Concert costly and brief but Mariah still charms
Concert costly and brief but Mariah still charms
Hera Diani , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The poor had the last laugh on Sunday as pop diva Mariah Carey
wrapped up her concert here in only one hour, leaving dozens of
fans who had paid up to Rp 1.7 million (US$212) for tickets --
almost three times the capital's minimum wage -- disappointed.
Other ticket prices were between Rp 500,000 and Rp 1.35
million.
The brief performance at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC),
Central Jakarta, also included Carey's frequent exits backstage
for outfit changes, leaving dancers and backup singers to take
over.
Once, she disappeared for a full song sang by backup singer
Trey Lorenz.
However, as part of a world tour to promote her latest album
Charmbracelet here, Carey showed she still could deliver the
goods with her flawless five-octave range. And of course, a set
of provocative outfits.
Clad in tiny, glittery silver hula skirt and bikini top, she
kicked off her performance with upbeat Heartbreaker, taken from
her 1999 Rainbow album.
Two screens on each side of the stage showed a series of
impressionist-style paintings to illustrate her song Dream Lover.
She then walked around stage, giving instructions, then,
realizing the existence of the audience turned and asked "How're
you feeling?" with a huge grin.
The some 5,000 audience cheered and applauded as she belted
out hits like Through the Rain, My All, Can't Take That Away and
Always Be My Baby.
One highlight was a duet with Lorenz on Jackson Five's I'll Be
There, with the crowd singing along.
The 33-year-old supreme songbird frequently took a pose,
waving her hands in true Miss Universe style, and sat on the
floor.
In Fantasy, by now on her fifth or sixth outfit, she shook her
hips and danced around a folded chair.
The concert was completed with the 1993 number one single
Hero.
The concert, however, showed that Carey still has a long way
to go to reclaim her diva status after a turbulent period in the
last few years.
Carey hit big in the 1990's pop scene after debut album in
1990 Vision of Love which spawned four No. 1 hits, sold over six
million copies in the United States and won two Grammys.
In 2001, however, she was dropped by her label Virgin as album
Glitter failed to meet expectations, although it still registered
platinum sales. The horrible movie of the same name, in which
Carey starred in was also a flop, followed by news of a mental
breakdown.
Her eighth album, Charmbracelet, is Carey's first under her
own brand, MonarC, which she formed with Island record company.
Despite bad reviews, the album has been a reasonable success
for Carey, and a chance to put her career back on track. Released
in the United States on December 2002, the album sold 241,000
copies in its debut week.
With the diva status still to be reclaimed, Carey is still a
diva at heart, and acted like one.
Aside from a long list of requests for local promoter Java
Musikindo, she also refused to hold a conference for the local
media here.
She touched down at Halim Perdanakusuma airport here on Sunday
at 1:20 p.m., after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from
MTV Asia Awards.
Her concert was held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, relatively early for
a music concert, which are usually held in the evening.
According to promoter Adrie Subono, they had to clear the
venue by 6 p.m. because President Megawati Soekarnoputri was to
attend a wedding ceremony held in the JCC area.
Well, look who's the diva here.