Video: Mariah Carey Wants to Know What Love Is

Mimi could have easily bruised this belt-it-out Foreigner anthem, but she keeps it musical despite the mandatory vocal pyrotechnics

By Jefferson Reid Nov 15, 2009 11:47 PMTags

Mimi has really come to play on her version of Foreigner's rock-ballad classic "I Want to Know What Love Is." She's scouting the elusive "L" in a packed baseball stadium, watching her tiny self sing in the center of the diamond from the huge video replay monitors.

If the setting is grandiose, her musical taste is clearly down-to-earth. She shows restraint in the verses and the first chorus with a breathy, emotional voice, before the inevitable pyrotechnics later in the song: the gospel choir eruption, hitting the dog-whistle high notes, the naked emotionalism mixed with amazing technical accomplishment—you know, the whole Mariah Carey thing.

It definitely microwaves our burrito, but what did you think? Is this an instant classic or instantly forgettable cheese? Let us know in the comments section.

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Not only can Mariah sing (duh!), but she also can act, according to our review of Precious, a box-office standout in limited release.