Mr. Fahrenheit

It's hilarious seeing people here get their knickers in a twist about her - especially those calling her an "industry plant" and then stanning for popstars who received radio payola, huge budgets, every promotional gig imaginable, etc. to get their start in the big time. Get real, people. Personally, her aesthetic doesn't really appeal to me, and her work is definitely that of a teenager (obviously, but I mean in a way that, say, early Kate Bush mightn't be considered). She seems talented though, and certainly has room to grow. Good on her.

This is so deliciously American.

As much as I'd love to participate, people dragging Mariah for this need to get real. The industry is not kind to ageing women, especially ones that have had as many public missteps (see: that NYE performance still being cited in even positive reviews) and personal setbacks (all of which have been dissected in tabloids and on television) as Mariah has had in the past few years. I don't like what I've heard of the new record, though I've never liked any of her records. I admire her for sticking to her theme, though, and trying to make work that means something to her, and is relevant to her, at this stage in her career - a point when many divas pack in the effort entirely and hit the road with the hits exclusively.

OT: This song is garbage.

She had a 136k maximum attendance, IIRC, for the two shows in Croker, and she really struggled to move those tickets - especially for the second night, where she apparently only sold 12k through official channels. I don't mean to be snarky, but they were literally giving them away on Grafton St. and in shops. People were not having them.

The Stones are still monsters on the road. $100m from 12 dates, with a $159 average ticket price.

Jeez, this was such a big deal here at the time. Now it's twenty-second.