Mariah Carey, Heavenly | COVERS

In the 45^th edition of COVERS (2023), Mariah Carey delivers a compelling rendition of 🎵 “Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can’t Give Up Now),” as recorded by Mary Mary.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 45^th edition of COVERS (2023), 🎙 Mariah Carey delivers a compelling rendition of 🎵 “Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can’t Give Up Now)”, originally recorded as 🎵 “Can’t Give Up Now” by 🎙 Mary Mary.

🏆 Grammy-winning pop/R&B superstar 🎙 Mariah Carey ‘lets loose’ on 🎵 “Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can’t Give Up Now)”, the 14^th track from her 2014 studio album, 💿 Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse 👏 🙌.  Notably, she covers a gem by contemporary gospel powerhouse, 🎙 Mary Mary: 🎵 “Can’t Give Up Now” from the duo’s 2000 LP, 💿 Thankful.  Even so, “No Ways Tired” itself  long predates Mary Mary. With the original song composed by 🎼 ✍ Curtis Burrell, the late, great 🎙 Rev. James Cleveland popularized it with his own arrangement and recording in 1976. Furthermore, legendary gospel collective 🎙 Mighty Clouds of Joy released their own influential version on their 1980 album, 💿 Cloudburst.  Basically, a long, long time before Mimi unleashed “Heavenly,” this song had history.

Even with the transformations from “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired” to “Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can’t Give Up Now),” Mariah Carey brings the heat! This emotional gospel cut is right up Carey’s alley. She’s renowned for concluding albums with an inspirational cut, and “Heavenly” fits the bill.  Mariah is cool, calm, and collected during the verses, spoiling us with her celestial tone. However, she packs more punch in the centerpiece, the chorus:

“I just can’t give up now

Come too far from where I started from

Nobody told me the road would be easy

And I don’t believe He’s brought me this far to leave me.” 

Eventually, the emotion and intensity of “Heavenly” expands.  This ascent begins with the bridge, which prefaces the final chorus of the song in the original key. The first modulation (in a variety of key changes) follows, paralleling increased spirit.  Besides those key changes, there are stomping drums, and of course, Mariah pour every ounce of her heart and soul into some rad ad-libs.  She’s further amplified by a choir, who help take us to church! And, in true old-school gospel fashion, what about that breakdown during the outro? “I don’t believe, He’s brought me this far / I don’t believe He’s brought me this far…” 🎵 “Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can’t Give Up Now)” is a cover, but it’s a cover where a once-in-a-lifetime singer makes it her own, PERIOD!!!

🎙 Mariah Carey • 💿 Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse • 🏷 Def Jam • 🗓 2014

Mariah Carey, Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can’t Give Up Now): Covers No. 45 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Def Jam; cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Ron Lach from Pexels; Paul Brennan from Pixabay]