Grammy.com: Lifted up by a brass section, the 30-member strong Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir and Pastor Clarence Keaton, Mariah Carey provided one of the evening’s most powerful performances. Her flowing blond tresses draping her white-cloaked frame, Carey sang “We Belong Together” and “Fly Like A Bird” like they were the most important moments of her life. Bringing that old-time religion to a 21st century venue, Carey raised the roof with her amazing vocal skills.
MTV News: Mariah Carey ended her decade-and-a-half Grammy drought by winning three awards during the night, for Best R&B Song, Contemporary Album and Female Vocal Performance. (…)
Of course, this being the Grammys, there were also some completely expected moments that delivered big time. Carey’s soulful medley of her hits “We Belong Together” and “Fly Like a Bird” packed a powerful vocal wallop, increased 30-fold by the addition of a full-blown gospel choir.
BET: Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys presented the first televised award, which was the Best Female Vocal Performance, and though Mariah Carey lost to Kelly Clarkson in this category, she already had picked up three in the Best Female R&B Vocal, Best Contemporary R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song categories earlier in the night. But that didn’t stop her from stealing the show later on, as her performance was met by a standing ovation.
Entertainment Weekly: The Adulation of Mimi. In a taped intro, Mariah Carey spoke of the importance of faith in her life, underscored by the word Faith emblazoned across her chest in sparkles. Appearing on stage in a low-cut gown (Carey must have had faith in double-sided sticky tape), 2005’s comeback queen paid homage to her spiritual side by performing with Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir on a medley of her hits ‘’We Belong Together'’ and ‘’Fly Like a Bird.'’ Which is what her voice did, soaring into the rafters like only Carey’s can.
Also, the music critics of Entertainment Weekly did a chat during the Grammys, and here is what they said during Mariah’s performance:
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–Michele Romero: Mariah has faith. |
Barbara Walters praised Mariah on The View saying she “sang divinely,” mentioned that she won 3 awards before the show so you didn’t see her accept them, and ended with, “but wow could she sing!”
On Los Angeles’ Gospel Radio 102.3 KJLH morning show, “The Home Team” hosts commented on how great Mariah’s performance of “Fly Like A Bird” was at the Grammys. They were amazed at how high she could sing and how distinct and clear she sang “Jesus” in such a high note.
Talk show titan Tyra Banks couldn’t stop gushing about Mariah’s big year. “I love her album. I mean, hello! It was crazy– front to back.” (Extra TV)
Calling U2 “my boys,” Kanye West said he figured the group would win album of the year because of vote splitting between his and Mariah Carey’s albums. (Billboard)
“I think winning three is a huge achievement,” said British soul singer Joss Stone. “I think winning eight is a ridiculous thing. I can’t imagine winning half a Grammy let alone three. She went through a lot, and everybody knew it. She’s come back on top.” (The Associated Press)
After winning the night’s big award, album of the year, Bono told Carey, “You sing like an angel.”
Mary J. Blige gave Mariah a shout out again! In a pre-Grammy interview, TRL VJ Vanessa Minnilo asked her if she wanted to see anyone in particular win, and she said she wanted Mariah to clean up. She said Mariah is “my heart, my baby” and that when she was growing up, she and her girlfriends would sing Mariah songs. Mary said she knows Mariah and that she is a beautiful person. Mary also said she loved seeing Mariah come through and “be that good woman they can’t hold down.”
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