“I’ve started writing songs for a new album, which I hope will come out in 2012. Getting back in the studio and making music again-which I truly love doing-is the best way to end this crazy year”. – Mariah to Shape Magazine
Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse is the fourteenth studio album by MC, released on May 27, 2014 in the United States, by Def Jam Recordings. The record had been in development since 2011; during its production, Carey hired collaborator Randy Jackson to manage her career, before firing and replacing him with another frequent collaborator, Jermaine Dupri. The album consists of guest appearances from Nas, Miguel, Wale, and Fabolous, in addition to Carey’s twins Moroccan and Monroe. On the deluxe edition of the album, R. Kelly and Mary J. Blige respectively make appearances on remixes of two songs, “Betcha Gon’ Know” and “It’s a Wrap”, taken from Carey’s twelfth studio album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009). These remixes were originally intended to appear on Carey’s cancelled remix album, Angel’s Advocate (2010).
Alternative Album Cover #1
Originally titled The Art of Letting Go, Me. I Am Mariah… was scheduled for release in 2012 but, following the single, “Triumphant (Get ‘Em)”, featuring Rick Ross and Meek Mill, additional songs were recorded for the album causing the release date to be pushed back several times by the record company throughout 2013 and again in 2014. Together with Bryan Michael Cox, Carey and Dupri were executive producers on the album. It is named after a self-portrait that Carey drew as a very young girl that she captioned “Me. I Am Mariah”. The portion of the album called “The Elusive Chanteuse” is a nickname Carey gave herself for the album.
Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse was promoted through several media appearances by Carey, as well as The Elusive Chanteuse Show. Singles released from the album included the US Hot 100 top twenty song “#Beautiful” (a duet with Miguel), “The Art of Letting Go”, “You’re Mine (Eternal)”, and “You Don’t Know What to Do” (featuring rapper Wale). Of these, “You’re Mine (Eternal)”, peaked at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Tracklisting
Alternative Album Cover #2
| 1 |
Written by Mariah Carey, James Wright.
Produced by Mariah Carey and James “Big Jim” Wright.
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4:48 |
| 2 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Michael Williams, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Mike WiLL Made-It.
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3:39 |
| 3 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Chauncey Hollis, James Fauntleroy, Nasir Jones, Dennis Coles, Robert Diggs, Gary Grice, Lamont Hawkins, Jason Hunter, Russell Jones, Clifford Smith, Corey Woods.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Hit-Boy and Darhyl “Hey DJ” Camper. Additional Production by Hazebanga.
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4:13 |
| 4 |
Written by Miguel Pimentel, Mariah Carey, Nathan Perez, Brook Davis, Maclean Robinson, Brian Warfield.
Produced by Miguel and Mariah Carey. Co-produced by Happy Perez. Additional Production by Brook “D’Leau” Davis.
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3:19 |
| 5 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Chauncey Hollis, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews, Mary Ann Tatum.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Hit-Boy. Co-produced by Rey Reel.
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3:25 |
| 6 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Bunny Sigler, Allan Felder.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
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3:23 |
| 7 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Rodney Jerkins.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.
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3:44 |
| 8 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Olubowale Akintimehin, Patrick Adams, Terri Gonzalez.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
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4:47 |
| 9 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
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4:37 |
| 10 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Kamaal Fareed, Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Ron Tyson.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Q-Tip.
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3:50 |
| 11 |
Written by Mariah Carey, James Wright.
Produced by Mariah Carey and James “Big Jim” Wright.
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4:48 |
| 12 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Chauncey Hollis, John Jackson, Dan Satch, Edwin Birdsong.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Hit-Boy.
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4:54 |
| 13 |
Written by George Michael.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
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6:17 |
| 14 |
Written by Mariah Carey, Curtis Burrell, George Clinton, Jr.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.
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5:39 |
| Bonus |
Written by Mariah Carey, Barry White.
Produced by Mariah Carey, Heatmyzer, C. “Tricky” Stewart and James “Big Jim” Wright.
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4:07 |
| Bonus |
Written by Mariah Carey, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart, James Wright, Robert Kelly.
Produced by Mariah Carey, C. “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash and James “Big Jim” Wright.
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3:53 |
| Bonus |
Written by Mariah Carey, Rodney Jerkins.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.
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3:44 |
| Bonus |
Written by Katharine Lee Bates, Samuel A. Ward.
Produced by Mariah Carey and James “Big Jim” Wright.
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1:56 |