Like the Olympics and Congressional Conventions, Robert Sylvester Kelly saw fit to open his performance at Long Island's Nassau Coliseum with the National Anthem - so when the iconic singer finally took to the stage, outfitted in diamond-encrusted hoodie and fleet-footed behind a boxing ring, the audience was already out of their seats.
But it's not like the Pied Piper needed a ploy to get it poppin. Perhaps recognizing that the Double Up tour might be his last for awhile, the singer spent every iota of his extensive performance showing and proving he's earned his title as Mr. Showman, the king of R&B, beginning and ending with his reedy voice, so familiar and agile. After his grand entrance, he put up his dukes to booming chants of "The Champ is Here" (somebody holler at Green Lantern) and ran through his vast stable of hits - singing at least a few lines from even oft-requested titles like "Bump N Grind," "Forever More," "Down Low," "Feelin' On Yo Booty," and "Ignition." Magnum-powered by a team of six dancers, a live band and a hype-man (Milton?), the three-hour extravaganza was as much a career retrospective as a high-concept, grand arena tour. And, as with any retrospective, there was a little bit of reflection. "I wanna thank you for supporting me through thick and thin, for 17 years," he noted several times throughout the night, at one point appearing like he might actually cry. Shadowing his gratitude, of course, was his pending trial for child-pornography charges, delayed for years but now finally seeing light with a tentative court date in spring of next year. There was a finality to his thankfulness, as if he, long untouchable, could no longer deny the gravity of his situation.
But with Kells, where there is gravity, there's always a healthy dose of grandiosity to balance it out.
And that he did, his velvety voice fluttering on every timeless melody, his crowd-captivating charisma on full blast, his Swarovski crystal-encrusted cane waving around erect, a not-so-subtle extension of his, um, thoia-thoing. He performed "Strip for You" behind a camera that silhouetted his body, and definitely dropped his pants. For "Slow Wind," one of his dancers crawled out from beneath a throne to perform a highly complicated lap dance. He clearly relished every moment. But even as his show got increasingly explicit, he apologized for saying "motherfuckas." ("Excuse my French," Kellz disclaimed politely.)
As he launched into a run of his newer songs, it became clear his catalogue, comprised largely of grown-ass bedroom anthems for freaky adults, has gotten younger as he's aged. The tracks from Double Up are more influenced by contemporary rap than anything he's ever done - trussed up with jeep-beats and street synths, sung in aggressive cadence. He spent an half-hour performing his biggest hits of the year - most of which were his features on '07's top pop remixes, from "We Takin' Over" and "Promise" to "Buy U a Drank" and, just for good measure, "I'm in Love with a Stripper." Lacking any guest-stars (he didn't really need any), he aired a video of his high-powered pals stoking the crowd to shout-outs: Ciara, Snoop, T-Pain, Fat Joe, and Common (who evoked the most applause, which my companion said proved the audience was definitely middle-aged).
Kellz also showed why he earned his reputation as an unmitigated wild man. At his most satisfyingly scripted, he indulged his taste for theatrics with play-acted routines that mirrored the passion of community theatre - and dripped with the kind of performative melodrama that only megastars like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince have the presence to successfully pull off. For "Zoo," that monkey-hooting sexaphor ballad on Double Up, Kellz' dancers - donning leopard-print bikinis - "kidnapped" him and tied him up. As he sang, kneeling on the ground with six women lipsynching to the sound of lion's roars around him, he actually busted up laughing. Anyone who discounts his own self-awareness doesn't giving the man enough credit. And yet, for all his humor and likeability, his audience cannot forget his alleged infractions. In between songs, hecklers could be heard from the stands: "What happened to Ne-Yo?!" one yelled, referring to the opener who was dropped from the tour amid rumored controversy. And, as the performance began to wrap up, one fan got the courage to holler the worst: "R. Kelly, I'm 13, will you go out with me?"
What could he do? The band played on. "Happy People," one of Kells' most gorgeous and transcendent songs, is his vision of a carefree world, where folks could step and love with abandon - his melancholy interpretation of heaven, it's half-celestial fantasia, half Chi-city club. And so it was right that he ended his concert with that track, a posse of audience members dancing onstage behind him. Dressed in an oversized white tuxedo with coattails, the crowd safely in his palm, he weaved his song into a medley of choruses: "This Christmas," "Joy and Pain," and somewhat bewilderingly, the theme songs to long-syndicated TV shows "Love Boat" and "Welcome Back, Kotter." As he closed out his medley to the theme from "Good Times," the sky opened up and a blizzard of silver-and-white confetti fluttered down upon the audience, glittering snow from Kellz' personal nirvana. "Not getting hassled, not getting hustled. Keepin' your head above water. Making a wave when you can. Good Times." He belted it like it was gospel. Like he meant it.
November 26, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
Live Review: R. Kelly's Double Up Tour
Kellz proved his weight in Pied Piper Saturday (November 24) in Uniondale, NY, with a three-hour extravaganza that was as much career retrospective as high-concept arena tour.
Article tags: Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Ne-Yo, R. Kelly, Snoop Dogg, T-pain
Page printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/11/r_kelly_double_up_tour/
Comments
1.
strawberry1 says:
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R.Kelly is a punk.He is just hating cuz u are the best. U are better that him, u get the ladies, U never been trial for hitting on lil Girls. He can't touch u.U will do damage to him.U go neyo I totally got ur back.. He a dumb azz . Neyo uare so amazing to me. talented writter. U are a good write. He is Jealous of u.
January 13, 2008 at 10:28 pm
2.
chesz says:
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hmmmmmmmmmmm no comment
December 6, 2007 at 6:49 pm
3.
ariefbabie says:
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Ummm R. Kelly is weak lol bye
December 5, 2007 at 8:16 am
4.
Equal-time says:
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Ne-Yo is a narcissus neophyte needing news. The art of B---S is to know when to quit. Whether you love or hate R. Kelly, folks need to report the facts more responsibly instead of looking for sensationalism. The reality of events can often be more entertaining then the lopsided logic and spurious spins being reported by Diva DJ’s and Wanna-be limelight seekers. Ne-Yo’s radio interviews regarding this matter weighted more against his argument then building upon it. *Sniff* *Sniff* smells like Jay-Z trying to throw a smoking gun into Kelly’s lawsuit (Jay-Z’a counter was thrown out). Not to mention that Ne-Yo is under Jay-Z’s label/thumb. For those intelligent listeners think about it, Ne-Yo admitted on Ed Lover’s show that he initially refused to take his crew to Columbus to practice and that they were practicing in Atlanta, instead. Ne-Yo also admitted that he was told by the Kelly folks that he’d “better” get his butt up to Columbus and rehearse on that stage (which anyone in the business knows is important in the event of some unforeseen matters that might need to be adjusted accordingly--like lights, sound and so forth). Once Ne-Yo reluctantly agreed and arrived in Columbus, his 4 hours was reduced to 2 hours because he used that time up debating and protesting. Ne-Yo was learning quickly he had to be a team player and just because he decided to finally give-in and act professionally, other performers who were already in place needed to use the stage to practice on as well. Ne-Yo’s time was cut because of his decisions, not anyone else's. Similarly, if Ne-Yo had to "fight" for a dressing room, and Kelly took them all, then where did J Holiday and Keisha get dressed? Ne-Yo may be a neophyte but his manager needs to get fired if he allowed his client to go on tour without a contract under any circumstances. Or, perhaps Ne-Yo wanted to fly freestyle because he knew he had other rods in the proverbial flame while the tour was in motion. Notice Ne-Yo never explained how he "only" did 2 of the "5" performances "BEFORE" he was removed from the line-up that Monday. While Ne-Yo played his fans by trying to collect sympathy, let’s also consider his lack of explaining how he’d missed the Greensboro, Birmingham, and Charlotte gigs because he was at the Music Awards performing with Rhianna. He didn't seem to worry about those fans missing the opportunity to hear him perform then, nor has he fully explained that when he finally sauntered back to the tour that fateful Monday he was about to head off again to the Macy's Day parade in NYC while the tour was performing in Newark that very same day. And then there were the continuos ribbon cuttings for the Ronald Houses and don't forget the masquerade ball he was planing. And as far as upstaging Kelly. He wishes. I have scoured the net looking for reviews and Ne-Yo’s name, let alone his performance recap, never made it to more than one or two lines in any of the papers or on the e-news-net while still on the tour. In fact, Ne-Yo didn’t get past the blink of an eye for his presence on the Double-up tour until he pulled his disappearing acts that did catch the eye of the tour’s promoter, Rowe Entertainment. When Ne-Yo refused to sign the agreement, which meant he’d have to forego the Macy’s parade (unless he could split himself and be in two places at once, or only fly around the country to cut ribbons when the tour had a 2-day break every 4 shows, or else he’d be held in breach)---Ne-Yo decided to “Cry Wolf” and finally figured a way to get the attention he felt he deserved, but had failed to yield on the 2 performances out of the 5 actually done. But then---Thank GOODNESS! some Ne-Yo fan posted his anti-climatic performance clips from Columbus, where his mimicking Michael J’s steps seem several beats behind the frenzy Jackson made famous. And in keeping with Ne-Yo’s self professed idol MJ I noticed Ne-Yo generously sprinkles MJ’s trademark "ohhh's" marking each stanza, as well as Ne-Yo’s attempt to James Brown his mic. And finally, the boy needs a choreographer, his dancers are as uninteresting as his amateurish performance itself. I'll stick to listening to his records, I do enjoy his music. Hate Kelly all you want. But at least his material is unlike anyone else's----whether that is a good or bad thing or even bizarre, is left for the audience to determine----but it is definitely wildly entertaining and unlike anything I have seen or can imagine someone actually doing. And, isn’t that what we pay the price of those costly tickets? Otherwise, we can simply save our money and just by the CD.
So here's the links from youtube of Ne-Yo in his Columbus’ Double-up performance. You be the Judge:
http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=tpWXst4NqkA
http://www.you tube.com/watch?v=RSvzmRIimDQ
November 29, 2007 at 2:05 pm
5.
samuellewis says:
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I am in disbelief after hearing that their were contractual problems in reference to Ne-yo being dropped from the Double up Tour. Prior to starting a tour the artists sign contracts and other necessary paperwork. This sounds like the Pied Piper and his ego. Ne-yo is a up and coming artist who is doing a terrific job. It seems Mr. Kelley was jealous that Ne-yo had more young female fans screaming for him. R.Kelley once again showed his disloyalty and erratic behavior and attitude.(Remember the Best of Both Worlds Tour 2) Mr.Kelley should have been more supportive of Ne-yo. It is appalling that this black man is insensitive and egotistical in manner and nature. Ne-yo keep your head up and continue doing good music. One day your light will shine bright and hopefully not on a video with underage teenagers.
November 26, 2007 at 10:05 pm