Before the country goes full throttle into the -ber months, Mariah Carey is giving fans a reason to look forward to something other than Christmas.
On June 2, she dropped a teaser on Instagram for what sounds like a brand-new track titled “What’s Your Type?” In the clip, Carey steps into a sleek black sports car, turns the key, and scrolls past her 2005 The Emancipation of Mimi banger “It’s Like That” before landing on the unreleased track. The radio display flashes “MC:16,” which fans have taken as a sign that her 16th studio album might finally be on the way.
Carey enjoys a large following in the Philippines. Her impact now lasts for more than three decades ever since her breakout album Daydream back in 1995. She performed in the country three times, with concerts in 2003, 2014, and 2018. Her tracks, such as “We Belong Together” and “Always Be My Baby,” continue to hold weight among Filipino listeners. David Cook’s popular reimagining of the latter helped stretch its relevance even further, but let’s not forget it was already etched in local pop history.
Carey is more than just background music during the Philippine Christmas season. Her influence extends across generations, with aspiring divas regularly choosing her songs as vocal battle weapons on shows like Tawag ng Tanghalan, and in every other corner where people belt out their hearts. If the teaser is any indication, she might be bringing more than just nostalgia.
That legacy gets another boost this year. Carey is set to return to Manila for a fourth time, with a performance slated for October 14 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
