While the economy has been ailing, so, too, has Janet Jackson. Suffering from what was initially described as a “mystery illness,” the 42-year-old R&B/pop queen has canceled or postponed nearly a dozen shows on her current Rock Witchu Tour, which kicked off Sept. 10 in Vancouver.
On Wednesday night at the Verizon Center, however, the big-budget spectacle, long a signature of Miss Jackson’s concert style, was alive and well. With the help of nine dancer friends and three musicians, the Grammy-winning artist delivered a healthy two-hour-plus show that had fans on their feet and $35 T-shirts moving briskly.
OK, so maybe the concert wasn’t all that healthy. It appeared to suffer from attention deficit disorder, racing as it did between various themes, eras and styles. All four of the astrological elements were fully represented - fire (with pyrotechnics), air (set pieces that rose and fell), earth (more like the streets, actually), water (a bizarre nautical segment)- and for good measure, the show also included some “Lord of the Rings”-esque good-versus-evil drama along with several “So You Think You Can Dance”-style contemporary dance solos.
Overall, Miss Jackson donned nine costumes, which ranged from greaser-chic to ghetto fabulous and from what can only be described as futuristic tribal bondage gear to a splashy, red-sequined ball gown. She kept the high heels to a minimum, though - no doubt a help with all that endless, intricate choreography for which she is known.
Miss Jackson’s career seems to have slowed since that infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl. Her recent albums (2004’s “Damita Jo,” 2006’s “20 Y.O.” and “Discipline,” released in February) haven’t achieved the sales and status or her earlier efforts, such as 1986’s “Control” and 1989’s “Rhythm Nation 1814.” Yet at her D.C. show, while zipping through dozens of hits from “The Pleasure Principle” to “All for You,” Miss Jackson reminded fans of her dance-floor dominance and tremendous musical legacy. Long before Britney, Christina or Beyonce, there was Janet - and here she is, still performing her heart out.
Several hours before Wednesday’s concert, word emerged online that Miss Jackson’s unnamed ailment was migraine-related vertigo - which, given the rigors of her stage show, truly would be crippling. In close-up camera shots that appeared on giant screens around the Verizon Center, her face reflected a thin film of exhaustion; something in her eyes looked amiss.
She also spouted sweat like a fountain, appearing physically spent once or twice. This, however, might simply be the result of putting on one of the industry’s most dance-heavy performances.
Still, if Miss Jackson was pushing through the pain, the enthusiastic crowd - although less than a full house - didn’t seem to notice or care. They were too busy standing in their seats, singing along and shrieking with joy.
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