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Saturday » October 13 » 2007
LOPEZ, ANTHONY PACK ONE - TWO LATIN PUNCH
Couple has 'em dancing in ailes - at Bell Centre!
T'CHA DUNLEVY
The Gazette
Saturday, October 13, 2007
It was a Latin pop superstar summit last night at the Bell Centre, as Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony performed a joint concert to 12,200 ecstatic fans.
The timing couldn't have been better. Lopez's new album Brave was released on Tuesday, and rumours about her being pregnant (possibly with twins) have the tabloids in a tizzy. Oh yeah, and this is her first-ever concert tour.
But if you thought she would carry the night by virtue of her chart-topping success, you underestimate Anthony's performance experience, and his drawing power in the Latin community. His opening set had all the pomp, pretense and polish (not to mention punch) of headliner.
Smoke and dramatic guitar lines set the tone before he even hit the stage. The audience screamed in anticipation. When he emerged on a rising platform, the room went wild. It was but a prelude of things to come.
Accompanied by a 17-piece band, he powered through an array of songs from throughout his career. People were dancing in the aisles (at the Bell Centre!), and singing along wholeheartedly during the ballads.
"I'm amazed," he said, during one such singalong, shaking his head in wonder before closing his eyes to resume his verse.
"Wow," he picked up, at song's end, marvelling at the roar of the crowd. He put his hand on his heart; then, as the applause increased, he dropped to his knees and kissed the stage. Touching - until you realize that he did the same routine Wednesday night at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. So let's call him smart.
"I want to say that we've been on tour now for a couple of weeks," he continued, back on his feet, "and you guys are the best crowd in the world. Montreal!"
Whether or not he says that to all his audiences, it was far from empty praise.
People were loving him, and with good reason. Anthony is a seasoned entertainer. He's got the chops and the enthusiasm to back up his title as the biggest-selling salsa singer of all time.
Lopez took the stage after just a few minutes' break, and the difference was striking. Bumping club beats, fireworks and an R&B-flavoured hook punctuated her opening song Do It Well.
Backup dancers made up for her limited movements (taking it easy for the little ones?); and uncharacteristic tummy-covering outfits made baby talk seem all the more credible. She went through the motions, playing most of her hits, including Jenny From the Block, If You Had My Love, I'm Real and Get Right.
"That was fun, back in the J.Lo days," she said, laughing, after Ain't It Funny. She then introduced her new dance single, Hold It Don't Drop It.
Lopez had just enough juice to get by, but her performance came off much like her music - it did the trick, but barely. She got our attention, but couldn't keep it. And the audience's energy level was noticeably lower than during Anthony's set.
All was forgiven when they returned together for a couple of romantic duets at night's end. Sappy, yet effective.
tdunlevy@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2007
LINK:
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=64f3ef69-b0af-4c45-8d4e-b42b988ddfb4
It was the best end for a concert. Exploding confetti and fireworks!
