OUCH!! kinda makes u appreciate Prince a lil more...

Usher works hard - to little effect
Columnist
Rashod D. Ollison
Music Notes column

By Rashod D. Ollison
Sun Pop Music Critic
Originally published August 9, 2004







Barely 10 minutes into the show, sweat covered Usher's face, drenching the front of his shirt. It was obvious Friday night at 1st Mariner Arena that he wanted to prove true his boasts of being a master showman - with moves and voice that dazzle. If the hype in recent interviews with the pop star is to be believed, you should leave his show awe-struck. After all, he is, in his own words, an "ultimate entertainer."

Well, the guy is charismatic, and his songs are the most infectious things on the radio right now. But because Usher seems to think he's fabulous, it was hard to feel connected to his show. There was a slightly annoying, hey-guys-look-what-I-can-do quality to this bombastic, overblown production, replete with scantily clad female dancers and occasional sprays of sparks at either end of the stage.

Some futuristic B-movie must have been the inspiration for the clunky, industrial-looking set. The show kicked off with a video shown on a giant screen of a faux trailer for a blockbuster flick starring - who else? - Usher. Scenes of folks buying tickets to a theater were interspersed with scenes of Usher strolling down the halls of a venue, on his way to the stage, looking serious and so focused.

As the screen faded to black, the performer himself rose above the stage on a small platform. Soon after, the sweating began. The Tennessee native and his troupe of dancers - eight in all - reprised routines from his videos. During "You Make Me Wanna," the pop star and his four male dancers danced with silver chairs in the tightly choreographed sequence from the 1997 video that seemingly has never left MTV's rotation.

By the way, Usher, backed by a nondescript five-piece band, barely sang a line of the song. The packed house of enthusiastic teens filled in for him. Throughout the show, in fact, singing was secondary to the dance routines. When he managed to sing a phrase, the performer understandably sounded worn and winded from all that poppin', lockin' and slidin'. The whole show, which radiated a hip-hop Vegas vibe, felt overly rehearsed and, at times, unnecessarily raunchy.

At intervals, Usher suggestively grabbed his crotch and fondled his female dancers (who during "Bad Girl," a cut from his latest album, Confessions, sported black dominatrix-like get-ups). Looking like a pimp, Usher wore a pale pink suit and white fedora while the girlie dancers, bumped and ground around him. You felt like you were watching a mannish 16-year-old live out his R-rated fantasies on stage.

During "Superstar," (another song from Confessions, not the famed Leon Russell-penned chestnut), Usher chose a woman from the audience to serenade. Supposedly, he had picked her randomly, but her composure as she reclined on a chaise on stage made you wonder if she was indeed part of the act. When she sauntered backstage after the song rather than to her seat, your suspicion was confirmed.

By the time Usher got to "Burn," he seemed too tired to repeat the stellar vocal performance heard on the studio version. But he ended on a high note with the ubiquitous "Yeah!" as red-and-white confetti rained down on the house.

As an interesting contrast, Kanye West, Usher's opening act, conveyed much more with far less. Accompanied by a DJ and fine up-and-coming singer-keyboardist John Legend, the rapper-producer breezed through a spirited set, working the house like an old-school MC.

When he ended with "Jesus Walks," West, too, was dripping sweat and trying to catch his breath. But his work left you energized. Despite all the sweat and razzle-dazzle of Usher's show, you still walked out of the joint yawning.



Copyright © 2004, The Baltimore Sun | Get home delivery

Pop stars who sing live:

Kylie Minogue
Christina Aguilera
Madonna

I haven't seen him in concert. But i did catch his performances on Saturday Night Live and BET Awards.

On the BET Awards there were some awesome performances and Usher was saved for last as if it was going to be the ultimate. He couldn't even do his falsetto on Burn and sounded off-key when he tried to sing between dancing. He was OUT OF BREATH even though he wasn't even really dancing hard.

I mean Prince can dance and sing, so can Beyonce. Maybe he needs to practice running and singing to build up his lungs or something ... cuz his live performances suck.

And the tracks playing in the background do little to save him.

I'm not terribly impressed with the reviewer after he ended with praise for Kanye. Everyone once else seems seduced by him, but I abhor Kanye West. He tries to act like Jesus Walks is sooo profound. Please.

Usher has concerts?


i've never heard such a thing. honestly, has anyone ever heard of an honest-to-goodness Usher concert? i'm curious.
[This message was edited Mon Aug 9 18:48:48 2004 by Tessa]

Tessa said:

The Truth Tour 2004

He's in Toronto right now, I believe.

VoicesCarry said:

well i'll be damned

NEWS FLASH.....Beyonce lip-synchs to pre-recorded vocals.....That heiffer can't sing her way out of a paper bag.....

PAPAROBBIE said:

Let it rain down...

USHER STRIKES ME...

As someone who tries too hard for little effect

BTW,

VoicesCarry said:

Really?

So many thoughts...

Usher is overrated, but WE know that already... He's basically Janet Jackson w/ a better voice, but the show is a fucking circus - don't go if you wanna hear some singing

:::waits for the defenders of Janet to pounce:::

Kanye is pretty cool, I like "Jesus Walks"...

Madonna may sing live at times but does she sing WELL? No ...

Beyonce does lip sync at times - nobody can do that much dancing (I'm talking steps & choreography & shit) & still sing well. If they're breathing sounds totally normal, they ain't singin

Beyonce does lip sync at times - nobody can do that much dancing (I'm talking steps & choreography & shit) & still sing well. If they're breathing sounds totally normal, they ain't singin [/quote]

Pre-crackhead Whitney Houston would always "wow" the the crowd with her elaborate shuffle 2 step choreography, but could belt out a good tune.

Tina Turner pulls it off the best IMHO

meltwithu said:

Whitney couldn't dance to save her life



You're right, Tina could do it My bad

Actually she does, so you might wanna keep your trash talk to yourself unless you've been to her concert.
Madonna is a fabulous singer.

And here's the proof you haven't seen Madonna live. Madonna can do choreography kids half her age couldn't pulls off and sing well too.

jayaredee said:

DUDE, you are a moron. Madonna is not even a GOOD singer while sitting on a stool! Put some dancing on that & it only gets worse. The only thing "fabulous" about her singing is the fact that she's made a living at it for so long being SO half assed, hate to break it to you

And NO, I've never been fool enough to pay $ to attend her show but I've seen the bitch perform live enough times on TV to "trash talk" about her.

Damn, y'all some BITCHES up in here This is 4th grade shit for real

jayaredee said:

At some point you have to pull your head out of your ass

I miss singers...


I'm tired of ppl doing live versions of their videos.....

Rhondab said:

For real... But apparently, Madonna is gonna save the day with her "fabulous" singing!


.
[This message was edited Tue Aug 10 6:08:27 2004 by CalhounSq]

[quote]DUDE, you are a moron. Madonna is not even a GOOD singer while sitting on a stool! Put some dancing on that & it only gets worse. The only thing "fabulous" about her singing is the fact that she's made a living at it for so long being SO half assed, hate to break it to you

And NO, I've never been fool enough to pay $ to attend her show but I've seen the bitch perform live enough times on TV to "trash talk" about her.

Damn, y'all some BITCHES up in here This is 4th grade shit for real
[quote]

LOL, you're the one with ur head up your ass.
You wouldnt know talent if it hit you between the eyes you closed minded fool.

I pity you having no proof and just saying it as it is a fact, how pathetic.

Go see evita, and then say the same bullshit.

You are sooooo pathetic saying that, you only make yourself look stupid so shove it while you're behind ok?

jayaredee said:

Who's got the popcorn - this is some entertaining shit! Keep it coming... "Evita"

jayaredee said:[quote][quote]DUDE, you are a moron. Madonna is not even a GOOD singer while sitting on a stool! Put some dancing on that & it only gets worse. The only thing "fabulous" about her singing is the fact that she's made a living at it for so long being SO half assed, hate to break it to you

And NO, I've never been fool enough to pay $ to attend her show but I've seen the bitch perform live enough times on TV to "trash talk" about her.

Damn, y'all some BITCHES up in here This is 4th grade shit for real
This is the funniest damn post I have ever read on here. You come up in here on some newbie bullshit and call people bitches? Please. Madonna is an entertainer. She is not a singer or a damn actress. Sorry, DavidEye and Sassy.

Anyone who sees this is gonna call you a dumbass.
You just proved your full of shit and got shit for brains but whatever.

You cant say anything about Madonna when you know dick about her career, so shut your mouth and shove the popcorn up your ass LOL.

If you want to argue about this shit the least you should have is some knowledge regarding her career.

Looks like someone is just here starting shit, get lost.

Does it matter that im new, being here longer seems to only make you stupid.
Again someone hasn't see Madonna sing live, so dont talk shit ok?

CalhounSq said:

Hold up, hold up. I got the right emoticon for Evita:

Where did i call her a bitch

Learn to READ

jayaredee said:

Dude, please. I have seen Madonna "sing" live and she oughta stuck to lip synching. And since being around here long makes one stupid, don't let us keep you. Ba bye.

jayaredee said:

Yes, I misquoted you and I apologize for that. Learn how to respect others' opinions.

jayaredee said:

Dude, who DOESN'T know about Madonna's career? Are you kidding me with this? Do you really think I need to launch into research to come to the conclusion that she's a mediocre singer at best? You're really not aware of that? LAWD, you need to turn off Evita, put your dick away & wake the fuck up!

::::

CalhounSq said:

ugh....

Madonna is an entertainer.....not a singer....she can do a little bit of this and a little of that....