Monday, April 13, 1998
Mary’s world
MUSIC: ‘Queen of
hip-hop’ Mary J. Blige shares an evening of smooth and smoky
music
By Nerissa Pacio
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Mary J. Blige shed her signature ghetto fab shades at the
Universal Amphitheater last Thursday night. But while putting away
her Fendis, giving a glimpse of her eyes for at least a few songs
and letting down her guard, she didn’t let down her fans for one
minute. Recording her live album, Blige dressed and sang to impress
in front of a sold-out, swooning crowd.
The night opened with a little something for the ladies before
Blige hit the stage. Twin Cities-based trio Next coordinated in
traffic-light yellow suits one minute and bare chests the next,
while Usher, the Babyface-molded teen sex symbol, teased salivating
young females with unbuckled pants and a glistening six-pack.
Caressing the mikes and gyrating with scantily clad back-up
dancers, screaming females rushed the aisles when Next sang their
sultry, deep-throated gold single, "Butta Love." Living up to the
fans’ expectations, each band member grabbed and caressed his own
crotch during "Taste So Good," smoothly crooning "Can I taste your
body, Girl?"
Usher made an even bigger entrance to a larger, slightly older
crowd that milled into the auditorium as Next catered to their
younger fans. Futuristic, silver-clad robo-dancers flooded the
stage, prepping the scene for their fearless leader. Singing "My
Way" perfectly on-key without missing a beat, Usher performed his
signature side-to-front moonwalk and similar moves with an energy
to match his striking, almost blinding, sequined suit.
Surprisingly and disappointingly, the majority of his act
consisted of old Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson tunes that Usher
dubbed his "Medley," inviting anyone who recognized the songs to
join in. But his ecstatic presence managed to freshen the old
tunes. In fact, the crowd burst into screams and applause every
time another recognizable hit began, including Jackson’s "Billie
Jean," during which a giant curtain hung over the stage and Usher’s
massive dancing silhouette appeared.
Before ending with the sexy "Nice & Slow," during which he
freaked the stairs with his rear raised high to the gods, he joked,
"I wanna tell you what’s on my mind, but you all will think I’m a
freaky boy. So I tell ya what I’m gonna do – I’ll sing it to
you!"
Momentum wasn’t lost despite the long, 40-minute intermission as
stage hands prepped for Blige’s set. Complete with ear-piercing
helicopter landing noises and spinning, dizzying spotlights, Blige
entered in a style a la Puff Daddy in one of his epic videos.
Introduced as the "Queeen oooof Hiiip-Hop!" the crowds welcomed
their beloved Mary whom they’ve seen grow throughout the years, as
ominous, moody chords resounded and sword-wielding dancers crept
across stage.
Suddenly, the familiar banging beats of "Real Love" began, and
not a soul in the crowd was left still. Shaking her hips and waving
her arm, light glistened off every bead of Blige’s silver-sequined,
lycra garb, which included toppling platform heels.
Blige traveled not only across the stage but across time as she
sampled songs from all three of her albums. Beginning with "Real
Love" and "Sweet Thing" from "What’s the 411," and taking all into
"My Life" and finally "Mary’s World" (as she referred to her recent
album, "Share My World"), Blige sent a strong message especially to
her female fans in her gritty yet melodic, bellowing voice.
During a rare break between songs, which typically segued one
into the next without losing momentum, Blige asked the crowd in
reference to male players, "Was he worth it, ladies? Heeell Nooo!
We don’t miss ‘im. Fuck him!" The crowd erupted in laughs and
screams of agreement.
Though all smiled, swayed and pumped to the tracks of her
previous albums, appreciating the stroll down memory lane, energy
built up to the final songs from "Share My World." Twinkling stars,
simmering smoke and colored lights appeared, and on center stage
stood Blige, draped in a silky chemise-like Eastern robe. She
remained the focal point as she radiated her ethereal emotions in
such songs as "I Can Love You," "Thank You God," "Share My World"
and "Not Gon’ Cry."
Deep-hearted, deep-spirited and well-loved by the crowd, nearly
all shared her words as a gospel choir ended the night swaying ,
while Blige disappeared from a covered cage on stage.
Complete with the sex appeal of new young artists and ending
with a sentimental favorite, Next, Usher and especially Blige not
only shared their music, but they shared their worlds.Photos by
MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
Usher works in a physical sense of sensuality to go with his
satiny smooth lyrics.
(Above) T-Low, (right) a member of Next, warms up the crowd for
Usher. (Right) Mary J. Blige sings at the Universal
Amphitheater.