It's kind of funny to read reviews from around the country and see that Janet puts on the same, perfectly choreographed show night after night.
More like a Broadway show than a rock concert, it's easy to believe that every pre-recorded note, every shake of her perfectly sculpted booty and every facial expression is all part of the act. Everyone in the nearly sold out Bradley Center had a great time, but there was a fair amount of criticism from fans who would have rather seen Janet in July instead of freezing while the Bradley Center's less then adequate staff took their time letting everyone in.
Last night's heart-stopping show covered the entire career of an incredible musician, actress, entertainer and cultural icon. The three-story video screens were filled with Janet's music videos, images from her modeling career and scenes from "The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" and "Poetic Justice." In her two hour super-show, Janet did more medleys than a Beatles cover band. Moving gracefully from one song to the next, she found a way to fit in the favorite song of everybody in the room.
Janet's stage show was over-the-top. Her dancers must have had over a dozen costume changes, dressed as everything from evil ghouls to bugs to geishas to ... you name it. There was even a point where the whole stage started to fill with inflatable candy, toys and two 30-foot tall jack-in-the-boxes. There were explosions, flames and fireworks, but the most memorable moment of the show, especially for one young guy in the front row, occurred toward the end of the night.
As a stainless steel and velvet bondage device rose from beneath the stage, Janet paced back and forth along the front of the stage deciding who would get the show of his life.
Picture this: over 10,000 screaming fans, you are already excited because you are sitting in the front row having the time of your life and then Janet has her security guys pull you over the barricades and up on to the stage. They tie your arms and legs into this medieval-looking device a la Hannibal Lecter and Janet does her thing.
Without getting too detailed, Janet performed a lap dance on this poor guy. At this point, you are either wishing you were in that guy's shoes or you are terribly offended. I can't help but wonder how many young kids are telling their friends about it right now in grade schools around Milwaukee. Maybe Janet was irresponsible to let it go that far, or maybe parents should have expected something like this to happen considering Janet's new album is full of frank sexual talk.
At 35, Janet still knows how to keep a crowd on its feet and mesmerized with her talent. Most concerts leave you wanting more, but Miss Jackson left us all feeling completely satisfied.