Customer Reviews

Music Box

5 star:		(135)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This album is Mariah's bestseller, for good reason. It contains two of her biggest hits, the pop perfection of "Dreamlover" and the inspiring lyrics of "Hero". It also includes her beautiful remake of "Without You" as well as the inspiring "Anytime You Need A Friend". Then there are the beautiful album tracks, such as the title track and "Just To Hold You Once Again". This album also contains Mariah's last (as far as I know) collaborations with Clivilles and Cole. These tracks ("Now That I Know", "I've Been Thinking About You")have a House-type feel and prove Mariah's versatility. This album is listenable from beginning to end, with no slow spots. If possible, one should try to order the version with "Everything Fades Away" as a bonus track. That track is worth it's weight in gold. This masterpiece is a must for any Mariah collection.

I have been listening to Mariah Carey almost since her debut in 1990 but it was after listening to Music Box that I became a dedicated Mariah Fan. That conviction was further strengthened after she came out with Daydream and Butterfly even though all 3 albums show a gradual progression from Pop/Soft Rock to R&B/Hip Hop. My favorite tracks from this album as follows: 1. Hero (just listen to the lyrics and you will start crying) 2. All I've Ever Wanted (if you have ever really loved someone you may realize how much significance this song has) 3. Music Box (Beautiful Melody !) 4. Just To Hold You Once Again 5. Anytime You Need A Friend 6. Dreamlover (Rocked Fall 1993 with this radio superhit!) 7. Now That I Know (Get ready to dance!) 8. Never Forget You 9. Thinking Of You 10. Without You

Ever single song, you can just listen over and over and over again. Some of them actually grew on me. This is simply an absolute must-have for any fan of pop music.

After the success of Mariah Carey and Emotions, Music Box saw the day of light in 1993, venturing on to become Mariah's best selling album worldwide. Music Box spawned some of Mariah's biggest hits; Without You, Dreamlover and Hero while also providing Mariah Carey with massive popularity within Europe.

As the upbeat and bubbly Dreamlover was released to introduce people to Music Box, it landed Mariah a no. 1 position on the single chart in America. The song has a r'n'b sound to it, perhaps indicating that Mariah already knew in what direction she wanted her music to steer towards. Dreamlover is one of my favorite songs and it was this particularly song, which got me interested in Mariah's music. The power-ballad Hero is a favorite among many, its uplifting lyrics are a tad corny and childish for my liling. Yet I have never been a big Hero fan; however it must have had somewhat of an impact as it managed to reach no. 1 in America. Anytime You Need A Friend is clearly one of the best offerings on Music Box. Its gospel-like features and the choir assisting Mariah work perfectly together. The title-track is not all that interesting. In fact, many of the non-released songs are blend and forgettable. As the case with Mariah's Emotions album, Music Box also suffers from a weak ending of the album. Songs such as Just To Hold You Once Again, I've Been Thinking About You, All I've Ever Wanted and Everything Fades are nice songs; however I tend to skip them. Sure, they are listenable - yet I cannot remember what they sound like until I actually hear them for myself.

Now That I Know and Never Forget You are enjoyable songs. Now That I Know distinguishes itself from the rest of the songs on the album. Its fast pace and contagious beat makes the song a welcoming offering. Never Forget You is a Babyface production - just think Madonna's Take A Bow, TLC's Red Light Special and Diggin On You as well as Toni Braxton's Breathe Again - which, in my opinion, are far superior songs that Never Forget You. Despite the corny lyrics, the slowly mid-tempo Never Forget You is not all bad. I still enjoy listening to it despite its flaws. Without You is probably Mariah's biggest hit in Europe, landing Miss Carey her first UK no.1. It is a powerful ballad, which surely displays Mariah Carey's ability to take a cover version and make it her own.

I do not consider Music Box among Mariah Carey's best albums, yet it is certainly not among her worst. The singles are definitely the highlights on the album: Dreamlover, Hero, Anytime You Need A Friend and Without You. They are the reasons for buying the album. However, there are too many dull and average ballads. Buy a Mariah Carey greatest hits, if you are a newcomer to her music. However, Music Box is a nice record to have among your other Carey albums.

Overall Rating: 7/10

Music Box, which is often overshadowed by Daydream, is Mariah Carey's best work ever. This Cd is inspirational, Happy, sad, lovely, dancy and wonderful all at the same time. Never Forget You, Hero, Dreamlover and Now That I Know are the higlights. Once I heard Hero, I knew I had to get the CD. Once I heard Never FOrget You I knew It would never leave my CD Player. These songs just leave you gasping for breathe because they are so incredible, original and well-written. It's a shame that only 10 million people have this in the US. Everyone should own one!

In 1993, everybody was listen to seattle nonsense like nirvana and later on nu metal garbage such as korn and fake waterdown alternative bands were also coming up, thank god there's an R&B Singer name Mariah Carey that helped save music from the horrible 3 years of suicidial horror on the airwaves, every single song on this album is great, Hero is the best song I've seen in years, Mariah will always be my greatest of all time

and music box proves it.

This is definitely one of my favourite Mariah albums and it was the biggest selling (over 20 million sales worldwide).
Back in 93 when this was released, Mariah was the most loved diva in the USA and she made decent ballads and dance tracks (unlike today). One warning though; if you don't like very slow tracks then stay away!
Here's my track reviews:

Dreamlover-9/10-Excellent and uplifting dance track.
Hero- 10/10- Incredible ballad with 5 star singing and thoughful lyrics.
Anytime You Need A Frind- 9/10- Gospel influenced track which is supported by an excellent melody and a brilliant sounding choir.
Music Box- 9/10- Very slow but a beautiful, spine tingling ballad.
Now That I Know- 8/10- Not a highlight but a good enough dance track.
Never Forget you- 9/10- Babyface production works very well in this upbeat ballad.
Without You- 10/10- A cover version that's actually better than the original! Very dramatic vocals but isn't that what divas do best??
Just To Hold You Once Again-9/10- Yet another haunting ballad that you'll remember over the dull efforts of "Glitter".
I've Been Thinking About You- 6/10- The least interesting track album and is reasonably boring.
All I've Ever Wanted- 8/10- Not best but still a credible ballad.
Everything Fades Away- 11/10- I don't know if this is on the US version but its absolutely amazing! Not too slow or fast, just a mid tempo ballad but it sounds so good! If you don't get it on the album download it or something!

I hadn't been too keen on the "Emotions" single and had prematurely written "sophomore slump" on her forehead. With Music Box being on power play at the retail store I worked, I was not only quick to erase those words from her forehead but found myself offering to shine her shoes as well. If her debut was a delicious chocolate truffle, Music Box was a truffle with extra maple syrup and a drop of brandy that brings the heart to a nice and sizzling warmth.

The first single and #1 hit "Dreamlover" from opening keyboards, high-pitched note, and dreamy vocals accompanied by drum-machines and synths make this more lush than "Someday" from her debut. She speaks for millions when she sings "Dreamlover come and rescue me."/...take me anywhere you want to baby now."

Three Mariah ballads in a row, especially by her and Walter Afanasieff, is like taking a bath in warm latte. Ooh, that feels soooo good! I don't know if Mariah read any Joseph Campbell before doing "Hero", but the opening words "There's a hero/if you look inside your heart" belies that inner journey. Yet I get so enveloped with this song, I keep thinking she's the one to rescue some poor slob.

"Anytime You Need A Friend" has shades of "All Alone In Love" from her debut, but it's enhanced by her usual gospelish backing chorus that includes Kelly Price. Her voice has very strong R&B stylings here. After hearing this I thought, Whitney who?

The title track begins with keys that sound like an actual music box, and is a more quieter and tender affair. Key lyrics: "You take me through the loneliness and the emptiness/And I feel alright 'cause you're by my side."

Clivilles and Cole of the C&C Music Factory get Mariah boogeying down with "Now That I Know" with the skippy percussion. It's the kind of song Taylor Dayne would've torn her hair to get--but she doesn't have the range. There's some old disco-style synths here. The other song they do for her, "I've Been Thinking About You" is the same skippy 80's Paula Abdul-style dance floor pop.

Another three ballads in a row? Stop! Oh, this is sheer bliss!
Mariah and Babyface did the music, lyrics, and backing vocals for "Never Forget You" is one of those "I'll remember you" kind of songs for a departed lover. Then comes her cover of Harry Nilsson's "Without You". While she admirably does this, I find myself siding with Heart's rendition of it on Magazine. "Just To Hold You Once Again" with its resonant organ synth and gospel choir is another "Whitney who?" song. "Even though you're not my lover/even though you're not my friend/I would give my all/to have you ehre/just to hold you once again" goes the chorus. I would give my all? But that's two albums away.

"All I Ever Wanted" which follows the second C&C song, is my favourite ballad here, as it's one loving embrace of a song, hair softly brushing against ear, cheek to cheek, slow-dancing,... it's so wonderful I can't listen to it time after time without melting.

Music Box, with its seven(!) ballads, is one of the three diamonds in the Mariah tiara (hey, that kinda rhymes). The first was of course her debut, and the third would be this album's successor, and was it a daydream come true!

The three tracks I came to know via heavy radio airplay in the early-90s were "Dreamlover," "Hero," and "Music Box," but it wasn't until now that I finally got my hands on this gem of a CD, and I'm sorry it's taken me so much time to catch up on some great pop music.

I still can't get enough of the rhythm of "Dreamlover," and "Anytime You Need A Friend" is right up there with Dionne Warwick's (et al) "That's What Friends Are For." The title track itself is a very pretty ballad.

This is Mariah Carey at the top of her game. She would do it one more time with "DayDream," but then sink into doing more covers and duets as the 90s went on (and I'll never figure out why because she sure didn't need help in the singing department!).

The CD is 42 minutes exactly, and it's time well spent. - Donna Di Giacomo

This is one of my favorite CD's of all time! Mariah's voice is outstanding, and several of her biggest hits were on this CD, including the beautiful and inspirational "Hero," the song that will get stuck in your head (and your I-pod) for days "Dreamlover," and the heartache-filled "Without You," to name a few.
The truth is that every track on this CD is fabulous. I would highly recommend it to anyone!

music box is a classic album, every song, every word is so beautiful, - hero, never forget u, without u.. OMG, beautiful.. mariahs early 90's stuff is great and a must have for all rnb fans who want good, deep and beautifully sung songs, unlike much of the music that is currently being released. Mariah truely hit gold with this one. beautiful, absolutely beautiful, well done, mariah - i love ya!!