Mariah Carey, Save The Day | Track Review 🎵

Mariah Carey celebrates 30 years in the game by dropping “Save the Day,” featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill, the promo single from The Rarities.

There is a new Mariah Carey album on the horizon – well – sort of.  The R&B/pop chanteuse sadly doesn’t have a new studio album unfortunately, but she does drop a brand-new compilation, The Rarities (October 2, 2020).  The Rarities is, however, comprised of previously unreleased music.  It’s fitting, given 2020 marks three decades in the biz for Mimi, sigh. As with every good compilation, there’s at least one brand-new song, which is what we’re treated to with “Save The Day.” “Save The Day” not only has one legendary musician, but two: Ms. Lauryn Hill.

Not to bring down or slightly sour the mood, but Hill arrives via sampling – “Killing Me Softly” via Fugees.  While it’s not that highly desired, brand-new duet, the way that the sample is wove in is utterly brilliant. Elements of the remake of an iconic classic shine through “Save the Day” consistently. This definitely allows the record to hearken back to Mariah Carey’s own heyday, the 90s, where the majority of her classics can be found.

Carey, who is 50 years old (can you believe it), sounds incredibly strong throughout “Save the Day.” That, my friends, is the biggest takeaway. There has been some criticism of the abilities of her voice as she gets older and past her lucrative prime, but she’s still quite potent here.  Furthermore, this recording doesn’t play it conservative – we get the full range of Mariah Carey from the lows to those soaring, dynamic highs.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Mariah Carey comes out strong in 2020 – 30 years into the game.  “Save the Day” reminds us of the greatness of one of the greatest singers of all time.  Furthermore, adding Lauryn Hill in alongside the lush, nostalgic production work only ups the ante.

Mariah Carey • The Rarities • Columbia • Release: 10.2.20

Photo Credit: Columbia