The first time I noticed Mariah Carey was 1993, her Thanksgiving Special. I was twelve and having a hard time at school…and home. Watching her have food fights in the kitchen with her girlfriends, jump in the lake with her Jack Russell and hang out with her Mum on the ranch seemed like a…fantasy world to me. My mind would often escape to this alterna-reality when the problems in my own life got too much.
Then after years of having brown curly pig tails, she straightened her hair in the ‘Anytime You Need A Friend’ video, the first sign she was ready to break away from the patriarchy. The ensuing emancipation was the first ‘coming out’ story I was able to process and one that continued to inspire me on my own journey.
It’s safe to say Mariah Carey is kind of a big deal to me. I didn’t just name my brand ‘Loverboy’ because it was the biggest selling single of 2001. So when I began interviewing people, I always ended with the question, ‘What is your favourite Mariah Carey song?’ and it seems fitting on her 50th anniversary no less, to compile this list of answers from a diverse list of names including Bat For Lashes, Michelle Visage and Orville Peck….
Alan Cumming
Actor, Club Cumming
I just love ‘One Sweet Day’ with Boyz II Men. It just goes up and keeps transposing. I love a builder of a song and her voice is crazy. It’s a beautiful song about people you’ve lost. I just think it’s tremendous and it brings a tear to a glass eye.
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Alaska Thunderfuck 5000
Drag Queen, RuPaul’s Drag Race
‘Hero.’ Look me up on YouTube performing it and you’ll know why.
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Allie X
Musician
Oh fuck! Hard question. I love some of her covers like, ‘I can’t liiiiiiiiiiive…’ is so good. I love ‘Dreamlover’ and ‘Always Be My Baby’ too. I could go on but I think it has to be a tie between ‘Emotions and ‘Vision of Love.’
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Ameriie
Musician
I love ‘Make It Happen’ because I remember looking out of a plane window, listening to that song a lot and thinking, ‘Wow you can do anything you want,’ all those optimistic things. I was just looking down at the houses and each person has their own dream. It was a very weird and surreal moment for me.
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Andrew Fitzsimons
Hair Stylist, clients have included Mariah Carey
I worked with Mariah for a couple of years. Mariah Carey is one of the kindest, sweetest people I have met in my entire life. When I started working with her, she remembered every detail about me. She’d say things like, ‘So Andrew, your Mum is in Dublin, right?’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ Then she said, ‘How was her doctor’s appointment? Didn’t you say something about her going to the doctor’s last time?’ I was thinking, ‘Yes, Mariah Carey, my Mum’s ingrown toe-nail doctor’s appointment was a success!’ Mariah really has the sweetest demeanour. Mariah and I would be in a fitting at 4am, listening to Luther Vandross or Anita Baker. We loved the legends and we liked a lot of the same hair references. Her forever hair reference is Farrah Fawcett.”
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Armistead Maupin
Author, Tales of the City
I can barely tell you who she is! I did reference her in a book once but that was just to try and look hip!
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Bernhard Willhelm
Designer
I like her Mariah moments compilation on YouTube. The repetition works. It’s very automated. Almost like a remote controlled-being living on a shopping channel and a walk in closet.
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Boomer Banks
Performer
An old one called ‘Sent from Up Above’. It’s a 90’s mid-tempo R&B track, very laid back with groovy sitar licks, not a big hit or anything, just simple and sexy!
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Borja Casterad
Artist
Without a doubt ‘Touch My Body’ because it describes what I want boys to do to me every weekend. Haha…
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The Boulet Brothers
Drag Queens, Dragula
‘Hero’! It’s just so good.
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Boy Radio
Musician
Okay, ‘Fantasy’ is legit my favourite MC song and video! I love that ODB and Mariah go back like babies with pacifiers and the music video was filmed at a fair so from the roller coasters to the whistle tones she pretty much had me.
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Carmen Electra
Pin Up
I think ‘Hero’ because when my sister passed away that was her favourite so ‘Hero’ speaks to me.
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Casey Spooner
Musician, Fischerspooner, currently running for President
Honestly. I’m more Whitney.
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Coco Montrese
Drag Queen, RuPaul’s Drag Race
I will have to say that performing at the Linq every night, while she performs across the street at Caesar’s Palace is pretty awesome. My favourite song would have to be ‘Vision of Love.’
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Cody Critcheloe
Musician, SSION, Video Director
Well, Mariah is a writer. She may not get credit for it now but she will. You never get credit for those kind of things until you’re gone. ‘Touch My Body’ is my favourite song but this is going to sound blasphemous to you…I totally missed the Mariah boat.
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Danny Franzese
Actor, Mean Girls
‘Heartbreaker’ (The Remix). I also love ‘Fantasy’ with O.D.B., where he’s like, ‘Sacramento in the house…’ Mariah is a gigantic Mean Girls fan. In fact in Mean Girls Damian has a Mariah Carey poster in his bedroom – the one with the rainbow.
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Detox
Drag Queen, RuPaul’s Drag Race
I was eight or nine when Music Box came out. I remember having it on cassette and I wore it out! The first time I heard ‘Anytime You Need A Friend’ something struck in me and I felt like it was meant for me. I obviously knew I was different and I felt like she was singing to me and telling me I’d be ok. I used to have a very naturally pretty and high tone in my voice and could kinda really sing before I hit puberty and this was one of my favorites to sing along with and I’m pretty sure it’s what helped me become a great lip syncer, too. I’d always film music videos in my head as a child, and this was one of my faves for that as well.
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DJ Mikey Pop
Meme King, DJ
‘Emotions’! The soul of that song alone and her voice kills me everytime! But if I’m DJing and want the crowd to go nuts, I put on my second favorite, ’Fantasy’. When that chorus comes on, every single time is a guaranteed sing-a-long from the dance floor! My fiance is a MASSIVE Mariah fan, his favorite is ‘Heartbreaker’ which also is like an on-switch for any dance floor!
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Drama
We are both 90’s babies. ‘Fantasy’ will forever be my jam 100%!!! The bass line on that record and the synth! Such a sign of the times while simultaneously being timeless and not to mention Mariah sang her ass off!
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Fabio Costa
Designer, Not Equal, Project Runway
I’m not a huge Mariah fan – sorrryyyy! But I do love the ‘Thank God I Found You (Make It Last)’ Remix. She’s got long braids in the video and it’s such an iconic 90s moment to me.
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Francois Sagat
Performer
My favourite Mariah song is ‘Without You’ with no hesitation.
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Gabriel Held
Fashion curator, Stylist
Oh my God, we could talk about the whole ‘Loverboy’/’Candy’/’Firecracker’ sample thing forever! There is a story there and it is a legitimate one! I think Jennifer Lopez is a great performer and an icon in her own right but I do think Tommy just used her to agitate Mariah.
While I was at elementary school, I found a cassette of Mariah’s MTV Unplugged. I love ‘If It’s Over.’ Of course the SNL performances from the early 90s are unparalleled. ‘Fly Like A Bird’ at the Grammys is a transcendent performance. Anytime Kelly Price and her sister were on backing vocals, the performance was phenomenal. She let them shine too, like on Unplugged’s ‘Someday’. The Oprah ‘When You Believe’ performance is a good one although The Oscars’ performance was not memorable for me. I also love ‘Through The Rain’ on Oprah. I’m obsessed with Mariah. I identify with her.
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Glynn Fussell
Sink The Pink
I love ‘My All’ and I love that Herb Ritts video. People forget about that song but I remember when I was a young angst-ridden homosexual, I would love those emotional ballads. I would put them on, stare out the window and cry. I would feel all the love and anger I wasn’t getting and I would stare out into my back garden and cry.
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Graham Cruz
Designer, Stylist
It’s gotta be ‘Breakdown’ ft. Bone Thugs & Harmony. It’s easy to forget just how gangsta Mariah is, but everything about that is stone cold thug.
Gwen Dickey
Musician, Rose Royce
I think it is was called ‘Jewel Box’ or something.
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Hamed Sinno
Musician, Mashrou’ Leila
First of all, she is amazing. That picture of her walking into a weed dispensary in that fucking nightgown after doing a Christmas concert, is everything! It’s just incredible. Getting her weed after performing a show, giving zero fucks. She’s fucking iconic.
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Honey Dijon
Musician, DJ
Dreamlover. David Morales Def Club Mix.
The House of Avalon
Club Kids, Snap out of it!
Marko: I used to play ‘Dreamlover’ when I was little and fantasize about having a boyfriend! SOO GOOSHY, I KNOW!!!
Hunter: I’m a huge Madonna stan so in the words of M herself, ‘I’d rather kill myself than be Mariah Carey’ OK, that was harsh…If I must choose I would say, ‘Always Be My Baby’ because it’s my Aunt Lisa’s fav.
Grant: My first reaction is to scream ‘Heartbreaker’ but then I’m like wait ‘The Roof’ and then I’m like ‘Whoa, what about the entire Glitter soundtrack?’… so there’s my answer.
Caleb: ‘Fantasy’ is the ultimate feel good track to lift you up!
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Jack Colwell
Musician
I think ‘Always Be My Baby’ is a really great song. I don’t think that time in songwriting will ever be repeated. Some of the melodies in those songs where people were really unafraid to show off their vocal skills. It’s a classic. But also in my early twenties, I used to DJ and I would always play ‘Fantasy’ because I knew everybody would love that song…and they did!
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James B Whiteside
Dancer, American Ballet Theater
‘The Art of Letting Go.’ It’s a fairly recent song and perhaps scandalous, as it’s not a hit song. I listen to it and imagine I’m alone on stage in enough sequins and feathers to make Liza jealous. I pretend there’s a tight spotlight on me, on an otherwise pitch black stage, and that I’m opening my big, horsey mouth as a loud, husky, voice emerges. Sounds like a good time, right?
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JD Samson
Musician, Le Tigre
I actually have a party on Sundays called Scissor Sundays, it’s a bad name but a fun party and I always play ‘Always Be My Baby’ as the last song. So good.
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Joanna Cassidy
Actor, Blade Runner, Six Feet Under
Your name is the name of the song that I love that she did. I think she’s an amazing singer. I do really admire her as a singer.
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Jonny Pierce
Musician, The Drums
There’s this guy that I’m seeing right now and his favourite artist, unironically, is Mariah Carey. My favourite song? What’s the one that goes ‘Sweet sweet fantasy baby…’ ‘Fantasy’? OK, that song destroys me! I love the sample and of course I love her voice.
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Juanita Moore
Drag Queen, Restauranteur
‘Butterfly’ is my favourite Mariah Carey song. I love the original but have only performed the remix. Two years ago I was a butterfly for Pride and we released 49 butterflies in honour of each victim of the Orlando nightclub massacre. When we released them, they all just wanted to stay on me! It was so emotional.
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Julio Marcelino
Dancer, Mariah Carey’s The Caution Tour
‘We Belong Together’ when she’s throwing her hair in slow motion. She’s really going for it. I just want to keep rewinding that part. Not only does she look sexy but she has emotion with it. My favourite song though is probably ‘My All.’ it has a special place in my heart because I am a hopeless romantic. All her songs are so meaningful and powerful. They are like blessings to people. They save lives.
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Kiddy Smile
Musician
That’s easy, ‘Always Be My Baby’. I could never afford music so I always just stole it. I used to go to this one record store and I made my way through the Bs and stole Brandy, Boyz II Men and even Bon Jovi. Then I arrived at the letter C and Mariah’s ‘Always Be My Baby was the first!
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Lee Ryan
Musician, Blue
I met Mariah. She is lovely. I wrote a song about Jesus Christ called ‘Time Flies’ which is like a story of his life. I spent £26k on the production and got a 20-piece orchestra in there. I will release it one day as a Christmas song and I’ll get shot in the head. But it’s a beautiful song and I played it for Mariah. She was like, ‘Wow, what a beautiful song.’ We started discussing the bible, God and the meaning of life. It was a real privilege to have such an in depth conversation and see a different side from the ‘diva’ that everyone thinks they know and to see someone so warm, spiritual and beautiful.”
LP
Musician
‘Vision of Love.’ Hearing that as her first single was like doing drugs for the first time! I was like, ‘What. The. Fuck?!!!!’ A gift from God.
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Megan Louise
Musician, Desire. Label head, Italians Do It Better
Johnny [Jewel] and I are the hugest Mariah Carey fans. ‘We Belong Together’ is our theme song. We sing it to our daughter every night when we put her to bed. ‘I can’t sleep at night when you are on my mind, Bobby Womack’s on the radio.’ I mean, I know all the words. Obsessed!
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Michelle Visage
Musician, Judge, RuPaul’s Drag Race
You just published The Diva Rules. What advice would you offer Mariah?
For me, I think Mariah has issues with self-love and self-worth as well. I think Mariah relies heavily on the people around her. But when she is in her power and she is in control, you can tell. I am her biggest fan, I LOVE Mariah. For her ups and downs, for better, for worse, I will always be a lamb.
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Mondo Guerra
Deisgner, Project Runway
‘Without You’ because it’s not Mariah doing all these runs and stuff, plus it’s a power ballad that really shows her range and control as a vocalist.
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MrO Presents
Model, DJ
OMG this is a difficult one! I’d say ‘Honey’, ‘Do You Think Of Me?’ (Dreamlover B-Side), ‘Sent From Up Above’, ‘Always Be My Baby’ (Mr. Dupri Extended Mix feat. Da Brat & Xscape), ‘Fantasy’ (Def Club Mix). Also, her debut album holds a very special place in my heart.
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MUNA
Musicians
Naomi and Jo both say ‘Obsessed’ because the music video is so iconic.
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Natasha Khan
Musician, Bat For Lashes
Oh my God, I love Mariah. Have you been to Las Vegas to see her? She gets carried around because her heels are so high! She’s honestly one of my all time favourites. My favourite song is ‘Always Be My Baby’. ‘Do-do-do-ah….do-do-do-do-do-do-do-dah…’ I also love ‘Emotions’ as well because that was really the first song I remember hearing by her, especially with the MTV Unplugged video. I watched it over and over again. Back then she was just this brown-eyed, curly-haired sweet girl with high-waisted black jeans and polo-necks and now she is just like…wow!
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New Dad
Musician, DJ
I feel like ‘I’ll Be There (Unplugged)’ was a such a major moment because it was the first time Mariah was ever rendered human in front of everyone (and by her own backup singer no less!) but my favorite Mariah is song is ‘Make It Happen’.
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Nicole Scherzinger
Musician, The Pussycat Dolls
‘Who isn’t a Mariah fan?! It’s like being into Diana Ross, or Tina Turner, or Cher, or Whitney Houston – she’s a legend! She’s one of the greats. I used to sing ‘Hero’ all the time…Oh no, there’s another song, [sings] ‘I can’t live, if living is without you, I can’t liiiiive!’ I love that song. I have mad respect for Mariah Carey.”
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Niia
Musician
So, Niia, first up how the hell did you get Mariah to clear the interpolation of ‘Obsessed’ for your song ‘Obsession‘??
Oh yeah, we had to walk down the yellow brick road and get past the Wizard of Oz to get to Mariah but she approved it which was great! I thought she might have been like, ‘Who’s this random chick?’ But I guess she loved the song and gave it her blessing. Now me and my friend who wrote that song in a closet together…it’s me, him and Mariah Carey on the publishing credit which is such a dream. It’s like, ‘Who wrote that song? Me, Mariah and my best friend….’
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Orville Peck
Musician
I really like old Mariah which sounds really rude. I mean, I like the new album, Caution, and I think that line, ‘Snakes in the grass, it’s time to cut the lawn’ is amazing. But ‘Fantasy’ era Mariah is more my speed.
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Peaches Christ
Drag Queen, Writer & Director
While I value her as a singer and understand the appeal, I haven’t been a fan the way some people are. However her performance in Precious, I mean as a movie person who had dismissed her as a certain type of thing, and to see her sporting even a sort of moustache, I mean if Ru is the queen of all queens, Mariah is the diva of all divas, I was really blown away by that performance. It really made me love her. A lot of pop singers try and make that transition into acting and it can be very awkward. Even when they’re playing themselves!
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Rakeem Cunningham
Artist
I have to pick two. ‘Fly Like a Bird’ and ‘Cry’ from Me.I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse. (What an EPIC title). ‘Fly Like a Bird’ because it got me through so many hard times in high school when I didn’t have friends and the Grammys performance of the song is literally what I picture the entrance to heaven to look like. ‘Cry’ because….if you have working ears, you get why.
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S.O.S. Band
Musicians
In 1996, twenty four years ago, Mariah covered your song, ‘Just Be Good To Me‘. Have you heard it?
No I haven’t so when I get to the UK I expect you to have it to play it to me.
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Scissor Sisters
Musicians
Jake Shears: Once I was partying in my friend’s living room at 5am and he put on a Mariah Carey song and I really liked it but that’s about it. She waved at me at Live 8 and seemed really sweet. Someone danced on a table in the middle of a club to her Christmas song one summer and that was a fun moment.
Ana Matronic: It would be a toss up between the ‘Heartbreaker’ Remix with Missy and also ‘Dreamlover’ – I have a soft spot in my heart for that one.
Read more about Jake… Read more about Ana…
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Musician & Actor, Dreamgirls, Moesha
There are so many! Anything Christmas from that album and the Emancipation of Mimi – ‘We Belong Together’, ‘Touch My Body’, ‘It’s Like That, Y’All’!
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Skin
Musician, Skunk Anansie
That’s a good question. I think it’s the first one – was it ‘Vision Of Love’? Yeah that one. It was her first record and also the first record I ever bought by her. But another one of my favourites has to be the Christmas song, ‘All I Want For Christmas.’
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Solomon Ray
Musician
I can’t just pick one. But if I had to, and I feel like I do, I will have to say, ‘Breakdown’. I dunno, maybe I was destined at a young age to be sad and in solitude. Hahaha…
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Stephanie Stone
Drag Queen
The wonderful thing about Mariah is that’s the girl we’re all rooting for. There are moments of fabulous failures and then giant moments of huge success. My favourite, and this will take people back, was when she was on BET, first starting out. Karl Lagerfeld had recently made these oversized Chanel bags and she just gave two of them to her backup singers…live on TV! Those bags were like $20K a piece. I gagged. Mariah is fierce.
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Sutan Amrull
Drag Queen, RuPaul’s Drag Race
‘Now That I Know’ is my favourite Mariah song. It’s the first song I performed from her in the 90s.
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T Boz
Musician, TLC
Back in the day when my ex-boyfriend and I were together, I used to sing ‘We Belong Together’ for him. He lived out of state six months of the year so I used to sing, ‘Who’s gonna talk to me on the phone till the sun comes up?’ I love that song!
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Teddy Torres
Performer
My favourite is ‘Candy Bling‘ because it was my lullaby-song on repeat when I was living in Tokyo in a super cramped room that was shaking every time the metro would pass by under it, and a song I would listen to while walking through a quiet Tokyo at nighttime. I love that clip where she defines LGBT as well. Oh, and that gif where she created gays! Amazing.
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Tegan Zayne
Performer
I didn’t realise Loverboy was named after her song, how festive! And my favourite Mimi song? ‘Honey, I can’t describe how good it feels inside.’ If I was a hooker in the 90s that song would probably be the only cassette I owned.
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Tom Lenk
Writer, Actor, Buffy, #LenkLewkForLess
Her drunken(?) shenanigans on the Home Shopping Network are by far my favorite. Also her MTV Cribs episode is LEGENDARY. I remember being both ironically and non-ironically obsessed with the ‘Honey’ video. I mean the jet skis. Too much and yet NOT ENOUGH. Always demand MOAR from MARIAH.
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Yanis Marshall
Choreographer, Dancer
I’m lambily so that’s a hard one! Right now I would go with ‘Emotions’. I don’t know – I love pretty much everything she does!
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