Mariah Carey’s popularity rising back to ‘90s peaks

Reversing her trajectory of 15 No. 1 pop hits, the back-to-back bombs of 2001’s “Glitter” and 2002’s “Charmbracelet” sent Mariah Carey’s meteoric career into a deep crater.

The singer has not only climbed out, but she also has climbed back up to her ‘90s peaks.

“We Belong Together,” Carey’s 16th No. 1 single, reached record-setting radio audiences and is atop Nielsen BDS’ national airplay chart for the eighth week.

It’s driving sales of “The Emancipation of Mimi,” No. 4 on the Billboard albums chart after selling 2.3 million copies since its April 12 release.

That’s quite a rise from the “Glitter” gutter. The panned soundtrack sold 605,000 copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan, a piddling figure compared with 7.1 million for 1993’s “Music Box” or 7.5 million for 1995’s “Daydream.”

Carey’s remarkable rebound “is Houdini-like,” says Joe Levy, Rolling Stone deputy managing editor.

“It’s rare enough to have a career that lasts 10 years in pop music, but once you’ve reached your peak, it’s virtually impossible to get it back … even without such a spectacular failure,” he says.

The turnaround mostly is a result of the ‘70s and ‘80s soul and disco on “Mimi,” “a stronger, looser and more musical record than she’s made in a very long time,” according to Levy.

Carey’s revival also might owe to ducking the spotlight long enough to let flops fade and erase flashbacks of that infamous MTV striptease.

“She was smart and went away for just the right period,” says Zena Burns, Teen People’s music editor. “She went to Capri and got her head together and got some peace.

“She’s made classic songs that are part of the soundtrack of people’s lives, so the public really wanted to welcome Mariah back,” says Burns. “She did dig a deep hole. But Mariah is a survivor. Besides, the public forgives.”

And it forgets. New fans “don’t have to forgive ‘Glitter,’ ” Levy says. “They didn’t live through it.”