Remember when Mariah Carey was a hot mess a few years ago? I don’t think she’s quite done with that whole stint just yet. Last night’s show had “train wreck” written all over it. And then “sinking ship” graffiti-ed over that!
The show was scheduled to start at 7:30 with opening act RydazNrtist. We didn’t make it in time for that but heard they were on and off the stage in no time. We arrived maybe a nickel after 8 p.m. With Michael Jackson’s greatest hits blaring over the speakers, the crowd seemed in an OK mood. That is until the crowd started to realize that both CDs of MJ’s hits were sounding like they would be played to completion. The air in the room was filling with frustration and after one MJ track too many, Nokia filled with aggressive booing by the entire audience. And then the lights went out. Although the audience then switched into screaming applause, the move felt more like a way to stifle the booing than building anticipation.
FYI – the above video is NOT from last night.
I really don’t know where to start once the show began. Whether it was the lackluster set that belonged on a cruise ship or second-tier Vegas showroom, her descent from a giant swing in a ruffly gown (later stripped to a ruffly mini) or how she spent more time offstage changing outfits. Perhaps I could go into the senseless banter where she admits to diva behavior (her hair and makeup people came out once to touch her up) but then has to confess, “I’m not really like that!” That wasn’t really disproved by her inability to put on a robe later and had to have help by one of her dancers. Oh, and there was the random Michael Jackson tribute by backup singer Trey Lorenz and her outta nowhere tribute to Diana Ross which lasted about three minutes.
But what seemed to fill the room was her being tardy for her own party. She came on at 9:22 p.m. In her bubbly tone, all she could say was “Thank you for your patience.” I guess divas don’t actually apologize. Later, she went into some monologue about why she thought she wasn’t even going to make it to the show but it was so convoluted and disjointed, I gave up trying to figure it out. She basically sounded like an idiot.
Her voice was mostly on mark throughout. Carey doesn’t sound pristine but she doesn’t let you forget she does have a strong voice. I hated that she basically ignored her first two albums (some of her best work) other than for a worthless interlude of “Make It Happen.” She instead opted for a catalog of audience-pleasing hits but without any direction. “Touch my Body,” “Always Be My Baby,” and “Heartbreaker” were all satisfactory and got the screams but nothing was cohesive. It’s a ballad! It’s hip-hop! What next?
After just a trio of songs, she was gone to change each time. If it wasn’t that, she talked way too much while she drank her champagne between numbers. She could have fit in about 7 or 8 more tracks had she not wasted so much time with irrelevant wardrobe changes and babbling.By they way, she did have time to plug her upcoming Angel Champagne.
The show was amateurish at best and a disappointment for a pop star veteran who should know better. Mariah turns 40 this year but everything about her reeks 16 year-old bubblegum princess and watching her live in this fairy tale world onstage was embarrassing and painful.
Ok..
Normally i love writing up small recaps from the shows I attend, however one word pretty much sums up last night…..UNDERWHELMED!
You know , I have seen some pretty great shows in the last 6 month, but Mariah was not one of them.
For someone to be in the business as long as she and for her to perform as if she were at WIndstar Casino is not acceptable!
And furthermore, she didn’t even sell out the venue! Or maybe people left early because Mimi was moving at a glacial pace to get on stage!
I do have to admit, when she performed “Always Be My Baby” i did scream like a little girl!
Mariah has some great songs and has been producing some great albums lately, but she has NEVER been a great live performer.
She sings well during her live performances (mostly) but she doesn’t know how to put on a great live show. Janet, Madonna and Beyonce all know how to execute great shows that involve singing, dancing, video and are expertly put together.
Mariah, sadly has never mastered this.
And you can add Britney to that list with Mariah.
I LOVED IT!!! iTHOUT IT WAS GREAT!!! EVEN THOUGH iHATED THE FACT THAT SHE WAS LATE. iEXPECTED THAT. iMA LAMB FOR LIFE ND IMA GO SEE HER AGAIN ^_^.. BOOYAH
for actually thinking that Mariah sounded like an idiot- it is my pleasure to re christen you as the world’s biggest buffoon!
i stopped reading your slimy piece right at that point. YOU, rich lopez ARE THE IDIOT!!!!
Wow I love these reviewers who attend concerts of artists (for free I’m sure) whom,they probably dont even like anyways so they write up these biased reviews that no one cares about. When you attend a Mariah concert you aren’t going to be wowed by beyonce like dance moves or over the top stage props like madonna, you go to see Mariah and hear her sing and just be there to experience her live. If you arent really a fan then you probably wouldn’t get Mariah. Before she even went on tour she said this was going to be a very simple laid back kinda show and more intimate. You can write all the bad reviews you want about her but she is a Legend with a career most musical artists could only dream about and I’m sure she has more #1’s to come and lots of music her fans will enjoy.
I agree with Scott. I’ve been to four shows over the years (varous tours) actually buying broker tickets to be up close each time. She is just a regular person with an awesome voice (comparing her to Britney is way off DFW you’re an idiot to make that reference). She’s constantly joking about the “DIVA” thing, it is just her way of dealing with the hyperbole in the media. She writes her music, produces it, performs it and her record stands on it’s own with sales and audience (can’t take that away from her). I understand the critic thing too, you would not be considered cool if you wrote a good review of a Mariah show. You might have interviewed some of her fans to balance your bias out. I saw the Angel tour in Las Vegas and yes she was late, it did seem a little short, she did chat quite a bit and make quite a few to many costume changes, but over all her amazing voice and renditions from her portfolio overcame any of those minor things.
@JImmy. I have complete respect for the fact the she can back up her vocal talent with her writing and producing. Her first two albums displayed some timeless work. But as for her antics onstage, instead of thinking about herself and her costume changes and ongoing chat, she should consider the fans who shell out the big bucks to see her sing a decent set of songs live.