So, Friday night in Newark was technically Lionel Richie's show, and he will get his due praise for what was an energetic, all-world funky good time. But much of last night's Prudential Center audience was there to see a certain diva special guest, whose recent "live" TV performances have spurred polarization: dissenters are quick to assure Mariah Carey can no longer sing live and lip-syncs all her concert - especially after the New Year's Eve debacle where her in-ears failed and she refused to soldier on - while diehards say Mimi's voice as strong as ever.
It was time to see which rumor was true, and frankly, I was dubious of what the '90s radio queen had left in the tank. Did she even want this "All the Hits" tour opening slot in the first place or was it just a money grab? Carey played an hour-long set Friday, for all of which I sat on the edge of my seat, watching hawk-like for any lip-syncing, listening for a live vocal track that was maybe doing all the work. By the end it was clear: I had it all wrong.
Minus a few cranked-up backing tracks on newer dance songs, like the shaky opener "I'm That Chick", Mariah sang live and sang very well. It wasn't flawless, but her heyday smashes "My All", "Always Be My Baby" and "One Sweet Day" were belted with all the bells and whistles - including her defining "dog whistle" register - and when she emerged for her encore, draped in a radiant red gown for "Hero", the impassioned, stellar vocal gave me serious chills. There was joy and power there, something we'd lost from the mega-star in past years, especially in television appearances alone.
Next to me, tears welled up in the eyes of my concert companion (my mom, who, for the record, never doubted Mariah). But mom did have a small criticism: "I just think she shouldn't have worn those shoes - she couldn't move!"
Truth, mama, truth. Five-inch stilettos kept the 47-year-old teetering around the triangular stage like a newborn giraffe, and she was regularly helped along - or scooped up and carried altogether - by her troupe of formally attired dancers. When Carey's six-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe visited her onstage for "Always Be My Baby", jumping around the golden throne from which Mariah began her show, Mariah couldn't have chased them down if she wanted to. Some glittery flats would've been fine, we wouldn't have judged.
A few more old-school No. 1's would have been welcomed, too. This tour was called "All the Hits", and while Carey didn't have enough set time to revisit all 18 of her chart-toppers (still a record for solo artists), she left fan favorites "Honey", "Fantasy". "Someday", "Emotions", and "Dreamlover" all on the cutting room floor in favor of later-career tracks like "Touch My Body" and "I Know What You Want".
Richie was as good as advertised, Carey was better than she's been recently portrayed. The hits rained down. What more could you want, other than an "Endless Love" duet, with Mariah singing Diana Ross's part - why didn't that happen?!
Mariah Carey's set list:
"I'm That Chick"
"Love Hangover" / "Heartbreaker"
"Touch My Body"
"I Know What You Want" (Busta Rhymes & Mariah Carey cover)
"My All"
"Always Be My Baby"
"Don't Forget About Us"
"One Sweet Day" (Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men cover)
"It's Like That"
"Vision of Love"
"We Belong Together"
Encore:
"Hero"
(excerpt from NJ.com)
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