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The Dartmouth
July 15, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Mariah redefines genius

If you somehow doubted the genius of the songstress responsible for such albums as "Butterfly," "Glitter" and "Rainbow," Mariah Carey is back to remind you that she's not just another diva with a five-octave vocal range and 17 number one hits -- she's also kind of clever.

Carey has parodied Einstein's most famous theorem in the title of her highly anticipated new album "E = MC2," which is slated to begin its inevitable reign at the top of the charts on April 15, 2008.

"Touch my Body," the recently released first single from the album, is crack-cocaine for the ears.

Imagine yourself in Mariah Carey's stilettos. You're the best selling female artist of all time, you've now tied the Beatles and Elvis with 17 number one singles -- how do you create the elusive number 18?

You keep it simple. Carey's signature melisma style snaps up and down along the minimal beat of "Touch my Body." The song's irresistible sound hearkens back to classics like "Always be my Baby."

The only thing revolutionary about "Touch my Body" is its uncharacteristic restraint. Mariah's G-sharp -- three and a half octaves above middle C as one of the highest notes ever produced by a human being -- is strangely missing. Instead, Carey teases and flirts, hardly exercising her ridiculous vocal abilities.

The song's lyrics are equally coy: "I best not catch this clip on YouTube (YouTube!) because if you run your mouth and brag about this secret rendezvous, I will hunt you down." Carey coos over the smooth beat again and again: "Touch my body, touch my body."

The new single seems in many ways like the viral mutation of any of Carey's previous songs -- it's quite clearly cut from the same DNA as "We Belong Together" and "Don't Frorget Us" -- and equally as irresistible. Carey is truly one of the greatest geniuses of pop music, and she shows no sign of relenting with "E=MC2." And why should she? She's earned it. Today, it's Einstein. You're next, Elvis.