PLAYLISTS
Playlist: Aretha Franklin’s Deep Cuts
Aretha Franklin: The Queen Turns 75 In celebration of Aretha Franklin’s 75th birthday, I dug into her catalog for some deep cuts. Everyone
Playlist: Music Box (Mariah’s Version)
As I detailed in the Long Island Press, it is clear that Mariah Carey’s “Music Box” album didn’t give a full picture
97 Words: “santa doesn’t know you like i do” by Sabrina Carpenter
Fresh off of a breakout year as pop’s latest it-girl, Sabrina Carpenter wasted no time entering the Christmas conversation. In the Best
A Year in Music: The Class of 2007… A Decade Later
Once again graduation season is coming to a close. Hats off to the Class of 2017, the latest crop of grads, you
IN 1997
The Introduction of Destiny’s Child
Although their self-titled debut wasn’t released until February 1998, it was in the second half of 1997 in which audiences got their first taste of the quartet. With the now fan favourite “Killing Time” being featured on the ‘Men In Black’ soundtrack and their first single, “No, No, No” (featuring Wyclef Jean) being released to chart success in late 1997, Destiny’s Child had the R&B foundations to stand out from other girl groups of the time. “Killing Time” almost acts as the “Dangerously
Wicked: For Good – Ranking Every Song in the Soundtrack
Spoilers ahead. The album itself contains heavy spoilers if you haven’t seen the movie. The wait is over. The Wicked Witch of
Review: “West End Girl” by Lily Allen
Welcome back, Lily Allen. I mean no shade when I say this, but is it 2025 or 2007? Listening to a Lily
Through It All, Mariah Carey is Still “Here For It All”
First Listen: “Here For It All” I was stunned. Before me was an 80-foot-wide, 50-foot-tall glass window overlooking Central Park, a stage
97-Hour Review: On “eternal sunshine,” Ariana Grande proves herself
Upon the release of the lead single “yes, and?,” I wrote that Ariana Grande was selling herself short by successfully emulating her
Someone’s Favorite Daughter: A Different Type of Mariah Carey Album Ranking
It’s tiiiime again, it seems, to reevaluate my Mariah Carey album ranking. Following the release of her 16th set, many publications have done listicles ranking thee D-I-V-A’s incomparable discography. I’ll be doing it
Mariah Carey and the Catalyst of “Caution”
There comes a time in every iconic music superstar’s career when they must accept they have transitioned from icon to legend. Some do so obnoxiously, others are a little more graceful about it.
Big Purr: The Debut of Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton: The Debut It All Started With a Purr. Not quite the kind of vocal purr that Eartha Kitt famously once possessed. This purr was vastly different: vaguely androgynous, with a fry
FOR THE NOSTALGIA
Happy B’Day: Celebrating Beyoncé’s sophomore album
9/4/06: B’DAY. When she dropped her sophomore album, Beyoncé still had a lot to prove. Hot off the heels of her debut solo album, Dangerously
“Crybaby,” Mariah Carey’s spiraling serenade
In November 1999, Mariah Carey released her seventh studio album, Rainbow. By this point, Carey wasn’t just a superstar – she was the poster
M!ssundaztood: How P!nk Defined Herself by Defying Expectation
November 20, 2001, Enter M!ssundaztood Alecia “P!nk” Moore hit the scene in 2000 with Can’t Take Me Home, her debut album that was largely a pop-tinged R&B
Revisiting Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love 10 Years Later
I woke up at the crack of dawn on May 3, 2011. I drove from my West Philly apartment down to South Philly’s Wal
Snowflakes: A Very Toni Braxton Christmas
Toni Braxton is one of the most recognisable names and voices in R&B music. In 2001, after some turmoil with her record label and
Maxwell’s blackSUMMERS’night (2016) – Retrospective
In 2009, Maxwell made a triumphant and long-awaited return to music with BLACKsummers’night, his first album in 8 years. The melancholic lead single “Pretty
Mariah Carey and the Tale of the “Oh Santa” Twins
Merry Christmas II You In 2010, Mariah Carey was pregnant with her twins, Monroe and Moroccan, and decided that creating two human lives wasn’t
Merry Christmas: The Coronation of Mariah Carey
Crowning a Monarch In 1994, Christmas as we know it was forever changed when Mariah Carey released her first Christmas album. Before 1994, the
In 2005 The Black Eyed Peas ruled with ‘Monkey Business’
In the business of hit-making, there's no monkeying around! With their fourth album 'Monkey Business,' The Black Eyed Peas proved they had staying power.
Music Box: Mariah Carey’s first Diamond Moment
By 1993 Mariah Carey had established herself as the Pop “It” girl in the United States. With six #1 singles on the Billboard Hot
Aretha Franklin’s ‘Sweet Passion’ Yielded Mixed Results
Very little has been written about Aretha Franklin’s 1977 album Sweet Passion. Of the three most significant written accounts of Aretha’s life, none of
ABOUT THE 97
THE 97 ZINE
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THE 97 ZINE, Issue 1 - "Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse"
Original price was: $14.97.$9.97Current price is: $9.97.
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THE 97 ZINE, Issue 2 - "Damita Jo"
Original price was: $14.97.$9.97Current price is: $9.97.
