Downtown Houston was as wet as Detroit in The Crow (the good one) Tuesday night. I galaxy brained myself into trying to arrive at the Toyota Center in between bands of rain, and even after cooling my heels in my car for a half hour, I showed up looking like a wet rat anyway.
For the fans that braved the elements to attend the “For My Fans” tour, they got to see Mary J. Blige run through her award-winning (nine Grammys, an Emmy, and two Oscar nominations) career with panache and energy that belied her 54 years.
Hell, they even sang along to the DeBarge song.
I was in college when Blige’s debut album, What’s the 411?, dropped. At the time, your humble writer was desperately trying to repair the damage done to his GPA by being a … less than diligent student his first two years of school. Despite that, I was definitely *aware* of MJB, if that makes any sense. You couldn’t escape that album, especially “Real Love,” which established Blige as a new R&B powerhouse.
The show opened with the shimmering “Take Me As I Am” from Breakthrough, Blige’s third consecutive No. 1 album. It’s an empowering tune coming from the perspective of someone who’s dealt with hardship, yes, but is emerging from the darkness. Fittingly, she rose up from beneath the far stage, in a white duster and bolero hat, before riding a crown across the arena to the main stage where another (bigger) crown was seemingly held aloft by giant, outstretched hands.
Those themes, empowerment and strength, would permeate the entire show. Blige’s struggles have been well documented, and haven’t fully subsided, but she sounded a more contented note, noting as she introduced “Keep Your Head” that she’d forgiven her father, a Vietnam vet with PTSD, for abandoning her and her sister when they were kids.
Blige has been a reassuring presence on the radio during the last 30+ years, singing about life’s highs and lows in a way that her fans deeply identify with. Last night’s show fully demonstrated that influence, as well as the abiding enthusiasm those fans have for the Queen of Hip Hop Soul.
The 30+ song set list was a little deceiving, however, considering a good chunk of them were delivered in medley format. We’ve seen this before, and it makes sense when you’re talking about a career shot through with certified bangers. Still, it would’ve been nice to hear a full version of “Need You More.” Blige’s resume is impressive enough that she doesn’t even need to perform “Real Love” anymore (411‘s other big hit, “You Remind Me,” did make an appearance).
Technically, there were a few flaws. The bass was way too high, and the guitar was mixed so low you could barely hear the solo during “My Life.” For her part, Blige did occasionally kick over to the backing track, but if she let the audience sing some of the cuts, at least it wasn’t because she was gassed by the fourth song, a la Vince Neil.
And it isn’t like the audience cared. “Be Without You,” prefaced by Blige’s first costume change (from short shorts and thigh highs to a rhinestone-festooned gold pantsuit), was only one of many met with wild enthusiasm, as was “Just Fine,” “Enough Cryin'” and “Not Gon’ Cry” from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack.
Though “Rainy Daze” was a bit on the nose, if I’m being honest.
MBJ was effusive in her thanks to the crowd for sticking with her through it all. She’s one of those rare artists whose authenticity resonates with her fans, who see their tribulations reflected in her music. By the time she got to the closer, “Family Affair” from No More Drama, her passion and energy had won over any lone holdouts who weren’t already eating out of her hand.
Hail to the Queen, baby.
Personal Bias: MJB’s debut was strong enough to crack my Uncle Tupelo/Teenage Fanclub obsessed 20-something brain.
The Crowd: “Doesn’t matter if you’re white or black
Let’s get crunk cuz Mary’s back”
Overheard In The Crowd: “Hey girl!”
Random Notebook Dump: “Oh shit, another Celestial!”
SET LIST (I think)
Take Me as I Am
A Dream (DeBarge cover)
Love No Limit
Mary Jane (All Night Long)
You Remind Me
Need You More
Love Is All We Need
Still Believe in Love
Rainy Dayz
I Love You
Be Happy
I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By (Method Man cover)
Be Without You
Mary’s Joint
Keep Your Head Up (Earth, Wind & Fire cover)
Sweet Thing (Rufus & Chaka Khan cover)
Don’t Fuck Up
Everything
I’m Going Down (Rose Royce cover)
Not Gon’ Cry
Share My World
My Life
No More Drama
Enough Cryin’
The One
I Can Love You
You Bring Me Joy
Be Happy
Just Fine
MJB da MVP
tv off (Kendrick Lamar cover)
Family Affair
