In 1993, Mark Patinkin, a middle-aged columnist for the Providence Journal, listed the following among his “random thoughts”: “Mick Jagger’s 50 years old? Tell me it’s not happening to us.” Almost 10 years later, the Daily News ran a piece of Patinkin’s in which, on the occasion of the Rolling Stones touring near Mick Jagger’s 60th birthday, he said he was against “graceful retirement.” And although we can’t find it online, we’re certain we read a recent Patinkin column (another 10 or so years later) in which he listed the various ages of baby boomer rock stars, comically expressing his disbelief at how old they have become.
What do the ramblings of a newspaper columist who is not Dave Barry have to do with Mariah Carey, who turns 42 today? Not much. Patinkin clearly likes his rock “classic.” But what’s clear is that you can decide a pop star is “old” and keep declaring it for decades. Mariah Carey hardly seems to have aged the way that Jagger had by 1985, and in addition to a young husband who seems great for her and twins under a year old, she has an amazing career — the most number-one hits by a woman, and counting. But if you watch this video, you’ll be reminded of how long she has been at this, and how young she once looked. And there was a moment when her career was seriously in question — about the time that Mick was hitting the big six-zero. The important thing is that we’ve got her for many years to come. And that one of her greatest songs came in 2009. Watch the video below — the message is that it’s never too late to claim what you want. Luckily she can share it with us.
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