The Elusive Chanteuse is back after a 5 year wait with her 16th studio album, “Here For It All,” by Mariah Carey.
“Here for it all” was released Sept. 16, 2025. The album debuted on the billboard charts at number seven, which is impressive for an artist that has been active for the past 30 years.
The album has a track list of 11 songs with some standouts for me being “Play This Song” featuring Anderson .Paak, “Nothing is Impossible”, “My Love” (Paul McCartney cover) and “Here for it all”.
Since its release I have listened to the album from top to bottom, and comparing this album that Carey released with her new record company Gamma versus her previous album “Caution” that Carey made with Sony music entertainment. There is a stark difference.
“Here For It All” feels like old Carey albums from the “Emancipation of Mimi”, “Music Box” and “Butterfly”. As well as a return back to classic R&B with true Carey pop vibes compared to her last album feeling like it was made to be trendy R&B to fit the new sound of music.
“MI”
“I don’t care about much if it ain’t about me,” said Carey, from her song “MI”.
“MI” is the first track on the album and it sets the tone for the rest of the album. This album is about Carey through and through. Carey is the “D-I-V-A,” said Carey on the first track. Carey is rich, luxurious and obnoxiously a diva. It’s a tale of her not needing anyone because she is Carey and that is luxury but if you can’t get past her independence then you’re missing out on fun, but she will be fine anyway.
“I ain’t check the price since Emancipation Mi” said Carey from her song “MI”.
The meaning of the song is amazing but for me it is a little too pop for what I’m looking for when listening to Carey.
Song rating: 6/10
“Play This Song” featuring Anderson .Paak.
“Theres’s a place in my heart, I can’t hide it at all, Boy you can always find it,” said Carey from song “Play This Song”.
“Play this song” still holds Carey’s independence but shows that she doesn’t mind a connection and can’t stray from it. Carey is met on this track by Anderson .Paak from the due Silk Sonic with Bruno Mars. The elements of this song are very Silk Sonic like the 70s vibe of the overall instrumental but is still grounded in R&B by Carey, there’s an added smoothness by the flow of these 2 voices.
Song rating: 8/10
“Sugar Sweet” (feat. Kehlani & Shenseea)
I have a problem with this song, I love every part that is Carey, but then it comes to the featured artists like Kehlani and Shenseea. I don’t mind their voices, but I feel the song itself is a distraction from the rest of the album.
Song rating: 4/10
“In Your Feelings”
This is the true start of classic Carey. A story is being told just like in her songs “My All,” and “I wish you well,” not to say that the songs are about the same thing, but they do tell a story about love.
“I thought I was yours, Then again, you pretend, so you didn’t know for sure, I thought we could fly, Guess you’re probably scared of heights, I’ll let you go,” to “Why do we feel so estranged?, Pain from the heartache, we’re back where we started, I cant keep playing these games, I think you might be getting a little bit too, in your feelings, I might spare a moment for a picture and you can take it as I’m leaving,” said Carey.
It’s the move from Carey feeling confusion on what and why she is in the relationship to Carey realizing that she doesn’t need to be in that situation.
Song rating: 9/10
“Nothing is Impossible,”
This is where the listener gets into the present Carey along with the diva giving the listeners vulnerability. I would compare this song in emotion to “Cant Take That Away”.
“Gone for a while but I’m much better. Covering my eyes was so unpleasant, Ain’t gonna lie, it wasn’t very nice,” said Carey.
There’s a story of resilience and perseverance that is so beautiful because it’s so vulnerable but the message of the song doesn’t get lost upon dismay but with perseverance and that “Nothing is Impossible” said Carey’s song.
“I knew deep down inside that I could fly, ‘Cause I dream a greater dream. I fight a greater fight, Survived a gruesome fall, because nothing is impossible,” said Carey.
Song rating: 9/10
“Confetti & Champagne”
This song sticks out like a sore thumb but for me it’s because of the placement. This should have been set up between “Sugar Sweet” and “In your Feelings”. This song is more about the look where she’s at in regard to a person she left in the past.
The lyrics are nice,
“I don’t need no closer over you, ‘Cause I didn’t lose, Never a doubt, Look at me now” said Carey.
I just believe it was out of place, but this does give the antagonized vibes to her “Caution” album.
Song rating: 6/10
“I Won’t Allow It”
I love this upbeat and catchy song because its just Carey saying she won’t allow the energy or a man back into her life that isn’t doing anything for her, although who can do much for Carey as she is the diva. I think this is another look at what you’re missing. I would dive more into the song but it’s nice and catchy and I don’t think it has much more breakdown other than the story of her progress.
Song rating: 8/10
“My Love” (Paul McCartney cover)
I was awaiting this song when the album track got posted and I can say it was worth the wait. I also prefer Careys vocals on the track compared to McCartneys version. The style fits Carey and it is smooth through and through. It reminds me of a Disney princess drifting around and tossing around a little lullaby.
“Only my love holds the other key to me,” said Carey.
I will say there’s no direction of whom love is towards, but I got the vibe the song is about herself and the love she gives to herself and others.
Song rating: 10/10
“Jesus I Do” featuring The Clark Sister
The bigger sister to “Fly Like a Bird” accompanied by the legendary Clark Sisters and the prelude to “Here for it all”, this was perfectly fitted into the album as the last few songs in the setlist are becoming a lot more ballad-like. The praise break of the album is this song as it encompasses Carey’s beliefs as she has never been afraid to share like on “Fly Like a Bird” or “I wish you well”.
Song rating: 8/10
“Here For It All”
Her voice transcends and is completely unique with her stacked vocals and whispers in the back. This song encompasses everything that is exactly like Carey. A story mixed with whispers in the backbeat and the exclamation point made by her choice of voice use in the song highlighted that Carey is here and what can’t she do. A voice that has reached over 30 years of entertainment and still standing with the evolution of the music industry.
“Just whisper something softly to the wind you want Mariah to hear,” said Carey.
This song is the most emotional lyrics wise as Carey stated she finished recording this at the start of 2025,she thought the album needed something to complete it. I believe this is the exclamation point of the whole album.
Song rating: 10/10
Final Thoughts
The album is the album, I will suggest this to people to listen to if they want to hear a modern take on classic Carey. I would even argue that this album gives the same vibes as her first few R&B albums even though it’s under pop. I believe there is something for most listeners in this album if you like pop, R&B or Gospel. There were no up pitched vocals done post mixing as listeners have heard previously with remixes released by Carey and her former record label like “Yes, and?” By Ariana Grande and “Made for me” by Muni Long. This was Careys voice and Careys music.
I have this album on repeat when I need to pick me up.
It is personal and still Carey. She didn’t have to go as deep into her emotions as she did but she has no problem to and I think this showcases no matter at any point in life you can grow.
Final Rating: 8/10
