PLAYLISTS
Songs About Divorce, Week 1
In light of recent rumors pertaining to Beyoncé and Mariah Carey, I felt compelled to speak about the way the media handles
12 Songs by Michelle Williams to Lift Your Spirit
Like most people, my favorite music provides the soundtrack to my life. Whether in times of joy and celebration, heartbreak and sadness,
The 19 “97” Singles of 2016
2016 year saw the return of heavy hitting Pop icons, like Britney and Beyoncé, those who had been away far too long, like JoJo and
The Diana Ross Essentials Playlist
The Boss March is definitely Diva Month. After celebrating the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin‘s birthday yesterday, we celebrate the birth of another
IN 1997
The Velvet Quotes: Words of wisdom from beyond the Rope
Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope is a very quotable album – for a multitude of reasons. Some of the words she says are poignant and profound. Others, are emotionally engaging and inspiringly introspective. Some are shockingly sexual. Below is a list of some of my favorite quotes from each of the songs and interludes that fit one of the above descriptions. Enjoy! 01. “We all have the need to feel special and it’s this need that can bring out the best
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
Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black Turns 50
I was around 8 or 9 when I got my copy of Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black. It arrived via one of the
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
Top 5: Janet Jackson’s “Damita Jo”
On March 30, 2004, Janet Jackson released “Damita Jo,” her eighth studio album. Plagued by backlash and blacklisting following her infamous Super Bowl wardrobe
Cher’s ‘Living Proof’ Turns 20 – Retrospective
“The music’s no good without you baby, come back to me,” laments a haunting Cher. “The Music’s No Good Without You” is the lead
“When Christmas Comes” Cements Mariah Carey’s Seasonal Crown
They don’t call Mariah Carey the “Queen of Christmas” for any ol’ reason. Her entire holiday canon has become a market for success, and
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
“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
Mariah Carey, Master of “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak”
For over three decades, Mariah Carey has cranked out record-breaking number-one hits that set towering standards and were masterclasses in vocal expertise. Besides gifting
Janet Jackson: The Naked Truth
Janet Jackson’s career had been the golden standard up until one very famous performance, with another very famous singer, during the most famous sporting
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
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 of her
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.
