Mariah sparkles
Mimi likes glitter. Even though that sparkly stuff denotes a low point in Mariah Carey's otherwise storied career, the much-emulated singer featured it all over her stage and five-costume changes Saturday night at American Airlines Center. It was particularly prominent when she slinked and strutted her way through "Shake It Off", one of the hits from 2005's 6-million-selling triumph The Emancipation of Mimi. Behind her a huge, brightly lit "Mimi" sign flickered as she sashayed in sunglasses, a black bikini and a long, billowing camisole. She looked and sounded sexy, injecting much more vocal power into a catchy, danceable if disposable song that doesn't require it.
Ms. Carey made sure to showcase her vocal prowess every chance she got. Why waste that five-octave range in front of 12,000 adoring fans, right? Especially since she can still belt it out. Wearing a body-hugging yellow dress with a slit up to there, she dusted off "Vision of Love", her 1990 career-launching smash, to impressive effect. Sure, she gave the song even more vocal acrobatics than it needs, but she hit every note and then some.
Ditto for her cover of the pop-soul classic "I'll Be There", which she sang with old pal Trey Lorenz. She then gave Mr. Lorenz some time to do songs solo, including a couple of Luther Vandross cuts. That was generous of her, especially since Mr. Lorenz was but a blip nationally in 1992.
Still, her voice worked hard to be the star of the show, even while multiple video screens, flashy dancers, a two-tiered platform complete with staircase and even a DJ at the turntable threatened to steal all the attention. She played the game, turning hip-hop diva during updated renditions of "Dreamlover" and "Fantasy", which she sang on a riser in the center of the floor.
Much of Ms. Carey's output post 1995 has been fused with rap and hip-hop in an attempt to keep her current and erase the big-ballad-singer tag she earned early in her canon. Problem is much of the reason the Mimi CD sold so well is that it's filled with expertly crafted, über-contemporary singles that any of today's sexed-up R&B singers could have done.
She's gotta appeal to the kids, though. So rapper Busta Rhymes served as her opening act, and thrown in during her set were musical and visual snippets of Jermaine Dupri and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. That onstage DJ entertained the crowd with party tunes and shout-outs during one of her dressing-room breaks.
The next-to-final dress, a flowing green gown, was all glamour. She used some of that elegance in her soaring take on "Hero". In some ways it clashed with her seemingly sweet, casual and girl-next-door persona while she chatted with the crowd. No matter. For a superstar who's had an erratic live-concert trajectory, Saturday night's gig bathed her in the right kind of glitter. (The Dallas Morning News)
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