"Butterfly" is probably the perfect moniker for Mariah Carey's fifth foray into the music arena. A word which symbolizes all that she hopes to accomplish with the album: to grow, to mature and to be ready to take flight despite all uncertainties, is a hefty task to accomplish on any album.
An artist known for her classic dog-whistle range and some would say lifeless singing, Carey's turnaroud on "Butterfly" is momentous as you look back on her discography, but it's not all it's cracked up to be.
No stranger to success and stardom, Carey has continued to wow her army of listerners with her incredible vocal prowess on such sugar-laden ballards as "One Sweet Day" and her debut "Vision of Love." She's also proven to be a formidable force on the dance floor, cranking out such staples as "Fantasy" and now the hip-hop tune-of-the-day, "Honey."
The biggest-selling female recording artist of the 1990s, she's put a hurt on the the competition -- Janet, Whitney, and Madonna can't touch this. And now she's back with an edgier street sound, more high-screeching ballards, and a "vision."
Carey always felt something was amiss in her not-too-secret formula of success -- an album equal parts pathetic love ballard and hip-hop flavored dance track -- a little old-fashion heart and soul.
However, she seems to strive for too more in "Butterfly." It's an album which Carey readily admits is closest to her heart: it's who she really is. However, the annoying shrieking of albums past is still there and some of her more personal songs come out as crude and raw as chunks on a fraternity floor.
With its R&B tinged ballards to the hip-hop rhythms and beats a la Puff Daddy, "Butterfly" represents a change in style and direction for Carey, the first female artist in history to have three studio albums to each sell in excess of eight million copies.
Actually there has been a lot of changes recently for Carey. A recent, very public divorce to Sony mogul, Tommy Mottola and the departure of her long-time friend and musical partner Walter Arafasieff.
"Butterfly" does help to shatter that girl-next-door mystique Carey always seemed to possess. None of this dressing down or acting coquettish, Mariah is now joining the rest of the women of the 1990s. Just take a look at her "Honey" video. She poses as Agent M, the scantily clad bond-girl who jet-skiis her way to freedom.
"Honey" is Mariah's paean to her hip-hop roots. She employs rapper cum producer Puff Daddy and sidekick Mase in a groovable tune featuring a sample from the NYC group, the Treacherous 3.
It's upbeat, danceable and obviously well-liked according to Billboard. "Honey" debuted at the number one slot on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of its release becoming her third single to open in the top slot and her twelfth overall.
"Butterfly," the second track on the album, is great departure from "Honey." The song addresses the hurt of loving someone too much and the problems it can cause.
Her lyrics read: "When you love someone so deeply/ they become your life/ it's easy to succumb to overwhelming fears inside/ blindly I imagined I could/ keep you under glass/ Now I understand to hold you/ I must open up my hands / and watch you rise."
"Butterfly" has unexpected bite to it thanks to its bass line and gospel-like chorus of voices.
"Breakdown" features West Coast rappers, Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony. This unusual pairing in an awkward way somehow fuses. Carey provides the lyrics, Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone provide the rap.
Again, the lyrics delve into the heart of the matter: "You called yesterday to basically say, that you care for me but that you're just not in love," perhaps providing clues about her bitter divorce.
Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott co-writes "Baby Doll" which plays on the need for a protector. Carey sings: "I need to be wrapped up nice and tight and loved through the night."
The Prince cover of "Beautiful Thing" featuring R&B group, Dru Hill, however fails like many tunes on the album because of Carey's stylistic approach to the song.
With her bend-over-backward vocal gymnastics (read: keep your pets outside), Carey still has a long way to go. She continually overdoes herself, oversinging lyrics and making listeners deaf in the process.
"Butterfly" succeeds as an album, it's nice and mellow and there is some hint of vocal maturity on Carey's part.
The tag-team of hip-hop artists from Da Brat to Dru Hill make for some very interesting songs which should reward the artist with a larger fan base.
Carey has in fact come a long way, however there is still much to be done to in order to prove that she's the reigning diva of pop.
Carey fans will probably love the album and embrace it as a milestone in the singer's career, while detractors will wonder why this "Butterfly" has been allowed to fly.
