Mary J. Bilge Concert Review 02 Arena 02/11/2010

The foundation of a Mary J. Blige concert lays in her personal no hold connection with the woman from the front row to furthest corner of the arena speaking directly to her soul. “Music Saved My Life” and I’m going to sing like it was my last. Mary J. Blige Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul lived up to that statement at The 02 Arena on Tuesday November 2^nd 2010. The relationship people have with Mary’s music while in their homes, cars and 3am realisations of self is taken to another level in her presence.  

Mary J performed 30 of her biggest hits echoed by the audience, most who have followed her voice all the way from the baseball caps of “The 411” to the confident woman living and loving life in the fitted black cat suit on the stage.

Mary was joined by her dancers to open the show with up tempo songs “The One” “MJB Da MVP” “Good Love” “I Feel Good” and U.K Top 10 hit “Each Tear” from her new album “Stronger”. The audience was brought to their feet and others had formed a dance floor behind the control box holding glasses of wine as she reminisced on hits such as “I’m Going Down” “Be Happy” and “My Life”. All she needed was a stage and that microphone no need for complex and distracting stag design just raw emotion, vocals and lessons learned.

After a quick costume change Mary, her signature tattoo’s and thigh high 6 inch boots broke down in true New York City style “Real Love” “Not Gone Gone Cry” “Good Woman Down” and “Enough Crying”. Mary’s most emotionally charged song brought her to her knees and the audience standing on their seats was a track from her 2003 album “Love and Life” called “Your Child” about receiving a knock on the door one evening with a woman holding a baby with eyes just like her partner.

Mary’s set included broken down versions of songs “Be without you” and Chaka Khan cover “Sweet Thing” while pointing the microphone towards the audience trying to hit that signature Chaka note.

The show was closed with her classic dance tracks “Family Affair”, her #1 2008 hit “Just Fine” the ushers and security members giving up on the task of trying keeping people in out of the ails and the makeshift dance floor. I think the defining moment knowing Mary had an amazing show when the whole Journalist box were dancing like nobody was watching. Jay-Z and Beyoncé are sitting amongst the crowd and nobody even looks back to notice they are their because there eyes are glued to the stage.

Mary proved her ability to connect with each and every audience member, so when you see a flyer for a Mary.J concert you already know you won’t find the same atmosphere anywhere els.


Concert Reviews Coming Month Of November
Yonlanda Brown
John Legend and The Roots

Concert Reviews Coming Month Of December
Melanie Fiona
(see The Vinyl Box's first post to learn more about Melanie Fiona her music and short review of her July concert)