Mariah on Capri Magazine Cover

Mariah graces the cover of the Italian magazine Capri. Below is the cover story, including an interview with Mariah.

Mariah Carey - A pop icon in the motion-picture world

Mariah Carey loves Capri. She loves those small restaurants, that crisp air even in wintertime, Capri's silent wilderness out of season. However, the last time she was seen on the island for the Capri, Hollywood Festival curated by her friend Pascal Vicedomini, she was certainly not alone. When we got the chance to talk to her, to spend a few moments with one of the greatest legends of contemporary pop music, she struck us as being an extraordinarily easy person, in spite of the 250 million records sold worldwide and her tremendous media presence, although she is one of the sexiest women in the world. She is now busy writing the lyrics for her new album, but we mostly talked about films, about the new film she will be appearing in and about her small and yet incisive role in Precious. And she wanted to say quite clearly that: "I don't care to be a star. I would rather play in small, independent movies, but telling a story I like. Films that people should watch because they are important".

Precious won two Academy Awards: for best supporting actress (Mo'Nique) and for best adapted screenplay. It made $ 50 million, five times as much as it cost. The film was awarded its first prize in Capri, the Capri Award given to Mariah Carey.

The film tells the story of an obese, illiterate young girl who suffers sexual abuse from her mother and father and lives in the ghetto of Harlem. What does such a powerful and shocking film have to do with a pop and media icon such as Mariah Carey? Nothing, on the face of it. Nonetheless, Mariah took up the challenge: she accepted to appear ugly, without make-up, wearing shapeless clothes twice her size, shabby, with a fixed gaze onto a horrible life. She plays the role of a social worker. The girl asks her: "What are you? Black, Hispanic, what?" Actually, that is a question that crosses your mind when you look at Mariah Carey. Irish, Venezuelan and Afro-American blood runs in her veins. Actually, and especially face-to-face, she is simply beautiful.

Miss Carey, you chose to play a small role in an independent film. A strong choice.
It was an instinctive choice, but a clear one too. Like with music: I consider myself more of a songwriter than a singer. I've been writing songs since I was six. I am not obsessed with my looks. Some pop stars change their look over and over again. I don't. It was the same for the film. I was looking for an interesting, powerful story, not for one that would make me look pretty.

The film deals with incestuous relationships. A very serious issue.
Yes, the film is about hard experiences in life that leave their mark on you. Films cannot merely be an escape from real life.

You are nearly unrecognizable in the film...
The film director told me: "Believe me, not even your mother is going to recognize you!". And he was right. When I watch myself on screen, I say: "Who is this woman?"

Have you been influenced by a specific period of Italian cinema?
The movies of the sixties, La dolce vita or La Ciociara of which we see a scene in Precious. I've always been moved by those films. I love classic movies, in general. The great American and Italian classics.

Which film directors would you like to work with in the future?
If I were free to choose anyone, Scorsese or Woody Allen. But I'm more interested in the film's story, in important stories. I view acting not as a whim of fancy, but as a well thought-out choice.

As is the case with Barbra Streisand or Diana Ross..
Yes, and there are other singers who are also amazing actresses.

This film conveys an image of you very different from the one we are used to seeing at your concerts.
I am Mariah at the concerts as well as in the movies. I'm interested in powerful stories that make people reflect on what they have just seen. I could even play myself in a musical, but I enjoy transforming myself into characters. I'm still learning, I don't want to take advantage of my popularity and I don't want to play the usual roles.

What do you dream of as an actress?
I dream of playing characters who are very different from me.

Precious Wins at BET Awards

At last night's BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, prominent African American entertainers including actors, musicians, and athletes were honored. The critically-acclaimed film Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, which stars Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey, won the Best Movie award, besting nominees Michael Jackson's This Is It, Avatar, Law Abiding Citizen, and The Blindside. Mo'Nique took home the Best Actress award for her outstanding performance in Precious.

"Da Baby" Gets a Name

It was studio time yesterday for Mariah as she worked on her upcoming Christmas album; and "Da Baby" finally got a name! All this was revealed by Mariah on her Twitter earlier today.

MariahCarey Still up after a LONG studio session.It was nice w/the live musicians etc but I miss my husband @NickCannon! X0x0

MariahCarey Also..breaking news...ChaCha &JJ's newest puppy now has a (Drum roll pls) name!.... Jackie Lambchops (said like Tony Soprano)

New Mariah Carey Lollipop Bling Fragrances

Ring Pops and a Marriage Proposal Inspire Mariah Carey Fragrances

When the singer Mariah Carey and her husband, the actor and rapper Nick Cannon, appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last September, Mr. Cannon told of how he proposed in 2008: he presented Ms. Carey with a Ring Pop, the gem-shaped lollipop on a ring. Inside the package was a proper engagement ring. Upon hearing the story, executives at Elizabeth Arden, the cosmetics company that since 2007 has sold a Mariah Carey fragrance collection, began to develop a proposal of their own.

Mariah Carey's Lollipop Bling, three fragrances that Elizabeth Arden based on candy flavors and that will appear in stores soon, is the product of a partnership with the Topps Company, which makes Ring Pops. Print advertisements for the perfume in August issues of publications like Cosmopolitan, Elle and People Style Watch will show Ms. Carey wearing three Ring Pops.

The fragrances, named after Ms. Carey's songs "Ribbon," "Honey" and "Mine Again," will be introduced by July 1 at department stores including Macy's and Dillard's, where with each purchase consumers will get a free Ring Pop.

Early next year, before Valentine's Day, when romantics flock to both the perfume and candy aisles, the fragrances will be available in mass retailers like Wal-Mart and in drug stores. There, stand-alone display racks will feature both the fragrances and Ring Pops, with the candies in a special "Bling Collection" three-pack that promotes the fragrances. Ms. Carey was not available for comment.

A one-ounce bottle of the perfume will retail for $35, the 1.5-ounce candy three-pack will cost about $1.50.

"Topps sells tens of millions of units of candy," said E. Scott Beattie, chief executive at Elizabeth Arden, which also has fragrance licensing deals with celebrities including Britney Spears, Danielle Steel and Elizabeth Taylor. "Combining their customer base with Mariah Carey's fan base and our fragrance base is a great way to cross-promote all the brands."

Since its introduction three years ago, the Mariah Carey line, with three fragrances, has grossed more than $150 million, Elizabeth Arden said.

In 2009, the company spent $5.2 million advertising the perfume, while Topps spent $750,000 advertising Ring Pops, according to Kantar Media, a unit of WPP.

Noreen Dodge, senior vice president of global marketing at the cosmetics company, said that the current fragrances draw the younger end of the singer's fan base of 18- to 45-year-olds, mostly those 18 to 24, and that the new ones will appeal to still younger fans.

"We think it will bring an even younger customer into the Mariah Carey franchise," Ms. Dodge said. The Lollipop Bling line will be advertised in youth-oriented publications where ads for the celebrity's fragrances had not previously appeared, like Seventeen and Teen Vogue. But Ms. Dodge emphasized that these "are not your typical teeny-bopper fragrances."

While the scents "take a candy element as a thread to be woven in a fragrance," they do so in a way that "elevates candy into a prestige environment," she said.

Laurent Le Guernec, a perfumer at International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. who designed the fragrances, said that while typical candy flavors like grape and banana have "cheap and very common" scents, he was able to build on the Blue Raspberry Ring Pop flavor for one fragrance, Ribbon. Into the "juiciness and sweetness notes" of that flavor Mr. Le Guernec said he layered floral notes.

While the Ribbon fragrance is reminiscent of a particular Ring Pop flavor, the other scents have notes only broadly associated with candy, like chocolate, raspberry, pineapple and honey. The new perfumes are far from juvenile, said Mr. Le Guernec, who before joining International Flavors and Fragrances designed popular scents including Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker.

Founded in 1938 by brothers Abram, Ira, Philip and Joseph Shorin, Topps Chewing Gum, as it was known then, introduced Bazooka bubble gum in 1947, and in 1953 began including a tiny comic featuring Bazooka Joe, who was modeled after Joseph Shorin. The company introduced its popular baseball cards in 1951 and the Ring Pop in 1977.

Today the Ring Pop (tag line: "The flavor's always on hand") is turning more mouths blue than ever. Ari Weinstock, director of marketing for the confectionery division of Topps, said that the brand was forecasting record annual revenue this year. In the 52 weeks that ended May 16, it posted $14.9 million in revenue, outpacing other novelty candies like Pez and Pop Rocks, according to SymphonyIRI Group, a market data company whose totals do not include Wal-Mart.

In 2007, Topps was acquired by an investment firm led by the former Walt Disney chief executive Michael D. Eisner, who is chairman of the company. Ryan O'Hara, the former president of the TV Guide Network, was installed as chief executive in February.

Recent advertising campaigns have "played up the emotional connection that people have with Ring Pops," Mr. Weinstock said. "What we hit upon is that the Ring Pop is ultimately the only candy that you can show off, unlike a chocolate bar that you just consume," he said. "It's a candy that you put on your finger and flaunt, and it transforms you from just eating a piece of candy to being in the spotlight."

Now the brand itself will be in the spotlight, thanks to its association with Ms. Carey and Elizabeth Arden, and will provide Ring Pop samples to shoppers at retailers like Macy's, where the candy has never been sold.

"It's a case," Mr. Weinstock said, "of one plus one plus one equals 10."

Lollipop Bling, a candy-inspired trio of fragrances inspired by Mariah's marriage proposal - an engagement ring hidden inside an iconic Ring Pop package.


Each fragrance in the Lollipop Bling collection is named after one of Mariah's hit songs and is bright, sparkling and multifaceted with its own signature spin.

MINE AGAIN - A combination of Chocolate Raspberry with a touch of Magnolia creates an addictive fragrance. RIBBON - A mouthwatering fragrance inspired by the flavor of the Blue Raspberry Ring Pop is combined with a beautiful floral bouquet. HONEY - An irresistible fragrance combined with a touch of Honey and Pineapple, creating a bright and sunny fragrance.

The 1.0 fl oz scents, Honey, Mine Again and Ribbon, will retail for $35 each, and will be available at select department stores nationwide July 2010. Candy-inspired promotions, including a gumball machine gift set and a lollipop rollerball fragrance set, will be available beginning in Fall 2010.

PHOTO: Mariah Carey's New Puppy

Get ready to say "awww!"

Mariah Carey gave her 2.8 million Twitter followers a shot of cuteness over the weekend when she posted three pictures of her new Jack Russell puppy. Though not yet named, the little one is going by "da baby."

Carey and husband Nick Cannon raised eyebrows last month when they ignored their own pregnancy rumors and instead announced that their Jack Russell terrier ChaCha was expecting. "I want [my dogs] to have puppies," Carey told Barbara Walters of ChaCha and her other pup, JJ, last year. "They're going to be very cute." She was certainly right!

BET Celebrates Mariah's 20 years in Music

The legendary Mariah Carey celebrates a career milestone. It's the twenty-year mark since her self-titled debut release.

On June 12th, 1990 "Mariah Carey" was released in the United States with modest sales (yes, even a talent like Mariah had to grind!). But, after heavy promotion and what same say to be her big-break, performing live on "The Arsenio Hall Show," Mariah's first album would spawn four number one singles. Plus, two Grammys for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best New Artist. To date, Mariah's first album has sold over 15 million copies.

Ground breaking and consistent success has continued for twenty years. Her best-selling album of her career is 1993's "Music Box" with 28 million and 1995's "Daydream" isn't far behind with 25 million, both are listed as one of the best-selling albums of all time. Mariah has the most number one songs for a solo artist, she has the most weeks at number for a group or solo artist, she was named the most successful artist of the 1990s in the United States, Nielsen SoundScan has her as the best-selling female artist since 1991 and she has a legion of fans that has solidified her as a powerful force in the music industry.

Mariah Carey exclusively told BET.com, "I was two when I started," jokingly using a line from one of her icons, Diana Ross. Carey continued, "I have the best, most devoted, creative, supportive and loving fans in the world. They have helped me get through every storm as well as realize so many dreams. I thank them from the bottom of my heart and I will never stop loving them, appreciating them and enjoying them."

Throughout all of the awards, hit songs and record-breaking sales, it's sometimes easy to forget the enormous talent that is Mariah Carey. She has a legacy that is etched in history. Armed with a five-octave vocal range, Mariah has captivated the globe with her gift of voice, words and music. BET salutes Mariah Carey at this milestone moment in her career and looks forward to many more decades of success.

http://www.bet.com/entertainment/celebmariah

New Forum

Join the new Mariah Carey Online message board.

MC vs. JS: To Release or Not To Release

In a recent interview with Roman of the Jump Smokers, he announced that after Island Def Jam initially cancelled the Mariah Carey vs. Jump Smokers remix album, they would go forward with releasing it on June 29.

Now, we get a confirmation that the remix album is not on the schedule again and has been put on hold indefinitely by the label.

Meanwhile, check out the new "Ribbon" Remix feat. The-Dream & Ludacris, now available for download at Amazon for $0.99.