Review: Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson’s Number Ones Tour will be remembered for several things, most notably how it portrayed her hit-studded career, now in its fourth decade.  For more than 90 minutes, Jackson rained hits and favorite songs upon an affectionate crowd of about 7,000 fans at Starlight Theater. It was a can’t-miss formula. 

But the show was also notable for what it wasn’t. Unlike her October 2008 spectacle at the Sprint Center, this show wasn’t lavish or loaded with visual treats or special affects.  There wasn’t even an opener. Or a wardrobe change.  For the entire night, the headliner wore a black tank top, black jeans and  black boots. 

She was backed by six dancers, three backup singers and a five-piece band. A large video screen behind the band broadcast a variety of images: some of her most famous music videos; some of her more famous roles in TV and movies (including the salacious scene with Tupac Shakur from “Poetic Justice”); and old photos, including some of her late brother).

Other than that, her only devices were her songs and her dancing, which stopped only during a few brief interludes and during the mellow segment of the show. She is 45 but still graceful and athletic; and she can still pull off some of the more memorable moves from her videos.

The tour is based on the release of 2009’s “Number Ones,” her second greatest-hits compilation, and she touched upon most of that album. The show was primarily a progression of medleys, though some songs were featured longer than others. It caused some bumpiness in the flow now and then, but that’s a minor complaint. A larger complaint: the sound, which was rough from start to finish and not at all what Starlight can deliver on its best nights.

As she has done in each city on the tour, she opened the show by dedicating a song to Kansas City: “What Have You Done For Me Lately.” After that video was aired, she and her band appeared and bounced and bobbed into “The Pleasure Principle,” then “Control.”

As much as she moved and danced/pranced across the stage, it would seem that some lip-synching would have been necessary.  At least from where I was sitting, that didn’t appear to be the obvious case, though she may have been singing live with some pre-recorded help.

Not that it mattered. This was a celebration of a star whose music and personae, like her brother’s, draws a crowd that crosses every demographic line: age, race, ethnicity.  They showered her all night with affection: dancing in the aisles, singing-along, cheering each song.  On a night like this, all the satellite stages, drawbridges, flashpots and wardrobe glamour in the world wouldn’t have outsparkled what shone on this night: one woman’s long and impressive music career, cast vividly in all its funky, soulful and melodic glory. 

Setlist: The Pleasure Principle; Control; What Have You Done for Me Lately; Feedback; You Want This; Alright; Miss You Much; Nasty; Nothing; Come Back to Me; Let’s Wait Awhile; Again; Doesn’t Really Matter; Escapade; Love Will Never Do (Without You); When I Think of You; All For You; That’s the Way Love Goes; Scream; Rhythm Nation; Diamonds; The Best Things in Life Are Free; Together Again.

| TImothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[Phrankie]

You are right...all those were minor glitches. It was just fun to sing and dance along....even in the heat.

[Ruby Winslow]

You left out my favorite song from the list: If! :)

[cb]

She inform everyone up front that this tour would be different from her past tours. No fire explorosions, costums changes (some depending on city) This show was a stripped down version of the grandeur of past productions like her “Velvet Rope” and All for you . This was a more "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL" tour. Think about it ,normally she is in the Big "I CANT SEE HER" Stadium with all the bells and whistle. It nice to be so up close like it was my own personal concert. I love it. 9 stars out of 10. I did miss some songs that was #1 like "MAKE ME" that was perform in other cities. Over all Miss Jackson did a great job and I would pay again to see this tour again.. I have 1 friend who did just that 3 time over. ;-)

[JStallfrow]

The show in 2008 was way more intense, but I did like the more "personal" setting of the stage at Starlight. The sound was terrible at times, and I wish she would have gone longer. Other than that it was a fun show. I very much appreciated the touches of Michael.

[Roger]

and look how well behaved the local maniacs are being in this thread.... very impressive.... and for that matter they were also pretty cival to what-his-name rapper that played the Sprint center last night.

Good to see you holligans can behave, from time to time.... or a least keep "it" contained to the DC4cutie thread.

SOOoooooo....
Ice cream for everyone, good boys :).... and Bubba gets a double scoop, just cuz.

[C L]

Loved the show so much saw it first in another city way to perform Ms Jackson

[nike air max]

so good

[Your 'moms']

OK, Jimmy/William/Ralph/Jackson/Roger/zzzzzzz/dump troll/Jack/Trucker/No autos/etc. (BTW, these are all the same person), it's gone far enough. I've tried, but you still refuse to stop going online and venting the frustration you feel for your wasted life on all of these wonderful, intelligent music fans you meanly and stupidly call "Mellow-Fest Pussies." It's time to grow up, my son. I'm getting worried. You are 38 now and I still have to wash your clothes, cook your meals, and drive you down to the Blood Bank every week. Log off, find a job, get a life, and for %$#@ sake, move out of my attic! Seriously.......

[Your 'moms']

whew, someone needs serious mental therapy, seek help.

[Your 'moms']

whoa, anger issues much?

[hey you woodchucks]

isnt there supposed to be a look how much better this venue is compared to the crossroads post in every review?

[Charles]

there is now

[fiddler]

just goes to show that good songs, performed well by a talented artist, doesn't need a ton of extra hoopla to make for a good show.

[Details]

Starlight does not control the sound system. The sound system was DSS (Digital Sound Systems, Inc.) - not Starlight's.

[Carole]

Well as much as I don't want to say it I was a bit disappointed in the concert. My two youngest daughters and I had waited for years to see her, bought tickets unaware of her planned low key venue.

We felt that Janet, as beautiful as she is, took way too many breaks leaving us sitting there watching old clips of her past acting career, and also seeing photos of her from every magazine. We weren't interested in seeing video clips. We were there to see Janet herself

We didn't like the little blurps of our favorite songs, we wanted the entire song.

I disliked how the dancers nor the drummer were offered a place on the big screens. For those of us who sat in the back, it would have been nice to see their great work up close on those 3 screens.

I found the ending to be way too abrupt.

I thought maybe Miss J was ill and that was the reason for our disappointments, but then we spoke to a vendor and he informed us that this was the venue planned for the entire tour.

Maybe if we would have known this particular planned venue we could have been a bit more accepting of the let down we felt.

My youngest was the most excited to see her and expected more than she got.

But, maybe it will never be the same since Michael passed. I've lost a sibling and know how that is.

I found the passion not there.

[Doug Trump]

Nice, honest, real fan review, thanks Carole.

It is always sad when we are pumped up for a show, and it lets us down.... sad this happened for you and your kids...

...but that is a good thing about a blog like this... you can tell the world, and maybe Janet will read it, that is the beauty of the internet.

Thanks again for the real fan review.

[Mike O.]

I, too, was disappointed. Evolution of an artist should not include a drastic reduction in what they present on stage. She just seemed tired.

I paid for and came to see a Jackson quality show, not a poor sound system presentation of medleys of songs. Struck me as a lame way to treat your fans.

Too many of the commentors above including Mr. Finn went too easy on her with their comments.

I saw Katie Perry the week before at Sprint Center and, while her show was entertaining, didn't satisfy the vocal quality I was hoping for and made me really look forward to this JJ show. After Monday evening I felt I was taken advantage of and realized I saw the better show with KP. But then Keith Urban blew them both away last Friday night at Sprint Center.

[HtotheK]

I wasn't disappointed at all!! I made it a point to read her reviews, Janet did not have a good stretch the last few years. After the Superbowel and cancelled tour in '08, the reviews said she had been getting a lot of slack. Her reply was that she wanted to be closer to her fans, make it more personal, that was why she chose smaller venues, to feel more connected to show she cares about her fans. But her voice was beautiful along with that Janet giggle, she busted her but dancing which those moves are not easy at 45. Maybe no other costume, maybe not a lot of glam, but she was thinking of the fans in her own way. And Miss Jackson, if you nasty :), I give you props on every bit of it.

[HtotheK]

I am sorry, that's, If your nasty :)