Thursday, September 7, 2006

Washington, DC
Verizon Center
601 F Street, NW

Seating Capacity: 20,600
Seating Chart: click here
Doors open at: 8:00pm
Map: click here

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Interesting Tidbits:

In 1999, Mariah was honored at the Congressional Awards Gala in Washington, DC. She was presented with the Horizon Award, a special Congressional Award for her work with the Fresh Air Fund and America's youth.

In October of 2001, Mariah headlined a benefit concert in Washington, DC to help raise money following the September 11th attacks. United We Stand featured the musical talents of several other stars, including Michael Jackson and Mary J. Blige.



WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 7, 2006

Setlist:

Opening Act: Sean Paul

01. It's Like That
02. Heartbreaker
03. Dreamlover
04. My All
05. Shake It Off
06. Vision of Love
07. Fly Like a Bird
08. I'll Be There
--Begin "B" Stage
09. Fantasy
10. Don't Forget About Us
11. Always Be My Baby
--End "B" Stage
12. Honey
13. I Wish You Knew (Snippet)
14. Can't Let Go (Snippet)
15. One Sweet Day (Snippet) with Trey
16. Hero
--Encore:
17. We Belong Together
18. Butterfly Reprise


Pictures:
Fan Photos (Thanks to Jon and Heady!)



Press Reviews:
From The Baltimore Sun: Diva Carey Still Learning How to Put on a Show

As befitting an often over-the-top pop diva, Mariah Carey's show Thursday night at the Verizon Center was a sparkly, narcissistic affair. The set was definitely expensive -- and impressive.

Over the two-tier stage stood a giant, ivory "M" flashing shades of red and blue. There was a grand staircase to the left, a huge neon, block-lettered sign that spelled out the singer's nickname: Mimi. Even Carey's mike stand glittered.

And such a spectacle wouldn't be complete without a troupe of limber, gyrating dancers. (Carey had six in all.) Her seven-piece band, which included the famed DJ Clue, was tight and high-powered. So with all of these superstar stage trappings, a multiplatinum career spanning 16 years and a behind-the-scenes reputation for being a demanding businesswoman, why did Carey come off as a diva with training wheels for most of the show? She seemed so tentative, breezing through several of her songs and disappearing backstage for long stretches to change costumes. (She did this five times.)

Well, we have to cut her a little slack. Although Carey has garnered envious commercial success since the start of her career in 1990 (she has scored 17 No. 1 hits, the most of any female pop performer), the New York-born singer-songwriter has never really gotten around to establishing herself as a concert draw. And her current world tour, The Adventures of Mimi, feels belated. It's in support of her latest album, the calculated but memorable The Emancipation of Mimi, which sold more than 6 million copies and was the biggest-selling CD of last year. Granted, she currently has a No. 1 hit on R&B radio, the gospel-touched "Fly Like a Bird." But it still feels as if the gaudy, wailing songstress has lost some momentum.

All of that doesn't really matter, though. Carey is out there working hard to ingratiate herself with her fans, even if it seems the world-renowned pop veteran is still learning to put on a show.

The concert's first half was dominated by the hip-hop flavor she has been blending into her substance-free pop formula for nearly a decade.

Wearing what looked like a shimmering black bra and panties set with a sheer duster and spike heels, Carey opened with "It's Like That," the Jermaine Dupri-produced club burner from her latest album. During the performance, the singer preened and pranced around and did a few very simple dance moves. (She may have an amazing vocal instrument, but Carey certainly wasn't blessed with rhythm.)

That segued into one of her most hip-hopped songs, 1999's "Heartbreaker," during which the 'hood-rat female rapper Da Brat made one of two dismissible cameos. Carey mentioned several times between songs that the two were the best of friends. She also graciously shared the spotlight with another pal, the lame R&B vocalist and longtime Carey collaborator Trey Lorenz. The two gushingly revisited their 1992 remake of the Jackson 5's ever charming "I'll Be There." Afterward, Carey disappeared while Lorenz did a mini-set of Luther Vandross classics ("Never Too Much" and "A House is Not a Home") and an overwrought take of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy."

With fun mixes of old-school R&B and hip-hop cuts with a little reggae and go-go thrown in, DJ Clue kept the near-capacity crowd up and dancing during Carey's long costume changes. For the second half of the nearly 90-minute show, she settled into her early schmaltzy pop diva image, replete with flowing, tight-fitting (and unflattering) gowns. This was the segment where Carey could have worked even more of her "vocal magic" because the distracting troupe of dancers was gone. Instead, she opted for an anti-climactic medley of such wail-fest ballads as "Can't Let Go" and "One Sweet Day." She did, however, give full treatment to one of her more touching self-penned tunes, "Hero."

Then Carey predictably ended with the dramatic ballad "We Belong Together," last year's biggest pop single. Her exit was quick as a shower of purple metallic confetti fell on the house.

From The Washington Post: Mariah's Entrances

Mariah Carey is not the most kinetic of live performers. The pop diva with the glass-shattering voice doesn't really dance, and she doesn't race around the stage -- preferring to take dainty, deliberate steps in her designer stilettos. And who can blame her? It can't be easy keeping your balance on heels so high that they look like knitting needles.

Mostly, then, the movement is limited to Carey's vocal acrobatics -- and there were plenty during her concert at Verizon Center on Thursday. Though she's been showing off a more breathy style in recent years, Carey still has a propensity for taking off on runs that sound like a boiling teakettle with perfect pitch.

"Dreamlover" even opened with Carey playing the role of wailing soul, as she unleashed a series of piercing, whistle-register notes before swooping back down to alto- and soprano-range normalcy. (The song also had her playing another role, for which she wore spangly black undies and a matching bra, a chiffon boudoir robe scarcely covering her back. Later adding sunglasses to the outfit, she resembled an incognito Frederick's of Hollywood model.)

Still, Carey somehow managed to cover quite a bit of ground during the show. Of course, most of it was the ground leading backstage, but who's counting? Oh, right: Us!

Carey exited stage right a half-dozen times during her 90-minute concert, sometimes for just a minute or two but also for lengthier periods that usually signaled a costume change. (Total outfit count: five.) Some of the breaks dragged on long enough for a deejay to spin parts of at least two dozen hit rap and R&B records as a hype man barked about taking it back (Bell Biv Devoe's "Poison"), waaaaay back (Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' ").

The frequent strolls backstage repeatedly derailed the concert's momentum, which was a shame since Carey was in such fine voice; no longer an emotionless vocal technician, she even sounded like a credibly gritty soul singer during an inspired reading of her first hit, 1990's "Vision of Love." Ultimately, though, the walk-offs did her in: When Carey left the stage, yet again, after a powerhouse performance of her soaring (if saccharine) ballad "Hero," the crowd cheered briefly, then turned nearly silent -- not realizing that it was time to call Carey back for an encore.

It took flashing stage lights to prompt the audience, and eventually Carey returned to sing "We Belong Together," the biggest hit from her enormously successful comeback CD, "The Emancipation of Mimi."

One of the best-selling titles of 2005, the album reestablished Carey, 36, as a bona fide hitmaker after a series of artistic misfires and a very public meltdown. Thus, this is very much a triumphal tour. The show opens with a video of Carey saying that if whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, then, well, gosh, she's really strong -- apparently to the point that she can even turn references to her failures into symbolic celebrations. The concert here closed with two confetti guns spraying the crowd with . . . glitter! "Glitter," of course, being the title of Carey's semi-autobiographical movie and an accompanying album, both of which were tremendous, potentially career-killing flops.

Carey didn't exactly gloat about her return to A-list status, however, and she never fully indulged her inner diva. Not even when the stage lights came back up prematurely between songs while the star was dabbing her glistening face with a tissue. "You caught me," she said with a giggle. If anything, Carey seemed charmingly awkward, coming across as a regular gal blessed with an exceptional voice. She may have 17 No. 1 singles, but she's still just Mariah from the block. Or, as it were: Mimi from the block, as she performed 2005's "Shake It Off" in front of Broadway lights that spelled out her alter ego's name.

The song married a pop vocal to a hip-hop beat -- a formula Carey first started using more than a decade ago on hits including "Fantasy." She performed that tune here as a virtual duet with the late rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, who rather creepily delivered his vocal from the grave. Several living rappers also appeared via canned studio tracks, including Jay-Z on "Heartbreaker," as Carey loaded the set with hip-hop-infused material.

But she didn't exactly ignore the ballads and, in fact, the highlight of the show was a fiery cover of "I'll Be There," the Jackson 5 tune that Carey originally recorded 14 years ago during a live MTV special. The song was performed as a duet with one of Carey's backup singers, Trey Lorenz, who spent most of the show seated on a stool at the back of the split-level stage. He couldn't sit still for the entire show, however: Lorenz disappeared backstage before the song, precisely so that he might make a dramatic entrance moments later. Mariah's kind of move, without the high heels.

From The Washington Times: Carey: Mimi or Me-Me?

Discussing Mariah Carey can be as divisive as talking politics or football; before entering the fray, you need a steadfast stance, hard supporting evidence and, in the end, a willingness to drop the issue, unresolved.

Take her Thursday night performance at Verizon Center, for example, after which the streets echoed with mini-arguments: Which one of her ballads was the most heartfelt? Was the singer too chunky to be wearing glorified lingerie? Does she put on a better show than Beyonce?

But after seeing her live, there is one thing everyone can agree on: Even 16 years into her career, she's got a voice like a Ferrari. When she wants to take you for a ride, she kicks it into gear and floors it until your ears feel like they're going to pop.

Miss Carey's stop in the District was part of her current Adventures of Mimi tour, which follows the mega-success of her 2005 album, "The Emancipation of Mimi." More resurrection than emancipation, the disc marks the pop queen's return to rule after an all-too-public coup d'etat. For the tunes she sang and co-wrote on "Mimi," Miss Carey secured three Grammys and a mountain of other accolades. The disc became the best-selling album of 2005, proving that the diva still knows how to dominate charts and dance floors alike.

At Verizon, the songstress showed Washingtonians just how well her fresh tracks fit into her oeuvre. She mixed recent chart-toppers like the booty-shaking "It's Like That" and slow jam "Don't Forget About Us" with perennials like the upbeat "Fantasy" and tear-jerking "Hero." (The Jumbotron showed people crying. Seriously.)

Despite the rumors that have plagued the singer throughout her reign that her voice is going, she proved otherwise, managing equal parts belt and croon. That's not to say she didn't hit a few flats, drop a few notes, or de-emphasize some parts you wanted her to nail; it's just that her machine is so impressive this hardly matters.

What is harder to overlook is the ego fueling this drive train.

Lest anyone forget her initials during the concert, the stage was framed by a behemoth M-shape, its middle pointing below to center stage, where a 5-foot-tall silver "MC" emblem rested. Later, an illuminated MIMI sign -- so bright the star put on shades -- dropped from the ceiling.

Miss Carey's costume choices also displayed her, uh, confidence. She first appeared in a glittery black bikini thing "covered" by a matching dressing gown, and subsequent peek-a-boo dresses didn't conceal much more.

While she changed outfits some four times, the impromptu talent showcases for her DJ, back-up singers and dancers reeked of mediocrity (no offense, DJ Clue, Trey Lorenz and Da Brat) -- perhaps purposely so that no one would upstage the diva.

But most caustic was Miss Carey's insincere banter. She repeatedly queried, "Do you know this one?" and dropped her album titles as if everyone in the audience hadn't listened to each five thousand times.

During "Hero," the artist grasped a bouquet of sunflowers an audience member had passed toward the stage. "I'm gonna put these right here," she told the fan as she scuffled her stilettos stage right, chucking the flowers onto the ground without stooping down even an inch. "Thank you, baby," she said, batting her false eyelashes.

So she's a little high-maintenance, maybe a little temperamental; just because the clutch sticks doesn't mean those moments of sheer unadulterated power felt in, say, her classic "Vision of Love" are any less breathtaking.

Coupled with opener Sean Paul's boisterous dance-hall set, brought to life by bootylicious dancers who taught everyone how to wind and clap (and I'm not talking hands here), the evening provided many opportunities for dancing, singing-along, and future debates among friends.

Fan Reviews:

By Bigsteel 00:

I went to the show last night Mariah was not late last night, she looked amazing and I know it s cliché to say this but she really did, the show was definitely sold out all sections were filled. She sang It s like that (ripped it) she did Heratbreaker and Brat came out, which was nice, she then did Dreamlover it was the same as normal, she then sang shake it off, hot! ( I guess she pays attention to the reviews, we did not have to wait too long between changes) now here it comes &you all know that I ve been complaining about Vision of love, however she nailed it, OMG, she nailed FLAB, she did IBT, then on the B stage she sang Fantasy, DFAU and Always be my baby, when she was about done singing always be my baby, I told the security guard  I am going to touch her when she walks by  and she said  and we are going to put you out  when Mariah walked by I touched her anyway and the security guard looked at me and smiled. I was like OMG I touched her! And everyone was laughing, I was turning around telling everyone and they were like I saw you  it was the highlight, she then sang Honey Brat came out again then she walked through the audience she did I wish you knew, cant let go and OSD (I was a little upset she did not do Make it last (remix) she then did Hero, and came back out and did WBT, it was really a nice show, I had my section crunked the entire time I would not sit down and I would not shut up (which is why I can not talk today) good thing I can type because I had to let you all know &.just to say it again, this was the best version of Vision of love!!!!!!

By Jeremy:

Man I just got back from the concert too and it really WAS amazing.. and Mariah, Mariah, Mariah!! Girl can still saaaang, I don't care what anyone says. The crowd was great too.

And I just have to say.. when MC sings it's really something phenomenal, especially (for me) during DFAU. It's like she takes you to another world where it's just you and her. I don't really post on here much, but I've been visiting everyday for a few years now, and I just wanted to share that with you guys cause I know y'all would understand!

By Colson:
I was shocked at how good she sounded on WBT. I haven't listened to many audio files lately so I don't know how she sounded in other concerts. I was sitting near BigSteel and we kept waiting for her to "lip" certain parts of WBT and she never did it. She hit all the notes on that song. I was in absolute shock. I hope someone puts up an audio file soon.

Anyway, DFAU was solid, she hit the whistle note effortlessly and the crowd was loving it. At times though, I think the crowd was too loud with all the screaming and shouting over her voice.

Everyone knows she's gonna nail FLAB. There were certain parts I couldn't hear the whistle notes at the end b/c it was so loud but what I do wish Mariah would do is stand still a little bit more. I even was running out of breath watching her walk back and forth from one side of the stage to the other.

Mariah walked right past me as she went down the aisle to go back on the stage after performing ABMB, Fantasy and DFAU on the middle platform. And after she performed those songs, she had to walk right past me down the middle aisle between sections 1 and 2. I think i startled her b/c i shouted "i love you" mariah and she kinda jumped and turned her head at me as she walked by and waved back at me as she looked me in the face and smiled. I can't believe I was that close to her. Bigsteel was told by security even before Mariah walked by to not touch her, but he did it anyway. That guy was off da hook!! He was so much fun.

By Steve:
Her stage presence was great, she looked great, and sounded amazing. The crowd was pretty good throughout most of it, but my section could have been a little more excited at certain moments, lol. I remember that she did a beautiful low adlib at the end of I'll be there and also in VOL, the adlibs were great and different. I think people need to lay off her voice not being up to par cuz she is definitely getting better, and I would say there was some lipping here and there, like on the end of SIO, jus the really high parts, and on Honey maybe, not sure. But honestly, hardly any, and when your in the moment enjoying it, its really hard to tell when she's doing it. But it was really great, lol!

By Heady:

Mariah was amazing last night! she repeatedly kept telling D.C. that they were the best crowd yet! her voice has in top shape and she was hotter than ever. She dedicated One Sweet Day to her father who she told the crowd was actually from D.C. The crowd was amazing, everyone sang to each and everyone of her songs throughout the whole time! D.C. LAMBZ RULE! woo!! :) Mimi i love you!!

By CJ:

The Washington D.C. show lastnite was packed even before Mariah took the stage to perform her 90-minute set, so I knew right away that it was going to be a night to remember. People were lined outside of the Verizon Center entrance at 6:30 and it snaked around a good portion of the building until the doors opened a little after 7. I even saw one of her dancers, Eddie Morales, hanging outside by one of the cafes on his cell phone which was kind of exciting. Sean Paul was a good choice for an opening act, he got the crowd hyped effortlessly and was just as important to making the show a total success.

But then SHE came out and shut the place DOWN! Mariah looked flawless, even better in person. We were in the 3rd row and it was the closest I've ever been to her as opposed to in the past. Her voice was on point the entire night, and she really loved the energy of the crowd, she especially commented a couple of times on the right side of the stage audience in the upper seats, they were EXTREMELY crazy and I swear I've just never seen fans connect with an artist like they or anyone else in the audience did that nite. People were singing every word, some were breaking out in tears when she went into songs like "Hero" and "Don't Forget About Us." I didn't see Randy Jackson but Da Brat was between the first 3 rows greeting a couple of fans (she was gorgeous by the way) following the "Honey" performance with her entourage, who were just as receptive unlike some of the other stars' crew who won't let you give a kind word to a celebrity or even a hand shake or hug. She was dancing and singing along like that rest of us during "I Wish You Knew," "Can't Let Go," and "One Sweet Day." Mariah was speaking about her on stage before she realized that she was right in front of her, which was funny, before she plugged her future album.

There were no low points of the show. I must say I was skeptical after hearing things about her leaving songs out (even though many in the audience kept pleading to hear "Stay the Night" LOL) and the big fuss over the costume changes and her being off stage for periods of time (which didn't make a difference because DJ Clue and Trey Lorenz kept the crowd up beat until Mariah's return). And then I heard some nights she only performed for like 45 minutes but our show was from 9:15 to about 10:50. The only thing I noticed was a part when the curtain raised and didn't go up all the way so they had to lower it down and try again, but I can't remember what part that was because the lights were low, probably before the B stage songs.

The only thing I didn't like was the whole security issue. They were making a big fuss about us not being aloud to use our cell phones or cameras in the first 10 rows or they would be confiscated and we would be asked to leave (WTF?) which was funny to me because when Mariah came on stage it was like the paparazzi was in the house! Then when Mariah walked from the B stage and back to the main stage down the aisle, security locked arms at the end of the rows in a barricade like it was a protest or something. One girl was pushed back and fell on the floor (sorry to report this). They even tried to boot Da Brat's entourage from the floor even after other security told them that they were part of the show and they showed their passes or whatever stating that they were. They really took their jobs too serious that nite. The fan that tried to bring Mariah sunflowers (she was successful when Mariah came out in the yellow dress I believe) was escorted back to her seat so many times which really irritated me because she was just trying to show Mariah some love. But other than that, it was an amazing show and a night to remember!

By Dion:

Let me just start by giving a shout out to the entire Mariah Daily team. You folks do a flantastic job!!!! Now on to the show. Can we say incredible????? Yes, we can. Mariah was on it last night. The overall production of the show was top notch. Her voice was so beautiful and she sang her heart out. Mariah also mentioned to the audience that her father used to live in DC. She was so down to earth yet diva to the bone all at once, I LOVE IT!!!! My favorites were "Fly Like A Bird," "Vision of Love," and "Don't Forget About Us." I loved "Shake It Off" with the huge MIMI sign in lights. DJ Clue was on point spinning the ol' school records and I loved the go-go touch thrown in for the true DC natives. The energy was electric and my expectations were met and FAR exceeded.

By Jon:

- Mariah's voice was a little raspy tonight, but she worked it out and still sounded amazing.
- Mariah repeatedly mentioned how great of a crowd D.C. was.
- Da Brat was at the performance. She came out and rapped to Heartbreaker Remix, and before Mariah performed Honey, Da Brat rapped her part from the So So Def Remix.
- Da Brat remained in the front row to watch the concert. Mariah talked to her and mentioned that Da Brat would have a new album coming out. Mariah asked her what the title was gonna be, but Da Brat just said "shhh!" like she didn't want anyone to know. Also, Randy Jackson was in the audience.
-Sean Paul opened almost exactly at 8 pm. Mariah came on stage just before 9:30 pm and peformed until about 11 pm. -I don't know if this is a rarity on this tour like it was on the last tour, but for "Vision of Love", Mariah sang the high note that comes near the end.
-Mariah did not perform "Make It Happen".
-Mariah once again mentioned the removal of the high note from the radio version of "Can't Let Go". She said "I had to sing the high note cause they made me take it out" or something like that.

By GITJAY19:

okay i just got home from the DC Concert....WOW! my whole family went with me. every song, every outfit, every note...JUST AMAZING! Da Brat was a special guest and Sean Paul opened. Mariah sung a lot of stuff! If she were to sing all of her good stuff, however, we all know she would have been on stage until after the sun comes up;) LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT

By ty ty:

Interesting Nite. Ive been to 4 Mariah shows...this by far was the most packed. Those poor people in the nosebleed seats. Well i was granted tickets in the 4th row,,,Sean Paul did his usual opening. The crowd was full of life, finally. They chanted Mimi, over and over. She only changed a few thangs in the show...she introduced Da Brat a few times...and Da Brat appeared on Heartbreaker remix and Honey remix. Mariah cut out Thank God I found you, Stay the Night, Make it Happen, Close my eyes, your girl. To me and the 4 friends I took, it seemed short. For $125.00 my friend said, I should have gotten at least another song. Mariah was feeling this crowd, they were rowdy. Screaming louding each time she smiled, hit a high note. This show was exactly like the other shows, other than da brat's appearance. No choir for Fly Like a Bird. Even Dj Clue seemed like he was playing a CD. For this packed house, I think Mariah should have done the full show. But never the less, she was in GREAT voice.


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