Mariah's Vibe...

[Extract Vibe Interview With Mariah Carey]

Mariah is featured in the cover story in this month's Vibe Magazine. She offers some of her impressions of Whitney's talent and the duet. .

Interviewer: Tell me about the song you did with Whitney.
MC: I wish I could tell you more about it, but unfortunately, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds has that under wraps. We've done our vocals, but now he's in the process of changing it around. I kinda liked it the way it was. It's called "When You Believe," for "The Prince of Egypt" soundtrack.

I: One of those big ballads . . .
MC: It's a very big ballad but in an inspirational way. The movie is about Moses. That she and I came together on this particular song is important. It's not just like, Here we are -- Divafest '98... I don't think we are trying to outsing each other. You really do hear the differences in our voices.

I: What are the differences?
MC: She just has a really rich, strong mid-belt that very few people have. She sounds really good, really strong. I guess I sound airier and lighter than her.

I: Was it dramatic being in the studio with her?
MC: Not at all.

I: You guys are supposed to have this rivalry ...
MC: You know what's funny? When I came out, people had comments. That had a lot to do with me being put with the producers she'd worked with. When you're a young girl, you don't have control and you're being marketed as the New Little Diva.

I: And there's already a Diva. You guys never had beef?
MC: I had never even really talked to her until this. We never had any issues between us. The media and everybody made it an issue. Over the years, as I got more control over my own music, I did my own thing. I don't think we do similar thing at this point.

I: But I mean if we're talking about the pop princesses of the late '80s and early '90s . . .
MC: I didn't come out until the '90s [laughs]. And I hope to be around past the '90s. I don't want to be categorized as "of this era." My goal is to have a career that stands. Otherwise what's the point?

There you have it - Mariah confirmed that she was put with Whitney's producers deliberately at the beginning and she also acknowledge Whitney's undeniable vocal superiority. We also get confirmation that Whitney & Mariah were not 'friends' before this duet.

NEWSFILE: 29 SEPTEMBER 1998