BOXSCORES
Date: Monday, August 7, 2006
Venue: St. Pete's Times Forum - Tampa, FL (Live Nation)
Gross: $714,455
Attendance/Capacity of Building: 13,354 / 13,542
Sellout %: 98.6%
Ticket Price Range: $125.00 - $19.50

Opening Act: Sean Paul

01. It's Like That
02. Heartbreaker
03. Dreamlover
04. My All
05. Shake It Off
06. Stay The Night
07. Fly Like A Bird
08. I'll Be There

---"B" Stage:
09. Fantasy
10. Don't Forget About Us
11. Always Be My Baby
---End "B" Stage

12. I Wish You Knew (Snippet)
13. Can't Let Go (Snippet)
14. Make It Last (Snippet)
15. Joyride (Snippet)
16. One Sweet Day (Snippet)
17. Hero
18. Make It Happen

--Encore:
19. We Belong Together
20. Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)

From Tampa Tribune: Mariah Carey Soars In Performance

A vast arena sat in utter silence barely a mile from where Mariah Carey made her first Tampa appearance three years ago.

Then, attempting to revive her brilliant career after an emotional breakdown, the buyout of her huge contract with Virgin Records and a regrettable film debut in "Glitter," Carey was reduced to entertaining a pocket-sized audience of 2,261 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

These days, the Long Island songbird is flying high again, as witnessed by a diverse crowd of 16,493 Monday night at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"If I mess up, I mess up," Carey told her adoring fans at one point, "but I love you anyway."

They loved her right back through a typically flawless program that included scores of ear-piercing C notes.

Carey vowed "The Adventures of Mimi," her first concert tour since 2003, would provide renewed excitement. Adorned in a sultry black sequined ensemble, she immediately began to deliver with "It's Like That," among the finishing touches on her 2005 Grammy Award-winning contemporary rhythm and blues album, "The Emancipation of Mimi."

The 36-year-old pop diva also sang Billboard chart busters "Don't Forget About Us" and "We Belong Together" from the same project, which expanded her collection of top singles to within three of the record 20 held by The Beatles.

Carey delighted longtime followers during the 90-plus-minute engagement with a string of other No. 1 hits, including "Dreamlover," "Always Be My Baby," "Hero" and "My All."

Other highlights from the singer, songwriter and record producer included performances with longtime duet partner Trey Lorenz of the romantic ballads "I'll Be There" - which lifted them atop the U.S. and Canadian charts in 1992 - and "One Sweet Day."

An hour into the show, replete with dazzling costumes, videos and other special effects, Carey suddenly broke into "Fantasy" on a small lighted stage halfway across the arena floor, then walked through the seating area back to the main stage.

Dancehall reggae artist Sean Paul opened the show.


From St. Petersburg Times: Despite glitches, diva delivers the treats

TAMPA - She has been a prodigy and a punchline, a pinup girl and a poster child for the pitfalls of celebrity excess. But throughout a 16-year career that has been just as curvy as that ample figure she likes to flaunt, Mariah Carey has always been able to rely on one true constant:

Her all-world pipes, a vocal gift that's downright superheroic in these prefab days of pseudo pop stars a la Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.

That's a nice talent to have, and Carey sure knows it. Her show at the St. Pete Times Forum on Monday - just the second night on her current U.S. tour - suffered an array of bumps and clunks unbe-fitting a polished diva. The show started way late, the seven-piece backing band was far too loud and obtrusive, and her dance troupe often scuffed around like a gang of misfit mimes.

But thanks to an array of high-wire vocal derring-do, the 36-year-old Long Island native never lost an adoring crowd of 16,493 fans for too long.

After being the biggest-selling female artist of the '90s, Carey had rough start in the '00s. That is, until 2005, when her comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, sold 10-million copies on the way to besting rapper 50 Cent for the biggest-selling disc of last year.

Carey's glammed-out spectacle reflected that regained confidence and rebooted ego. On an epically scaled stage framed by a giant "M," Carey first appeared in black bikini and matching cape to sing 2005 hit It's Like That. For her next numbers, Heartbreaker and Dreamlover, she was criminally drowned out by her band including three background singers far too high in the mix - that is, until she battled back by uncorking some of those patented glass-shattering vocal acrobatics. Why, it was like Superman using his heat vision - um, in a bikini.

Rehearsal vibe or not, the show had a lot of sun spots. Carey, still in that black bikini, wiggled and posed in front of a giant flashing "MIMI" sign as she cooed out current smash Shake It Off. After she shed her bathing suit, she appeared in a perilously low-cut, leg-flashing yellow dress for smoldering come-ons Stay the Night and Fly Like a Bird. And in a likably self-effacing moment, Carey offered a gorgeous version of the Jackson 5's I'll Be There as an apology for a show she admitted was still "a work in progress."

Because one stage isn't enough to contain the power of Mariah - especially when she's dressed in a hiptastic ensemble of low-slung jeans, tight tube top and naughty pumps - the singer and a few of her mimes took to a checkerboard stage in the middle of the audience for a showstopping mini-set that included sweet club hit Fantasy and chummy sing-along Always Be My Baby.

The show lost momentum during the myriad costume breaks, when Carey would show a goofy video or have a DJ scratch out some hits. But Mimi would unfailingly get things going again, especially when she sang big-time ballad Hero in a cleavage-enhancing aqua dress that made her look like the Little Mermaid's stripper sister.

Of course, Mariah's hubba-hubba routine was downright Victorian compared to opening act Sean Paul, the Jamaican-born hitmaker whose dancehall reggae is all about dance-floor freakiness. In case you missed his subtle point, Paul flanked himself with clothing-averse dancers who crawled and writhed and gave each other piggyback rides (no, really). His band was loud, his beats were big and his verbal toasting was randy, as he grinded through such smashes as (When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me, Get Busy and Temperature.

By McLuVa:
Mariah was awesome! "Shake It Off" - most boring and terrible live song of night but everything else PERFECT! She was in her green outfit after doing "I Wish You Knew" and "Thanks God I Found You." She said she had to so a request from a fan screaming "Can't Let Go." Then she saw a sign for "Joyride" and so she sang a verse from that. It was hot!


By Brendan:
Tampa show was incredible. Got to the venue right on time. Sean Paul was okay, not my cup of tea, but he did pretty good. 4th row seat was insane! So close! MC noticed me in the audience while singing "Hero" off to the side of the stage. She made a face to me. It was great. Awesome experience. made my entire night.

The Miami show was definitely longer, but I think tonight was better. Crowd seemed more hyped up for her and she even sang snippets of "Can't Let Go" and Joyride. It was awesome! I was so happy because other than "We Belong Together," "Joyride" is my favorite track. The night was incredible, MC was classier than ever... voice, again, powerful and strong and FLAWLESS! At the end of the night we watched Mariah get on the bus and we also watched Jack the dog get walked through the parking lot back stage. Great night. Definitely UNFORGETTABLE!


By mcharms2003:
I was at the Tampa concert last night and I had Dance Floor tix with a friend and OMG! Mariah came to our section! She was literally infront of our faces! Mariah sang Fantasy, Don't Forget About Us, and Always Be My Baby in the lil' stage where most some of us with those Butterfly VIP ticket holders and she didn't disappoint. She as simply AMAZING!!!

She was fashionably late, lol, but she made up for it and didn't disappoint the fans and everyone who was in the concert. I think the venue was pretty much full with according to Tampa Tribune with over 16k concert goers! It sure looked like it was full and crowded. The fans and everyone in the crowd was amazing as well 'cause everyone participated, sang, screamed out loud whenever MC sang, and danced along with every dance song and even with Sean Paul...the crowd was super pumped and dancing for every song number he had done even though most of the crowd didn't understand what Sean was saying in his songs, lol. But the crowd loved the beat of his fast uptempo dance tunes. It most of the audience dancing. Mariah even said that the Tampa audience was amazing and she loved that everyone was participating and singing along to every song she sang, lol.

Mariah's performances were just superb! I went to her Orlando concert 3 years ago and I thought that was an amazing concert but this one topped that concert for me 'cause she was just even more amazing...and even the friend I brought with me wasn't really a Mariah fan, but she loved and enjoyed her performances and she was in awe at how beautiful Mariah was up close and she even waved at us. How cute eh? Also, there was this guy who got lucky and got to shook her hand in the other side of the lil' stage that we were standing and another fan who got her Mariah picture signed by MC in the middle of her singing Always Be My Baby! This fan apparently asked one of the security guards/ushers to get Mariah to sign her MC picture and she signed it (the only one she signed in the middle of her performance of the night!) We almost got to shook her hand though, but it was funny 'cause the stage was a lil' farther from the barricade we were standing and since Mariah was wearing this really high stiletto heels, she said that she wish she could, but she didn't wanna fall from the stage. :lol I thought that was funny.

Mariah was so cute and funny and I am so glad that even though I didn't get to see her backstage like I did in Orlando 3 years ago, but I did get to see her perform upclose and I've never seen her perform that very close when I first saw her in concert in Orlando...so my friend and I were so happy 'cause we got to see her very close and she was just glowing and so happy to see her fans and she just sounded perfect with those 3 of my all-time MC songs in that lil' stage...and We Belong Together was just WOW!!! She held a longest note at the end. It was just amazing to hear her belt that highest note at the end.

I'm still in cloud nine from last night and that was the best and most worth it concert I've ever been to since 2003...and Mariah just topped the last one I went to with the MIMI tour! I tried to take some pictures, but it was pretty hard... those annoying ushers/security was watching us all the time. But you know what, when they weren't looking, I tried to take a lot of quick pictures whenever I can and hide my disposable camera. I mostly took the pics when she was in the lil' stage that we were standing so close, so hopefully, I was able to take some good pics...if not, I blame those a$$... ushers.


By Danielle Starr:
Last night was a amazing night for Mimi fans in Florida. She did a wonderful show full of favorites past to present. The show started at 7:30 on time:) and Sean Paul opened by far the worst moment of the show. It was worse than the women's bathroom line. I honestly could not understand him at all. He was looking fine and was very energetic but it was all a slur of words. Finally he got off stage and we waited about a hour.

There were people saying come on diva but Mariah wasn't a hour late. She doesn't have any control.The stage had to be set up and it looked wonderful.That what the hour long break is for. The show opened with MC talking and a rollercoaster. It was very hard to hear because the place was freaking crazy. SOLD OUT TO THE MAX! (Laugh at that Madonna!) She opened with ITS LIKE THAT and went to HEARTBREAKER, DREAMLOVER, and MY ALL trough these songs they were having a bit of feedback that you could hear but honestly Mariah sounded awesome and it really did not bother me it was fixed. She didn't change her costume like she did in Miami. She stayed in the opening costume and did SHAKE IT OFF - MIMI sign and all.

Mariah looked absolutely flawless. Her body is so toned and her LEGS!!! Tina turner eat your heart out!

After that DJ Clue came out and got the place bumping. (He should just be her opening act to keep the place rocking until she is ready imo) She then came out and did STAY THE NIGHT flawlessly! It was by far for me the best performances of the night. Followed by FLY LIKE A BIRD. (My favorite Mimi song) She played some mini movies but it was hard to hear what was being said, it was cute though.

Mariah performed with Trey ILL BE THERE and she went and changed.(The yellow gown was awesome and I need someone to make me one for a show)

She came from the side of the Arena and performed right in front of us 3 songs on a mini stage. Her outfit was awesome and those shoes were sickening. She sang FANTASY, DONT FORGET ABOUT US, (awesome affect with the giant disco ball) and finished With ALWAYS BE MY BABY.

Clue's turn was next and Mariah came out in a beauitful bluish-green dress much like the Save The Music IT'S LIKE THAT costume. She did I WISH YOU KNEW (snippet) CANT LET GO, (snippet) into MAKE IT LAST FOREVER, JOYRIDE, (snippet) ONE SWEET DAY, HERO ,MAKE IT HAPPEN.

She said goonight and in a few minutes she came back out in a beautiful nude gown with crystals all over it. She sang WE BELONG TOGETHER and BUTTERFLY. To me it seemed shorter than I was hoping. She didnt do BREAKDOWN, or I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. I was really wanting to hear VISION OF LOVE but I can't complain.

It was such a great night, MARIAH CAREY IS BACK IN A BIG WAY. I have been to the Rainbow, Charmbracelet, and MIMI tour. My favorite was this one but the Rainbow tour was really a great moment for me. Mariah's voice was so amazing and her high notes were so perfect. Her voice has changed but it is still there she is singing the way she wants and last night she was amazing!


By Xandri:
PHENOMENAL! To say "her voice was on point" would be an understatement. I don't recall the exact setlist but the songs she sang were: It's Like That, Dreamlover + remix, Shake It Off, My All, Fly Like A Bird, Stay The Night, Fantasy, Don't Forget About Us, Always Be My Baby, I'll Be There w/Trey, I Wish You Knew (snippet), Can't Let Go (snippet), Joyride (snippet), One Sweet Day w/Trey (snippet), TGIFY- Make It Last Remix w/Trey (snippet), Hero, Make It Happen, and We Belong Together.

Mariah had a lot of great moments. Mariah sang songs like Fly Like A Bird and especially Stay The Night 10x's better than the album version. Her voice was fierce and full blast! She had a definite "pow" factor. With the exception of We Belong Together, all the songs were either different or sung differently with the original music. On top of that she did a lot of ad-libing and joking around. I'll Be There with Trey was so playful - there's just no other way to describe it. During one point while they're singing back and forth, Mariah undoes one of Trey's buttons on his shirt as she walks around him singing her verse. Trey just grins ear to ear and says, "that's what I'm talking about!" then everyone started laughing. By the end of the song Mariah gave Barry Manilow a run for his money and sang in the deepest voice I'd ever heard! Even Big Nasty seemed to be temporarily shocked before he started laughing again.

I was looking forward to hearing Make It Happen. I was disappointed when she didn't sing the notes she was supposed to hold and let the back up sing it for her - all except for one. In which case, I could see why she was holding back. She sang the Make It Happen verse all in whistle register and smacked some serious melisma on it. Up and down all of these high notes, I thought I was at the Opera for a moment. Again, phenomenal! I've heard Mariah live before, I've been to concerts, and I've heard stories from other fans - but vocally the things she pulled off tonight were completely unheard of and beyond anything I could ever have imagined. Pow!


By MariahJoe:
It was excellent! Loved the beginning about how her life is a rollercoaster and how you need to get on and ride. Then the smoke machine announced 'It's Like That' and we were off! I loved the funky version of Dreamlover from the early going, and Honey and Heartbreaker sounded good as well. It was a good move having DJ Clue there to spice up the crowd during the costume changes. After the first one, Mariah REALLY hit her stride. 'Stay the Night' sounded great, as did 'Fly Like a Bird.' And how cool was it to hear 'Can't Let Go' which I don't think she's ever performed?

The highlight definitely was when she moved to the middle of the crowd for the best ever version of 'Fantasy' she's done, followed by 'Always Be My Baby.' Then she moved back to the stage and actually sang a bit of my fave Mimi song, 'Joyride' because she saw a fan holding up a sign requesting the song! She was talking back and forth with the crowd all night, sometimes wtih Trey, sometimes on her own. She apologized for the tour being 'a work in progress' but it was well worth the money. She sounded great on 'Hero' and finally closed with 'Make It Happen' and came back for 'We Belong Together.' I was surprised she didn't sing 'Vision of Love' but honestly, it was cool. I enjoyed watching her in Miami in 2000, but this show was much better. It was as good as Charmbraclet show back in 03. Thanks, Mimi! Go see the show if you can, everyone!