Perfect!
Muddwacker | Hazelton, CO United States | 06/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sony records Japan did a superb job on this collection of hits. Every song that SHOULD be on Mariah Carey's Greatest Hits is here. Stand outs like "Open arms", "Take a look at me now (w/ Westlife)", "Never too far/Hero medley", and "All i want for Christmas (original version)" make this a MUST HAVE. The U.S. edition is almost pitiful when compared to this. This time there was some serious thought and concern put into it. I'm sure all the other Mariah fans will agree with me on this point. Dont let the cost deter you, this set is worth the extra money. If you only have a few Mariah discs and you're looking to get a complete set, this is the collection for you. It comes in a larger case (unlike the standard US edition), and includes lyrics."
Amazing Collection of Mariah's Hits...
Angelo Quatrocci | New York, United States | 12/18/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I myself have also purchased the Japanese edition of the "Greatest Hits" album. I actually bought mine in a store here in New York City but still had the urge to leave a review. This CD almost completely covers every hit Mariah has ever released, however, there are some singles missing that I would consider essential to the collection. Has anyone realized that Breakdown, The Roof (Both from the "Butterfly" [1997] album) and "Crybaby" (from Rainbow [1999]) are missing?? All three songs had videos and offical CD singles issued in the United States. I would say that's enough information to add them to this album. I know that CD's can only hold up to 80 minutes of music but I'm sure there could have been something done to include all, maybe editing some songs that are repetitive during the endings to allow space for these 3 great songs. I personally don't see why "Underneath The Stars" was added but I know it was released in Australia. All in all, the Japanese edition of Mariah's Greatest Hits is an incredible album and much better than any other international version out there seeing as it has 6 more tracks (Which includes the original "All I Want For Christmas Is You" which should have been included on the US one). The price may be too expensive for most, but this is a must have for any Mariah fan or anyone who enjoys a beautiful voice with amazing music. Buy this and it will perfectly accentuate your CD collection. Mariah is here to stay. I LOVE YOU MARIAH!!!!!!!!!"
A beautiful collection of a beautiful voice!!!
Joy | Fairfax, VA USA | 06/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This 2 disc Japanese Greatest Hits is the ultimate collection of Mariah's best songs up to 2001. This collection covers ballads, dance tracks, and Hip-Hop and R&B jams. It features 11 years worth of material from the most beautiful voice to ever be heard!
Vision Of Love was Mariah's very first song ever released and it also became her very first number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. I totally love the hauntingly, beautiful intro in this amazing ballad. Vision Of Love is from the album Mariah Carey, from 1990.
Love Takes Time is a very beautiful, slow ballad which became Mariah's 2nd #1 on Billboard. Love Takes Time is also from the debut album, Mariah Carey, from 1990.
Someday was actually the very first song that I heard from her debut and once I heard it MTV or VH1, I just totally fell in love with it for that really high note that she does at the end! I actually prefer the music video/Jackswing versions best because of the unique music and her high note rather than the album version which doesn't really let you hear that high note because the song fades out. But this album version is still cool and it became Mariah's 3rd #1 from the Mariah Carey album from 1990.
I Don't Wanna Cry is my all time favorite ballad from the Mariah Carey album from 1990. I just love the way Mariah sings and the music itself is amazing! This became Mariah's 4th #1.
The song Emotions broke a record as it was the 5th consecutive #1 in a row for Mariah. Emotions is the title track to the 1991 release and I totally love how Mariah uses that high note all throughout the song!!
Can't Let Go was the song that introduced me to Mariah. I had seen the music video on MTV and VH1 and ran out and got the tape of the 1991 release, Emotions, and I just love this beautiful ballad, it's one of my all time favorites from her!!
Make It Happen, which is from Emotions from 1991, is a really cool upbeat song that I really love. I used to try to dance the way Mariah dances in the music video for this song which features a church. I love the music and the way Mariah sings so boldly at the end!
I'll Be There is a cover of The Jackson 5 song which was recorded during a live performance called MTV Unplugged in 1992. I'll Be There became Mariah's 6th #1 and since I've heard both Mariah's and The Jackson 5's versions, I can honestly say that I love Mariah's more because of her voice, emotion, and soul!
Dreamlover was the first single from Music Box that was released in 1993 and became Mariah's 7th #1! I love to sing and dance to this song every time I hear it!
My all time favorite Mariah Carey song is Hero from the Music Box album which was released in 1993. It's gotten me through a lot of obstacles in my life with the message being so powerful! Hero became Mariah's 8th #1!
The next song, Without You, is a Harry Nielson remake, from the 1993 release, Music Box. I've heard both versions and I must say that Mariah blows the original out of the water! Mariah's voice is incredible on this song and I love how she hits that really low register!
Another favorite song of mine from the Music Box album, released in 1993, is Anytime You Need A Friend. I totally love this song and love how there is a choir singing in it, it's such an incredible song!! I love the club mixes of Anytime You Need A Friend Also! This song makes me feel like I'm in church and whenever I hear the part in the song that goes "If You Just Believe In Me, I Will Love You Endlessly", I think of Jesus because with the love of Jesus, you'll survive!!
Another cover that blows the original out of the water is Endless Love!! It was originally by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie and after hearing both versions, it's obvious which version is better. Mariah and Luther Vandross sang this song together in 1994, with so much soul and emotion, and Mariah's vocals are incredible!!
Fantasy, from Daydream that was released in 1995, was the first of many record-breaking triumphs for Mariah. Fantasy was Mariah's 9th #1 and it also was the first single to just debut at #1! I love the album version most because of the music which features a sample of the Tom Tom Club's Genius Of Love but I love all the versions.
The next song, Music Box, is a bonus track for the Japanese release and it's the title track from the 1993 release. I really love this song a lot because it really showcases Mariah's vocals and you get to hear an actual music box playing during the song.
All I Want For Christmas Is You is another Japanese release bonus track which is from the Merry Christmas album that is from 1994. Mariah wrote this song and I love singing and dancing along to it.
Another vocal masterpiece that Mariah covered is Open Arms from Daydream in 1995. It's originally from Journey and after hearing both versions, Mariah's blows the original out of the water because of Mariah's incredible and powerful voice and she sings with so much emotion! Open Arms is also a Japanese only track.
The 10th #1, One Sweet Day, from Daydream, released in 1995, set another record for Mariah, as it was the 2nd #1 to just debut at #1 on Billboard but it also spent 16 consecutive weeks at #1 and to this day, no one has ever broken that record! It's a very emotional ballad with Boyz II Men about losing a loved one, and I love it!!!
Always Be My Baby, the 11th #1, became Mariah's 3rd #1 from Daydream, released in 1995. I just totally love this uptempo song so much and all the remixes and club mixes and always sing and dance whenever it comes on. The Always Club Mix is my all time favorite club mix from Mariah!!!
Forever is yet another vocal masterpiece from Mariah's Daydream, released in 1995. Forever is actually one of the best romantic, vocal performances Mariah has ever done and it totally takes my breath away every time I hear it and it's one of my favorites from Mariah!!
Another romantic ballad that makes me picture having a romantic evening under a sky full of stars is Underneath The Stars. Underneath The Stars, from Daydream, released in 1995, is a wonderful slow ballad!!
Honey became Mariah's 12th #1 and it was the 3rd #1 to debut at the #1 spot on Billboard. Honey, which is the first single from Butterfly, released in 1997, started a more hip-hop and R&B sound for Mariah. I love the Bad Boy Remix version of Honey best because it just sounds so cool but I love all versions of the song!!
My all time favorite ballad from Butterfly, which was released in 1997, is the title track, Butterfly. I love Mariah's vocals and the way she sings on this beautiful slow ballad!!
Mariah's 13th #1, from the 1997 release, Butterfly, is My All. I love this romantic ballad which includes this Spanish guitar. A wonderful, romantic slow ballad!!
Sweetheart, from the 1998 release, #1's, is a cool R&B/hip-hop song which features JD. It's a cool uptempo song and I love the part that goes "Won't You Be My Sweetheart, We Can Share A Story Book Romance."
The next song features another favorite singer of mine, Whitney Houston, in When You Believe. This incredible duet is from the 1998 release, #1's and it's also from The Prince Of Egypt.
I Still Believe is another cover of a ballad that Mariah remade from the original Brenda K. Starr version from the 80's. I love this Mariah version a little more because of Mariah's amazing voice. In the CD booklet from the 1998 release, #1's, it states that Mariah redid I Still Believe as a tribute to the one person who made Mariah's career happen, Brenda K. Starr!!
Mariah's 14th #1 on Billboard is from her 1999 Rainbow album called Heartbreaker. Heartbreaker features Jay-Z and I love this cool uptempo R&B/hip-hop song and all the remixes of it!!
Thank God I Found You, which features Joe & 98 Degrees, from the 1999 Rainbow album, became Mariah's 15th #1 on Billboard. This is a really cool slow song and I like it a lot!!
The best ballad from the Rainbow album, released in 1999, is Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme). I totally love this wonderful slow ballad and it's my favorite song off Rainbow. I love that part in the bridge that goes "Certainly The Lord Will Guide Me Where I Need To Go." I totally love it when she sings that part and I feel the same as Mariah, the Lord Jesus will guide ME where I need to go. Amazing!!!
The fourth Japanese bonus bonus track is from 2000. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now), which features Westlife, is a cover of the Phil Collins song from the 80's. I love Mariah's version from 1999's Rainbow album best, as much as the original and this other version with Westlife is cool too! It's a great slow song!!
All I Want For Christmas Is You (So So Def Remix) is another 2000 Japanese bonus track, which features Jermaine Dupri & Lil Bow Wow. It's a R&B/hip-hop remix of the original from 1994's Merry Christmas and it's pretty cool but I still love the original best!!
The final track is another Japanese track from 2001. Never Too Far/Hero is a medley which Mariah re-recorded Hero which was originally on 1993's Music Box and it features Never Too Far from the 2001 release Glitter. It's an amazing medley ballad and Mariah's voice is unstoppable!!!
This collection is a MUST HAVE for any Mariah Carey fan!! By the time Mariah releases another Greatest Hits, she'll have so many hits, it will take a 3 or 4 disc collection to be able to include all her hits!! DO NOT miss out on this magnificent collection from the greatest voice in the world, Mariah Carey!!!
The import version plus 6 bonus tracks comes with a deluxe CD case, which is 2 times the size of a regular case and two booklets. It has the regular, color booklet found in the U.S. version with pictures of Mariah's singles. The other booklet is a Japanese black & white booklet that has pictures of Mariah's albums, lyrics in both Japanese and English of all the songs except the remix of All I Want For Christmas Is You, and a biography of Mariah but it's only in Japanese. It's great still to have because you'll have the lyrics to songs that weren't included in the CD booklet like I'll Be There from MTV Unplugged.
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Track Listings (33) - Disc #1