Meet & Greet Reviews (new ones)
Joe
be sent to us. All the NY winners, please send us your stories as soon
as you can!
Sabine's Review: (Dallas) (Pictures at Gallery 7.)
What more can I say! I'm a little late and you all read everything
about the Meet & Greet in Dallas. Though, it was probably the best
evening of my life. I rode the 1000 miles from Arizona on the
Greyhound bus to arrive in Dallas 24 hours later to meet with a fan
from Oklahoma (Amy). I had promised her to be my guest, since I was
allowed to bring someone. It was really great that nearly all winners
were big fans. There was a great atmosphere amongst the fans. For many
it would be the first time seeing Mariah and what more beautiful could
there be? The Dallas Sound Lab and the room were decorated with all
kind of stuff. There was a large multicolored flower bouquet beside a
leather armchair and a stool, where Mariah then obviously would be
seated. There were snacks and postcards for the TTR promotion. We
talked and most of the fans had gifts. They played songs that Mariah
certainly really liked: Honey Remix, Fantasy Remix, TGIFY/Make it
read, Babydoll, My All/Stay awhile…
About 10.30 Michael came checking out the location. About 30 min later
the new songs were played and at that moment I knew that it all had
been worth the strains! Not that it only was this exclusive thing, no,
to hear the new songs was simply an incredible feeling! The first song
was "Oh Boy" and I tell you, it rocks! Despite its hip-hop vibe the
song is really strong, not as overproduced as "Loverboy" or as
minimalist as "Did I do that!". It probably also was the first time
that a new song of Mariah stuck in my head for several days and also
made me want to hit the dance floor immediately! Altogether we got to
listen to 7 new tracks (including TTR), but most memorable to me were
"I want it" and "Saving Grace"! The latter is an unbelievably strong
ballad. The intro alone makes it outstanding! Finest jazz! And the use
of real instruments works so well for the new tracks. With "Saving
Grace" I thought of the Christmas songs! The instruments are so raw as
on "Outside"! "Clown" was a little too slow and monotonous for me, but
I could definitely be mistaken listening to it only once. "I want it"
is a really beautiful ballad with Latin influences without being too
glossy - it is definitely more sincere and mature than "After
tonight"! Amy and I think that it's about Luis. Maryann presented a
few songs and wanted everybody to give it up for her Babygirl Mariah!
When TTR was played we sang along and then Mariah walked in! She
looked great, wearing a black mini dress, stilettos. Her curly hair
looked fantastic. She wore diamond earrings (Butterflies) and a
diamond bracelet (by the way: the same as on the TTR picture) and a
watch! Did you ever see Mariah wearing a watch? She said it was only
12 dollars and someone gave it to her today. Mariah directly walked up
to the fans and hugged people. She then sat down on the armchair and I
was able to sit down right in front of Mariah (perhaps only two feet
away from her) and got to talk to her. She was in a very good mood,
cracking a lot of jokes and laughing a lot.
She seemed to be really relaxed and in a very good shape. I had a
folder with letters and a photo of Mariah and me which was taken in
summer 2001. I began to explain that I was a fan from Germany and that
my name was Sabine, but she only looked at her me and nodded, as if
she knew. And she did, she even remembered my name! Then she asked
"And you're friends with…?" At first I didn't understand but
then the whole story with my friend Anja dawned on me, that we met
Mariah in November 99 and Anja gave her this very personal letter
talking about "Close my eyes". Then she flipped through the letters
and recognized many names of the fans that wrote them. She was happy
about all that so she said that it all is going into her "Butterfly
room" in her apartment. As she looked at our picture from 2001 she
said that it was very beautiful and that she remembered it too. I said
that I thought it was quite a busy time for her. She then said that
one year ago she lived 18-20 hour days for about 2 months, and that
one could die because of it (sleep deprivation) and she said "I'm glad
I didn't". But we soon came back to happier stuff.
She asked us how we liked the new songs and I told her that I had to
cry when hearing "Saving Grace", because I had not heard something so
beautiful for such a long time! And everybody was complementing on "Oh
Boy" which made her really happy and all smiling! She then said
smiling at her people that she wasn't the only one liking hip-hop. I
asked Mariah if she would tour for the new album and she replied with
a definite Yes! She said that she would like to tour everywhere, but
she now knows better that she needs her sleep and sufficient rest.
She also told us about the MTV Special, which is going to be taped in
NYC soon. She obviously enjoyed the closeness and intimacy of this
event. About the MTV concert she said that MTV would rather like her
to perform the Classics, when we asked whether she would perform new
and less famous songs. After a little while Jerry Blair whispered into
Mariah's ear that they would have to take the photos now and she said
"Okeydokey, Smokey" - I though that was really funny.
She was so self-confident as if she really feels comfortable with her
new people. We then had to line up so everyone could individually pose
for a Polaroid picture with Mariah. When it was my turn I was more
nervous about the spotlight and the whole crowd as about being there
with Mariah! We took the first picture and I thought I had blinked so
I asked if we could take another one. Mariah discovered I was wearing
my Butterfly earrings and said, "We're both wearing our butterfly
earrings today!" She tucked her hair behind her ear and the second
photo was made. I told Mariah that right now I am fulfilling my dream
of studying in the United States and that her music had inspired me to
not give up and keep going for my goal. Particularly "Make it happen"
has helped me during the months of my exams at home. Then I hugged
her! It was so sweet! Then it was Amy's turn. After she got her photo
with Mariah we wanted to take a picture with her. When all the people
had gotten their picture we asked Mariah again.
She reached both hands out to us immediately, and we got to stand next
to her talking about "Oh Boy" and the new song with JD when the funny
faces photo was done. Well, so another one was done and I think, this
is the most beautiful of all! Mariah asked if we had become friends
through the fan club and we said we had just met today! So she said
that she was so happy that her fans are so good to each other, that we
are internationally making friends and so on. She asked if we still
haven't seen "Wise Girls" yet. Amy was at the Sundance Festival
premiere in January. We told her that the DVD was out in Greece with
Greek subtitles and she found it very funny. Then Mariah told me that
I had almost lost my accent. I was so surprised that she noticed
something like that! I was really honored that moment and proud of
myself that I had actually made it so far. Thousands of miles from
home here I was meeting Mariah in Dallas! And she was actually
remembering me! Sometimes life is a little miracle. Mariah said
good-bye quickly after all that, but it was such a great night! I
still can't believe that I really did go on this trip! But it was
worth each cent and each mile and each minute. Mariah is and remains
the best. And she comes back - stronger than ever!
Ajay's Review: (San Fransisco) (Picture at Gallery 7.)
The San Francisco Meet and Greet at the Universal Music and Video
Distribution branch was super amazing. I took my brother along with
me, who is also a huge fan. Hey Kelly and Deijah, it was nice meeting
you! The LA Meet and Greet sound so reminiscent to my own experience,
until the time came to actually meet Mariah, so I decided I'll leave
out the beginning and the music (although the song "Oh boy" and "I
only wanted" are my favorites).
I must say I wasn't to nervous to see Mariah but completely in awe and
amaze. She gave me a huge hug and said "Hi, how ya doin'." I told her
I was fine and that she looks so beautiful. She smiled at me like she
was proud too see me even though she had no idea who I was. Ya know
looking at Mariah in 3-D and for the first time is unbelievable and
strange because after seeing her for so long on flat surfaces in TV or
pictures its hard to believe that you are actually looking at Mariah
real and in life size. Before we took our pictures together, I told
her that I had a gift for her. She told me that was sweet of me. I
asked her if I could open it for her to see and she said sure. So I
took the gift I wrapped in plain white tissue paper out of the gift
bag with designs of colorful mini monarchs on it and the words 'One
Sweet day' written all over (I can't believe I found a bag like that
for Mariah). Anyway, she looked at it and said "Wow, did you make
them." The gift I gave her was three multi-colored decorative Indian
ornaments inside a gold and glittery-wired star container with a note
I made my self and tied with a Indian silk ribbon. I told her no I did
not make them, but that they were made in India and that I am
half-Indian and Mexican (odd mix) and that they were to remind her of
me. Mariah looked straight into my eyes when I told her I was
multi-racial and she said, "You are" so kindly. I do not know if she
said anything else because the gift I gave her was so different than
anybody else's (mostly flowers and stuff animals) that her people that
surrounded her even the photographer all came to see what I had given.
After that, my picture was taken where I was so unprepared and so was
Mariah because you can tell by how far apart we are in the picture.
Luckily, I managed to put my hand around her to look like we were
close. After my picture, she signed my #1's CD cover and that was it,
almost (I still had more things to sign but time runs out quickly so I
gave the things to my brother to get signed for me).
After Mariah left the room, my brother and I exited the building to
see Mariah leave. She came out of the building with 2 bodyguards and
shock hands with me while on her way. However, her limo was not there
amongst the many on the street. So she had to walk to almost to the
corner of the street where her Mercedes coupe was waiting with DaBrat
(I got and her to sign the back of my picture holder, Thank you
DaBrat!) in the back seat. About 7-10 people followed her including me
to her car. Can you believe we walked with Mariah to the end of the
block in San Francisco and around mid-night!!!!!! Along the way, she
said something I cannot remember because I was on the phone with my
sister trying to get Mariah to say hi to her. I waved bye and she
waved back and got in her fancy car. Everyone that was watching her
told her to buckle up because we wanted her to be safe while driving
and after a minute of adjusting in the car, she left.
My brother and I were the last to leave the place because we were
waiting for our ride. However, I am glad we were not picked up on time
because we got to speak with the photographer, Jacob, about the places
he had been with Mariah and which he liked (SF! and Chicago). Her
other people came out later and talked with us a bit about the meet
and asked us if we enjoyed (our answer yes) and then all of them said
thanks to my brother and me and told us to take care as they left in
the limos. Out of my whole life, that was the icing on my cake for me,
the entire experience.
Eric who attended the San Fransisco meet & greet, sent me pictures of
the poster MC signed for him. Eddy also sent his picture with MC from
Miami, and Michael sent his pictures from San Fransisco. (Gallery 7)
http://www.mariahdaily.com/main_section_01_gallery_07.htm