MTV: You've got Mariah Carey's Greatest Hits coming out. Just a couple years ago you had the #1's album. What are the differences between them?

Mariah: The #1's record only had #1 [hits] on it. Therefore I wouldn't let them call it a greatest-hits [album], and I made a huge deal out of it. I think people are going to like Greatest Hits, because there are songs on it that were not necessarily singles. Songs that, if you're a fan, you know them, but if you're someone that's maybe a fan — not a fan that buys every record or that knows every album cut, but they know just the big hits — these are songs that need to be really heard. I'm happy about it. There's a song "Vanishing" that's on the record that I really love, and there's a song called "Underneath the Stars" that I always kind of fought for and was like, "How could you not put this song out?" There's a lot of songs that I'm happy are going to see the light of day this way. I would have added a few extra, different ones, but I'm not always in charge.

MTV: What are your personal favorites on this one?

Mariah: I always loved "Fantasy" and "One Sweet Day" and those are songs on this that weren't on #1's. "Heartbreaker" was not on #1's, and it's on this. "Thank God I Found You" as well. And I love that song "Underneath the Stars." It's something very different. I was so distraught that was never released, 'cause people always have these criticisms: "Oh, she always does these big ballads, she never does these different, quirkier styles of records." It's like, "Then let them release some of the songs that are like that." People will buy these records, and if they like them, maybe they'll go back and listen to the records that they came from and see some of the things that are a little bit different than [what] I'm traditionally known for.

MTV: Do you like greatest-hits records? Do you buy them?

Mariah: I buy them. I just bought Deniece Williams' greatest hits, 'cause I wanted to hear that song "Free" and "Black Butterfly."

MTV: What do you think makes a good greatest-hits record as opposed to a not-so-great greatest-hits record?

Mariah: I have no freaking idea, to be honest with you.

MTV: Let's talk about some of the videos you've got going on. I understand you have a lot more involvement in them now.

Mariah: I just did a medley of "Never Too Far" and "Hero," and it was live from the RFK special ["United We Stand — What More Can I Give" in Washington, D.C. on October 21]. It's basically a shot of the crowd and shots of me onstage, but it's got a really warm feeling 'cause everybody there had come together for one cause, and I know a lot of people were scared to be in that type of venue with what was going on. It's nice to watch. Some of the things are kind of sad, when you see people holding up pictures of people that they lost. But I think that it's got a really strong sentiment. It's emotional, but I think people are going to come out of it feeling stronger.

MTV: Has anything changed for you, Mariah, in light of September 11?

Mariah: [The last] six months [have] been a learning experience, and I have learned to slow down in some ways and focus more in others, even though I've always been very focused and a very driven person and a workaholic. I've learned that if I don't take care of myself, there's really nobody that's going to take care of me. There's not some superhero that's going to fly up and carry me off and take care of me, 'cause that doesn't really exist. That's kind of the way it is to me, in terms of the changing world. We all have to do our part, 'cause there's not some magical entity that just arrives and sweeps everything under the rug. People are in dire straits all over the world, so I think that's why a lot of artists are coming together and trying to do different things. Doing whatever they can to help make a difference.

MTV: Talk about your new apartment.

Mariah: I just moved in, so it's kind of bittersweet. [I have] panoramic views of the city, and I used to see the twin towers perfectly, right outside my window. Now I look and it's just emptiness. It looks just like smoke and nothing. That's very different and difficult, but basically, I'm here. I'm a New Yorker, and I'm staying.

MTV: Glad to be here?

Mariah: Still just happy to be here.