all worth it. "For me, playing a role is something I need to express other parts of my creativity. Writing, singing, it's one thing, but movies are different and I'm so grateful to be able to take part in that kind of experience. 'Cause this is like 'the beginning'." So, exit Glitter (2001) and its commercial fiasco? "About that, it was out on 9/11. Could have been a worst date? I don't think so. Few people saw this movie. So, yes, Glitter was an experience, a start, but I will never do it again even for a lot of money!"

Twenty Years of Success
2000s were not easy years for Mariah... After beginning her amazing career in 1990 with so many number ones hits, a collection of awards and records... she was the biggest selling artist of the '90s. The diva had a nervous breakdown during the hard eras of Glitter and Charmbracelet (2002). She was on the way to get out. But her faith in God and her love for music allowed her to make an amazing come back in 2005 with The Emancipation of Mimi. She worked with big American rappers on this album.

After Jay-Z, The Neptunes, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg and many others... Mariah wants more collaborations. "I'm so grateful to be able to work with such talented people... I could have never imagined that! I'm planning to do a remix album with a lot of new talented guys. But of course there will be 'classic' people too'."

Mariah is also grateful to her mother, Patricia Hickey, an opera singer from Ireland. "My mother always believed in me. She always said that I was going to be a star. She was the only one who gave me that faith in me. Music was the only way for me to get out and to forget for a moment this difficult world." When she was young the singer had not a very good life. Her parents divorced, the racism was very hard to handle where she lived. "There were good moments you know. When we had not a lot of money, my mother did everything she could to give us a wonderful Christmas. A new Christmas album is to expect by the way."

After almost 20 years of singing, is it still the same? "Of course! I have the same pleasure to use my voice, it's a gift from God! But my voice is fragile so I can't sing anytime, anywhere."
Mariah's eyes shine like the Christmas lights of Westfield (London) that she just lit up. "I can honestly say that those days are some of the happiest days of my life. I can't complain."

Suddenly the door opened, the assistant told us the interview was over. We asked if we could take a picture, the assistant told us it was "not possible," because "Mariah could re-make her make up and it would take too much time." Even so the diva was like a goddess, perfect hair... I really do not see what Photoshop could improve.