Idolator

@Chris Molanphy: First and foremost, let me say that I do respect your opinions about Mariah Carey and her fans. I understand that for whatever reason, you do have some animosity against them. Regardless of the nature of your opinions, though, you must realize two things: instead of offering an honest and respectable rebuttal, you've started a tirade against the 3 or so Mariah fans offering their opinion on this blog; and in the midst of all of this, you've begun to post more about Mariah in a three-day period than Maura/you probably ever had.

Your "tirade" proclaims that us Mariah fans are angry because of a so-called "loss". Frankly, there is no loss in the Mariah camp right now. As I've explained tirelessly, "Obsessed" is performing splendidly on the charts even after a media blitz proclaiming her career was sinking further into the tubes. After falling as low as #20, the single has rebounded as high as #7 and remains a bulleted track on the Hot 100. Carey is about to release "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel", the follow-up to her #1 and Platinum album E=MC2, which sold healthily despite a poor single track record.

Since you've triumphed your "focus" on the data, I'll entertain that a moment and examine the situation you so specifically described in your rant/rebuttal. TI's 2008 smash-hit "Whatever You Like" may not have broken digital sales records, but it sure did hit #1. To hit the pole position on a chart that is so fervently competitive in this day and age is a milestone within itself. The single was by no means a modest digital sales performer -- and remained within the top 10 for the duration of its #1 and top 5 run.

While "Whatever You Like" surely was embraced by the radio industry, it wasn't completely driven by it. "Obsessed", on the other hand, has been driven commercially by radio and not digital sales -- where it has peaked at #6 on the Digital Singles chart and managed to fall out of the top 10 in recent weeks. When in the climax of Whatever You Like's lifetime did the single fall out of the top 10 on the digital singles charts?

Chris, your tyrant has only confirmed my suspicions: despite being a "chart analyst" that has been around for decades, you still let your opinions and beliefs get in the way of judgment. Rather than properly recognize and commend Carey's rebound on the Hot 100, you've continued to doubt her. Even as a commentator, your job should be to give credit where it is due. And by ranting against her latest single and album, you've only further devalued your ability to be a respectable blogger.

That being said, I do expect a lengthy response that further attacks the character of Mariah Carey's "silliest" fans. In that response, be sure to include how you wish to gain pleasure from spiting them. Additionally, bring forth another obscure chart fact that is mostly wrong. Do anything you can to avoid saying Mariah Carey has beat the media with an infectious tune that is making its way to more and more playlists across the country.

At the same time, I will stop responding. It seems as though you, Chris, are angered by the 3 or so Mariah Carey fans who have had the decency to defend one of their biggest idols. Furthermore, you feel that the fact I have posted here only twice suddenly makes me inferior to your "chart-analysis prowess." Perhaps it's time to ignore the so-called "chart analysts", because it doesn't take that much to read and analyze the Billboard charts. While you continue to write multiple paragraphs concerning who you're going to target next, I'll be reading the facts.

That said, do take care and no hard feelings were intended.

@barnok: He's not saying his opinion doesn't matter. He's saying that you're complaining about the parts of his columns that are based on facts as if they're wholly formed from his opinions. Very different.

@barnok: You and muze don't seem to understand what quotation marks are actually used for, either.

@ Chris Molanphy. Seems like this is going to be another full-on posting orgy between you and us (Mariah Carey's "silliest fans"). No you're not delusional, you're shortsighted. You're selling yourself short when you say your opinion doesn't matter. Why would I bother reading your posts (and Maura's) if I think these don't matter? Of course they do. Many people do come here and read your posts. Why would I bother asking you two (you and Maura) to lay off her a bit if I thought your words doesn't influence others? I'm not asking that you two revise your opinions of her. I'm not even asking for your approval of her. Just that . . . lay off her. Besides, what's the point of you having this site if you think you amount to nothing or that you are insignificant? I'd be sad if this site folds as I have been a passive reader for a good 2 years now. As I have said, I have just recently posted because I simply had to "defend" Mariah from an onslaught of "not-so-nice" jabs being sent her direction.

@muze: Trivia for you. Who wrote this?

"If there’s one thing it shows, it’s that for all our talk here in recent weeks about the dominance of digital sales on the charts these days, airplay still matters. [Name of No. 1 hit] wouldn’t still be competing for the top slot without radio’s fervent support."

Answer: I wrote it, last fall, in talking about how T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" (the song in question) remained atop the Hot 100 despite many weeks when it wasn't the top digital-seller. So for what it's worth, I've definitely talked about how rare and commendable it is when a hit bucks the iTunes-oriented trend of the modern-day charts and commands the list via good old-fashioned radio.

But you wouldn't know that, would you? Because it's not about Mariah Carey. I certainly wouldn't expect you to be a fan of mine and have total recall of what I've written. But you wouldn't know I've written something like that, because you (and barnok) are here for one reason and one reason only: to "defend" Mariah Carey, an artist I didn't actually slam much in last week's column.

(Please re-read it: about the nastiest three things I said about Carey -- not even the lead topic in a mostly Whitney-related column! -- was that her single was "beleaguered," a statement of neutral fact; that she and Whitney might not be in the headlines come Christmas, a defensible opinion regarding her recent sales trajectory; and the "week or three of curiosity" comment that barnok regarded as high treason, despite the fact that Carey's singles have had a hard time maintaining their first-week sales numbers since early '08. What's mind-blowing is how these three asides, two of which were about both Carey and Houston [I didn't see any Whitney fans marching in here to rip me to pieces], negated all of the sympathetic things I said about Carey throughout that same column. You guys have keen radar for perceived slights and total blinders for decent coverage.)

Your respective commenting histories, the both of you, show that you're not actually interested in the conversations we have here on a range of topics. You're here to argue with a chart columnist, who largely reports on inarguable music-business trends, because I happen to express 10% opinion in my columns that are 90% data.

Why? Because, as shown by your comments and the snippy pro-Carey letters Billboard's chart columnists also receive week after week, Carey fans have so intermingled their genuine love for the artist with hair-trigger sensitivity over anyone impugning her chart prowess or ability to set new records. You've mixed your love for the art with your love for the commerce.

Now, lest I be the pot calling the kettle black, I will admit I love the commerce too! It's why I write about the charts every week, why I've read Billboard like a comic-book geek for more than two decades. But here's the thing, anonymous-commenter-on-high-horse-despite-only-two-comments-in-Idolator-history (both about Mariah): When the charts don't go my way, I quietly mourn, the way a sports fan mourns when it looks like his team might miss the playoffs. But I don't get angry at the person reporting the loss! I accept that Billboard doesn't have an agenda against that song or that act, and -- listen carefully, this is the important part -- I don't actually think anyone who writes about that, even with a smidgen of snark, will do anything to help or hurt the song's chances. What's just adorable about you guys ripping into me is that you actually think my opinion matters! I'll say it before you do: it doesn't.

To reiterate, I am now taking a bit of glee in the troubles Carey's single is having, not because I have anything against this single per se, but because it's time for a little private schadenfreude at the expense of her silliest fans. Unlike you, however, I won't talk about your lack of "guts," and I don't actually believe what anyone writes on the interwebs, pro-Mariah or anti-, will sway the millions of music buyers and radio listeners who will determine how big her hits are this fall. I can be a little petty, but I am not that delusional.

@muze: Well put muze. I would have written something to this effect when chris's response went up . . . and then I thought . . . he's not going to get it anyway, why bother? Mariah Carey fans are passionate to a fault . . . but that's how we are. I don't know what she did to me but I simply love her and I feel so bad for her when she doesn't get the respect she deserves. He called us "irony-and-tone-challenged", I don't quite get that. If he means literally, I have a lot to say about that. I might even counter . . . well, you must be "tone-deaf" yourself. But that's just it, he wouldn't get it. Enough said.

@Chris Molanphy: I understand and respect your right to an opinion about the state of Mariah Carey's career and single, but when you seek to spite her fans, that is merely a childish act. The polarization that is Mariah Carey aside, her fans have merely come to her defense -- the same way any diehard band or singer's fans would -- and instead of refuting their opinions in an honest and respectable way, you've reverted to an act resembling that of kindergarteners during recess?

I would prefer, Chris, that you actually "refute" our opinions, including the comment I posted on this blog to no response about the triumph that is "Obsessed" instead of imitating a 5-year old.

The only "irony" in all of this mess is the fact that you consider yourself a "chart expert", yet you don't have the guts to realize that "Obsessed" has achieved a feat few singles in this iTunes-era can: do well without spectacular digital sales. Furthermore, you fail to recognize yet another key point. While Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield" charted the top 10 with primarily radio behind her back and only decent iTunes sales (matching those of "Obsessed" tally-wise, at least), Sparks also PROMOTED the single to no avail. Mariah Carey has only made one promotional appearance for the song and her record company is already pretending that it doesn't exist -- yet it is still performing above expectations and moving up the charts.

Of course, I expect you in your rebuttal to claim expectations were high and not met, but the fact that a near 40-year-old can still crack the top 10 and be considered "relevant" in this sub-30 Beyonce-Lady Gaga obsessed industry is a feat within itself and should be recognized.

I would like to reiterate the fact that I don't believe "Obsessed" will be the #1 single that takes Mariah past The Beatles. What I do believe, though, is that credit is due for a single that has made a 13-spot comeback in an era where singles burn off like no other.

I don't think they have to be anyone's "most favorite band" to be on the top of the charts. But obviously they're doing something right. There are a lot of people out their who dig their music. Personally, I think a lot of it has to do with marketing and promotion. Whatever it is, it seems to be working like a charm for The Black Eyed Peas. They are breaking all kinds of records and selling out live shows world wide.

I first read that title as "Still Completely Unlikable".

While the sweeping success of BEP is recognized and apparent, I don't know anyone here in NYC that actually listens to them and holds them amongst their "most favorite bands."

The thing I really couldn't understand until Billboard published its own Hot 100 wrapup was why "Gotta" (the digital track) sold so well last week; it even won the "Greatest Gainer – Digital" prize for the week.

Anyway, this bit in the story explains it:

"Sept. 10 performances on both The Oprah Winfrey Show and NBC's NFL Kickoff Special prompt a 32,000-download increase."

TV, man.

Also: Mariah's "Obsessed" drops one notch this week even while bulleting, thanks to Jason Derulo's Imogen Heap–sampling "Whatcha Say" climbing over it. I really wasn't trying to be all that harsh to Mariah in my column last week, but after the commenting orgy, I will confess that I'm now more actively rooting against this single (which I don't even dislike) just to spite Mariah's irony-and-tone-challenged megafans.