Mariah Carey Hits All Signature High Notes at Las Vegas Residency Opening
Mariah Carey proved that she still has the vocal prowess she was famously known for when she hit all the high notes at the opening night of her Las Vegas residency.
Us Weekly reported that the crowd inside Caesars Palace Colosseum erupted in cheers when Carey raised several octaves of her 2005 hit "Don't Forget About Us" and promptly reached all of the high notes.
"Seriously, I'm so happy to be here with you tonight!" the songstress told the overeager crowd, Us Weekly reported. "Without you, I would not be here. There would be no number one hits for me, never mind eighteen of them. I'm going to sing these in chronological order. Some of you may not have even been born yet. Let's start in order."
The opening night of Carey's residency, Mariah #1 to Infinity, on Wednesday, May 6, also saw the singing sensation performing some of her most popular songs such as "We Belong Together," "Emotions," "Heartbreaker," and "Always Be My Baby." For the latter, the 45-year-old even got intimate with the audience by getting off the stage and singing the track from the floor as smartphone cameras flash all around her, the news outlet noted.
Tickets for the event cost $55 to $250, Fox News Latino reported. Carey is scheduled to perform three nights a week in May and July for a total of 18 shows. Wednesday's performance was jump started by Carey's "Vision of Love," with the artist arriving center stage while on a moving platform in between two giant butterflies. This kind of entrance is Carey's signature style for years.
According to Fox News Latino, "high-energy drum solos" and a "flamenco-inspired guitar piece accompanied by a lyrical dance" was carried out when Carey had to go through costume changes, which requires longer interludes.
E! News reported that the hitmaker suffered a wardrobe malfunction during the first night of her Las Vegas residency. While performing, Carey dropped down to the floor in her heels and her pink gown's high slit revealed her tan colored underwear. The singer, however, appeared oblivious even though hundreds of spectators saw the wardrobe mishap.
Carey received harsh criticism for her performances leading to the Las Vegas residency, with the most notable being her leaked isolated "All I Want for Christmas" vocals for the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony last year, Fox News wrote. The recording featured the singer struggling to hit the high notes she's most recognized for.
Another vocal mishap occurred during Carey's October 2014 performance in Tokyo, Japan as part of her Elusive Chanteuse World Tour, TMZ noted. The concert also saw the artist unable to reach the high notes of a track.
Aside from her commitment at Las Vegas, Carey will perform at this year's Billboard Music Awards after a 17-year break. The 14-time Billboard Music Award winner hasn't performed at the event since 1998, Entertainment Weekly reported.