Skip to main content

Mary J. Blige Came to Slay on Her Good Morning Gorgeous Tour


(Tracy E. Hopkins) Mary J. Blige is a survivor. She's not gon' give up. The still reigning Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is also not gon' cry.  She's been through her share of heartache, but the native New Yorker made it clear during her energetic and heartfelt performance earlier this month at Brooklyn's Barclays Center that she's in a good headspace. It appears she's finally found the real love that she's been searching for, and it's self love.

It was also abundantly clear that this Brooklyn audience had a love jones for Mary J. The hype crowd was warmed up by a hip-hop banger set by Funkmaster Flex (in feisty Flex fashion he proclaimed that he wasn't getting paid to DJ, but he was there because he loves Mary) and opening acts Queen Naija and Ella Mai (Mai, who was joined onstage briefly by Babyface, was the more engaging and tasteful pick). But once Mary hit the stage, most of what happened beforehand quickly took a backseat.

Decked out in a cropped yellow jacket and thigh high yellow Louis Vuitton boots with not much else in between, she descended from beneath the stage in a cloud of smoke. With pyrotechnic flames blazing in the background, she emerged to the anthemic song "Amazing." And she did look amazing.

"I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing. Man, I feel amazing, man, I feel amazing." 

From that moment and for nearly two hours, the captivated crowd sang and danced along with Mary -- our cellphones lighting up the arena -- as she made several fly wardrobe changes, twerked a little and belted standout tracks from her multiplatinum and Grammy-winning catalog. This included hits that spanned her game changing 1992 debut album, What's the 411?, to her triumphant new release, Good Morning Gorgeous

A few of the nostalgic highlights were "You Remind Me," "Real Love," and Diddy joining his protege in her trademark two-step on the "Love No Limit" remix. Plus, heart-tugging renditions of "I'm Going Down," "Not Gon' Cry," "My Life" and "No More Drama." During the show, Mary gave a nod to jazzy soul stirrer Anita Baker as the band played the melody to "Sweet Love" and she acknowledged there would be no Blige without Baker. A new generation of  R&B singers can say the same about her. 

Don't miss your chance to catch the last dates of Mary J. Blige's Good Morning Gorgeous tour, wrapping Saturday, Oct. 29 at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Giveaway: Thank Your Friends with Merci Chocolates!

National Friendship Day was August 4, 2013, but Everything She Wants has decided to continue the celebration with a giveaway from merci fine European chocolates . While some friendships are for a season or a reason, other friendships are built to last a lifetime.  I’m fortunate to have two best friends: Cindy, whom I’ve known since junior high school and Deanna, who started out as my amusing intern.  Besides my mother and my husband, these girlfriends are my greatest confidants.  They’re like the sisters I never had and we’ve supported each other through personal trials and triumphs. So what better way to say ‘thank you’ to your friends than with merci chocolates?  One lucky reader will win a ‘Friendship Kit’  that you can either keep to reward yourself for being such a great friend or share with a deserving comrade. The kit includes: $25 Target gift card (yay!) 7 ounce box of merci chocolates A picture frame to display a photo of you a...

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore.  I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued.  I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store.  And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and...

DanceAfrica 2024 Returns to Brooklyn Academy of Music

The DanceAfrica Bazaar is one of my favorite annual street fairs. I love to watch folks show up and show out in their flyest Afrocentric garb and to shop for handmade beaded bracelets and earrings from the African vendors.  And when I'm fortunate enough to snag a ticket as I did this year courtesy of BAM, I enjoy watching the kinetic African dancers (this time the country featured is Cameroon) during the spirited and spirit-filled DanceAfrica performance at the Howard Gilman Opera House.   (Photos courtesy of BAM/Tony Turner) If you want to join in the fun, here's the weekend lineup that's truly for the culture. DanceAfrica 2024:  The Origin of Communities / A Calabash of Cultures Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers, Women Of The Calabash, The Billie's Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble, and Siren – Protectors of The Rainforest Fri, May 24 at 7:30pm; Sat, May 25 at 2pm & 7pm; Sun, May 26 at 3pm BAM Howard Gilman Opera House   (Pe...