ARTIST OF THE MONTH: MARIAH CAREY

We continue down the path with Mariah Carey's fourth studio album, "Musicbox," which was released on August 31st, 1993. Unlike her previous album before this, Mariah decided to take a slightly different approach, focusing her attention on a more pop, radio-friendly direction. Lyrically, most of the tracks on "Musicbox" are depicted as straight-up love songs. The album went on to be certified Diamond by the RIAA, selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. It put Mariah back at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with the first single, "Dreamlover," and the second single, "Hero," and giving her 8 total number one's songs to hit the top spot in only a span of 3 years.

You cannot deny she has an ear for melody that makes this an instant classic. The arrangements can sound a little bit dated and somewhat cheesy, but Mariah's angelic voice elevates them to the next level. Production is slick, and that credit goes to her collaboration with long-termer Walter Afanasieff, who have since parted ways after working together on her fifth album "Daydream." The record is her most Pop/Adult Contemporary sound, but it holds a particular place in her catalog for her fans especially. Mariah’s fans certainly cherish this album for what it meant to her career. “Hero” is the perfect example of why Mariah has always been able to reach a broad audience and hold a special place in people's hearts. Her voice, her lyrics, and melodies are the soundtracks to our lives.