Music Saved My Life Tour
Tour by Mary J. Blige | |
Promotional poster for 2010 tour | |
Associated album | Stronger with Each Tear |
---|---|
Start date | October 1, 2010 |
End date | February 8, 2011 |
Legs | 4 |
No. of shows |
13 in North America 5 in Asia 5 in Europe 6 in Australia 29 Total |
Mary J. Blige concert chronology |
Music Saved My Life Tour is a worldwide concert by American recording artist, Mary J. Blige. Visiting North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, the tour supports Blige's ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear.
Background
Universal Music Group announced Blige's tour on September 1, 2010. The tour was described as Blige venturing back to her R&B roots from her previous festival performances, which focused on a heavy rock sound. Blige states the tour's title comes from her personal viewpoint of music after her battles with drug and alcohol abuse.[1] She further commented:
"Music makes us want to live. You don't know how many times people have told me that they'd been down and depressed and just wanted to die. But then a special song caught their ear and that helped give them renewed strength. That's the power music has. I believe there are certain things that God uses to get us out of a bad situation, and I believe music was one of the things he used for me. The first time I heard 'Keep on Moving' by Soul II Soul, I felt like somebody pumped a new spirit in me that made me want to go on. [Without music] I honestly think I would be in a really bad situation. I don't take it for granted. I have no doubt I was born to do this.[2][3]
Opening acts
- Jazmine Sullivan (North America)[4]
- El DeBarge (North America)[4]
- Miguel (North America)[5]
- Lemar (England)[6]
- Gyptian (England)[7]
- Beatbox Drase (Manchester)
- Minmi (Japan)[8]
- Mye (Japan)[8]
Set list
- "MJB da MVP"
- "The One"
- "Enough Cryin"
- "You Bring Me Joy"
- Medley: "Be Happy" / "You Remind Me" / "Real Love" / "Everyday It Rains"
- "I'm The Only Woman"
- "I Love U (Yes I Du)"
- "Love Is All We Need"
- Medley: "Reminisce" (contains elements of "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)") / "Love No Limit" / "Mary Jane (All Night Long)"
- "Good Woman Down"
- "Everything"
- "All That I Can Say"
- "I Never Wanna Live Without You"
- "Seven Days"
- "Your Child" (contains elements of "The Lady in My Life")
- "Deep Inside"
- "I Am"
- "Sweet Thing"
- "Not Gon' Cry"
- "I'm Going Down"
- "Take Me As I Am" (Acoustic)
- "No More Drama"
- "I Love You" (Instrumental Interlude)
- Medley: "I Can Love You" / "Work That" 1
- "Just Fine"
- "Family Affair" 1
- Encore
1 performed only at select dates in North America or Europe
Additional notes
- During the October 10, concert at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Blige performed "I'm Goin' Down" with Katlyn Nichol, the newest artist to her record company.
- During the October 12, concert at the Radio City Music Hall (New York City, New York), Blige performed "Fancy" with rapper Swizz Beatz. At the same show, Blige and Swizz Beatz performed "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)" alongside Jazmine Sullivan. These performances were performed in lieu of "I Love You, "I Can Love You" and "Work That".
- "Family Affair" was not included in the performance at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord, California.
- "Stairway to Heaven" was performed in Basel, Switzerland.
- "One" was performed on select dates.
Tour dates
Date | City | Country | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
North America[6][12][13][14] | |||
October 1, 2010[A] | Mobile | United States | Miller Lite Stage |
October 2, 2010 | Atlanta | Chastain Park Amphitheater | |
October 3, 2010 | Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach Amphitheater | |
October 7, 2010 | Bristow | Jiffy Lube Live | |
October 8, 2010 | Atlantic City | Borgata Events Center | |
October 10, 2010 | Ledyard | MGM Grand at Foxwoods | |
October 11, 2010 | New York City | Radio City Music Hall[15] | |
October 12, 2010 | |||
October 15, 2010 | Detroit | Fox Theatre | |
October 16, 2010 | St. Louis | Fox Theatre | |
October 17, 2010 | Chicago | Chicago Theatre | |
October 20, 2010 | Los Angeles | Gibson Amphitheatre[16] | |
October 21, 2010 | |||
October 23, 2010 | Concord | Sleep Train Pavilion | |
Europe[6][17][18] | |||
October 29, 2010 | Basel | Switzerland | Messe Basel |
October 30, 2010 | |||
November 2, 2010 | London | England | The O2 Arena |
November 3, 2010 | Birmingham | LG Arena | |
November 5, 2010 | Manchester | Manchester Evening News Arena | |
Asia[19] | |||
January 16, 2011 | Seoul | South Korea | Grand Peace Palace |
January 19, 2011 | Tokyo | Japan | JCB Hall |
January 20, 2011 | |||
January 22, 2011 | Osaka | Namba Hatch | |
Australia[6][13][20] | |||
January 26, 2011[B] | Perth | Australia | Fremantle Oval |
January 28, 2011[B] | Sydney | Parramatta Park | |
January 29, 2011[B] | Melbourne | Sidney Myer Music Bowl | |
January 30, 2011[B] | Brisbane | Riverstage | |
February 2, 2011[B] | Adelaide | Thebarton Theatre | |
February 5, 2011[B] | Rotorua | New Zealand | Rotorua International Stadium |
Asia[21] | |||
February 8, 2011 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | Plenary Hall |
- Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
- A This concert was a part of Bayfest[22]
- B These concerts are a part of the Raggamuffin Music Festival[23]
- Cancellations and rescheduled shows
October 5, 2010 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium | Cancelled |
October 16, 2010 | Chicago, Illinois | Chicago Theater | The concert was moved to October 17, 2010 |
October 22, 2010 | Las Vegas | Pearl Concert Theatre | Cancelled |
October 26, 2010 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Heineken Music Hall | Cancelled |
December 18, 2010 | Harare, Zimbabwe | Jaggers Msasa Warehouse | This concert was moved to the Harare International Conference Centre then postponed indefinitely[24][25] |
January 28, 2011 | Melbourne, Australia | Royal Melbourne Showgrounds | This concert was moved to January 29, 2010 for Sidney Myer Music Bowl |
January 29, 2011 | Brisbane, Australia | Pine River Park | This concert was moved to January 30, 2010 to the Brisbane Riverstage due to the Queensland Floods[26] |
January 30, 2011 | Port Macquarie, Australia | Cassegrain Winery | Cancelled |
February 2, 2011 | Adelaide, Australia | Memorial Drive Park | This concert was moved to the Thebarton Theatre |
February 3, 2011 | Sydney, Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre | Cancelled |
Box office score data
Venue | City | Tickets sold / available | Gross revenue |
---|---|---|---|
Radio City Music Hall | New York City | 11,150 / 11,896 (94%) | $1,200,835[27] |
Fox Theatre | Detroit | 4,091 / 4,260 (96%) | $392,465[27] |
Chicago Theatre | Chicago | 3,481 / 3,481 (100%) | $330,390[27] |
The O2 Arena | London | 8,148 / 8,148 (100%) | $550,439[27] |
Manchester Evening News Arena | Manchester | 3,530 / 4,413 (80%) | $245,030[27] |
TOTAL | 30,400 / 32,198 (94%) | $2,719,159 |
Critical reception
Overall, the tour received praise from music critics and spectators alike. Blige was noted for her positive messages through her performances encouraging women to believe in themselves and know there is something "better" plan for them. Ines Min (The Korea Times) wrote, "A soulful train of songs, including 'Reminisce', was accompanied by her smooth dancing skills before breaking down the stage with the pique song 'Good Woman Down'. The performer shook, jumped and shimmied in perfect motion, spurring the crowd to rise in an emotional fervor."[28] Anthony Langone (The Depaula) continued the praise for Blige noting, "Never have I seen such a venue this alive. The entire crowd was on its feet singing every word. This is a true testament of Blige's star power. The ability to not only command the stage, but all the people in a sold-out venue is no easy task. Blige did it with ease, making it look easy."[29] Jon Pareles (The New York Times) stated, "In her songs Ms. Blige transmutes setbacks into determination; she confronts trouble, she cries, she wills herself to get over it, she finds the next love. Onstage she's a pop star as life coach, preaching sermons in self-esteem with gospel cadences."[9]
References
- ↑ McLean, Craig (1 November 2011). "Mary J Blige – devil diva? Exclusive interview". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Vaziri, Aidin (17 October 2010). "Mary J. Blige beats high odds". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Roura, Phil (2 October 2010). "Moving spirit: Mary J. Blige is on a soul-stirring crusade while on tour". New York Daily News. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- 1 2 Concepción, Mariel (1 September 2010). "Mary J. Blige Announces Tour with Jazmine Sullivan, El DeBarge, Miguel". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Bland, Bridget (13 October 2010). "Newcomer Miguel Making Big Moves With Opening Gigs for Mary J. Blige, Usher". Black Voices. AOL, Inc. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Smith, Jay (1 September 2010). "Blige Taps Sullivan, Miguel For Tour". Pollstar. Associated Press. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ "Gyptian joins forces with Mary J Blige". The Jamaica Observer. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- 1 2 "MINMI and Mye to join Mary J. Blige on her Japanese tour". Tokyo Hive. 6Theory Media, LLC. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- 1 2 Pareles, Jon (12 October 2010). "Attention, Ladies: After Heartbreak Can Come Redemption". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ "Mary J. Blige set list". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 17 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Cox, Calvin (17 October 2010). "Show Review: Mary J Blige, El DeBarge and Jazmine Sullivan Thrill at the Fabulous Fox, Saturday, October 16". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ "Events: Tour Archive". Mary J. Blige's Official Website. Universal Music Group. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- 1 2 Hall, Tara (2 September 2010). "Mary J. Blige hits the road with Jazmine Sullivan". SoundSpike. MTV Networks. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Concert Review; Mary J. Blige and Jasmine Sullivan in Atlanta
- ↑ Concert Review; El Debarge, Miguel and Mary J. Blige at Radio City Music Hall
- ↑ Review, Mary J. Blige Live at Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles
- ↑ "Mary J Blige announces UK tour". The Belfast Telegraph. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Williams, Sarah (1 September 2010). "Mary J. Blige Returns To U.K.". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ "Mary J. Blige: Music Saved My Life Tou". CNNGo. Turner Broadcasting System. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ "Mary J Blige to headline Raggamuffin". Fairfax New Zealand. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ "MARY J BLIGE TO PERFORM IN KUALA LUMPUR" (Press release). PR Canada. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ↑ Specker, Lawerence F. (8 July 2010). "BayFest adds R&B superstar Mary J. Blige to lineup". Press-Register. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ McCabe, Kathy (26 January 2011). "Putting her soul into it". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Showbiz Reporter (19 December 2010). "Mary J Blige pulls plug on Zimbabwe tour". New Zimbabwe. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Manhango, Simbarashe (19 December 2010). "Fans wait in vain as Mary J Blige gig is cancelled". The Standard. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ "Mary J Blige gigs to raise flood funds". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ↑ Min, Ines (17 January 2011). "Mary J. Blige breaks down the walls". The Korea Times. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Langone, Anthony (25 October 2010). "Mary J. Blige serenades Chicago Theater". The Depaulia. DePaul University. Retrieved 25 January 2011.