The PRIDE Album
This album is probably one of her more underrated releases. It isn't considered as iconic as Butterfly and not as beloved as Glitter is now. I personally love this album because it is the first MC album I bought with my own money. I was about 12/13 when it came out and I remember having this is my portable CD player for months. I would listen to this on the way to school each morning. I would socialize on the bus ride home, but I would listen again while doing my homework. Can't Take That Away from me is one of those songs that helped me deal with all the bullying I had to endure in school being gay.
Then in the early 00's when I was in college in like 2004 I ended up living in a dorm apartment with 3 other guys who were all gay and we all loved Mariah. We would blast Mariah and get drunk on weekends. This of course was the one we played the most and so we started calling it the PRIDE album. This album had all the feels and we would listen, dance to some songs and talk during others. Then there were the ones we would just sit in silence and listen to. Those guys were like my brothers back then and coming from such a non-supportive environment when it came to my sexuality it was so positive for me as a person to have this group of friends who loved themselves and were not ashamed to be who they were. It taught me a very important lesson to love myself regardless and always know I mattered and I didn't have to change to make others comfortable.
I wish I could say we all kept in touch and ended up friends for life but that wasn't our reality. Those couple of years living together really is what I needed though. I really felt like it was part of my journey to encounter people who were like me and so grounded in their individuality. It was affirming indeed.
I am listening to the 25th Anniversary of this album on Spotify and I cannot believe all of this time has gone by since I feel in love with this album.
What are your favorite songs from this album? I wish HOW MUCH ft. Usher was a single. I know it would have been a big hit. It's crazy they have never performed this one before. BLISS is such an eargasm I love that song. HEARTBREAKER (Remix) goes so hard. One of my favorites for sure. DID I DO THAT? is a stone cold groove and so slept on. PETALS is so beautiful and introspective. AFTER TONIGHT seems like a subdued continuation of MY ALL. I like to listen to MY ALL, AFTER TONIGHT and I ONLY WANTED in unison sometimes.
I used to always skip X-GIRLFRIEND but I don't mind it now. AGAINST ALL ODDS and CRYBABY are gems as well. I was never crazy about THANK GOD I FOUND YOU. I wish the MAKE IT LAST remix was on the original album. I didn't know that existed until years later and I love it. I never saw that music video in rotation back in the day and I was glued to VH1, MTV and BET.
I live in an apartment and I know I drive my neighbors crazy sometimes. I try to be respectful and listen to my Beats by Dre after 8pm.