Live Review: Mariah Carey, Nathaniel

Aussie R&B/pop singer Nathaniel does a stand-up job of keeping Sydney entertained as we wait for ‘The Elusive Chanteuse’, Mariah Carey to appear.

He seamlessly belts out his hits You and closer Live Louder, but it’s his covers of Bob Marley’s Is This Love and Prince’s Kiss that impress the most. Nathaniel sings the shit out of his set and his band are on point – way to set the tone, fellas.

A handful of dancers appear, busting out an effortlessly choreographed routine before the sounds of Ol’ Dirty Bastard - “Yo, New York in the house” - blast through the arena. Mariah Carey glides out on stage like a goddess and sends us all into a fit with the remix version of Fantasy. She’s beaming and it’s hard to take your eyes off her.

Carey’s set reads like a who’s who of Mimi songs – Touch My Body, Emotions, My All, Heartbreaker, It’s Like That, Honey - and she throws in a few tracks from her latest album Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse. Best. Album. Title. Ever.

Our star doesn’t move around a lot on stage, but that’s not really surprising. It's always been about her voice. And she’s still got it. 20 plus years in the business and she's still slaying those high whistle-like notes that no one in the crowd can match, but we all attempt.

Things head into massive ‘Nawwww’ territory when Carey sings Supernatural, a song dedicated to 'Dem Babies' (her twins), who appear to be sitting in the crowd towards the right of stage. Um, you should be in bed right now kids!

We all get emotional – and get the lighters (phones) out – for Hero, while We Belong Together closes out the night perfectly. Mimi is boss.