I originally was going to make a three-part series about my recent trip to Los Angeles and Las Vegas to see Mariah Carey. I decided that I do not have the time to do that so y’all are getting an update on what’s been going on with me these last couple of weeks. Enjoy!
Los Angeles
I usually talk a lot of shit about Los Angeles because I think the people there are so phony and boring. Until recently I had never actually been. I went three days before seeing Mariah in LV so I could get on the ground research of the area and see if the hate was warranted. For the most part it was fine but I am still team NYC over LA. Just way more things to do. Here are my honest opinions about everything there:
Griffith Observatory - I am a huge astronomy nerd so I love learning about all the random facts about the universe. I loved the ride up to the observatory. I saw their film “Signs of Life” and felt an overwhelming sense of peace upon leaving. The film was about other signs of life on other planets throughout history. I was alone this entire trip so I could take my time and read all the information I wanted. Being there unlocked my inner child and reminded me of going to the Discovery Museum in Arkansas iykyk.
Spa Day - I had a spa day at a place near my air bnb and got a lymphatic drainage massage. I used to get massages all the time when I would go to the chiropractor every week. I think I needed a deep tissue massage or something because I kinda needed her to go harder. I finally did something about my face and got dermaplaning. Dermaplaning is when they take a razor and take all the hair and dead skin off your face. I loved it and I think that I am going to start getting it done regularly.
Amoeba Music - After the spa I went to the iconic Amoeba music. If you don’t know Amoeba Music is a physical media store that has everything from Vinyl to DVDs. I went to the location where the walk of fame is in front. This place is what my dreams are made of. It took everything out of me not to spend a rack there. Here is what I bought.
Lemonade CD - Surprisingly I did not already have it
Seasons 3-6 of Sex and the City + the extended cut of the movie - They didn’t have the first two seasons lol. I also have to admit that I bought every single DVD (except another copy of Season 3 where Carrie looks beautiful instead of crazy) See below!
Emotions, Mariah Carey CD - I had the cassette but needed the CD. I didn’t have a cassette player so it was just for show. Now I can actually play all her albums.
Homecoming Vinyl - Had never seen the vinyl in person so I had to buy it. This was the most expensive thing that I bought
Music is History by Questlove - Super excited to read this book. Questlove goes year by year from 1971 to present (2020) and talks about significant songs from that year and also songs that mean a lot to him.
Kelly Clarkson Keychain/Bottle Opener - Self Explanatory
Emotions, Mariah Carey CD - I had the cassette but needed the CD.
Homecoming Vinyl - Had never seen the vinyl in person so I had to buy it. This was the most expensive thing that I bought
Music is History by Questlove - Super excited to read this book. Questlove goes year by year from 1971 to present (2020) and talks about significant songs from that year and also songs that mean a lot to him.
Kelly Clarkson Keychain/Bottle Opener - Self Explanatory
Venice Beach - This was the most chaotic thing that I did. It was super windy so I couldn’t sit on the beach like I wanted to. I got a slushie and walked around listening to music. This was fun but I probably won’t go back now that i’ve been. This most New York part of LA for sure.
Karaoke - I went to Karaoke at Backstage Bar which was right across the street from Sony Studios. I had no idea that it was across the street when I decided to go there. I sang Love Song by Sara Bareilles after two men had just slayed “Im Just Ken.” It should be no surprise that I ate. I had actually never done that song at Karaoke before and this was the perfect place to try out new material. I decided to leave because I was flying to LV the next day (and a bunch of girls were about to do a set of Taylor Swift songs). Of course the moment I step out, I start flirting with the security guard. We both were mad that I was leaving in the morning because we were definitely vibing. Shame.
Enjoy some pics from LA!
I look good right! Cute house! Someone collected star jewelry for 25 year sand contributed to the observatory for this diagram. The diagram was like the amount of stars in our galaxy or something. I forgot to take a picture but it was along really long hallway. An actual meteorite. My face after I got a facial. Walk of Fame. Almost bought this tote bag at Amoeba. Roscoe's chicken and Waffles.
A Celebration of Mimi - Las Vegas
The next day I flew to Las Vegas for the last day of Mariah’s Vegas Residency (for now). The residency was only 2 weeks and was called “A Celebration of Mimi” for the 19th anniversary of the Emancipation of Mimi. Emancipation of Mimi is not my favorite Mariah Carey album (that’s Butterfly, Glitter, and Caution) but she is iconic nonetheless. You may know the little song called We Belong Together. Or how about Shake It Off? It’s Like That? Don’t Forget About Us? Like I said, Iconic. A lot of people like to say that this was Mariah’s comeback album. That never made sense to me because if you look at the stats her last album before that was 2002’s Charmbracelet which peaked at #3………imagine being so popular for so long that you peaking at number 3 makes you look like a flop. Either way here are the highlights from the concert!
I went with my bestie Jeremy and his best friend Clem! - So much fun. I am only going to Mariah Concerts with Lambs from now on. The experience is so much more fun that way.
She was on time! - The concert technically started at 8pm but she went on a 8:15pm! In Diva time she was basically early!
She went album by album all the way up until Emancipation - Basically her greatest hits with a few new additions to the set list that we haven’t heard in a while. Such as: Vision of Love, Can’t Let Go, Without You, Butterfly, The Roof, Babydoll, and more! Check out the full set list HERE.
People loved her older songs more than the new songs - This should not have gagged me like it did. When I tell you the entire stadium was up on their feet for Can’t Let Go, Hero (not shocking but I still hate that song), and Make It Happen! I know she has been popular for 30 minutes (ha!) but it still is wild that all of these people knew all the words to songs that people my age wouldn’t even have heard of. She really is a legend.
This was my first time seeing a non-christmas show - Shocking I know. So I was getting my LIFE. She did this show for the fans. There is truly no other. Throughout the concert she had interludes that were excerpts from her memoir “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.” I was shocked at the details and thought put into the show. Not to say that I didn’t think she would deliver but I didn’t think there would be interludes or anything!
DREAMLOVER DEF CLUB MIX - If you know this song, then you are a real one. This remix is so iconic. She had the background singers doing their part while she played a video of behind-the-scenes footage of her various films. At the end she plays a clip from an old interview when they ask her about her marriage to Tommy Mottolla and then it cuts off. I was gagged.
She switched wigs halfway through the Emancipation set - In true diva form
Emancipation of Mimi - It was almost like the concert had started over. She sang 9 songs from Emancipation and even played some of the deluxe tracks that no one talks about. Incredible. No notes. She sounded amazing the entire time.
Put the haters to rest - If you are one of those people that still think that Mariah can’t sing like she used to……………….just watch these videos chile. That is such a tired take and I am so over it. Everyone has bad days. You try screaming on all of your songs and sounding amazing every single time for 30+ years. Give my girl some grace!
Pics!
Video proof that Mariah can still sing!
The Rest of Las Vegas
I gambled the first day waiting to check into my Air Bnb and lost $20 so that was that. Happy to say that my first slot machine was a Sex and The City themed machine. Slot machines are really confusing. I thought they wanted people to play the games! And whats up with the no weed smoking? Weed is legal in Las Vegas! Ridiculous. I have never wanted to go to Vegas besides to see a concert. So I was perfectly content staying in my air Bnb the entire time and catching up on some much needed sleep. After the concert, I still had two more days in Las Vegas. I stayed in my air bnb all day on day 2. Day 3 I forced myself to go out and I went to a cute little shopping mall and then saw Spider Man 3 in theaters. This viewing was so funny. Not only was the showing sold out, they had posters! For a movie that came out over 10 years ago lmfao. I loved it. People were reacting to this movie like they had never seen it before. Myself included! I cried as if I had never seen this movie before!!! Movies are funny like that. Anyways nothing else happened in Las Vegas.
Challengers
The first thing I did when I came back from Las Vegas (besides go to work) was watch Challengers. I am happy to report that I loved it. I am actually going to be at my second viewing by the time this letter comes out. I won’t spoil it like everyone on the internet but just go see it so we can talk about it. #Bisexualrights!!!!!! Follow me on Letterboxd if you nasty.
The Lemon Twigs Concert
On Thursday, me and a friend went to see the soft rock band The Lemon Twigs. My friend Reilee told me about The Lemon Twigs a few months ago and ever since hearing Any Time of Day I was obsessed. The show was at TV Eye in Bushwick and I have to say I loved that venue. It was very intimate and I even got to talk to the openers and one of the Twigs after the show! Their new album “A Dream is All We Know” came out on Friday and this was basically a release party show. They were selling the CD and I kept making jokes that I was going to leak the album. In the middle of the show the dummer kicked through the kick drum and they had to replace it. This is when they started talking and I realized how funny they were. They are heavily influenced by The Beatles and The Beach Boys and they covered Good Vibrations for the encore and it was so good. Here are some pics and some clips from the concert!
That’s all folks!
I’ve had a literal mental breakdown in the DTLA ameba music