Saturday, September 18, 2006 will forever be a memory for me as my first Mariah Carey concert. I know what you're thinking, "man, haven't u been 2 enough shows?" Well, the answer is yes, but I still love a good live show.

I have been a Mariah fan since 1990 when her 1st singe, "Vision of Love" flew up the top of the charts. I can remember thinking that she was going to be the next big superstar of music after hearing "Love Takes Time." Well, Mariah (or "Mimi" as she refers to herself) has surpassed all of my expectations.

Sure, I have seen Mariah on countless award shows and television appearances over the past 16 years, but nothing ever compares to a great live concert. After many promised "world tours" and Texas performances, I finally got one of my wishes...2 c MIMI in concert.

The show began like all concerts with an opening act, who was Busta Rhymes. Busta sounded great, but the man doesn't know how to distinguish between a club show and an arena show. This man had a dj (which was typical of a rap artist), a hype guy and himself. He cursed, did several SEXUALLY EXPLICIT songs (which I didn't find offensive, but were inappropiate for the 10 and 15 year olds in the audiance). I noticed that many parents took their children out of the arena until his set was over. I was disappointed in his performance for several reasons. The main reason being that I have seen his videos for years and they are always creative, imaginative, and cutting edge. I saw none of that in his show. He went from this creative person to this typical rap artist. I looked almost ametur-ish performing on that type of level. I, at least, expected a few dancers and a cool-looking backdrop and I GOT NONE OF THAT!!! He missed some of his biggest hits and ran through just a QUICK montage of classic hits with a few tracks from his new album "The Big Bang". Busta, for your performance, you definitely get a D+ for your grade. You need to step it up for sure.

On to the main attraction....MARIAH!!!!

Mariah opened the show with "It's Like That" from her latest album. Her stage entrance was a typical grand entrance for a diva or Mariah's calliber. She then ran through "Heartbreaker" (the remix and the album version). Oh, did I forget to mention that Mariah was damn near BUCK-NAKED when she came out? Well, she was in nothing but her bra and panties with plenty of body glitter. Not very appropiate when you have 10 year olds on in the front few rows. She then broke it down with "My All" from the Butterfly album. She sounded excellent while performing these trax. She then had a brief intermission with Busta's dj playing "old school music", which was mostly Michael Jackson (Billie Jean, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" and a few other I can't remember at this moment.). While this was going on, I thought, "Why is the Grammy winner with 20 number one hits playing Michael Jackson songs during her show??

I overlooked that and continued watching the show. Then we got more trax from her latest album. "Shake It off", "I Wish You Knew" and "Fly Like A Bird" rounded this part of the show out. She and Trey Lorenz (her longtime background singer) then performed their hit "I'll Be There". Trey was them left to do his Luther Vandross tributes of "Never Too Much" and "A House Is Not A Home." He then sang "Crazy" from Gnarls Barkley (which drove the crowd wild). Now, I'm still asking myself, "why is this superstar featuring other people's music in her show??"

We then got more number one hits including "Honey," "Fantasy," "Always Be My Baby," "Vision of Love" and a few more that I can't recall right now. During a quick change, we had Busta's dj back, this time playing Dem Franchis Boyz, T.I. and a few more popular rap trax out now. Once again, "Why is this diva having other people's music featured in her show?"

By the time the show was over, I was not wanting more, but wanting to walk up to Mariah and her management and let them have a piece of my mind. Mariah needs to learn HOW TO PERFORM for an arena. She should go to the "Michael Jackson/Janet Jackson/Tina Turner/Patti Labelle school of performing in front of large audiences" school of performing arts. Her vocal ability was AMAZING, but her performances and audience interaction was horrible. She tried to concentrate on her NUMBER ONE hits and not the HITS THAT MAKE A GOOD SHOW. She had everything she needed to make the show a success. The stage setup was beautiful, and the dancers were good. The band was something to be desired, but they passed the test. At one point during the show, it felt as if I was watching her perform on Oprah as she discussed all of her hits and why she couldn't perform them.

This was the first show (in 20 years of going to concerts) where the band and dancers were NOT acknowledged. I thought that was very rude. The only acknowledgement was of Busta Rhymes' opening performance and how big of a Busta fan she is.

If Mimi comes to your town, save your money. The promoters should just cancel this tour and start from scratch. After this show, I see why Tommy Matolla kept Mariah from touring. She is NOT a touring kind of act. She is definitely a recording artist who should do occasional performaces.

Mariah needs to learn how to incorporate crowd favorites as well as new material. Just because a song hit number one doesn't mean that it cannot be deleted from her show. Mariah wants to be this BIG R&B diva, and that is NOT what she is. She is definitely a POP diva who sings R&B. Her core audience are gays and young caucasion girls who love songs like "Hero", "Love Takes Time", "Can't Let Go", "Always Be My Baby" and "We Belong Together". She is defintely an artist who should concentrate on the love song aspect of her show (considering that most of her hits are about love and heartache).

If Mimi comes to your town, keep your money.

Mariah's show....C+

www.myspace.com/nivlekbrad

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/202706









[Edited 9/18/06 20:29pm]

what I'm tripping on is why she (still) has the need to come out performing an arena concert in a bikini at 36: I know fellow Aries and diva model extraordinaire Diana Ross used to spend the beginning of the 80's performing in Bob Mackie leotards, and I get the "I'm Still Sexy" vibe they pull off, but honestly, between Di's bad eye make-up, Mariah's consistent near nakedness, and Beyonce's overabundance of blond weave, I swear its far too easy for the Divas of pop music to get caught in an aesthetic rut . It gets to the point the it/they become as satirical as Tammy Faye Bakker's seeping, crackly ass eyelashes...(and I LOVE Tammy Faye with her nutty ass)

i agree, i had 2nd row in htown and i was not impressed... i remember reading that randy jackson went to madonna's show for some "help" but you could not tell, madonna's was much more thought out and planned, mariah's production seemed cheap and rushed... and mariah tried to have her hench men confiscate my sister's digital camera! hell naw, at least the venue staff just pretended to take it away and let me put it out of sight... if you don't want people takin pics of her dimply ass, then she shouldn't be parading around in panties the whole night!

I attended her concert on Saturday in Dallas, Texas. Overall, it was a decent show - I give it a B - mainly, because she sang every song LIVE and hit all or most of the high notes, PERFECTLY. But the outfits...that's a different story. I lUV Mimi but I felt extremely embarrassed for her - she looked absolutely horrific! I don't know which was worse; the stomach fat, huge knees or the huge arms! Don't get it twisted - I don't believe that women have to be a size 0 or 2 to be sexy, but when your Mariah's size, you just need to learn to cover it up. She's not fat, and she does have a nice body,but the clothes that she wears make her look fat and sloppy because everything she wears is 2 sizes to small. I wonder who's designing her wardrode for this tour...The concert would have been much better is she'd wore better clothes and not subjected the audience to see her rolls and bagels that were hanging out. She did 5 outfit changes, and each outfit looked like something that you could buy at Rave or Agaci. That black mini skirt with the four inch stillettos was extremely horrible and cheesy...she looked like a street hooker from the 80's in that. She does have nice calves...

She should also stop dancing...but that's a another topic...

Good for Mariah doing "Crazy". Woman's got a sense of humour to go with her great legs .., sorry, immense ti - TALENT!

Shapeshifter said:

Actually Trey Lorenz sings it, but

Its funny but every review i hear of a Mariah show is 90% about her clothes,legs,ass,weight etc...and then the other 10% is about the stage set up and never a word about music. Dont get me wrong, i blame alot of this on Mariah, but also blame alot of this on the way we think of a Beautiful woman that also has talent.

To futher this point lets look at the Madonna tour, though a different type of performer, all i heard about is what she did on stage (i.e. simulated sex, hung on a cross etc) and never a word on her ability musically. So where does the blame lie, with them or with us?
[Edited 9/18/06 10:47am]
[Edited 9/18/06 11:09am]

MC can't win around here.

I had a really good time at the show as well as my friends. It felt like a big party. I thought she was really personable and funny. Her voice was on point and I loved the way they switched up some of the songs. Fly Like A Bird, Make It Happen, If You Only Knew, were some of my favorite songs. Even Hero which I usually can't bare was okay. I was right next to the satellite stage or whatever, so I saw her up close when she came down and she great. I don't understand all the comments about her looks. She looks like a real woman with a real body.

daPrettyman said:

Well i saw the show here in NYC at the Garden, which i thought was a good show, all in all, but she is not a big venue performer, like i said before this should be left to the Rolling stones and BonJovi. I didnt get Busta as an opening act but did get that other super talent Sean Paul, all i know is if it were the Apollo, Sean would have been booed, and sandman simms would have beaten him with the cane. My overall opinion of this show is NO ONE should charge 150 dollars and have an opening act, that is a crime right there, also if you have 10+ albums, no opening act case closed.

I usually hate opening acts but often I've been pleasantly surprised. Most major artists I've seen have all had opening acts save for Madonna.

JackieBlue said:

Mariah always wins with me, i always praise her and at the same point out where she might want to rethink something. And on the body topic, she is flawless, sorry but she is. People just cant accept that she isnt 19 years old anymore and doesnt weigh 90 pounds.

beret1022 said:

maybe she's got a deal w/ forever 21 lol

JackieBlue said:

The Beastie Boys opened for madonna on her first tour...

lastdecember said:

Totally.

JackieBlue said:

My problem with opening acts is just that when i pay 100+ dollars, im not there to see anyone but that person. Everyone that i have paid that kind of money for or has the same output in terms of albums that mariah has had and more, has never had an opening act. My worst memory of an opening act was when I went to see Duran Duran way back when "ordinary world" was out, they were doing an acoustic show in NYC, forgot the club but i know its not there anymore. Well i dont remember the price i paid but show was a very late show, because Duran had played an early show that same day at the venue. So im thinking alright, Duran in an acoustic atmosphere, very cool. Well out came opening act #1, someone not even signed yet (which is OK) but dont play 45 minutes, then came Opening Act #2 anotther 30 minutes, but then came the time to set up there equipment which took about an hour, so a show that was Billed to start at 11, started around 1:30 and then they oonly played an hour, because it was late. Ever since that day I just have a hatred for opening acts, for performers who dont need it. I realize that sometimes artists use an opening act because they are into that persons music which is cool, Elton recently played a show and the Scissors Sisters opened, which is alright since he didnt let that cut into his playing time, still did nearly 3 hrs.

I think the problem is that mariah doesn't aproach her music has she should.

She lacks the class to make a good live show!

She's a great singer and has talent, but her stage presence is worse than a peeled banana!

lastdecember said:

Well Prince had some bad times with his opening act...The Time!

They kicked more live than him!

on opening acts... it's like a "pre-show" to me, so they should start way earlier in the evening.

MikeMatronik said:

I agree with that, to a certain extent. She lacks the self confidence, which i know sounds crazy, but she does. Mariah is not a big venue performer, almost no one is. Her setting should be a smaller venue, around 2500-3500, theater or something like that. And she needs to rethink her setlists, keep the sex appeal because that is a part of who she is, and maybe just dont something people dont expect.

lastdecember said:

And mostly...she must stop dancing!

CinisterCee said:

I agree, i also dont like that surprise of someone being added to the bill after i bought the ticket also, which happens alot. If theres going to be an opener i want it billed that way, especially if im paying alot.

MikeMatronik said:

I know, im pretty sure she realizes this. She never has had this skill, which is cool, because im not going to a mariah show to see her dance, or try to dance.


There is no need for her to dance
[Edited 9/18/06 11:36am]

lastdecember said:

Mariah needs:

1. A new stylist
2. A new hot husband
3. Some new gay best friends
4. A new way to write music
5. Do a colab with madonna

MikeMatronik said:

6. Some soul

She's a great technical singer, but no emotion or soul whatsoever. It's probably why I've never bought any of her CDs. Her music leaves me cold. And why sing ten notes when two will do? Give me Lady T any day.

MikeMatronik said:

Have to agree with you on most of this too. Cant believe she never remarried, this time she needs to marry a younger guy, younger than her would be better. I dont think that madonna thing will ever happen, thats right up there with finding Bin Laden.
[Edited 9/18/06 11:57am]

lastdecember said:

I agree with you about a new stylist. As for gay friends, it doesn't matter anything to me one way or the other (unless one of them happens to be a great stylist).

As for the husband part, she needs to marry me! With all the good lovin' I'd give her, she'll write some amazing music and some really hot love songs. She'll find that soulful part of herself really quickly.

As for that Madonna collaboration, Mariah would probably find Osama bin Laden and personally have him put out a hit on Madonna before she would do any duets with her.

What I would personally love to see on Mariah's next tour would be for her to play small, intimate venues, preferably a club tour with real instrumentation and the focus being on her voice instead of having a bunch of dancers and costume changes. Although if she played small theaters (2500 to 4000) that would be good too.