MARIAH CAREY - CAREY SNUBS LEWIS COMPARISONS

CAREY SNUBS LEWIS COMPARISONS

R+B superstar MARIAH CAREY isn't impressed with critics who compare her with pop newcomer LEONA LEWIS, insisting singers are forever being dubbed "the new Mariah". Lewis, who shot to number one on the U.S. singles chart last week (begs25Mar08) with her song Bleeding Love, has been likened to soulful divas like Carey and Whitney Houston thanks to her powerful vocals. But the Heartbreaker hitmaker has dismissed the comments - jokingly stating they can fulfil her laborious promotional duties. She says, "They've been comparing people to me for longer than I can remember. I'm just like, 'Whatever.' "If they're the new me can they come and do my interviews for me or get in the studio and write one of my songs? Seriously though, I love everybody, it's not a competition for me."