"It's been almost two years since a Mariah Carey song debuted on the Hot 100, but the hiatus is over as "Touch My Body" (Island) opens at No. 57. It's the highest-debuting Carey single since "It's Like That" entered at No. 53 the week of Jan. 29, 2005 and it is the first Carey song to chart since "Say Somethin'" peaked at No. 79 in May 2006.

"Touch My Body" could turn into an historic recording for Carey. If the song reaches the No. 1 spot, it will be Carey's 18th chart-topper on the Hot 100 and it will push her past Elvis Presley's 17 No. 1s in the rock era -- which would make her second only to the Beatles, who have 20 No. 1s to their credit.

Extending that "what-if?" scenario a bit further... if "Touch My Body" achieves pole position and there are two other No. 1 songs on Carey's forthcoming "E=MC²" release, Carey will tie the Beatles for the most No. 1s in the rock era. It should be noted that Carey's most recent album, "The Emancipation of Mimi," contained two chart-topping tracks: "We Belong Together" and "Don't Forget About Us." If "E=MC²" equals "Mimi," Mariah will be one tantalizing No. 1 hit shy of the Beatles' record." [Source: Billboard.com]

Although I'm sure her die hard fans are rooting for "Touch my body" to be yet another #1 single for Mariah, I just can't imagine this song being anywhere near #1 single material. I'm not necessairly making the predicition that it won't, I'm saying that it doesn't deserve to obtain that status.

I am not the biggest Mariah fan by far. I think consistantly over the years her voice has become progressively weaker and her music has become younger while her age gradually gets older. Yet even I couldn't deny the magnitude of the best song "We belong together" off her last album The Emancipation of Mimi.

This song has nowhere near the staying power as some of her previous singles. It's actually borderline annoying. Just because The Dream and Tricky Stewart were able to make a smash hit with "Umbrella" for Rihanna, doesn't mean everyone should run to them for the next big thing.

I will end this by saying that eventhough I don't think that this is going to be the song to break Elvis' record, Mariah is showing no signs of slowing down and could very easily surpass the records set by Elvis and The Beatles.

"I'm just sayin"



Aaron Fields is the Sales Marketing Coordinator for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are strictly his.