Mary J. Blige - Concert Review

Mary J. Blige

Mary J Blige's hit CD may be titled No More Drama but the No More Drama Tour has definitely got more than a little drama goin' on! Mary J is back and better than ever with a show that's a non-stop musical tribute to lovin' life and livin' good.

Just before Mary J hit the stage there was silence. No flashing lights, no drum roll, no MC, nuttin'. But, Mary J is a certified diva and she doesn't need any pre-hype. The crowd was a little restless but then four acrobatic dancers took to the stage and the Queen of Hip-Hop's silohuette took shape behind a white screen and she began to sing. With a voice like Mary J's, that's about all the build-up you need. Mary J Blige's No More Drama Tour is a step out of a dark period in the singer's life. Mary (Puff Daddy's discovery) battled drug, alcohol and financial problems. Despite the odds she managed to come out of it all with a killer new CD and a soulful, thankful vibe that was the focus of the concert. She thanked the audience over and over for their support and love. She also thanked God frequently, which gave her hip-hop sets a gospel feel that her voice easily backed up.

Songs like Testimony and Flying Away were full with Mary J. Blige's great voice, but there were too many of these slower tunes in a row and it kinda brought down the mood. Also her dancers leaving the stage in the middle of songs kinda threw me off. Still, Mary J Blige managed to pull the crowd right back up with a dramatic version of No More Drama (where she played a piano) and a booty-shaking version of Family Affair. By the end of those two tunes, things had turned around. A duet performance of Rainy Dayz, with Ja Rule on a video screen, was the perfect ending to a night of soul.

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