Mariah Carey Gets Fans A New Gift For A Hit Album Milestone
Mariah Carey is giving a new reason for fans to celebrate. Thus, it takes place twenty years after redefining the contours of pop and R&B with The Emancipation of Mimi. The five-octave icon has unveiled a sprawling 20th Anniversary Edition of her 2005 comeback opus. It was an album that not only reignited her career but cemented her status as a master of reinvention.
So, originally released on April 12, 2005, The Emancipation of Mimi was more than a commercial juggernaut—a cultural reset. The record spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Additionally, it picked up three Grammy Awards. Yet, most importantly, it had the most dominant chart hits in Billboard Hot 100 history with “We Belong Together.”
Thus, just ahead of the album’s 20th anniversary, Carey announced a lavish reissue packed with previously unreleased material. It featured rare remixes and a few surprises that delve deep into the sonic landscape of the original release.
“I’m really happy to celebrate Mimi’s Emancipation with this special anniversary re-release,” Mariah Carey said in a statement. “While working on this edition, I relived all the memories from this pivotal moment in my personal and professional life.”
The reissue arrives in two parts. Disc one retains the core of Mimi’s original 14 tracks and adds five fan-favorite bonus cuts. These include the poignant “Don’t Forget About Us” and the breezy “Sprung.” the aching “Secret Love,” a sultry duet with Jermaine Dupri on “Makin’ It Last All Night (What It Do),” and a revamped remix of “We Belong Together.”
Mariah Carey and The New Release
But the second disc plays like a vault thrown wide open. Headlining the set is the long-sought-after “When I Feel It.” It is a track previously shelved due to sample clearance issues. For longtime Lambs, its official release is a holy grail moment. Surrounding it are genre-hopping remixes from Solange, Kaytranada, David Morales, and Scott Storch.” Thus, it offers fresh perspectives on Mimi’s enduring hooks and harmonies.
Also included are a cappella versions of “Shake It Off,” “Circles,” and “Joy Ride.”It strips the productions down to Carey’s still-astonishing vocals. The retrospective closes with her striking 2024 performance of “We Belong Together” at the American Music Awards’ 50th Anniversary Special. It was a full-circle moment highlighting the song’s continued resonance.
“This album has some of my biggest hits to date, as well as some personal favorites that are very special to me,” Carey said. “Forgotten gems, unreleased bonus tracks, and different remixes with incredible collaborators—all of these and more are now available in one place for the first time ever.”
Two decades later, The Emancipation of Mimi remains a defining chapter in Mariah Carey’s career and the pop canon at large. With this expanded edition, Carey isn’t just revisiting a peak—she’s reminding us how she created it.
