Booche Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 T'CHA DUNLEVY, The Gazette Published: Thursday, February 01, 2007 The singing started after just a few songs. It built in waves as the crowd showered him with cheers. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you." Justin Timberlake celebrated his 26th birthday with more than 19,600 fans last night at the Bell Centre. "What did you say?" he asked coyly, before summoning his entourage for a round of tequila shots. "Don't try this at home," he joked. The party was already well under way. Rolling into town with the kind of big-show bells and whistles we haven't seen since Madonna played here last summer, Timberlake delivered a nearly two-and-a-half-hour tour de force of song, dance and some of the funkiest beats in pop music. A seven-piece band gave him the sonic oomph. Four backup singers helped with the harmonies. Eight dancers offered constant visual stimulation. But it was Timberlake who ruled the proceedings. They don't call him the king of pop for nothing. Relaxed, giddy and with rhythm in his bones, he sang with soul, flair and effortless precision. Opening with the Prince-ly shuffle of the title track to his new album FutureSex/LoveSounds, and playing every song on it by show's end - plus a few from his solo debut, Justified - he proved that his talent goes beyond anything that video and studio trickery could provide. He received frequent applause for his dancing, and rightfully so. He never missed a step. He couldn't even saunter across the stage or jump down the stairs without landing on the beat. A word here about the staging: "In the round," they call it - a matrix of circular catwalks at centre-ice, with Timberlake alternating between the centre and playful jaunts around the perimeter to visit his fans on all sides of the room. And for the most part, he made it seem like one big jam. Even a romantic ditty like My Love, early on, turned into a singalong dance party. Another, Until the End of Time, was sappier, but still had swing. The upbeat numbers - Sexy Ladies, Chop Me Up, Damn Girl - needed no assistance. As rumoured, there was a cameo by super-producer Timbaland, who gives the new album much of its edge. But at a full half-hour, his intermission "beaterator" jam went on far too long, breaking the flow of the night - nothing Timberlake couldn't fix upon his return. SexyBack was on the set list near show's end, but by that time, this reporter was already writing for deadline. Pink opened the night with a surprisingly engaging set. Her husky singing voice, spunky charm and unpretentious demeanour would have provided stiff competition were Timberlake not already so on top of his game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 the Toronto show also got good reviews. Dude's got talent, it's wrong to underestimate him. I bet he puts on quite a show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Those are the kinds of shows that usually get "good" reviews ... mainly because they are mainstream pop. Get that same reviewer out to some lesser-known, non-label, grassroots band (like the ones we all listen to) and you'd get something completely different. I do understand that the kid does have talent ... just not a talent that I would enjoy experiencing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted February 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Shows that get "good" reviews are usually GOOD shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 the toronto reviewer was Ben Rayner... he said the "show" got in the way of JT's talent.He's seen tons of bands, as I imagine the Montreal reviewer has.I dunno. I don't listed to much mainstream pop, but JT has a ton of talent, I can't see how his show wouldn't be entertaining and good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 i guess 95% of Phish shows were NOT good then (same goes for any other band that seemingly "noodles" or "jams" to unschooled ears). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted February 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Yeah, that's about right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Every one who plays the ACC has some sort of talent or they wouldnt be playing it. Im gonna go post this in that other thread as something that annoys me: People who insist on pointing out that JT has talent. Big fuckin whoop! Hey you know who else has talent? The Wiggles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Hey you know who else has talent? The Wiggles. What? Those crazy OZzies? They lip synch, can't play their instruments, and they stole their costumes from Kirk-era Star Trek! Bastards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Take that back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Every one who plays the ACC has some sort of talent or they wouldnt be playing it. Im gonna go post this in that other thread as something that annoys me: People who insist on pointing out that JT has talent. Big fuckin whoop! Hey you know who else has talent? The Wiggles.no, actually it is worth pointing out because too many people just sweep aside "pop" music as though it's an inferior musical form, to be looked down on. It's as though the concept of "entertainment" is worthless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 The Wiggles peaked in 1999, they're a chariacture of themselves now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Phil Lesh and Wiggles tour 2007, who's got my headies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 It's as though the concept of "entertainment" is worthless.Its not that its worthless, it just aint worth what they want from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 They were never the same after Steve Irwin got 'offed' by that sting ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Its not that its worthless, it just aint worth what they want from you. i don't get it, can you elaborate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Ahhh..."The Australian Zoo Wiggles"...top of their game they were. That version of "Do the Owl," will forever hold a place in my heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Funny, i thought that this thread was going to be about James Taylor. I guess the "new" generation thinks of "JT" as Justin Timberlake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 It's as though the concept of "entertainment" is worthless.Its not that its worthless' date=' it just aint worth what they want from you. [/quote']I don't get it. We pay Trey Anastasio $50 a pop to hallcuinate on stage with a guitar around his neck, pissing in people's ears. He's certainly not gonna bring sexy back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted February 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 No 'we' dont MarcO. 'They' do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Its not that its worthless' date=' it just aint worth what they want from you. [/quote']i don't get it, can you elaborate?I interpreted Marco's post as saying JT is entertainment, and hes good at it, to say hes not is to render Entertainment "worthless". Im not saying hes bad, Im saying his form of entertainment bites, and is so incredibly overblown with hype and hysteria that it aint worth the hard earned dollar you've earned to spend on it. The same goes for most big-venue shows. Its all hype. Dude's just a dude. Were all a bunch of suckas for the next big thing. If thats what entertainment is, it aint worth it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 "I" "did" "4" "or" "5" "years" "ago" "but" "definitely" "would" "not" "even" "think" "about" "it" "today.""Let" "the" "wooks" "have" "their" "fun" "and" "I'll" "listen" "to" "good" "music." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 " " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badams Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I won't lie, he put on one hell of a show and the back ground dancers were HOT!!!Heck 90% of the audience was female and 80% of them were do able. The sad thing is out of that 80%, 89% were 18 or younger. It was a moral dilema. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 and a statistician's nightmare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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