Mariah Carey’s moment at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan sparked a strong wave of reactions and controversy, and the artist’s performance quickly became one of the most talked about topics of the day.
The appearance of the American star Mariah Carey on the stage dedicated to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics was thought to be a point of maximum attraction. The grandiose decor, lighting effects and carefully staged stage presence were complemented by a spectacular outfit: a glittering silver dress meant to emphasize the special guest status of one of the world’s most famous pop voices. Precisely because of this, the contrast between the flawless image and the way the artistic moment was perceived quickly generated heated discussions.
The American artist, 55, performed a version of the famous Italian song from the 1950s “Nel blu, dipinto di blu”, known internationally as “Volare”.
Although the choice of the song was seen as a tribute to the Italian musical culture, numerous reactions from the public showed that the result was not up to the expectations created by the announcement of the moment.
Accusations of playback
Shortly after the ceremony ended, social platforms were flooded with critical comments. Many viewers questioned, on the one hand, the quality of the interpretation, accusing the star of playback, and on the other hand, the decision of the organizers to invite her to the event, and the negative messages spread quickly.
* “Mariah Carey Just Ruined the Winter Olympics for Everyone”, wrote a user on X.
* “There are countless wonderful Italian singers, and we have Mariah Carey singing the worst Italian I’ve ever heard on a national stage.” another fan added.
* “Why would they get Mariah Carey to sit there and sing in playback while she stares blankly bored to death?”, someone else asked rhetorically.
Criticism also spread to Reddit, where one user described the appearance as follows: “She was stiff as a board, it was crazy. She could have been a cardboard cut-out of Mariah and I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.”
Some of the backlash also concerned the organizers’ decision to bring in an American star for a central moment in a ceremony hosted by Italy.
“I love Mariah, but I thought it was strange that they didn’t invite Italian singers,” one user wrote, while another noted the timeline of other musical moments in the program: “Andrea Bocelli appearing towards the end – and not as the end – was also an odd choice”.
Although many say that the gap between the movement of the pop singer’s lips and the lyrics was obvious, there were also some fans who sent her messages of support.
“You did an excellent job,” an admirer posted.
* “The original Volare, recorded by Domenico Modugno, was an integral part of my life as a child. I’m glad to see it reborn on the world stage after so many years,” wrote another.
* “There is no one better at performing live than Mariah Carey,” someone defended him.
The reaction of the organizers
Following criticism of the artist’s performance, the organizers of the ceremony were asked directly whether Mariah Carey performed live or whether she used pre-recordings.
The director of the show, Maria Laura Iascone, offered a cautious and ambiguous answer, meant not to confirm any of the options.
“During all ceremonies, to be sure, we always record. It’s international standard practice for high-level broadcast events,” she said, quoted by The Guardian.
This statement was interpreted by the public and the international press as a subtle acknowledgment that there were pre-recorded elements, but without explicitly revealing whether the pop diva performed live or not.
