By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Last night, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige held royal court at the Louisiana Superdome as a main-stage headliner of the final night of the three-day 13th Annual Essence Music Festival as it made its triumphant return to New Orleans.
Once she came down from her explosive first number -- a mix of the 50 Cent/The Game collaboration 'Hate it or Love It,' and her breakthrough first single 'Real Love' -- Blige tapped into what her loyal legion of fans expect of her: the connectivity between an authentic performer and an eager audience.
"In this building, so much has happened," she said of the storied venue, which became a subject of anarchy during the dark days following Hurricane Katrina's devastation. "But guess what, never again will it happen because of the prayers of the people and I just want y'all to know to know that y'all got mine." From there she launched into her 1995 single 'Be Happy.'
Though her set was shorter than usual, the multiple Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter performed what seemed like her vast catalogue of hit singles, including music from her groundbreaking 1992 debut 'What's the 411?' and her most recent album, 2005' critically acclaimed disc 'The Breakthrough.'
Songs like her knock-down, drag out signature tour-de-force 'No More Drama,' and the overlooked and brutally honest mid-tempo track 'Baggage' drove Blige's message -- about self-examination and valuing enriching relationships -- home to the rapturous crowd, who followed the Yonkers-bred trendsetter every step of the way.
"I know I am a mess sometimes, but I am a good woman," Blige said to the sold out crowd, while doling out an empowering mantra about how you can't expect someone to know and love you if you don't know and love yourself.
From there she segued into one of her most compelling compositions, 'Take Me As I Am,' which brought the audience to its feet during the song's highs and lows.
But her inspiration wasn't only felt among the sea of sisters; the tatted up, bottle blond diva --a frequent 'Essence' magazine cover girl, who is also a spokesperson for one of the festival's blue chip co-sponsors Chevy -- even had hardcore thug types rocking and rolling to her hard-edged brew of R&B music.
As always, Mary J. Blige always brings the house down...
Check out the clip below...
--Check out our Essence Music Festival Gallery below...
Comments: (60)
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By: James Wood on 7/08/2007 10:57AM
I , for the life of me cannot understand this bull about that Mary J., this woman CANNOT SING...period.
Most people I know agree that she has no real singing voice and to compare her the someone like Aretha is more that just ignorence, its downright stupid. Hip hop has dumb down our music to the point that ANYTHING can now be considered a great talent just because she stands in fron of a mic and has the nerve to open her mouth and unintelliable ravings come out.
Please those of you who listen the the JR High school talent show and marvel, make it a point to find music and video by the people that made our music great. Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Etta Jones, Carmen McRae, Etta James, Morgana King, Ella Fitzgerald, Lurleen Hunter, Ernestine Anderson, Billy Eckstine, Arther Prysock, Walter Jackson, Johnny Hartman, Billy Paul, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Timi Yuro, Baby Washington, Mel Carter, Merry ClaytonRoy Hamilton and I could go on and on about true artist, true talent and mary J will NEVER with that pitiful so called singing style measure to the afore mentioned people and many many others whom are still making records that they can't get played because of the garbage that the public has been tweeked to believe is quality music rather than just mindless sound created by people with no more musical sense satan does wanting to be holy. Those of you caught up in this hip hop foolishness will not like this post because medioricity has become your standard and ignorence is bliss. P. Diddy has a line so prison wear for stupid guys walking around with their hind parts hanging out in the already polluted air and he make great money off these folks tearing up the stores buying this trash...Here's he rub, when you see MR. P Diddy, he's dressed the finest italian suits, alway looks like a cover model for GQ magazine...Think about it. Bill Cosby is right
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By: Tracy on 7/08/2007 11:14AM
You Go Mary J. She is in a league all by herself. Her songs help & inspire those who are going through some hard times. To Win A Free Swarovski Crystal T-Shirt visit http://executees.net
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By: Toni on 7/08/2007 11:26AM
I agree with the previous comments about the direction of black music. The first time I heard Mary J. was on Oprah and after she finished her song I said to myself, "this girl can't sing". What is all the hype about? I don't get it.
Phyllis Hyman, Donnie Hathaway, groups like the Temptations, The Impressions, these people could sing.
Our standards used to be so much higher. What a tragedy.
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By: James Wood on 7/08/2007 11:31AM
I agree, she should Go..today. You are also right about her being in a league by herself, if that means she is a pretender to being truly talented, she's in a league by her danm self. The woman can't sing. She can thank her lucky stars for Pro Tools and computer experts that are able to create the illusion that this broad can sing, I've heard many, Many of the great singers.....she Ain"t one of them. Had it not been for the advent of music video and a lowered moral society, we would have never heard of this woman and her ilk
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By: Louise M on 7/08/2007 1:18PM
Stop the hate. If YOU don't like Mary's music- LISTEN TO SOMETHING ELSE. But millions of others including myself, have had their lives transformed because Mary dared and cared enough to put her life in the public eye by way of song.She is an example that you may come from a rocky background but you are still able -by the Grace of God and acceptance of your individual personal responsibility--to have a BREAKTHROUGH! If you feel she can't sing, THAT is your right as an individual, but you should not degrade her millions of fans (proven by record/concert sales) who appreciate her honesty and willingness to admit the growth process she has gone through since appearing in the public arena in 1992. I saw her first performance life in New Orleans in '92 and was not impressed initially but I learned through her honesty that SHE was going through some things (as we ALL) do and we ALL have dark moments and make bad decisions that could alter or ultimately end our lives yet she chose to endure and not commit suicide or blame society for her problems. She has emerged as a beautiful testimony of Gods grace. She loves herself and commands respect- she keeps it real and it shows through her music. You may have grown up during another time and have a connection to the legends of that time and that is wonderful but don't block the blessings in the messages Mary J. is delivering to a new generation who hear and take things in differently than generations past. To those who don't appreciate her, track the movings of other artist,but to those whose lives have been transformed by her music- we know "You can't keep a GOOD woman down!" we're not perfect, we shouldn't pretend to be, people are going to talk about us and we CAN'T MAKE EVERY MEETING they have when they do it but learn to love yourself and if you can release your frustration listening to Mary J. and identify with her struggles and breakthroughs- that is better than ending up in jail/bad relationship/depressed because you let the world tell you how THEY THINK you should respond. In the wise words of Mary J. "Take me as I am, I can only be ME"-- Be you and DO you, just do it the best you know how and learn to love and accept yourself first.
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By: nina on 7/08/2007 1:19PM
I honestly think Mary can sing. She is not the best singer in the business and she has admitted that in numerous occasions. I know that ppl are entitled to their opinions but I am tired of ppl putting ppl down when they are praising them in an article. I think if you think that a so-called artist 'sucks' why waste your time talking about just don't listen to them or worry about them- simple as that.
I am really happy for Mary J. she has really been through a lot and is a prime example that you can turn your life around for the better. She is a real role model and an inspiration for all the young ladies out there struggling. She is always talking about bettering herself and others and I love her for that.
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By: sherniece adams on 7/08/2007 1:48PM
I have been a fan of Mary J. Blige since the 411. Mary and I are the exact same age and every album since "My Life" we have gone through the exact same stuggles. When she perfoms "Take Me As I'am" I'm always in tears by the end of the song because you can hear her pain and triumph.
MS.Blige will always be my sister in spirit. I admire, respect and love her spirit. I actually plan to sing "Take Me As I am" at my Birthday party next year as a gift to my guests and a celebration of ME.
Keep doin you Mary.xoxoxo
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By: jonathan on 7/08/2007 2:40PM
I am a seasoned musician of over 30 years (been playin' since I was 6) and it is true......as it has been stated (and admitted by Mary J. herself) that she isn't the greatest singer out there. However, I can appreciate her honesty. And obviously others appreciate her, too. I cannot judge them about WHY they appreciate her. The fact is that they do. One form of appreciation that can be seen is record sales. If she wasn't selling any records, then we wouldn't even be talking about her. My brother James (from above) referenced several "legends." Having a love for jazz & R&B, both contemporary and traditional, I was smiling while reading the list. Unfortunately, the industry is to blame. You would think that the more talent you have, the more successful you would be. But it doesn't work that way. In this capitalistic society we live in, $$$ is all that matters at the end of the day. $$$ is what drives the decision makers and "talent" is just a side dish, if that. It's always been this way, but at least back then the "bar" for being an artist was higher. However, I believe there is room for everyone and if someone has a MUSICAL GIFT than they should be able to share it to the masses. Ok, now we gotta define "musical gift." Herein lies the problem. We all have heard something on the radio at some point in time that has made us think, "how in the world did that get on the radio?" DO WE REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE "TOUCH" A SONG BEFORE IT IS EVEN PLAYED ON THE RADIO OR MADE INTO A CD????????? Many hands have touched the music from the songwriter to the disc jockey at the radio station. I blame it on the industry. I know good music when I hear it and I know good singers/musicians, too. If it was up to me, some of the stuff we hear just wouldn't make it.........it just wouldn't. But, obviously, it isn't up to me. Music is POWERFULL!!!!! It impacts people's lives in such a great way. What disturbs me the most is that many of our music industry "decision-makers" ignore that responsibility just to make a buck, amoung other things. Anyone out there feel me? Ok..........I'll stop preachin'
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By: James Wood on 7/08/2007 2:43PM
Give me a break, this chick was a dope addict, why because she chose to do this no one forced her to life a crack pipe to her face and suck, she hung out with dope pushers, crack ho's, and the like and then when she gets tired, she writes a bunch of giberish about her pathetic existance just to try to connect to people whom make the Same foolish choices she did and then expects to be celebrated for a so- clled brek thru. Ture Billie Holiday had a dope problem too but, she was not writing songs about this silly affliction and expecting to be rewarded for it. She did what a lot of entertainers did during and before her time... fought like he to keep it out of the press. Mary J. can't wait until her next fall so that she'll have some more ridiculous material to write pathetic songs about. And another thing... How can one not hear her so called music today with the media hyping the must tasteless, vulger tragic slop they can find for whomever will allow themselves to caught up in that bull----raputre. Good, realing singing does not go out of style, no matter what time in history you live in and bull----stinks, weather it on the farm, in your livingroom or car, period.
For those of you whom feel she has so much to offer society, check yourselves, if you need her as some kind of glorified oricle, you need to go lay on couch in an office and pay someone 75 bucks to point out to you that you truly do have issues if you wan to worship at the alter of someone whom clearly has little respect for herself and she so called audience of devote's. If you like it, I love it.
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By: Ms Jay on 7/08/2007 3:47PM
What, #1 and some of you others are crazy. Mary J can sing. You people are just so negative. If she was not talented or can sing, she would not have been around for so long!! Please, Mary J. is still making hit records and laughing all the way to the bank. F$%^ them haters~~~
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