Mariah Carey's Christmas Time was the fourteenth concert tour by American singer Mariah Carey. Spanning twenty-one dates in the United States, three of which had to be cancelled because Carey had the flu.[1] It began on November 6, 2024, in Highland, California, and concluded on December 17, 2024, in New York City.
Critical reception
Critics felt the concert's Christmas theme came across effectively. In The Arizona Republic, Ed Masley viewed it as "sweet and old-fashioned and corny as hell in a way that was utterly entertaining, hitting all the notes you'd want this sort of Christmas show to hit".[2]Houston Chronicle critic Joey Guerra called the concert "a joy — equal parts Nutcracker fantasia, holiday pageant and TV variety show".[3] Referring to the presence of "reindeer, sleighbells, carolers, and even Santa Claus", DeVaughan Douglas described it as "a full Christmas production" in the Houston Press.[4] For The Desert Sun's Brian Blueskye, the show "brought out the traditional feels celebrating all the usual themes of family, giving and Christmastime love".[5]MusicRow's Sherod Robertson remarked that Carey's inclusion of her children "added a personal touch to the concert, emphasizing the themes of love and togetherness central to the holiday season".[6] Mars Salazar of the Austin American-Statesman and Desiree Gutierrez of the Dallas Observer said Carey evoked Christmas sentiments despite performing in November.[7][8]
Carey's vocals received praise. Jasmine Osby of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said she "delivered, showcasing her powerhouse singing and mind-blowing vocal range from beginning to end".[9] Blueskye agreed: her voice was "stunning and powerful from start to finish".[5]The Tennessean's Melonee Hurt thought Carey "showed the crowd she still possesses the five-octave vocal range that made her famous".[10] In The Boston Globe, Victoria Wasylak wrote that Carey's "sparkling five-octave vocal range allowed her to claim the title "Queen of Christmas".[11] Guerra said "she pulled it all out of the bag: whistle notes, belts, falsetto."[3] In USA Today, Melissa Ruggieri felt Carey "still lands those signature dog-whistle notes quite impressively".[12] Salazar thought her "powerhouse vocals were the highlight, with vibrato so effortless that it almost looked like she was lip syncing."[7] Writing for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Shaun Brady said "Carey sounded strong and for the most part seemed to be singing live, with little reliance on recordings and lip-synch".[13] According to Rodney Ho of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Carey's "voice remained supple and smooth."[14]Fort Worth Star-Telegram contributor Stefan Stevenson suggested her "vaunted vocals, while still smooth and powerful, seemed muted at times, as if she was struggling with a throat issue of some kind."[15]
Carey's stage presence garnered a mixed reception. Osby thought Carey "worked the stage like a catwalk" in lieu of dancing.[9] Similarly, Salazar said "she let her backup dancers do the heavy lifting throughout the performance, only walking back and forth around the stage."[7] Brady echoed these comments: Carey "comported herself perhaps too regally, pacing the stage slowly while relying on her dancers to supply the energy."[13] According to Guerra, "the band, backup singers and dancers provided a strong framework" for her nonetheless.[3] Gutierrez said "the dancers proved to be pivotal to the show" due to Carey's focus on singing.[8] Hurt felt Carey's lacking of dancing did not detract from the concert as audiences came to hear her sing.[10] Ho thought the tightness of her clothing and wearing of high-heeled shoes contributed to a lack of energy;[14] Wasylak suggested a cold might explain why she occasionally seemed less inspired than the audience.[11] Robertson said Carey established a connection with the audience by "sharing personal anecdotes about the holiday season and expressing her gratitude for their unwavering support over the years".[6] For Ruggieri, Carey's foray into the crowd to sign items showed how she is not necessarily a diva.[12]
