| Wednesday 3 September 2003 |
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Mariah delivers an impressive variety show
Mariah Carey proved that she can still sing like she used to, with a glitzy Vegas-style show and catchy new alternative rock and rap-influenced songs used in her act at Carr Performing Arts Centre Saturday night. Lighting effects, themed videos and eclectically costumed dancers galore turned the 33-year-old New York-born singer's Charmbracelet tour into an impressive musical variety act. Carey maneuvered her elastic voice easily from full-out belting to breathy, super-high-pitched trills soaring through octaves far above the average person's range.
The mostly middle-aged audience and the fact that Carey didn't sell out the Carr, a small venue compared with places she has playedbefore, could suggest a decline, but she still put on a fun, theatrical, music experience for her followers. A few performance elements seemed a little random, such as a marionette circus pantomime and an artist-mime who displayed various paintings every so often. For the most part, though, Carey and her talented musicians were the focus. Synthesized sound occasionally overpowered the guitars, but Carey's voice always rang out loud and clear. Her four backup singers revealed their equally tremendous vocal abilities in their own soulful number.
Carey covered a range of songs from her nine albums, although most of the repertoire came from her more popular earlier work such as "Vision of Love", from her 1990 self-titled debut and "Dreamlover" from Music Box (1993). She performed sentimental ballads while lounging on sofas, a grand piano and even a swing that dropped down from the ceiling, and introduced the band in a creative sing-song jazz improvisational style.
Her interactions with the audience - singing back to their cries of adoration, sending out beach balls and dedicating "Always Be My Baby" to a couple with a "Just Married" sign - added a cute personal touch to the show. The newer songs provided nice interludes to her traditional pop, such as her part in Busta Rhymes' "I Know What You Want" which she performed along with the music video. Other crowd favorites included "Fantasy", from Daydream (1995) and "Honey" from Butterfly (1997).
She topped off her two-hour set with the exuberant "Make It Happen", from Emotions (1991) and "Hero" from Music Box. Almost everything on stage had a feminine touch, which fit Carey's persona (although the butterfly symbols everywhere were a bit excessive.) It was strange to see the drums, keyboard and guitars spaced so far apart. But Carey filled up the central aisle, going through a fashion show of at least seven outfits. With the exception of a couple of ensembles such as a short glittery pink thing reminiscent of a trapeze-artist leotard, she looked classy in elegant dresses.
Apparently, diminishing crowds haven't dampened Carey's prima donna ego, though. Besides making a show of having water brought to her onstage, which she sipped delicately through a straw, a video homage to Carey that included photos from her childhood played while she sang "Saving Grace". "Just a little primping, you know," she said, when attendants rushed up to fiddle with her mike and offer another drink. (Orlando Sentinel)
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