This September marks the 25th anniversary of Mariah Carey’s infamous film and soundtrack project Glitter. Most of you reading this will likely remember this time in Mariah’s career, a time that she speaks on extensively in her memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Between the sabotage from her former record label and ex-husband, the horrendous critic reviews of the film and ill-fated release date of the film’s soundtrack (9/11), this project was doomed from the start.

Time heals all wounds of course, and the film has become something of a cult classic among fans, and the soundtrack remains one of the most criminally underrated works of her career. Now, it’s time for Mariah to rightfully celebrate the incredible music that was overshadowed by gossip and scandal; and she’s doing so with new renditions of the songs from the album and a full re-issue of the original soundtrack.

The Lambily first helped Glitter (the album) make headlines in 2018 when we all bought the album on iTunes, helping it get to #1 for the very first time. It was just around the time she was about to release Caution and the lambs decided we wanted to make it a triumphant return for her. Since then, Mimi has told the entire story of the era in her memoir giving insight about why she was so traumatized by the entire situation. If you ever wondered where the iconic “I don’t know her” meme towards JLo comes from, it’s here. Jennifer’s 2001 single “I’m Real” used the same sample that Mariah was planning on using for her single “Loverboy”, except JLo’s came out first somehow, forcing Mimi to redo the song. That’s the version we know today. To be clear, the soundtrack includes some of Mariah’s best vocal performances and lyrics. The music was never the issue here. Plus, there are the deeper layers to the story that come post her divorce, but I highly recommend you all pick up a copy of her memoir to read it, it’s fascinating.

The point is that now all these years later, Mariah gets to rewrite her own story and take ownership of the music. Literally. She now owns the rights to the album and is releasing it under her own independent imprint “MARIAH” – with some help from Universal. The first surprise is a new remix of “Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” featuring R&B/house music artist Rochelle Jordan. She’s Canadian too, so there’s some extra pride on the side of the Toronto music scene; our girl is on a song with Mariah Carey! #JusticeForGlitter helped Mariah change the legacy of this album, and who knows, maybe the movie itself is next. Although I wouldn’t hold my breath – with love of course.

Next week, we’re getting a collab album between Erykah Badu and The Roots. As an R&B head, this is a dream. It will be her first official studio album since 2010, so it’s about to be a celebration. This week, joining Mariah and Rochelle Jordan, we have new music from Beenie Man w/ Mya, Paris Jackson, beabadoobee and PARTYNEXTDOOR. Plus, she may not have made it into KATSEYE but ADÉLA is carving a lane of her own – and she’s got a viral hit to prove it.

 Listen on…

MC’s PICKS OF THE WEEK

“Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” by Mariah Carey, Rochelle Jordan

In an unexpected yet very exciting move, Mariah has kicked off her 25th anniversary celebration of Glitter with a reimagined version of her cover of “Didn’t Mean To Turn You On”, with a little help from Canadian R&B sensation Rochelle Jordan. The remix is a much more laid-back and sultry rendition of the song that is similar to something you’d hear from KAYTRANADA. It has underlying house music elements, keeping in theme with the era from the original version: the 80s club scene. Mariah’s 2001 version stays true to the 1984 Cherelle recording which is also the first rendition of the track. Mimi even used the same instrumental music as she worked with the same producers – Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. That version is as 80s pop as it gets, so this new remix truly feels like an entirely new song. It manages to stay current without losing the magic of the original. This is likely due to the usage of both Mariah’s old 2001 and current vocals blended together. It’s also the perfect song to choose as the first single from the re-release since it also was Billie Frank’s first single in the actual film Glitter. Billie is the character she played, the pop star whose life story mirrored parts of Mariah’s. I love a full circle moment, and Mariah is finally getting her redemption for an era in her career that almost completely destroyed her.

“Don’t Rush” by Beenie Man, Mya, Kemar McGregor

The king of dancehall is back with a new album filled with features and groovy throwback sounds. For “Don’t Rush” he uses a sample from Janet Jackson’s “That’s The Way Love Goes” on loop as the backdrop adding a hint of sensuality to the already sexy song. Mya sings on the chorus to the same melody as Janet. Frankly, all that’s missing is a remix with Miss Jackson (if you’re nasty) herself. This collab blends the worlds of 90s R&B and Dancehall. This, of course is not the first time that Beenie Man and Mya have collaborated. Their first was the 2000 smash “Girls Dem Sugar” which has become a reggae fusion staple. The two of them go together well, and make some fire tunes in the process. It’s a timeless groove that sounds like it could have been released 20 years ago or yesterday. Beenie Man knows exactly how to make a track that keeps you moving, but this song is straight up R&B, showing his versatility. Mya, on the other hand, is doing her damn thing, she even just performed in the rain in Toronto over the weekend at Sankofa Square. My girl stays booked and busy, while still delivering new music in the process.

“happiest day of my life” by Paris Jackson

It’s a week of Jackson references apparently because next up is arguably one of the more famous nepo babies of our time in pop culture – Paris Jackson. I liked this song a lot more than I was expecting to. Paris has been a rocker for the last decade or so, but this new album goes in a 90s grunge direction and given my obsession with Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album, Paris’s project fits in perfectly with my summer 2026 vibe. It’s giving Smashing Pumpkins meets Sheryl Crow meets well… Olivia Rodrigo, and I’m really into it. Happiest Day of My Life is Paris’s first album in six years since the onset of the pandemic, and since then, headlines surrounding her famous family have only intensified. Never one to bend to the nepo baby stereotype, Paris is forging a sound that is all her own. Very few people could understand the sheer magnitude of public visibility that she has had to endure against her will for her entire life, but from the sound of this new music, she seems to have found her way. “happiest day of my life” is bright and alternative – like something you would hear on the speakers of your local mall on a sunny summer day in 1995. Paris also has a raw quality to her voice that makes the recording sound vulnerable while still maintaining a rocking edge. That was the magic of grunge in the 90s, you could feel every single feeling that the artist was singing but still rock out. Paris also seems to be in the healthiest place she’s ever been. Her recent interview with Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast shows a mature and well-rounded young woman in peak form creatively and spiritually. She even had a little reunion with her aunt LaToya Jackson at the album’s release party over the weekend. I’m still hoping for the day she and her auntie Janet work together on a song, after all, Janet has dipped her toes in the rock world a few times over the years (“Black Cat” anyone??).

“Memories” by beabadoobee

Beabadoobee has been quietly ascending to the forefront of Gen Z’s musical zeitgeist for years now, so much so that she is about to embark on a sold out tour of arenas across North America. Her newest single “Memories” is one that fans have known about for a while after she teased it during a small fan event in LA not even a month ago. The song is about complicated memories and the accompanying feels. It could be sadness, happiness, regret, nostalgia, fear, excitement, or all of the above. The truth lies somewhere in the middle of nostalgia and regret, the idea of romanticizing a memory that is for all intents and purposes not a positive one. But we have the ability to turn those memories into joyful nostalgic ones. The fact that Gen Z is now old enough for nostalgia is a trip on its own. The song is breezy and comforting, something that you can put on whenever that melancholy feeling inside you peaks its head. “Memories” also is giving some serious 2000s chick flick energy (my favourite genre of film, period). I can already picture a teenage Mandy Moore reminiscing on a breakup, lol. As summer dwindles down and we start to welcome the fall, this song is sure to get some extra streams on my eventual “Fall 2026” playlist. Bea’s new album Pylon is due September 18th, giving fans only a few weeks to learn the music before she takes it on the road. Expect to see every 13-year-old in America jamming to these songs.

“Some of Your Love” by PARTYNEXTDOOR

Earlier this year when the internet was reminiscing on all things 2016, it seems that PARTYNEXTDOOR took that messages very seriously. He’s marking the ten year anniversary of his third album P3 with a special deluxe edition, with unreleased tracks including this gem “Some of Your Love”. The song actually leaked online a few years back, but this marks its first time being officially released to streaming services with some new mastering. The song is a cherished track by super fans from Party’s SoundCloud era. It first premiered in 2016 on OVO Sound Radio for Apple Music and all but disappeared afterwards. It’s a classic PND track, one that makes the perfect soundtrack for any intimate moment. With lyrics like “I got Grey Goose in my system and I’m trying to give a f-ck” and “You know I need it soaking wet”, it doesn’t really leave too much to the imagination, and it’s not supposed to. It’s also a great tune to zone out to when you just need to vibe. P3 is PND’s most commercially successful album so it makes sense he’d want to commemorate it in this way. Not sure where you all were in 2016, but I certainly was one of the people who was bumping “Not Nice” on replay along with the rest of the album. On a personal note, 2016 was a year of high highs and low lows, and it seems that 2026 is mirroring that very same pattern. Does this mean I should expect a boyfriend by the end of November of this year? Stay tuned, my friends.

MC’s VIRAL PICK

“Ain’t In LA” BY ADÉLA

It’s hard to believe that this is my first time writing about ADÉLA but all in good time I guess. This Slovakian popstar first gained attention during the Dream Academy series where KATSEYE was formed. She didn’t make it into the group, but all with good reason since she’s now having a serious moment and it’s all her own. “Ain’t in LA” is her latest single and it has completely blown up on social media – so much so, that it has also become her first-ever charting single on the US Billboard Hot 100. This makes ADÉLA the first-ever Slovak artist to ever have a song chart on the Billboard Hot 100. “Ain’t In LA” has a similar vibe to “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus, although no direct sample is listed anywhere in the credits. It’s the choreography to the song that has social media users re-creating their own versions, some comical and some are slaying. It’s the kind of pop music that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is all about just having a good time.

@adela

HOT 100 babyyyy

♬ original sound - ADÉLA
@joshnryan

he’s so serious too 😭😭

♬ Ain't In LA - ADÉLA
@destinyisyourfrie love this trend!#dance@ADÉLA ♬ original sound - ADÉLA

ADÉLA spent the spring opening up for Demi Lovato on her “It’s Not That Deep” arena tour, and her official debut album is out the first week of September. With this single rising rapidly up the charts, it seems this might just be the beginning of her breakout.

The 2026 “MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE” Spotify playlist is live. You can add it here to keep up to date with my weekly picks throughout the year. 

With Love, 

MC

Photo credits: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

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