Mariah Carey wasn't nearly as tardy as Tyrese who didn't show up. She arrived on the main stage Saturday only 30 minutes behind schedule, but in grand style: Draped across a settee borne, Cleopatra-style, by her buff male dancers. Carey's American concerts of late have been limited to a Caesars Palace engagement in Las Vegas that showcases her 18 No. 1 songs. Presenting a shorter show on a different stage without her usual props caused some confusion at Essence. "I'm just trying to get used to this stage," she said. "It's like a half-diamond and something else."
As she wandered far out on the stage right catwalk. she wondered out loud, "Am I supposed to go over here? Nobody gave me the rules. Somebody talk to me in my ear (monitor) and let me know." Trying to exit for the first of several momentum-killing costume stages, she scooted to the back of the stage and stopped, unsure of where to go.
Before bringing up a guy from the audience to blindfold during "Touch My Body", she asked her dancers, crew and musicians, "Are we doing this like we've been doing this?" In short, she came across like the similarly unfiltered and unperturbed Kathie Lee Gifford. She wasn't shy about thinking out loud.
Neither was she shy about discussing the glittering pair of custom Christian Louboutin heels that caused her some difficulty when negotiating steps. Or about checking herself out on the Superdome Jumbotron. Or asking the audience if a pink leotard with a poofy pink tail was too "princess-y". Or about letting fly her multi-octave voice, one that can, and did, climb into dog-whistle register.
"Emotions" opened quietly, with just her and music director/pianist Jim Wright, before quickly expanding to a big, full band arrangement. Frequent collaborator Jermaine Dupri joined her for "It's Like That". Two dozen red-robed members of the Voices of Unity gospel choir helped out on "Make It Happen".
She didn't need any help for "We Belong Together", which she sang well and with obvious enjoyment and enthusiasm. With that, abruptly, it was over, after around a dozen songs, an hour and 10 minutes, and some entertainingly genuine Mariah moments.
(excerpt from The New Orleans Advocate)
|
|
