Mariah Carey’s ‘Celebration of Mimi’ Tour Is An Ode To Her Enduring Status As A Musical Icon – Review

In the Philippines, there is arguably no pop diva more beloved than Mariah Carey.

This pop icon is undoubtedly a world-renowned superstar. But here, almost every album from Carey’s illustrious discography has become a bible of sorts –– with numerous songs becoming go-to staples in various households and karaoke bars across the country, almost as if they acted as our own unofficial national anthems. Even the mannerisms of the pop icon’s performance style have influenced an entire generation of Filipino singers, with the very term “biritera” often attributed to artists like herself. 

It’s been over eleven years since her last show in the country, yet the demand for her return has never wavered in that time. Her Filipino “Lambily” have been patiently awaiting her comeback, while Carey herself has looked forward to this reunion, especially after citing her performances in the Philippines as her greatest concerts to date. So, upon the announcement of Carey’s ‘The Celebration of Mimi’ World Tour, it was no surprise just how fast all its tickets sold out in less than one day.

The decades-spanning build-up of hype and anticipation for Carey’s return to Manila was evident upon entering the grounds of the Mall of Asia Arena, wherein nearly twenty thousand fans of the “We Belong Together” hitmaker gathered for a communal celebration of her music (almost as if we were all going to church). 

Fans, young and old alike, were all dressed to the nines, with many clad in various Mariah merchandise from various eras of hers, and others lovingly emulated the glitz and glamour of the pop diva’s iconic fits over the years. Those who weren’t dressed in the same manner made their way to the long, snaking line of the merchandise booth, wherein they bought new tees together with vinyl records of Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi album. 

By 8 PM, the lights in the venue began to dim –– with the stage and screen flashing all sixteen of her album covers, before transitioning into a montage of her live performances over the years that then turned to black The opening notes of “Type Dangerous” began to play from the live band, followed by her crew of dancers, and soon enough, Carey herself came on stage.

The entire Mall of Asia Arena erupted into a frenzy of cheers and screams, which continued all throughout the non-stop barrage of hits that followed right after. “Emotions” saw the pop icon belting out several whistle notes that could break a glass window, and “Touch My Body” had her moving around the stage to wave and interact with fans from various corners of the arena. The sheer joy on Carey’s face was noticeable even from afar, almost as if she was truly taking in the sight of such a passionate crowd in front of her. Her stripped-down rendition of “Can’t Let Go” honored her MTV Unplugged performance of the track, and demonstrated her live vocals (contrary to what some naysayers would say), while “Vision of Love” and “Dreamlover” had the crowd singing along from the bottom of their hearts.

Following a quick costume change and documentary-style footage of her career in the late ’90s, Carey delivered crowd-rousing performances of ballads like “Hero” and “Without You” — both of which made audiences quite emotional (with someone shedding several tears in the row right behind me). Still, that didn’t mean Carey didn’t want to hinder the upbeat momentum of the night from going on, as she followed it up with the fan-favorite “Fantasy,” to which she playfully riffed alongside her own backing vocals. 

Though her medley of “Honey” and “Heartbreaker” was accompanied by a prominent playback track, her playful performance of the underrated “I’m That Chick” made it clear that Carey indeed sang live throughout the night. On tracks like the latter, the pop icon’s enjoyment was as clear as day, considering the amount of waves, winks, and blow kisses that she delivered to the crowd in the seats in front of the stage. 

Perhaps one of the best moments of the night was when Carey performed “My All” (a track that found a second life due to its virality on TikTok), wherein people were literally screaming their heads off, almost as if they were in despair and excitement. To be in Carey’s mere presence as she was singing such a beloved track already feels like a core memory for many of us in attendance at the show. Though it’s clear that her voice has further matured over time, one could still feel the same impassioned delivery that makes such a track so emotional, even if we haven’t lived the same experience as hers. 

After closing off the second act of the night with “Always Be My Baby” and an impressive dance break from her crew, Carey then teamed up with her musical director & pianist, Daniel Moore II, for inspired duets to “#Beautiful” and “Play This Song” –– with Moore effortlessly replicating the same suave of original artists, Miguel and Anderson.Paak. The rest of the third act was mostly comprised of R&B-funk tracks from the beloved balladeer’s latest studio album, Here For It All, with Carey giving Filipino audiences our first live performances of “In Your Feelings” and “Sugar Sweet”, allowing audiences to sway along to their beats.

Though we were mostly surprised by her performance of the Busta Rhymes collaboration track, “I Know What You Want,” it allowed for a seamless segue to her abundance of hits from the record-breaking The Emancipation of Mimi. “Say Somethin’,” “Your Girl,” and “Shake It Off” were infectious crowd-pleasers that had us moving from our seats, and though Carey herself wasn’t able to move or dance as much as others would’ve wanted, her aura and energy were still very much present and felt from every corner of the arena.

For the final act, the reworked, big-band rendition of “Obsessed” was another fun moment from the show’s set list, while “It’s Like That” and “We Belong Together” marked a fitting run of hit songs to close off the last section of the show. Though Carey disappeared from the stage quite abruptly, lead backup vocalist Trey Reynolds took the chance to introduce all members of the band, his fellow backup singers, and extended his gratitude towards the audience for their energy that made the show a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Even if some fans were left puzzled and still wanting more, something in the air shifted immediately once the screens transformed into a festive blizzard, decked with Christmas decor and memorabilia that signified a special surprise for the Filipino Lambs in attendance. As the first few notes of “All I Want For Christmas” began to twinkle from the arena’s speaker system, the entire audience stood up from their seats –– and were greeted by Carey and her crew of dancers adorned in festive attire.

Instead of the usual encore performance of “Fly Like A Bird,” Carey’s special and surprise rendition of her eternal Christmas classic capped off the night in a perfect, if wondrous, manner. The festive spirit was undeniably there, and the iconic songstress made it a point to shake and dance along to the song as much as she could, despite wearing a floor-length gown and tall high heels, and serving a gorgeous whistle note for its final outro. Aside from being the first time Carey performed the track in the Philippines (and on her current tour), it marked the perfect ending to what transpired throughout the night.

Many of us present at the show could even argue that Carey’s return to the Philippines wasn’t your usual concert from a legacy artist, for it felt more like a homecoming, almost as if it were a full-circle moment that reaffirmed the deep, decades-long bond between an artist and a nation that has loved her unconditionally. 

Because for us Filipinos, Mariah Carey isn’t merely a pop star, for she is an enduring muse — one whose voice has shaped childhoods, healed heartbreaks, and inspired countless of dreams behind bedroom mirrors and on karaoke stages. And in return, the love she gives back is just as immense, whether it may be from her heartfelt performances, warm acknowledgments, or most especially the spontaneous moments of gratitude — like stepping out of her car just to greet fans or inviting some of them backstage — as Carey’s devotion to her Filipino “Lambily” resonates far beyond the stage lights.

Though The Celebration of Mimi tour was meant to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi album, it’s clear that what had transpired at the Mall of Asia Arena was more of a tribute to a legacy shared between a musical icon and a nation. For such shows like this have become a celebration of the music that’s become part of our cultural DNA, serving as a reminder that, no matter how much time passes, the connection between Mariah Carey and the Philippines is timeless — as unwavering, heartfelt, and spectacular as the songs that brought us all together, even for just one night.

In honor of Mariah Carey’s The Celebration of Mimi World Tour, revisit The Emancipation of Mimi below: