CONCERT REVIEW: Bad Janet, Good Janet same singer - News

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Sep. 21, 2008
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CONCERT REVIEW: Bad Janet, Good Janet same singer

Jackson concert goes to extremes

By
JASON BRACELIN

REVIEW-JOURNAL

JASON BRACELIN
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REVIEW

Who: Janet Jackson

When: Friday

Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center

Attendance: 8,000 (estimated)

Grade: B+

Janet Jackson performs Wednesday during her concert in Los Angeles. She kicked off her "Rock Witchu" tour in Canada earlier this month to promote her current release "Discipline." Jackson performed Friday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Photo by The Associated Press

Some things are ridiculous in a bad way: last call, Michael Bay flicks, pierced foreheads, the 40-hour work week.

Some things are ridiculous in a good way: cheese in a can, the Coen brothers, Mexican soap operas, the yard o' beer.

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And then there's that rarified stratum of the awesomely preposterous, solely occupied by chicks in skintight, gold-lamé bodysuits with gigantic Mohawk manes that look like the spoils from a scalped Mr. Ed.

Enter Janet Jackson.

Exit prudence.

And good riddance, by the way.

At the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Friday for a stop on her "Rock Witchu Tour," her first in seven years, Jackson didn't just jump the shark; she pole-vaulted over the thing and then thumbed her nose at it from on high.

"Obey me," she growled during a pretaped video interlude that played on a huge projection screen behind the stage early in the show. With black lipstick, snarling at the camera, this was the "Bad Janet."

Or something.

Shortly thereafter, we saw her face bathed in white light, awash with celestial radiance.

This was the "Good Janet," we presume.

What followed was a musical parable on the eternal struggle between the forces of evil and righteousness.

That, and some shirtless dudes spinning on their heads, stuff blowing up and lots of extras in sailor get-ups, gyrating to the rhythm.

It was a lot to take in, and Jackson gave the adoring crowd plenty to chew on. She performed all or portions of more than 30 songs during a show spanning two-plus hours.

It began with a slew of early hits -- including "Pleasure Principle," "Control" and "What Have You Done For Me Lately" -- that established Jackson among the more self-assertive female popsters of her era some two decades ago.

Those songs have a common theme, delivered over a whiplash beat: "I don't wanna rule the world; just wanna run my life."

And what better way to truly flaunt her independence than to revel in her idiosyncrasies like a kid gorging on Halloween candy, be it rocking the stage in shiny combat boots or adopting this alter ego or that?

The first words she sang on this night: "You might think I'm crazy, but I'm serious."

That sentiment would pretty much encapsulate the entire evening.

As she's matured, the tone of Jackson's albums have changed a bit. She's more aggressively sexual these days, more outwardly libidinal, and her show reflects as much.

During "Discipline," the slinky, heavy-breathing title cut to her latest album, she brought a dude out on stage and served as a purring dominatrix, wrapping fabric around his throat and pulling it tight.

As that scene indicated, this was as much a night of sweaty performance art as it was a larger-than-life pop show, with Jackson taking the stage alone at first, without the oversized backing band that most contemporary singers employ to lard up their tunes live.

As drawn to the overblown as she is, Jackson's sharp enough to realize the value of restraint here and there, and though her concerts pulse with all manners of visual ostentation, she doesn't overindulge in vocal acrobatics like so many of her peers, her voice soft yet commanding and as malleable as the goo inside a lava lamp.

She'll whisper through a wistful ballad, her voice delicate as porcelain ("Never Letchu Go") then growl through a storming rocker like "Black Cat," where she brought out a hard-hitting backing band near show's end.

Through it all, the razzle-dazzle seldom ebbed, especially during a climactic "Rhythm Nation," when a mammoth wall of sparks rained down from the rafters.

"Let's wait awhile before we go too far," Jackson had sung sweetly earlier in the evening, during the doe-eyed ballad "Let's Wait Awhile."

But, by this point, Ms. Jackson, it was a little late for that.

Contact Jason Bracelin at 383-0476 or e-mail him at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Celestin BIGIRIMANA wrote on November 12, 2008 12:21 AM: I am writing my research dissertation for the completion of my master program in Social and Educational research methods. I therefore would like to publish this article in a journal. How can I find a review journal online? MonkeyGroin wrote on September 30, 2008 12:48 AM: RHG sounded like he knows his stuff. The racist tend to cry "racist" most. Obama supporters are already crying racism if he doesnt win, how sickening. If only the people who hyphenate their nationality would only work at making themselves better than at working to get something for nothing they would be so much better off and not have to blame whitey for their problems. Oh, my grandparents arent from america so dont hold your breath for any reparations from this family, get a job. Janet Jackson is outdated and forgotten by most. She will be seen doing a hasbeen celebrity reality show soon, mark my words rn1814 wrote on September 22, 2008 11:10 AM: RHG... you apparently are one ignorant loss individual. I am african american so please don't bring Obama into your rebuttal, because the two have nothing to do with one another. You apparently have been raise in a perdominately white environment with no exposure to other races or cultures. You think you are better because you're white? You are a lost soul and will be punishment for your mother/fathers sins. Your behavior is learned behavior, and its clear that your parents are racist. The only time whites pretend to not be racist is when they can benefit from gaining something from a wealth, successful and high profile black person; For instance, Oprah or someone of the magnitude. Obama is far from racist, so don't be an idot all your life tyler wrote on September 21, 2008 07:56 PM: what an odd review. so basically you write an essay trashing the concert and then give it a B+? You are one confused man...if you are male, that is. you look like a transgendered woman who just started taking hormones. that1 wrote on September 21, 2008 07:42 PM: Um...some of yall need a sense of humor and a refresher course in reading comprehension. This review is glowing! The writer just mixed in a little sarcasm and humor. He gave the show a B+ so clearly he liked it. Enough with the talk of racism and enough with the tired haters. The critic has a good writing style, but folks just need to learn how to read. Ane for the record I saw Janet in Oakland and her show was GREAT! Agree wrote on September 21, 2008 07:20 PM: I agree with RHG. Why is it that any more, no matter what is said, some kind of 'racism' calling has to be brought up.The ones who constantly say that people are racists are usually the racists themselves. Enough said! Oh!, if Obama doesn't win, you know it will be 'because he's black'. Terri wrote on September 21, 2008 05:27 PM: I WAS AT THIS SHOW, AND JANET JACKSON IS THE "GREATEST PERFORMER OF ALL TIMES" OTHER THAN HER BROTHER MICHAEL JACKSON NO OTHER ARTIST CAN WORK A STAGE LIKE MIZZ JACKSON IF U NASTY! HER CONCERTS ARE ALWAYS THEATRICAL TYPE BIG PRODUCTIONS AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE CONCERTS SO MUCH BETTA, U NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MIZZ JACKSON SHE IS THE FEMALE MICHAEL JACKSON. I HAVE BEEN TO CONCERTS LIKE BEYONCE, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, MADONNA, AND NONE OF THEM HOLDS ANYTHING TO JANET JACKSON'S CONCERTS. SHE IS THE GODDESS OF MUSIC AND DANCE!! Jared wrote on September 21, 2008 03:35 PM: That's funny, fan or not, I was at the same show and it was INCREDIBLE! The best show I've seen in years. Interesting, this is the first so-so review I've read about the tour - pretty good odds if you ask me! Lou wrote on September 21, 2008 03:22 PM: Janet Jackson is a joke. Her music sucks. She is 10 years past any prime she had. Glad to hear her concert sucked. TimeRanger wrote on September 21, 2008 02:06 PM: Who CARES? When was the last time jackson did anything noteworthy? Read All Comments