Mariah Carey’s 'Glitter' Was, Somehow, the No. 1 Album on iTunes Thursday
Mariah Carey's soundtrack to the much-maligned 2001 film Glitter spent some time at No. 1 on the iTunes Albums chart this week. Why? Who knows! The movie came out in late September, not November, and 17 isn’t a particularly notable birthday.
![Performance, Pink, Entertainment, Red, Stage, Music artist, Event, Performing arts, Fashion, Public event,](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HdELZYGX6XxBn4t5K9KY9U-415-80.jpg)
If all you want for Christmas is more Mariah Carey in your life, there’s some great news: In an unlikely but nevertheless delightful turn of events, the soundtrack to the much-maligned 2001 film Glitter spent some time at No. 1 on the iTunes Albums chart this week. Why? Who knows! The movie came out in late September, not November, and 17 isn’t a particularly notable birthday.
The period immediately post-Halloween to slightly after New Year’s Day always means a resurgence of Mariah on the charts—“All I Want for Christmas Is You” re-entered the charts weeks ago. And this year there’s even more Mariah because her new album, Caution, drops Friday. Still, a sudden wave of appreciation for Glitter is pretty surprising.
According to the Fader, it all started when Carey’s diehard fans—called the “lambily,” a combination of “lamb” and “family”—started using the hashtag #JusticeForGlitter. You’ll recall, perhaps, the Glitter was not exactly a hit when it first came out. It has an abysmal 7 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and hasn’t even entered the pantheon of bad-but-fun diva crossovers, a la Britney Spears in Crossroads or Christina Aguilera in Burlesque (#JusticeforBurlesque).
So the only thing people really even remember about Glitter is that it was bad, and its soundtrack didn’t fare much better: Rolling Stone called it “big and goopy, with zero melodic or emotional punch.” But on Wednesday, the album started climbing the charts and by Thursday, it had somehow found itself the biggest album in the land for a little while (as of publication, I'm sorry to report, it had slid back down the charts).
The elusive chanteuse herself even tweeted about it:
I have to dedicate today's #tbt to Glitter, which is currently #1 on the iTunes albums chart, 17 years after its release and on the eve of my new album release! My fans are THE BEST 💖💖💖 #JusticeForGlitter!! LET'S GO #CAUTION⚠️ pic.twitter.com/i2v8Zkp1oyNovember 15, 2018
So congratulations to Mariah Carey for this impressive feat, and a very special congratulations to all lambily members, apparently the hardest-working fanbase in music.
RELATED STORIES
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Cady has been a writer and editor in Brooklyn for about 10 years. While her earlier career focused primarily on culture and music, her stories—both those she edited and those she wrote—over the last few years have tended to focus on environmentalism, reproductive rights, and feminist issues. She primarily contributes as a freelancer journalist on these subjects while pursuing her degrees. She held staff positions working in both print and online media, at Rolling Stone and Newsweek, and continued this work as a senior editor, first at Glamour until 2018, and then at Marie Claire magazine. She received her Master's in Environmental Conservation Education at New York University in 2021, and is now working toward her JF and Environmental Law Certificate at Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains.
-
Our Complete Quiet Luxury Shopping Guide
30 quality closet classics that always have—and always will—endure.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford Medal in Mother-Daughter Olympic Matching
The pair touched down in Paris wearing coordinating navy looks.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals Royal Family Rift Was Worsened by Tabloids
"Yeah, that’s certainly a central piece to it."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Tanner Adell Says Lainey Wilson Gave Her the Best Advice About Being a Woman in Country Music
“The girls gotta have each others’ backs.”
By Sadie Bell Published
-
How 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' Pulled Off Its Iconic Wardrobe With Gowns From the Mall of America and Crafting
As the cult classic turns 25, its costume designer opens up about creating magic on a scrappy production.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
How the 'Twisters' Soundtrack Rides Country Music's Mainstream Storm
The summer blockbuster is blowing into theaters with storm-wrangling sequences and killer needle drops.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Breaking Down the Shocking, Satanic Ending of ‘Longlegs’
The horror film and box-office hit stars Maika Monroe as an FBI agent hunting a serial killer played by Nicolas Cage.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
'Maxxxine' Is an Homage to the Sleazy Horror Genre Giallo—But Does Away With Its Violence Against Women Cliché
The new 'X' movie is inspired by the sleazy Giallo genre, but its lead flips the misogynistic horror style on its head.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Maika Monroe Opens Up About Crafting a Nuanced Final Girl in Her 'Longlegs' Character Lee Harker
The actress opens up about her affinity for playing final girls and crafting her character in this year’s runaway horror hit.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
32 Movies to Watch if You Like Sci-Fi
Whether you're into films set in space or time travel.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
The 17 Best Feminist Horror Movies Ever
Calling all scream queens.
By Sadie Bell Published