The news was out. Mariah Carey was coming to Singapore for a one night only show right after the Formula One Grand Prix Night Race. Me and my homies are big Mariah fans and we decided to meet at 1300, even though the gates opened at 1500 and her set began at 2230.
We endured the Singapore sun, heard those F1 cars whizz past us 61 times and scavenged for cheap food. Finally at 1030, blue butterflies appeared on the large LED screen and the show began. Mind you, I'd been to Beyonce's show just last year and waited for an intro video but none came. A few minutes later, the diva herself made an unceremonious entrance, walking in singing "Obsessed". She was certainly a lot fuller than usual and didn't move much, but four energetic, HOT male dancers moved and grinded her.
I don't know anything about singing, but she sounded good! The next number she broke into was "Emotions" and she managed to (at least I think) hit every one of those tricky high notes. Something odd happened during "Make It Happen" - she went backstage and her three backup singers took over. The dancers shook and moved, hoping to appease the impatient crowd who wanted Mimi back. She finally came out during the last chorus, in a brand new outfit. And halfway through the chorus, she fell down! She got back up and had an assistant come take off her shoes on stage.
She took the time to joke about with the audience and to really make a personal connection with them in between songs, and after an hour or so, she ended "We Belong Together" and abruptly said "Goodnight Singapore, I love you!". The audience was pretty shocked because she had hardly gone into her massive catalog. Where was Fantasy? And I Still Believe? Vision of Love? Honey?
The typical "ENCORE, ENCORE" chant began and she came out with a message "If you have a dream, don't let go" and launched into Hero. We were hoping for maybe a "Someday", but none came and she once again said good night, this time for good.
Her show left me wanting more; it was nothing but a striptease. The show had no distinct theme, and lacked any creativity. There weren't medleys, the costume changes seemed to be random and the setlist lacked energy. The performer herself was lazy and moved around the stage slowly, but it's probably cos she's pregnant, but still...
My last two concerts were Kris Allen's and Beyonce's and they couldn't have been more different. Kris had the stripped, chill mood while Beyonce was a loud, flamboyant extravaganza. Mariah was really more like Kris' and that's sad because she's a diva, and a diva really, really needs a show.
That's my review. I was in the front row and I did enjoy myself. Just wished she had done it better.
Songs performed:
MARIAH CAREY:
EMOTIONS: Emotions, Make It Happen
MTV UNPLUGGED: I'll Be There
MUSIC BOX: Dreamlover, Hero
DAYDREAM: Always Be My Baby
BUTTERFLY: My All
#1s: One Sweet Day
RAINBOW:
GLITTER:
CHARMBRACELET:
EMANCIPATION OF MIMI: We Belong Together, It's Like That, Shake It Off
E=MC2: Touch My Body
MOAIA: Obsessed
.
It looks like she was dying 