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Get out of the street Adding an urban edge to her wholesome image may have seemed like the savvy way to broaden her audience, but it's only alienated fans. ''What made her was the strong ballads, not 200 duets with every rapper under the sun,'' says Ellerbee, referring to Carey's critically panned ''Glitter'' collaborations with Mystikal and JaRule. ''She needs to rediscover those writers and producers she started out with.'' If she does want to collaborate with other stars, she should spurn rappers for mainstream R&B acts like Keys (yet another reason to give Davis a ring). ''Whereas rappers don't seem like a good fit for Mariah, no one would look at her funny for working with Alicia, and it would help both of their careers,'' notes the marketing exec.
Sit down with Barbara Walters... if you can handle it Though Carey has granted interviews since her breakdown (even showing off her Manhattan apartment on a new MTV's ''Cribs''), she has yet to reschedule her tete-a-tete with Walters. Spilling her guts to the TV queen (as she did in 1998) could soften the hearts of her critics and lift her spirits. ''By talking publicly about these things she probably felt ashamed of before, she eliminates the shame,'' notes Los Angeles psychotherapist Dr. Martin V. Cohen. ''But it does expose her to criticism.'' So if Carey has any Anne Heche-style revelations about blabbering in tongues, forget it.
Put on a sweater Not only must Carey be freezing in her barely-there get-ups, the result has been a major turn-off (Mr. Blackwell once referred to her as ''shrink-wrapped cheesecake''). ''The body is not that booming,'' says Ellerbee. ''She should work with a classy designer, like Escada, so we notice the voice, not the sex.'' The hot pants and tube tops could be costing her radio play, as well. ''When Jennifer Lopez wore that revealing Versace dress, she got a lot of press, but radio guys I know in the midwest dropped her record,'' says the marketing exec. ''Mariah's core audience isn't urban, it's conservative, and she can't get away with as much as a rock star or rapper could.''
Stop already Now that she's proven she isn't bouncing off the padded walls of her apartment, it's time for the diva to take a break. ''She shouldn't let too much time go by between projects, but she needs to become much more selective,'' says Ellerbee, who thinks Carey should drop side projects like acting until her singing career is back on track. Scaling down is also a key to keeping her sanity. ''Anyone working 13, 14 hours a day or more doesn't have to pay attention to their personal lives, and it's a way to numb themselves,'' says Cohen, who recommends meditation and journal-writing for self-reflection. Added bonus: this year's tear stained journal scribble could be next year's multi-platinum album.
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