Mariah can sing - just ignore the showgirl crap
With her reputation as a true diva at stake, Mariah Carey scored major points when her tour stopped at NextStage on Tuesday night. The 33-year-old pop queen has a lot to prove: Two years have passed and Glitter still remains a box-office punch line, and the failure of that blockbuster eventually led to her much-publicized "emotional and physical breakdown". And who can forget that Virgin Records gave this powerhouse vocalist a $28 million settlement to not sing for them anymore?
Perhaps her troubles are behind her, because the new Mariah still sounds fantastic, and she's never looked prettier or happier. You just wish she'd realize that she doesn't need a bunch of onstage junk to distract from her best assets - that crystalline and silvery voice combined with a woman who can evoke the supernatural by nailing amazingly written power ballads with Olympian key changes and progressions.
Her onstage set was like funky living room decorated in what could best be described as "all over the place". The entire concept was like a watered-down Las Vegas revue. Flashes of Moulin Rouge, marionettes, circus clutter, espionage spoofs and a back-up dance crew that looked like The Wiz gone horribly wrong only distracted from the good stuff: Mariah. However, the costume changes were fun. Girlfriend went from ghetto princess to hooker-chic to red-carpet Soprano Barbie who dropped to her knees wearing a floor-length gown.
She can still hit those notes that only dogs can hear, but all the onstage craziness reeks of an insecure star. The girl has still got it - it's all just so pointlessly flashy and excessive. (Dallas Voice)
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