Mariah Carey headlined Brighton Pride on Saturday, five years after her originally scheduled appearance. The singer arrived in a trans flag-inspired Dior minidress and leather jacket embroidered with 'Protect the Dolls', performing to a devoted crowd of 'Lambs' at Preston Park.
Carey stormed through an opening medley of snippets including 'Emotions', 'Vision of Love' and 'Dreamlover', with her whistle register still intact. However, the show quickly faltered as the setlist rushed through hits like 'Fantasy' and a 'Heartbreaker'/'Honey' mashup, leaving fans struggling to keep up with the stop-start pacing.
After an outfit change, Carey returned for '#Beautiful' and a swaggering 'Obsessed', widely seen as a diss track aimed at Eminem. A playful 'Touch My Body' marked the show's peak, but subsequent interludes dragged as the singer frequently left the stage for costume changes, with even shirtless dancers failing to maintain energy.
The closing numbers from 2005's 'The Emancipation of Mimi', including 'We Belong Together' and 'Fly Like a Bird', saw many fans drifting away or heading for trains. While Carey proved she still has vocal prowess, the performance ultimately felt rushed and lacking in commitment.
