PRESS & FANS REVIEWS: HOLLYWOOD - FLORIDA

Recenze fanoušků i tisku na koncert na Floridě.

A subdued Mariah slays 'em at the Hard Rock - By Leslie Gray Streeter - Palm Beach Post

The artist: Mariah Carey
Where: Seminole Hard Rock's Hard Rock Live on Thursday night

The songs we heard: "Touch My Body," "We Belong Together," "Shake It Off," "The Impossible," crowd singalongs "Always Be My Baby" and "Hero".

The rundown: The last time I saw Mariah Carey in concert, she was in full over-the-top shiny mode. There were dancers – lots of dancers. And boobs. And a giant butterfly shining like a specialized diva Bat Signal, and clown or a mime – can't remember which one – on hand to run around and fawn, and, at one point, paint Mariah's picture.

Of course, it was, in its way, completely amazing, because that's the mode that Mariah, at that point just about to make a massive comeback, was in. And as over-the-top as it was, you loved it because, as my guest pointed out to me, she was being totally authentic because she's into all that stuff. The Mariah Carey that commanded the stage from mostly a fixed position on Thursday at the Hard Rock was doing the diva thing just as emphatically as before, flirting with the crowd and acting as the sparkly mother hen to another brood of limber "Kids From Fame"-esque dancers and wielding that effortless gazillion-octave range at will like a glittery sword.

But if the previous version – and indeed, the version we've seen accepting awards lately – was still working some beneath-her-dignity MTV vixen mojo that she's too talented and not 25-years-old enough for, Thursday's Mariah had settled into some vintage 50s screen siren self-aware state. Installed behind a mic stand, or luxuriating on a snow-white divan as – and I could not even begin to make this up – assistants appeared on stage to reapply her make-up and touch up her hair. She did a few of her dancier hits, like "Touch My Body," teetering uncertainly on heels whose height she joked about. But the evening was draped in a decidedly sultry air, as Mariah delivered torchy, romantic ballads and poked self-aware fun at her own image.

"This is not an alcoholic beverage," she giggled, as she sipped what appeared to be champagne from a glass that had been presented to her on-stage, holding it elegantly by the stem, as if having taken lessons from Bette Davis.

Although the singer ocassionally seemed shaky on her feet, her voice was strong, assured and, as usual, eerily effortless. She and her lithe young dancers neatly illustrated some of her greatest hits, including a mash-up of "Heartbreaker" with preceding diva Diana Ross' "Love Hangover;" "Honey," "Make It Happen," which the dancers began to a recorded track with Mariah appearing to blow open the bridge.

There is no proof that Mariah Carey will never again appear on stage in a teensy-tiny skirt, spilling over her low-cut bodice. But this very special elegant throw-back of a performance reminds us that with that voice and that self-assurance, she doesn't need all that to hold attention.


Mariah Carey struts, sings and sips at the Hard Rock - By Renee Michelle Harris - South Florida Times

From the onstage hair styling and application of makeup, to sipping water from a champagne glass, Mariah Carey took the diva effect to her own level in a sold-out performance at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Hollywood last week.

Because I am a fan of the "old" Mariah, the "Vision of Love" singer with the five-octave voice who seemed destined to join the ranks of what I call the singers-with-substance club, it took some effort for me to leave my preconceived notions about Mrs. Nick Cannon and her fluff factor at the door.

Descending from the ceiling of the elegantly decorated stage swathed in shades of purple, Carey greeted her fans' deafening screams by going into some of her most popular songs, including "Touch my Body," and "Shake it Off," before slowing it down with a touching tribute to Haiti with "Angels Cry."

It's the mix of tunes with one-dimensional titles and lyrics to match, combined with the very elegantly attired, coiffed and meticulously made-up woman that underscores the complexities which define Mariah Carey. She's like a little girl playing dress up – brilliantly becoming a multi-millionaire and one of the most popular female singers in the world in the process.

Carey is aware of the media's scrutiny of her every move. When she sipped water from a champagne glass, she playfully told the audience, "It's water. It's water. They make such a big deal about everything," alluding to recent reports that she was slightly inebriated while giving a speech at an awards program.

"This is not an alcoholic beverage, it's water in a champagne glass, because that's the way I like to drink my water," she assured adoring fans that sang along with virtually every song at her Jan. 21 performance.

Backed by a talented, four-member band that was conspicuously missing a lead guitar, three background singers and a cadre of dancers, Carey covered the entire stage. When she appeared somewhat unsteady in her stilettos, I attributed the unsteadiness to the sheer height of the shoes and not the content of her glass.

Fully and unapologetically owning her self-proclaimed diva status endears Carey to her fans. When she acknowledged that having her hair and makeup touched up on stage was "over-the-top-behavior," and then told the audience, "If you were me, you'd do the same thing," she got a big "I ain't mad at you, Mariah," laugh from the crowd.

Carey borrowed from legendary diva Diana Ross with her own version of "Love Hangover," and allowed her dancers to strut their stuff for most of "Make it Happen," before taking the stage to belt out the bridge.

Trey Lorenz, Carey's honey-voiced partner on the Michael Jackson remake of "I'll Be There," took the stage for a soulful rendition of the King of Pop's "Rock with You" during one of Carey's three costume changes.

The multiple Grammy Award-winning Carey embodies the motto, "Nothing beats a failure but a try," in her fearless intent to live and perform on her own terms. It's evident in her career as an actress, where she bombed in her debut performance in the pitiful Glitter, only to later gain the respect of critics by demonstrating real acting chops in a couple of independent films before cementing her thespian talent as a social worker in the acclaimed movie Precious.

And it's evident in the rollercoaster ride called her musical career, which despite her very public 2001 emotional breakdown and Virgin Records' very expensive buyout of her contract, has seen more highs than lows.

What others think she should do with her voice apparently matters little to Carey, who has sold over 175 million albums in her 20-year career.

While her show last Thursday was definitely entertaining, it's Carey's determination to be true to herself that has won my respect.


Mariah Carey Delivers At South Florida "Angels Advocate" Tour Stop - By Anthony Jones - Celebrity News Service (CNS)

Just give Mariah Carey a microphone and she'll either have a global audience in stitches, like her now infamous acceptance speech at the Palm Springs Film Festival where the superstar was slightly toasted, or in complete awe, like she had the sold-out crowd during her "Angels Advocate" tour stop at the Hard Rock Live in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL.

Descending from the stage in a glittered swing and wearing pounds of tulle, Carey's opening was reminiscent of a birthday girl at an MTV "My Super Sweet 16" party. But Carey, much like her very much self-aware personality, is over-the-top when it comes to her look. Every dress (she wore four) and heel sparkled. "Like the ensem?," she asked the audience after changing into a new floor length gown.

Mariah delivered some of her biggest hits from her now, believe it or not, twenty-year career. Her earliest material only came in a dancer interlude for "Make it Happen" and her latest, the stunning "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," was relegated to only four tracks. Otherwise, the material mostly consisted of selections from "Butterfly" and on, including Billboard's recently named Song of the Decade "We Belong Together" and her latest hit "Obsessed." She also included some discography highlights like the rousing gospel-influenced "Fly Like a Bird" and the smooth jazz inflections of "Subtle Invitation."

But as engaging as any of her performances was Mariah's interaction with the audience. She took a few times to joke about her headline-making acceptance speech, although she did "lady-like sips" of a glass of champagne for herself. "Because it's my stage and I can," she said. Before another song, she also had her make-up people come onto the stage for retouching. "You know if it was you on stage, you'd do it too," she joked.

Most importantly at a Mariah Carey show is the voice and she was almost surprisingly pitch perfect. Just when you think there's some playback assistance, she adds a run or changes the note to something different from the album version. It's a lot more Mariah than some naysayers might think. Check out her live sung introduction of life-long backup singer Trey Lorenz which was both impressive singing and hilarious.

Carey has never been the most exciting stage performer but leave the tricks to the Britney's and the Gaga's. The diva delivered, giving vocal performances of her biggest hits that hold up with any of her performances in the past decade. She's also showing more of who Mariah really is than ever, and for fans, that's an endearing treat.


FAN REVIEWS

James: "I've seen Mariah every time she's been to South Florida. The Music Box Tour was my first concert ever, in fact. I've loved every time I've seen her despite certain aspects of her shows that I didn't enjoy (having a DJ in between costume changes on The Adventure of Mimi Tour). But last night she cemented her place in music history (something us lambs already knew). She was simply amazing. The show was seamless as one song led into another and only pause in between songs was for Mariah to interact with the crowd. Her voice was great, even with the backing track in some songs she was still hitting those notes effortlessly. It seemed not eveyone knew her newer songs but they sure knew her older hits. The crowd was a mixture of young and old, new fans and Mariah's Lambs. I did hear a lot of people complain the concert was not long enough and others were saddened that she cut Emotions from last night's set. Overall, the reponse seemed positive."

Cristian: "It was my second time to have the privilege to witness Mariah Carey in concert. The first time was back in 2006 in the Adventures of Mimi. Angels Advocate turns out to be an intimate occasion to get delighted of what Mimi's fans we like the best, Her Voice. Let me get straight to the point, Mariah gets better by the year. Her voice is not only impeccable but you can tell that the songstress has been on the stage almost 20 years already. She sang for everyone from the old Honey and Always Be My Baby fans to the latest Obsessed followers. With performances like Fly Like a Bird, We Belong Together and her new work It's A Wrap or Angels Cry only give credit that she is already undoubtedly a living legend and her legacy for sure will be remembered for many years to come. I only hope I can see Mariah over and over again and relive the amazing experience of having the chance to see one of the most gifted singers of all time. Bless you Mariah and thank you for bringing us your gift to your fans in South Florida. It is not only appreciated but immensely enjoyed by the ones who will always acknowledge what a unique artist of the present time you are."

Benjamin: "I just came out from the Angels Advocate Tour concert at the Hard Rock Live theatre and let me tell you that it was amazing! It was my first time to see her and I was in the front there watching how her sweat came down from her forehead to her throat! Her vocals were fierce and on the beat! Her wardobe was fab and the ambience was perfect! Cannot complain. She put on a really well balanced show with some classics, and some newbies, and her performance was great overall. I encourage all fans to go see her at a show near you 'cause it was totally worth paying for."

Ashley: "Mariah shut the Hollywood Hard Rock Casino down! It was so amazing! I went by myself to the show. Traffic was crazy. Everyone was rushing to get in. They were very strict on the "No Camera" policy. I even got in trouble for having my camera out during the show and was told that if they saw it again, it was gonna get taken away. But honestly, going through all the trouble and getting in trouble is all worth it for Mariah. I was able to capture lifetime memories. I bought a key chain and one of the neck lanyards with Mariah's picture and tour dates on the back, 'cause that's all I could really afford; but they have an amazing collection of souvenirs and accessories so I suggest you pick some items up! I sat in one of the floor sections. It was kinda hard to see with everyone standing up and trying to stand on their chairs and stuff. It started a little after 8pm. The opening act came out and performed. I had never really heard of them before but I enjoyed their performance. Mariah came out a little before 9pm and the crowd went wild. Including myself. She looked like such an angel coming down on that swing. From that point on, the show was amazing. I loved how Mariah interacted with the crowd a lot. And was able to joke while sipping some 'sparkle' from time to time about the whole 'speech' event. She sang some classics as well as some recent hits and closed the show with 'Hero.' This is seriously a once in a lifetime event. Well worth everything in my opinion. Voice was flawless. For those who are hating on the show... 'I should crack you right in your forehead....' cause you can't even see a good thing even when it's right in front of you. Mariah I love you. Forever and always. Your loyal lamby for life."

Kathryn: "I arrived at the Hard Rock early, after hanging out with a couple lambs, to beat the crowd and pick up my ticket at Will Call. After reading reviews from previous shows, I had a general idea of how the night would progress. I had already prepared myself for several Michael Jackson songs and a very late start, so I was pleasantly surprised when Rydaznrtist started just a little after 8... and even more surprised that we didn't have to wait too much longer for Mariah. As soon as the crowd saw 'MARIAH' flash across the curtain, we knew it was almost showtime! A few minutes later, Mariah descended from the air on her swing. The energy levels throughout the venue were simply incredible, especially on the floor! The entire show was amazing and I loved the setlist! I especially loved that she did a lot of older songs as the crowd seemed more receptive then; she sang something for everyone. The highlight of my night, however, was her performance of 'Fly Like A Bird' - it became my favorite song after seeing it live twice during The Adventures of Mimi tour, and I get goosebumps every time! I also loved Angels Cry (another one of my favourites) and the aerial acrobats were really awesome! My only real complaint is that I would have liked the show to be longer - she left me wanting more! Mariah was nothing short of spectacular! If I won the lotto, I would most definitely buy tickets to every one of the shows on this tour. Although I didn't get to meet her after the show, my friend and I got to hang out with 2/3 of Rydaznrtist. They're the sweetest, most down-to-earth guys and I have to say, I'm an even bigger fan of theirs because of this!"

Ebony: "When I arrived the opening act was already playing and people were dancing and having a good time. After they went off a few of Michael Jackson's hits came on which pumped the crowd even more. After about ten minutes the stage starts glowing with the word Mariah blaring. Everyone started to scream as she descended down on a swing, her angelic voice filling the room and exciting fans. I was screaming at the top of my lungs as well as everyone else. Before this night I had never known how many lambs there truly were. People with Mariah on their shirts, their faces, their bags! Through the whole concert people were singing like crazy - boys, girls, it didn't matter we were all pumped! My favorite song she performed was Touch My Body preferably because I felt that at that time, all of the people in the room synced with each other and we all swayed with satisfaction. Unfortunately my seats were not the best and I am not 6 ' 7 so I could not see Mariah for a majority of the concert. Even so I sang along and danced as if I was in the front row. Despite a dispute between people in front of me and the people in back of me, the concert was nothing short of amazing. The stands selling her merchandise were packed with people all wanting a Mariah shirt or poster. I made a few friends in the line actually (Mariah wasn't kidding when she said her fans were like family). As I was leaving I thought this could just possibly be the best night of my life. My rating: 5 stars!"

Anonymous: "We are huge Mariah Carey fans and have been since she was a teen; incredible person and simply unbelievable voice - we were so excited to see her at our first Hard Rock concert event. She began her show at about 8:50pm and at 9:25pm we were in our car exiting the Hard Rock for the following reasons: We were in section 105 way back on the floor and could not see, nor hear, at all. The people next to us (a Miami Police Officer and his wife) left too for the same reason. Everyone was standing on their chairs both in front and in back of us and were screaming the words to the first 2 songs so it was obvious that we wouldn't be able to enjoy the event. We did go to the Box Office but the Manager said everyone had the right to stand up and dance; she disagreed that they were standing on their chairs but said there was nothing she could do... and we were 'out' $210. If we hadn't had a great dinner at the Steak restaurant at the Casino, it would have been such a disappointment - but we were really just awaiting the concert at the restaurant for 2.5 hours, so the evening wasn't a complete bust. By the way, the lady ushers (in red jackets) tried to get people to at least stand on the floor (vs. them being up on the chairs) but to no avail! We would never return to this type of venue again! Guess we'll have to be satisfied watching her DVDs and listening to her music in other ways... wish it had been a more positive experience."

Jim: "Everyone says they are Mariah's biggest fan, but my friend Mauricio and I proved it by getting front row seats. It was an otherworldly experience. Mariah's singing was so spectacular that it took your breath away. The whole event -- from the planning stages of our costumes and assembling gifts for Cha Cha, Mariah's newest puppy, to the actual concert -- was a celebration. It was pure joy. We arrived as the opening act was finishing because, as Mimi says, to be late is 'in my DNA.' The guards told us no cameras/posters/flowers, which was devastating to us, because we had bags full of flowers and our own creations. We had spent weeks creating at least 20 posters, outfits, gifts, etc., and now we had to abandon them at the entrance. Fortunately, with some petitioning, the guards let us take in one bag of clothing/costumes and one poster each. We also had some magic wands and one strategic piece of clothing that actually made Mariah laugh. Trey Lorenz was the first to notice us. He was upstairs with Sherry and a back-up singer I didn't recognize (woman from Harlem), and Trey pointed at us. He could see our matching handmade glittering rainbow shirts and especially our pink satin and sequined butterfly capes. When we lifted the capes, they looked like giant butterflies. I held up a poster that read L.O.V.E.U., and on the back was a big Hello Kitty poster that said 'Hello Mariah.' Every song was a favorite, but I have to agree with our friend Elena that the best performance of the evening was 'Fly Like a Bird.' She killed it. Her voice was astounding. I was in tears and beyond. A friend commented later that she sounded better than in previous concerts. As if she could get better? Who can you compare to her? No one. The moment that made Mariah laugh was when she started 'It's a Wrap,' another song that she just destroyed (in the good way, of course. No positive word is strong enough to convey it). As she introduced the song, we reached into our bag and pulled out two fluffy pink shoulder throws, or 'wraps,' and wrapped them around our necks. As she waltzed the stage towards us, her eyes suddenly met ours. Then she saw the pink wraps. She threw her head back and widened her smile! But somehow she kept singing through it all. We were so happy that we brought a smile to her face. After that moment, we were content to say, 'It's a Wrap.' We were so happy that she added 'Always Be My Baby' back into the set list, although there were many other songs ('Emotions') that would have been equally as fabulous. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and Mariah introduced what Billboard recently named the 'Song of the Decade.' The song 'We Belong Together' had everyone singing as if we were a 6,000 member Glee Club. When she left the stage, the crowd erupted. That's when I opened my butterfly wings and flew to center stage. I flapped my wings and floated away. The fans loved it and so did the band (especially Trey). Mauricio and I stood right underneath the microphone stand as Mariah returned to sing 'Hero.' I don't think I need to explain that it was an out of body experience. Afterwards, people kept asking to take photos with us and our glittering outfits, and eventually the guards escorted us away. We were given a backstage pass but couldn't get access. We did, however, find someone going backstage and gave them the care package for Cha Cha, so we know that Mariah received one of our gifts. The biggest gift of all, of course, was the music, and we are so grateful for it. As Mariah always says, never give up on your dreams, believe in yourself/know what you want, and you can make it happen. Our wish is the same for you and you and you. A hero lies in all of us. Find it, go out there, and fly."

Todd: "I saw Mariah last Thursday night in Hollywood. She looked great! She sounded amazing! (This was my 4th Mariah concert.) It was a pleasure to hear her sing songs from the last 2 albums that I never saw/heard her sing in person before. 'Touch My Body' was flawless, invigorating. The band was incredible. What a great show! I wanted to thank you for keeping us all posted on her set lists over the last few weeks... with the song substitutions for each performance. You do a fantastic job on this site! What a treat. Your efforts are much appreciated!"