The First Vision
{{short description|1991 video album by Mariah Carey}}
{{for|the first vision of Latter Day Saint movement founder Joseph Smith|First Vision}}
{{Featured article}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The First Vision
| type = video
| artist = Mariah Carey
| cover = Mariahcareythefirstvision.jpg
| alt = VHS cover showing a close-up of Carey in a black dress
| caption = VHS cover
| released = January 22, 1991
| length = 42:00
| label = Sony Music Video
| next_title = MTV Unplugged +3
| next_year = 1992
}}
The First Vision is the debut video album by American singer Mariah Carey, released by Sony Music Video on January 22, 1991. It is a collection of music videos, live performances, and film footage detailing the development and promotion of Carey's first studio album Mariah Carey (1990). Music videos of three Mariah Carey singles – "Vision of Love", "Love Takes Time", and "Someday" – are featured, as are snippets of the future singles "I Don't Wanna Cry" and "There's Got to Be a Way". The collection presents Carey performing at New York City's Club Tatou and behind-the-scenes footage of her rehearsing for appearances on Saturday Night Live and It's Showtime at the Apollo. During an interview segment, Carey answers questions about her life and music.
Critics focused on Carey's depiction in The First Vision. Some considered it insightful and others opined it projected her in a sexual manner. They praised Carey's live performances as an effective vocal showcase. The video peaked at numbers 2 and 24 on US and UK music video charts published by Billboard and the Official Charts Company, respectively. The Canadian Recording Industry Association certified it gold for shipments of 5,000 copies and the Recording Industry Association of America certified it platinum for 100,000 units in the United States.
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Background and release
Columbia Records released Mariah Carey's first studio album Mariah Carey on June 12, 1990.{{Cite book|last=Mall|first=Andrew|title=God Rock, Inc.: The Business of Niche Music|page=242|year=2020|publisher=University of California Press|place=Oakland|isbn=9780520343429}} To support the record, Carey performed live at New York City's Club Tatou, Studio 8H, and Apollo Theater. Her first three singles – "Vision of Love", "Love Takes Time", and "Someday" – reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mariah-carey/chart-history/hsi/|title=Mariah Carey Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122014249/https://www.billboard.com/artist/mariah-carey/chart-history/hsb/|archive-date=November 22, 2022}} Columbia commissioned music videos for the three songs and all were released commercially as part of Carey's debut video album, The First Vision.
Sony Music Video issued The First Vision on VHS in the United States on January 22, 1991, and in the United Kingdom on March 4, 1991.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Albums – Music Videos|magazine=Music Week|page=xi|department=Datafile|date=February 23, 1991}} A LaserDisc edition followed on August 25, 1992,{{cite magazine |last=McGowan |first=Chris |date=July 18, 1992 |title=SMV Keying into First In-House Laser Projects |magazine=Billboard |page=49 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lxAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305211052/https://books.google.com/books?id=lxAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49 |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |via=Google Books}} and a DVD was released in Japan on November 17, 2004.{{cite web |title=ファースト・ヴィジョン |trans-title=First Vision |language=Japanese |url=https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/MariahCarey/discography/MHBP-26 |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment Japan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218021650/https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/MariahCarey/discography/MHBP-26 |archive-date=December 18, 2019}} Sony Pictures Entertainment made it available for digital download and rental in the United States on December 7, 2021.{{cite press release |title=Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Makes History |url=https://www.riaa.com/mariah-careys-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-makes-history/ |date=December 3, 2021 |publisher=Sony Music |via=Recording Industry Association of America |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228050304/https://www.riaa.com/mariah-careys-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-makes-history/ |archive-date=December 28, 2022}} Club Tatou performances of "Don't Play That Song" and "Vanishing" are included on disc two of a 1991 Australian edition of Mariah CareyMariah Carey (CD liner notes). Mariah Carey. Columbia Records. 1991. SAMP 306. and all were released for digital download and streaming as part of the 2020 extended play The Live Debut – 1990.{{cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |title=Missed One of Mariah Carey's First Live Performances 30 Years Ago? Time to Catch Up! |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/mariah-carey-posts-early-live-performance-mc30-9420048/ |date=July 17, 2020 |magazine=Billboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120220854/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/mariah-carey-posts-early-live-performance-mc30-9420048/ |archive-date=November 20, 2021}}
Summary
The First Vision contains Carey's first three music videos, live performances, film footage, and her responses to interview questions. It opens with the "Vision of Love" music video. Carey explains how she began singing as a young girl and credits her mother for being a musical inspiration. She describes how gospel music significantly influences her and that it is expressed in her songs' lyrics and musical arrangements. In a live performance at Club Tatou on October 22, 1990, Carey performs "Vanishing", a track from Mariah Carey that was not released as a single.{{cite magazine |last=Rowley |first=Glenn |title=The 100 Greatest Mariah Carey Songs: Staff Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/mariah-carey-greatest-songs-top-100-9460564/ |date=October 5, 2020 |magazine=Billboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016034411/https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/mariah-carey-greatest-songs-top-100-9460564/ |archive-date=October 16, 2022}} She is accompanied by a piano player and three background singers, Patrique, Billy, and Trey Lorenz. They rehearse for Carey's appearance on It's Showtime at the Apollo by singing "Who's Loving You". Carey states that she always dreamed of singing at the Apollo Theater because some of her idols such as Aretha Franklin had performed there. She reflects on working odd jobs before getting a record deal and recounts how "Love Takes Time" came to be included on her album. The music video for the song is shown, after which Carey details her filming experience.
Carey prepares for her October 27, 1990, Saturday Night Live performance with her background singers and describes their close friendship. They rehearse by singing "All in Your Mind", another Mariah Carey track, on stage. Additional rehearsal footage is shown as the studio version of the song plays in the background. Back at Club Tatou, Carey covers Franklin's "Don't Play That Song". She answers further questions about how success makes her feel and says she looks forward to completing the writing process for her second album, Emotions (1991). Footage of Carey performing "I Don't Wanna Cry" is then shown. As The First Vision preceded the filming of that song's music video, an alternative preview is provided with Carey singing amid red-orange lights on an empty stage. She describes the lyrical inspiration for "Someday" and collaborating with its video director. After the clip is shown, Carey expresses gratitude for how she can share her music with the world. "There's Got to Be a Way" plays in the background as the credits roll. In subsequent non-VHS releases, her performances of "Love Takes Time" and "Vision of Love" at Club Tatou are provided.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev2 = Chicago Sun-Times
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last=Voedisch |first=Lynn |date=February 19, 1991 |title=Mariah Carey Sings in First Tape |work=Chicago Sun-Times |page=36}}
| rev3 = Los Angeles Times
| rev3score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite news |last=Hunt |first=Dennis |title=In Short, Gabriel Offers Dramatic Point of View |department=Calendar |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 17, 1991 |page=64 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83876064/the-los-angeles-times/ |via=Newspapers.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112185009/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83876064/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=November 12, 2021}}
| rev4 = Select
| rev4score = {{rating|3|5|full=U+25A0.svg|empty=U+25A1.svg|rating=medal}}{{Cite magazine|last=Marlowe|first=Chris|date=May 1991|title=Screen: New Music Videos|magazine=Select|page=124}}
}}
The video's overall effectiveness received reviews. According to AllMusic writer Ashley S. Battel, The First Vision was a compelling prelude to Carey's stardom.{{cite web |last=Battel |first=Ashley S. |title=First Vision Review |publisher=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/first-vision-mw0000676173 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512150737/https://www.allmusic.com/album/first-vision-mw0000676173 |archive-date=May 12, 2021}} Forrest Spencer of AllMovie believed it provided insights into her early career that fans would appreciate.{{cite web |last=Spencer |first=Forrest |title=Synopsis |publisher=AllMovie |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/mariah-carey-the-first-vision-v31431 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107004027/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/mariah-carey-the-first-vision-v31431 |archive-date=November 7, 2022}} Martin Aston called it "as good a compilation as you could hope for" in Music Week.{{Cite magazine|last=Aston|first=Martin|date=March 12, 1994|title=Market Preview: Music Video|magazine=Music Week|page=13}}
Critics commented on the video's depiction of Carey. Los Angeles Times critic Dennis Hunt found the interview segment the weakest portion because Carey "offers no in-depth answers to basic questions". Writing for Select, Chris Marlowe said she was "carefully scripted to convey a sense of charming casualness". Rolling Stone contributor Jim Farber likened the video to an advertisement for a phone sex line owing to Carey's "saucerlike eyes, serpentine hair, and maul-me expressions".{{cite magazine |last=Farber |first=Jim |date=February 21, 1991 |title=Demolition Derbies |magazine=Rolling Stone |page=45 |id={{EBSCOhost|9102180142}}. {{ProQuest|2529643942}}}} Hunt remarked the camera's focus on her resembled production choices typically seen in a Playboy video.
The recordings of Carey's live performances received positive reviews. In his biography of Carey, author Chris Nickson considered them the best part of the video.{{cite book |last=Nickson |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Nickson |date=1998 |title=Mariah Carey Revisited: Her Story |pages=44, 179 |publisher=St. Martin's Griffin |place=New York |isbn=0-312-19512-5 |ol=363685M}} Hunt felt they provided Carey ample opportunity to showcase her vocal abilities. According to Marlowe, "her voice can make up for nearly anything". Jornal do Brasil writer Marcus Veras considered the rehearsals a highlight.{{cite news |last=Veras |first=Marcus |date=July 14, 1991 |title=Gloria, Mariah, Basia |language=pt |work=Jornal do Brasil |page=B{{hyphen}}7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0DIyAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA58 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608042516/https://books.google.com/books?id=0DIyAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA58 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |via=Google Books}} People{{'}}s Ralph Novak complimented the cover of "Don't Play That Song" as he felt its lyrics allowed Carey's voice to come across more powerfully than in her self-written material.{{cite magazine |last=Novak |first=Ralph |date=June 17, 1991 |title=Song |magazine=People |pages=21–22 |id={{EBSCOhost|57914219}}}} Lynn Voedisch of the Chicago Sun-Times said she exuded emotion when singing it. Reviewing in 2020, NME writer Eddy Lim described Carey's rendition of "Vision of Love" as extraordinary and Jon Caramanica of The New York Times thought they all showcased "her voice in its full, pure, almost unfathomable luster".{{cite magazine |last=Lim |first=Eddy |title=Mariah Carey Shares Rare Archival Material to Celebrate 30-Year Career |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/mariah-carey-shares-rare-archival-material-to-celebrate-30-year-career-2711807 |date=July 21, 2020 |magazine=NME |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105195243/https://www.nme.com/news/music/mariah-carey-shares-rare-archival-material-to-celebrate-30-year-career-2711807 |archive-date=November 5, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Caramanica |title=Drake Clears His Throat with DJ Khaled, and 10 More New Songs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/arts/music/playlist-drake-dj-khaled-mariah-carey.html |date=July 17, 2020 |work=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811034951/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/arts/music/playlist-drake-dj-khaled-mariah-carey.html |archive-date=August 11, 2022}}
Commercial performance
The First Vision debuted at number six on the US Billboard Top Music Videos chart in the March 2, 1991, issue.{{cite magazine |date=March 2, 1991 |title=Top Music Videos |magazine=Billboard |page=57 |id={{ProQuest|1505977897}}}} It peaked at number two a month later and remained on the chart for the next 44 weeks. According to Billboard, it was the fifth best-performing music video of 1991 in the United States. The Recording Industry Association of America certified it platinum for shipments of 100,000 copies and the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) certified it gold for 5,000 units.{{cite magazine|title=Carey's First Vision Certified Gold Video|magazine=RPM|page=5|date=September 21, 1991}} When the CRIA retired video certifications in 2021, it remained Carey's only certified video in that country.
In the United Kingdom, the video reached number 29 on the Chart Information Network (CIN) music video chart dated March 23, 1991.{{cite magazine|title=Top 30 Music Video|magazine=Music Week|page=21|date=March 23, 1991}} Three years later amid Carey's simultaneous number ones on the albums (Music Box), singles ("Without You"), and music video charts (Here Is Mariah Carey),{{multiref2
|1={{cite web |title=Official Albums Chart Top 100 06 March 1994–12 March 1994 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19940306/7502/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210085027/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19940306/7502/ |archive-date=February 10, 2022}}
|2={{cite web |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 06 March 1994–12 March 1994 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19940306/7501/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415044026/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19940306/7501/ |archive-date=April 15, 2022}}
|3={{cite web |title=Official Music Video Chart Top 50 06 March 1994–12 March 1994 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19940306/13/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812022730/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19940306/13/ |archive-date=August 12, 2021}}}} The First Vision entered at number 37 on the Official Charts Company's music videos chart dated April 2, 1994.{{cite web |title=Official Music Video Chart Top 50 27 March 1994–02 April 1994 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19940327/13/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821220859/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19940327/13/ |archive-date=August 21, 2021}} It peaked at number 24 for the week ending June 11, 1994, and appeared on the chart as late as July 1995.{{cite web |title=Official Music Video Chart Top 50 05 June 1994–11 June 1994 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19940605/13/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821212022/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19940605/13/ |archive-date=August 21, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Official Music Video Chart Top 50 23 July 1995–29 July 1995 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19950723/13/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821222628/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19950723/13/ |archive-date=August 21, 2021}}
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies, except where noted. Although track listings vary between releases, the only video difference is the addition of "Love Takes Time" (live) and "Vision of Love" (live) in non-VHS editions.{{multiref2|1={{cite AV media notes |year=1991 |title=The First Vision |medium=VHS |publisher=Sony Music Video |id=19V-49072}}|2={{cite AV media notes |year=1991 |title=The First Vision |medium=VHS |publisher=Sony Music Video |id=49072-2}}|3={{cite AV media notes |year=1992 |title=The First Vision |medium=LaserDisc |publisher=CBS/Sony Records |id=CSLM 796}}|4={{cite AV media notes |year=2004 |title=The First Vision |medium=DVD |publisher=GL Visual |id=MHBP 26}}}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
{{Unbulleted list
| 1. "Vision of Love"
| 2. "Vanishing" (live)
| 3. "Love Takes Time"
| 4. "Don't Play That Song" (live; Ahmet Ertegün, Betty Nelson)
| 5. "I Don't Wanna Cry" (Mariah Carey, Narada Michael Walden)
| 6. "Someday" (extended version)
}}
{{Unbulleted list
| 3. "Who's Loving You" (a capella; Smokey Robinson)
| 4. "Love Takes Time"
| 5. "All in Your Mind" (a capella)
| 6. "Don't Play That Song" (live; Ertegün, Nelson)
| 7. "I Don't Wanna Cry" (Carey, Walden)
| 8. "Someday" (extended version)
| 9. "There's Got to Be a Way (Carey, Ric Wake)
}}
{{col-3}}
LaserDisc edition (49 minutes)
{{Unbulleted list
| 4. "All in Your Mind" (a capella)
| 5. "Don't Play That Song" (live; Ertegün, Nelson)
| 6. "I Don't Wanna Cry" (Carey, Walden)
| 7. "Someday" (extended version)
| 8. "Love Takes Time" (live)
| 9. "Vision of Love" (live)
}}
{{Unbulleted list
| 7. "Love Takes Time" (live)
| 8. "Vision of Love" (live)
}}
{{col-end}}
Credits
=Music videos=
"Love Takes Time"
- Bojan Bazelli – director of photography
- Sean Fullan – editor
- Ron Kay – producer
- Wayne Maser – co-director
"Someday"
- Lexi Godfrey – producer
- Larry Jordan – director
- Judy Minot – editor
- Daniel Pearl – director of photography
"Vision of Love"
- Bojan Bazelli – director of photography
- Ron Kay – producer
- Tom Muldoon – editor
{{col-2}}
=Additional footage=
Club Tatou performances
- Jeb Brien – producer
- David Greenwald – editor
- Jim Gucciardo – producer
- Ed Stephenson – director of photography
"I Don't Wanna Cry"
- Michael B. Borofsky – producer
Interview segment
- David Hewitt – on-site recording
- Kevin Moy – assistant editor
- RVI/Rutt Videos Inc. – post-production
- Tim Smith – camera, lighting
- Sync Sound – audio post-production
- Deb Turco – assistant editor
Saturday Night Live and Apollo segments
- Goochinetti Productions – producer
- Ed Stephenson – camera
{{col-end}}
Charts and certifications
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1994 chart performance |
| scope="col"| Chart (Publisher)
! scope="col"| Weekly peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| UK Music Videos (OCC)
| 24 |
{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mariah Carey}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:First Vision, The}}
Category:Mariah Carey video albums
Category:1990s live video albums