This would be no ordinary concert where the audience faces
one direction looking towards a stage at one end of the room. The
diamond-shaped stage was in the center of the Smoothie King arena floor with
runways one either side shooting out like rays and a staircase that would later
contain a few surprises. Alicia Keys walked out with just her voice announcing
her. She appeared out of nowhere and slowly took to the stage while singing the
chorus from her ultra hit "Fallin'." She began playing the glittering
silver grand piano soulfully, and it rotated while the rest of her band joined
her to create a growing, thunderous sound.
Alicia looked like a queen, for sure. Draped in gold
clothing, she shined like a statue. Even her long braided ponytail was
festooned with gold and diamonds. But I loved how instead of donning sky-high
heels that would probably be very uncomfortable, she wore Timberland-style
boots. She projected, "NOLA! I've been waiting for y'all," and the crowd went
wild. They made it known that they waited for her, too.
Going between standing at the piano and walking around her
diamond stage glistening with shooting lights, she engaged the audience with
her friendly, warm smile. She had a way of making people feel like she was
singing right to them with songs, "You Don't Know My Name," "Un-thinkable," and
"Underdog," the latter of which she introduced by saying, "If you ever felt
like an underdog, this song is for us!"
When Alicia took to the runways, not only was she getting up
close and personal with the fans at either end of the arena, the camera angles
for the big screens afforded stunning views for those who preferred to watch
the screens. She shined alone like a gleaming diamond on black velvet, glittering
as she sang and danced.
At one point, Alicia sashayed over to the staircase that
softly glowed as she layed sensually upon them and she crooned "Come For Me." A
man appeared out of nowhere from the top of the staircase and expertly danced
around her when she led him out over the catwalk. He was there to steal our
gaze away from Alicia as she secretly descended through the secret portal for a
few minutes.
When she finally graced us with her appearance again, she
rose slowly up through the floor at the top of the staircase in a new shining
silver coat that dusted the floor, mirror-like silver boots, and hot sunglasses
playing a clear piano. Her band faded away, and she played stripped-down
versions of songs of her own choosing. "A Woman's Worth" inspired her to tell
her audience members that, "You should never doubt your worth. If you have to
beg someone to call…" and then gestured what you should do to that person that
you are considering begging.
Her band came back for more rollicking numbers, and the riff
of "Sweet Dreams" by The Eurythmics thundered around the arena which flowed
into "In Common." Alicia went back to the center stage to pound on her piano as
a halo descended and white fog flowed making her look like an angel. But that
fog and halo deepened in color glowing red and fuchsia as she burst into "Girl
on Fire." Yet again, the whole mood of the show transformed when she asked
everyone to light up the arena with their phone lights for one of the final
songs "No One."
Alicia Keys not only dazzles the eyes with a stage that
looks like her temple that you are standing in for a ceremony, she evokes fond
memories with her career-spanning soulful hits.
