Mariah Carey’s Video For “100%” Is More Like 62%

After getting drenched in the rain and partaking in her own personal Target commercial, Mariah Carey is going back to basics for her videos: the songstress is letting the power of her vocals do the talking (er, singing) in her video for “100%.” The inspirational track was supposed to be the main theme to Precious, but was replaced Mary J. Blige’s “I Can See In Color.” (We guess starring in a movie doesn’t necessarily get you on the film’s soundtrack.) Undeterred, Mimi is still releasing the single as part of the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack inspired by the 2010 Winter Olympics. Watch the feel (a little too) good vid below.

Mariah Carey – “100%”

The video, filmed in Toronto while Carey was on her Angels and Advocates tour, is a bit of a letdown. The Olympian footage seems hastily edited together, and Mariah’s lone moments on stage are poorly shot and, well, boring. (There wasn’t anything more interesting she could do or wear to get our attention?) The whole video is pretty corny and oversentimental (although nothing could come close to the cheesiness of Mimi’s “I Want To Know What Love Is” video, which also utilized a backup choir). But if you’re sticking around for all four minutes of the video to hear Carey’s power falsetto, well, you won’t be disappointed.

It’s no wonder this track never made the Precious soundtrack, since the theme of the R&B ballad—to achieve your best and never give up—matches a little bit better with an athlete’s journey rather than that of an abused teenager, which requires a little bit more depth. Blige’s song that replaced Carey’s on the soundtrack is much more suited to the film’s heartbreaking story, particularly since it has more of a downtrodden, soul vibe than the cheerier “100%.”

That said, we would have enjoyed the Olympics-inspired video much more had it been four minuttes of Mariah and Nick Cannon doing couples figure skating.