Mariah Carey was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last night. Ironically, she’s never written the music to any of her songs.
Go figure.
In the audience at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom last night was Ben Margulies. He was invited by his song publisher. In 1989, Margulies wrote “Vision of Love” and six other songs on her debut album. They’re still her best songs. Although Margulies was in the audience, Carey didn’t acknowledge or thank him.
Indeed, Carey didn’t mention any of the dozens of writers who wrote her hits, all of whom are listed in detail on Wikipedia. She took credit for being a pioneering female songwriter. Watching her acceptance speech is nauseating.
Among the writers she didn’t acknowledge were Walter Afanasieff, Jermaine Dupri (who was also there), Narada Michael Walden, Dave Hall (“Dreamlover”) or the writers whose songs she sampled in whole like Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Maurice White, or Badfinger’s Pete Ham.
