If you get a chance to see this tour, go! I'm glad they decided to kick off the tour in VA Beach. Melanie Fiona, D'Angelo and Mary J. Blige were excellent. I'd already seen Mary J. in concert years ago so I went to see D'Angelo. My biggest disappointment was how short D's set was.
Melanie Fiona was up first. Her set was about 30 minutes. She had a full band with backup singers. People familiar with her music know that she can sing live. Her set included: "4AM", "Bones", "It Kills Me" "Change the Record", and "Wrong Side of a Love song"
D'Angelo went on next. What can I say? I've waited over 10 years for this moment. His usual band was with him. (Pino Palladino, Jesse Johnson, Kendra Foster etc.) He came through from the back of the arena. Thanks to security for the heads up. :) I was 10 feet from him as he climbed the steps to the stage. Of course he was superb. His voice was better than ever. IMO, he never lost his voice so I'm not sure why people comment on that.
D's set list was (not in order):
CRUSIN
UNTITLED
BROWN SUGAR
CHICKEN GREASE
SDM
IN ANOTHER LIFE
LADY
LEFT AND RIGHT
FEEL LIKE MAKIN LOVE
I was very, very disappointed that he did not perform his new song "Sugah Daddy". I love "In Another Life" and was glad to hear it live but he should have also done Daddy. I know he loves performing SDM at every freakin' show for some reason but I wish he would have replaced that with a new track (either "Daddy" or "Really Love").
Here is a short video I shot from the show:
Mary J. Blige! The audience was clearly there for her. (D'angelo who?) It was an amazing thing to see. She basically sang every song she ever made in about 90 minutes. I can't possibly list every song but part of her setlist included:
My Life
Not Gon' Cry
Sweet Thing
Real Love
Ain't Nobody
Mr. Wrong
Just Fine
I'm Going Down
No More Drama
Love No Limit
I have a short clip from the show:
I wished she had performed 25/8. That is my favorite track from her new album, My Life II. I don't know what kind of tour this was. She didn't perform a lot of songs from the new album. This was sort of like a greatest hits tour. I wasn't expecting that. She was perfect. Compared to the last time I saw her (in the late 90s I think), the sound was better. Everything was better. And she danced a lot (with no backup dancers). It was great.
Mary is like my musical soul sister. It was great seeing her again but I was really there for D'angelo so I didn't get to enjoy her set that well. I was so pissed that D didn't play longer. However I was so happy for her. There was so much love there. The audience did 30% of the singing.
Overall an "A" show. If you love Mary, you must go. Just don't expect a ton of new tracks. And D'angelo fans...sigh. He needs to go on tour on his own in the US. What is the hold up? The new album?? Um, will that ever be released? We can only hope. D says the album will be released around Thanksgiving.
