First, the anticipation ends as Mariah Carey takes the stage for her Vegas spectacle, “The Celebration of Mimi.” With over 96% of tickets sold, she’s extended the run with 8 additional dates from July 26 to August 10 at the same Las Vegas venue, to be sold after April 19th.

However, before we get into the night’s details, let’s get into the most awaited treasure of the night: 

The Setlist

To begin, the setlist follows Mariah’s catalog in distinct acts. First, the opening act revisits her early albums. Next, Daydream receives its own spotlight. Then, a Butterfly medley brings several fan favorites together. Afterward, The Emancipation of Mimi becomes the show’s centerpiece. Finally, the encore closes the concert on a triumphant note. Furthermore, the production uses medleys to connect different eras. Similarly, costume changes help mark the shifts between acts. However, the structure still leaves room for complete songs. Consequently, the audience hears major singles alongside deeper album cuts. Overall, the arrangement supports the residency’s career-spanning story.

Act 1: Debut / Emotions / Music Box

First, the show revisits songs from Mariah’s earliest albums. In addition, this act establishes the residency’s career-spanning structure.

• Mariah Carey Intro

• Vision of Love

• Emotions
  

• Make it Happen

• Make It Happen (Reprise)

• Can’t Let Go

• I’ll Be There (feat. Trey Lorenz)

• Dreamlover

• Dreamlover Reprise / Def Club Mix

• Hero

• Without You

• Without You Reprise

Act 2: Daydream

Next, the setlist moves into the Daydream era. Meanwhile, familiar favorites keep the celebration moving.

• Fantasy

• Always Be My Baby

• Looking In

Act 3: The Butterfly Medley

Then, the Butterfly medley highlights deeper album cuts. For example, the sequence brings rarely performed material back to the stage.

• Butterfly

• Babydoll

• Breakdown

• Close My Eyes

• The Roof (Back In Time)

• My All

• Honey / Heartbreaker

• The Glitter / Charmbracelet Medley Interlude (includes Loverboy, Didn’t Mean To Turn You On, Boy (I Need You) and Sunflowers for Alfred Roy)

Act 4: The Celebration of Mimi

Afterward, the show turns fully toward The Emancipation of Mimi. Moreover, the act connects the residency’s theme with the album’s biggest songs.

• I Wish You Knew

• It’s Like That

• Say Somethin’

• Your Girl

• Shake It Off
  

• So Lonely (One & Only Part II) / Secret Love / Makin’ It Last All Night (What It Do)

• Circles

• Don’t Forget About Us

• We Belong Together
  

Encore

Finally, the encore gives the evening a gospel-powered conclusion. As a result, the show ends by returning to one of the album’s defining performances.

• Fly Like a Bird

• Fly Like a Bird (Reprise)

Altogether, that’s 27 complete songs, with medleys to accommodate ensemble changes. Next, let’s delve into these performances for a moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr9rnFzCftU

Mariah Carey Stuns with Powerful Rendition of ‘Without You’

Alright, as massive fans of Mariah Carey and realists, let’s address this. How robust were Mariah Carey’s vocals? Her ability to belt out tunes of the past, surpassing recent live performances, assures us that she’s here for much, much more. That said, let’s kick off with “Without You.” Uncommon for US performances, this song demands solid belting for the chorus, something Mariah has avoided in recent years. Not this time: a full chorus, devoid of distracting gimmicks, and the newly added final whistle were among the highlights. We’re “obsessed” with this performance. 

Mariah Carey’s Butterfly Medley Performance

For context, we’re aware that this album holds a special place in Mariah’s heart. However, the surprise of a full album overview, featuring tracks like “Breakdown” and “Babydoll,” last performed live in 2016, caught us off guard. Similarly, tackling the vocally challenging “Butterfly,” last performed in 2006, was unexpected. Set against the backdrop of a “Butterfly Lounge,” this setting perfectly highlighted how Mariah’s vocals remain melismatic, effortlessly reaching high and low notes, without the mishaps of past performances.

The Celebration of Mimi

Next, in Act 4, the Emancipation era came to life. For example, Mariah kicked off with “I Wish You Knew,” last performed in 2006, before delving into the album’s singles and beloved cuts like “Your Girl” and “Circles.” Notably, “Circles” was fully performed live for the first time yesterday.

Moreover, not only did she encore with “Fly Like a Bird,” but she also revisited the iconic low-cut dress from her 2006 Grammys performance, in upgraded fashion.

Ultimately, Mariah’s vocals, hitting golden notes rather than shying away, make this a truly unforgettable show. Finally, have we mentioned that new ending to “Without You”?