Erykah Badu 

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• Erykah Badu

  On the last day of the year, I’ve generally stayed at home with candles lit and music on, while writing and reflecting on the upcoming year. My plans would have probably been the same for 2012, but one person changed all that. Erykah Badu. Upon discovering she was spending her New Year’s Eve in Oakland at the Fox Theatre, I did what any fanatic fan would do – I immediately sent word out that I was going and asked if anyone wanted to join. I feel as though she and I share a special bond. We do have a few things in common – we are both water signs (she’s a Pisces, I'm a Cancer); she also attended my alma mater, Grambling State University. I would love to say that I knew her while I was there. It would be nice if I had bumped into her a time or two on campus and knew she was going to be somebody (at Grambling, the motto is “The place where everybody is somebody,” so I guess all students are somebody). But, alas, we were not on campus together; I believe she left the year before I entered the University. But I do actually know someone who really knows her, so there’s something else we have in common. Enough of the digression. One thing I clearly remember from my Grambling days is listening to Baduizm for the first time in 1997. I was in my last semester, set to graduate and officially become a “grown” woman. Gone would be the safety net of college life; now I had student loans to repay, a car note to worry about, and a job to secure. So in my life walks this woman singing about her cipher moving like a rolling stone, picking her friends like she picks her fruit, and asking who gave anyone permission to rearrange her. And I recall thinking, she's absolutely right on point! Erykah’s lyrics and music were refreshingly different than most R&B of the 90s. While we had Mary J. Blige singing about Real Love over a hip-hop beat, Erykah sang about Next Lifetime and No Love. She was an inspirational change of pace, and I clung on to her every word. I am a lover of everything Badu. When Mama’s Gun was released in 2000, I just knew she wrote many of those songs about my life. From Didn’t Cha Know, to . . . & On to Kiss Me On My Neck, Erykah’s growth was apparent. So, back to her show on Dec. 31, 2012. It’s been 15 years since Baduzim’s debut and Erykah has subsequently released five more albums. Each has showcased an ever-changing Badu, but one thing has remained consistent – Erykah’s live performances. They are NEVER a disappointment. Strolling on stage while her band played a lazy and drawn out version of 20 Feet Tall (it came across as if they were still in sound check), she paused at the microphone, taking in all the audience love, before proclaiming, “My love, what did I do to make you fall so far from me?” At the end of the song (and come to think of it, she did this on every song), Erykah struck a warrior/goddess pose. The next three songs (The Healer/Hip Hop, Me and My People) are all from New Amerykah: Part One (4th World Order) – the one album whose meaning I’m still working on grasping. This provided me, however, the perfect opportunity to stop and do some video recording. Playing On & On and . . . & On back to back, Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop) followed with a surprise appearance by Oakland’s own Raphael Saadiq who, according to Erykah, provided the base line for the song. (Side note, I normally am up dancing to this song, but I sacrificed this time so I could record this performance for my readers. I’m glad I did.) As the clock neared midnight, the band began the first notes of Danger. About half way through the song, a count-down appeared on the screen behind the stage and we all stopped, screamed happy New Year, and went back to partying. During Back in the Day (Puff), Erykah exclaimed, “Now is the opportunity for you to smoke,” as if that hadn’t been already occurring. At some point, she took her shoes off and ended the night with Didn’t Cha Know, the first verse from Out My Mind, Just in Time (the one song I just had to hear) and Bag Lady, which I think was an appropriate song to finish with because in the new year, I definitely will be working on letting the bags go!

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  by beautifulone08

• Perhaps it was my fault for having high expectations... To kick off a month of festivities celebrating my wife's birth, I surprised her with tickets to Erykah Badu. She has seen her perform in the past in Memphis, but this was my first time and I had heard wonderful reviews... that she puts on an amazing show; commands the audience in a way only Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin did. Tonight was not the case. The opening act, Ro James, was meh. I congratulate him for pursuing his dream (if only everyone did that), but his show sucked for the most important reason. The sound was horrible. I have always feared this was the state of most hip hop concerts... That there is no way to get the live sound to imitate CD quality... Or the people working the sound are unknowledgeable, or the equipment is subpar... For whatever reason, the sound quality was horrible. On a positive note, he performed a song about asking consent when hooking up with a woman and I think that is a strong message that more men need to share with other men. So, overall, he gets a favorable review.

  Erykah Badu was pretty amazing, but overall, the show was meh. I could have saved $165 (total cost for 2, $62 tickets and service fees). The Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi is a horrible venue. The drink and food lines were incredibly long, as if they were understaffed, though the restrooms were clean and never crowded.

  Erykah's voice was good and sounded like she is taking care of herself, but she did get tired. Did a few old songs as well as some new ones. She came on a little late, which allowed us to stand in the longer than usual line for snack... only to begin right when we were close to the front. Her back up band was really good. They played one set. She did not really engage with us, the audience. A few songs after mentioning that she was tired, she finished and left the state.

  Oh yeah, and did I mention that she was performing in Mississippi, but kept calling it Memphis. While Southaven is in the Memphis metropolitan statistical area, it is still Mississippi and so not Memphis!

  In conclusion, I am glad I saw her perform. I am happier that I was able to spend a wonderful evening with my wife. Will I pay to see her perform again? Most likely not, though I love her music.

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  by DJGoodmea

• So she pulled a Lauren Hill Last night at the Brooklyn Bowl. My Girlfriend was really looking forward to see he for Post valentines day. We paid 17 Dollars for parking $ 100 dollars for drinks ..we stood in a huge line to get in and get our tickets on the ticket the show time is 8PM .. ( Figured she would be a litle bit after that no big deal ) standing room only were are all packed in like sardines.. no opening band.. 1 hour goes by , no Erykah 2 hours go by no Erykah, 2 hours and 45 go by no Erykah ...3 hours no body even came out to greet all these people who have paid good money and have been standing waiting for over 3 HOURS past show time.there were drinks being poured down from the upper balcony and started getting really ghetto in there.. People started booing and a bunch of people left to get refunds.. Brookyln Bowl was very helpful with the refunds but someone there should have been wise enough to apologize for the delay..fter we left she finally took the stage after 11: 30 PM played for about an hour.. By far the worst concert experience ever.. I really hope Brooklyn Bowl holds her responsible and takes out the refunded ticket cost out of her pay..I will never buy another ticket to see Miss Ba.. I really was looking forward to going to the brooklyn bowl tainted my first experience but I will go back because they did offer a refund ..I feel very sorry for that poor lady who was refunding all those tickets.

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  by aaron-duffy-1

• One of the most acclaimed R & B singers Erykah Badu has been touring extensively since her beginnings in the mid-90's. Her soulful sound has captivated fans around the world and her shows are almost always guaranteed to sell out so the opportunity to see her perform live feels even more special.

  Often criticised for arriving onstage late, Erykah walks on to the atmospheric setting and the audience fall deadly silent as herself and each of her band are illuminated by singular spotlights. Standing for a moment to indulge in the sight before her, Badu smiles broadly before taking to a synth pad and beginning the fragmented '20 Feet Tall'. Her biggest international hit 'On & On' is dropped midset and given a jazz style makeover which sounds great with the freestyle instrumentals.

  Erykah uses her own voice as an instrument as she performs vocal acrobatics cheered on by the crowd. Her own backing band keep the rhythm and pace whilst Badu freestyles making every concert feel original. A tender rendition of 'Next Life' and the ever popular 'Bag Lady' leave the audience satisfied.

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  by sean-ward

• I absolutely LOVEEEEEE Erykah Badu, but her timing is awful, the show began at 8 and she showed up at about 10, maybe 10:30 because there was a performing act that came on before and I lost track of time but that's just not okay to paying people expecting a show to be at least two hours and only amounted up to about one. However, her energy and presence is awesome, once she showed up I couldn't even be mad anymore I was just so happy to be experiencing her live and in color, she has such a colorful personality and truly knows how to engage her audience and that's great. I do realize she was there to promote her mixtape but I also think it was a bit too premature since it dropped so recently and no one really knew all the material or could sing along which I felt she could sense and went back to her old hits and then the crowd was really into it, I just wish I could get more out of the concert. There were definitely a few more songs I would have LOVED to hear, other than that she's an awesome performer.

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  by sabrina-sade

• Erykah Badu is a high energy performer. Her band was truly talented and her background singers took this performance to the next level! They all rocked it! Only good things to say about this woman's showmanship and professionalism. Show started on time and the vibes were amazing. The only downside of this excursion was the venue. I flew 500 miles to see this show and because of the security at the venue we missed the first 3 songs in the set and had to stand in the pouring rain for 2 hours before we could get inside. The Observatory North Park really needs to rethink their security procedures. It's not a well planned system at all. I considered leaving and asked about a refund, but was told this wasn't possible. All in all I'm glad I stayed for the show because it really lifted my spirits after the security fiasco, but I'll never see another show at this venue. Not for all of the money in the world.

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  by aawoodson

• DISAPPOINTING!!!

  I live in Austin, TX, I took the day off, drove up 35, checked into my hotel, had a SUPERB dinner at Fleming’s in Plano, TX, drove down to The Bomb Factory, paid $20 to park in a lot at Malcolm X & Taylor, walked to the venue, got through security, got my ticket scanned at 7:50 PM CST.

  Festival seating, no seats!!

  Act # 1 (Techno DJ), Act # 2 (DC drummer), Dead Prez (3 songs)

  I purchased a $30 T-shirt for my daughter

  We tried to hold up until Ms. Badu made her stage appearance.

  We left the venue at 11:10 PM CST

  I Love Ms. Badu, but last night was VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!!

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  by melvynanderson

• Have always and will always love Erykah’s contribution to music BUT... she takes her fans in Dallas for granted. Tickets stated doors open at 7pm show starts at 8pm. Opening act didn’t start until 9. She came out during his set to say hello, so she clearly was at the venue but she made her fans wait until after 12am to hear her perform. I don’t know of anyone worth waiting that long. There were people who left without seeing her. Disappointed Ms. Badu You may be the envy of the women and rule the men but I’ll just listen to the music from the comfort of my home in the future.

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  by bshaw1

• This was one of the best experiences I've had in my entire life! It was amazing. I'm a huge fan and she DID NOT disappoint.. She covered various albums and even went as far to join other melodies from other songs into the hooks of her songs. Her voice was so off the charts that I had to hold my chest cause I didn't think my heart could stay intact during her high notes. Haha, I will DEFINITELY be going to her concerts whenever she comes back to the area. Thanks SongKick for making your platform available to me.

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  by Christialboo

• The show was just ok for me. I couldn't get over the fact that she did not come on until 9:30 when the show was supposed to start at 8. This was my first time and last time attending a concert of hers. My time is valuable just like the artist and if any artist cannot respect their fans I would suggest the fans stop supporting their artist. My fiancee seen get years ago at the beginning of her career and she was on time. Money can really change a person. Sad.

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  by thechopper7