Live4MusiC

THE King of Pop, Rock and Soul may have left the building - but music's royalty reigned supreme when another mem­ber of the monarchy graced Singapore last Monday night as a stopover for her 'Number Ones, Up Close and Personal' world tour.

 

Being invited by Singaporean or­ganisers, Offshore Entertainment Pro­duction Pte Ltd to witness the celebra­tion of herNumber Ones album tying in with the compilation of her best tunes, it was most definitely an honour to be granted an audience with the irrepress­ible Janet Jackson.

While Singapore did not become the city to kick off the 35-city tour as earlier announced, with Manila earning the honours, it did not in any way dampen the mood in Singapore who was edged out to number two in the list of venues, and that of the many Malaysian fans who made the 'pilgrimage' to see Miss Jackson dish it out.

The intimacy of the Singapore Indoor Stadium was definitely a plus. The ca­pacity crowd of about 6,000 in atten­dance, provided for an electrifying at­mosphere that was both cosy and really up close and personal.

Nevermind the fact that the tour mer­chandise was not available as it was in Manila, and possibly other legs of the tour - or the scant and bare stage. Nothing, it seemed, would earn the ire of fans who came ready to welcome Miss Jackson.

An hour after the scheduled 8pm start to the show, any minor disappoint­ments were drowned out in the blaring of a video montage as the band and dancers made their way onstage.

True to the promise made by Janet prior to the kick-off of the tour, missing were the pomp and pageantry of what one would expect from a show featur­ing the singer.

Simplicity was the theme, as was ob­vious by even the appearance of Janet's entourage and intimacy was the aim, with Janet reaching out to each and ev­ery fan in songs.

It was a little confusing for some to grasp, and curious non-fans mulled over it as the music video of the So So Def Remix version Someone To Call My Lover (featuring Jermaine Dupri) - one of her hits dedicated to the Singapore stopover - played on the big screens.

It was a gesture of acknowledgement to her fans that a hit tune be dedicated to each city she chose to tour - and it was interesting to see that individual tributes were prepared, despite it being an all too small a gesture. It was assumed that she'd perform 35 of her hits, but this was of course merely that. The case was that her setlist would comprise of select tunes from the 35 ditties packaged in her greatest hits.

And after what seemed like an eter­nity, 'Janet' was plastered all over the screens and the roof came down with thunderous applause and cheers as the opening strains of music revealed Plea­sure Principle as the opener.

Janet basked in the glory of adula­tion from her adoring crowd, who were already sold on the show even before she popped out the first note.

Skimping on costumes of her dancers who were familiarly togged in the same outfits as the 'Rock Witchu Tour', Janet however appeared to spare no extent on her own image.

Sporting the short boyish crop un­veiled last year, Janet looked way young­er than her 45 years of age, especially since she put her curves on display in a silver, skin tight, revealing number that appeared structured enough to hold up various assets and yet, allowed for more than enough freedom in movement.

The outfit was a talking point un­doubtedly, as were 'the twins' as Janet appeared to have poured into the en­semble with peek-a-boo netting vents strategically placed to appear naughty enough without overdoing it.

She sped through an energetic medley that followed with Control, What Have You Done For Me Lately and Feed­backthat had the crowd on their feet from the get-go.

Her delivery in both her singing and execution of the tightly cho­reographed moves were fluid and yet executed with deadly precision, and a sense of inten­sity.

It was by this point that fans in the stadium realised that Janet Jackson's family genetic knack for understanding her body and bringing its movements to an elevated art form, and pulling out the best movements that looked de­ceivingly simple, eclipsing any need of smoke and mirrors so often peddled by most acts today.

Everything seemed to move at hyper speed from then on with You Want This and Alright before Miss You Much.

As the audience attempted to recov­er from the explosive intro, a montage of Janet's TV and film career played on, highlighting her more poignant mo­ments in Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, Fame, Poetic Justice, Nutty Professor II, and Why Did I Get Married?

Non-fans griped over the extended costume change, but her adoring public lapped it up.

It is clear, that while some may not be too happy over the long moments spent in between costume changes, Janet intended to celebrate her career highlights with those who have been fol­lowing her every career move.

 

Besides, after the non-stop hectic, and definitely flawless routines, Janet more than deserved an extra moment off. Some of those still dumbstruck by her first out­fit, debated that it was short enough a period considering how she must have needed extensive help and time to peel her first outfit off.

Custom Louboutins adorned her feet, punctuating her gorgeous, slinky eve­ning dress that was adored by rhine­stone-encrusted shoulder pads and chains, as she brought the pace down to deliverNothing, Come Back To Me, Let's Wait Awhile and finally Again.

It was karaoke time indeed as every­one swayed and sang along, before an­other costume change.

This time around, it was a rather ama­teurish slideshow of Janet's many iconic image changes through the years, each identifying every period of her musical career.

Then it was on to another medley of her recognisable hits that included Doesn't Really Matter, Escapade, Love Will Never Do (Without You), When I Think Of You and All For You.

A breather later, Janet moved into That's The Way Love Goes before yet an­other costume change.

For fans, the numerous display of her threads were a bonus, while for Janet it must have been one of key points to highlight how she is in the best physical shape ever in years.

A short musical interlude with a cou­ple of lines of What About were thrown in before Janet turned up the volume with Black Cat, If,Scream and RhythmNation, bringing down the roof of the venue as the segment, especially for Scream - is indeed a much-awaited moment for any Janet fan.

Reminiscent of the 2009 MTV VMA tribute to brother Michael Jackson, it laced with references to one of the segments of the latter's 'This Is It' tour that did not see the light of day, when an army of dancers appeared on screen in synch with the routine executed onstage.

And that ended what was a concert that appeared too short, not in terms of content, but simply because the audi­ence had not had enough of Miss Jack­son.

A white jumpsuit change, and Janet obliged for fans' chants for more when she appeared for an encore after daring the audience to Make Me.

Nothing however could have pre­pared any of the concert-goer in at­tendance for Janet to hit an emotional nerve as she went on to Together Again.

The song which had been her last nu­mero uno charting tune, previously for the Red Ribbon movement, took on a special meaning as shots of Michael and Janet were shared.

The already touching lyrics of the song, and Janet's body language where she appeared to be restraining herself from tears - took on a whole new depth of emotion as she appeared to connect with the images and bring the audience into celebrating the late King of Pop. In just over an hour and a half, the whirlwind show was over.

Janet had proven that it was indeed possible to connect to an audience, es­pecially her ever adoring legions of fans that she didn't need to be a vocal pow­erhouse.

Not that she wasn't vocally-able. Per­forming almost throughout the show 'live', her voice exuded her sensual ap­peal and a sense of vulnerability when it came to slower numbers and a com­manding, masterful execution over the upbeat songs.

Communication was reduced to a minimum but some obligatory phrases that any concert-goer would expect were dished out.

However in the case of Miss Janet, all that mattered was that she had brought the goods to the table and exceeded expectations of fans who had thronged the Singapore Indoor Stadium to wit­ness a legend in action.

In the absence of Michael, it's safe to say that it's about time to hail the reign­ing queen of pop, rock and soul.

- The Malay Mail