Mariah Carey performance brief
Let's be brief. After all, that is the word that best describes Mariah Carey's performance at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night. The entire show lasted from roughly 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and with costume changes, deejay performances, and a three song medley from one of her backup singers, Carey spent less than 45 minutes on the stage.
For contrast purposes, 45 minutes is usually the minimum amount of time granted to an opening act. It's only half as long as the ride from Springfield to Uncasville. On some weekend nights the line at the buffet can be longer than Carey's show.
While some could argue that 45 minutes is quite long enough for a lot of performers passing themselves off as concert draws these days, Carey actually seemed to be getting at least a passing grade when she thanked everyone and waved goodbye.
She had the crowd on her side (they quickly turned), a major production (dancers, singers, live band, and a half dozen video screens) and the goodwill that comes with successfully executing a viable "comeback".
Things looked bleak for Carey at the turn of the century when she split with music executive Tommy Mottola, flamed out in an attempted movie career with the laughable "Glitter", and was dumped by Virgin Records. Her recent "The Emancipation of Mimi" release has put her back on the charts. The corresponding "Adventures of Mimi" tour could return her to punch line land.
What's longer than a Mariah Carey concert? Just about anything. The show started with Carey narrating a video about her "rollercoaster" life before the curtains opened to reveal Carey in revealing short shorts and bikini top singing "It's Like That". Rapper Jay-Z joined in via video screen during "Heartbreaker" and Carey carefully walked down a grand staircase to the bottom half of the multi-tiered stage to sing "Dreamlover".
There were a couple of diva-like moments, particularly when Carey admonished a crew member between songs. "Get that light off me you dummy," she said, before remembering her microphone was operable. "Oops, just kidding." After a strong cover of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There", sung as a duet with backup singer Trey Lorenz, Carey left the stage to let Lorenz solo for three songs.
While the performances, two covers of Luther Vandross and a reprisal of the current Gnarls Barkley hit "Crazy", were entertaining, giving a backup singer eight minutes in the middle of a show is just a bad idea. Carey returned in one of the five costumes she donned for the event, and worked through hits like "Hero", "Fantasy", and "Honey". She closed the show with "We Belong Together" and did not return for an encore. (The Republican)
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