THE LEGACY TOUR
March 25.2023
Little Caesars Arena
Detroit, Michigan
by Dedan Blackmon
Thousands entered Little Caesars Arena to see one of the best line-ups in r&b history. Bushman from 97.9 WJLB comes on stage to introduce the first artist. He asks the question, ‘Detroit are you ready’? The lights go out, and the title ‘R&B MONEY’, which is the name of Tank’s record label appears on the center screen. The band starts playing “I’m A Star”. A video of Tank standing on the stairs comes on while the spotlight hits center stage. He walks out from under the stage, gazing at the crowd, enticing all the women like it was just one woman. Every woman in the arena screamed like he was looking directly at them. Tank grabs the microphone and starts singing “I’m A Star”. He also sang songs like “Maybe I Deserve”, “When We”, “F****n Wit Me”,”No Limit”, “Please Don’t Go” and others. It was like watching a step-by-step tease for the ladies and Tank reached his goal because they loved every minute of it.
In 1987, a group started by “Mr. Rumpshaker” himself Teddy Riley, also featuring Aaron Hall and Timmy Gatling took the music world by storm…that group is called Guy! Aaron’s younger brother Damion later replaced Gatling after their debut album “Guy” was released. 35 years later they’re still going strong performing on The Legacy Tour. As the band starts to play, the dancers come out from both sides of the stage while digital graphic faces of Guy pop up on the screen and start singing the chorus to “Dancin”. You hear the drums and a thump like you’re watching a scene from a movie and you’re going to war. To that beat Teddy and Damion comes up the stairs from center stage through the fog and start singing the verse to their song “Her”. The band starts playing as the crowd goes crazy when Aaron comes up the stairs singing ‘Groove Me’. When I tell you they performed like they were still in they’re 20’s…WOW! Guy also sang their hit songs “Teddy’s Jam,” “Let’s Chill”, “Wanna To Get With U” and “I Like.” They haven’t lost their touch at all.
Next up is Keith Sweat, who sang his mega-hit songs “Twisted”, “ I Want Her“, “Make It Last Forever” and “Nobody”. He also did a tribute to LSG (Levert, Sweat & Gill) singing “Round and Round”, “Door #1” and “My Body”. Sweat also did a tribute to Johnny Kemp singing “Just Got Paid“, which still rocks to this day. The final tribute was to Silk, as he sang “Freak Me”. Those are all songs he wrote and produced.
The main event…the championship fight! The lights go out as fog billows across the stage. The sounds of “We Will Rock You” echoes throughout the area. The video screen shows a montage of highlights of New Edition during their 40 Years in the music industry. All of the sudden you hear Johnny Gill’s voice singing “Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph and Johnny too”! Strobe lights swing back and forth across the stage as the crowd anticipates New Edition. Rising from beneath the stage New Edition appears as the crowd goes wild! They each walk up to their microphones standing in place, and at the same time as the band starts playing, New Edition with their slick dance moves breaks out into their song “Crucial”. Dressed in red Bruno Capelo hats, red Trench Coats with black shirts and black sequined pants, they hit us with one of Johnny Gill’s songs “Rub You The Right Way”. And then they hit us with a jab as Bobby Brown came with “My Prerogative” and “Mr. Telephone Man”. Bobby is still “The King Of Stage” indeed. Now here comes the left hook. New Edition came with “If It Isn’t Love” and “Cool It Now”. By this time the ladies are either cuddled up with their man or in the aisle’s dancing together. This was perfect timing as they slowed things down with “I’m Still In Love With You”. This was the perfect time for couples to love on each other. But it gets better and better. New Edition took us back to 1983 with “Candy Girl”, “Count Me Out”, “ Is This The End” and “I’m Lost In Love”. Bobby Brown performed “Roni”, then New Edition performed “Can You Stand The Rain”. Johnny Gill came with his solo hits “My My My” and “Here We Go Again”, as Ralph Tresvant performed “Sensitivity”. Last but not least, Bell Biv Devoe had us against the ropes with “When Will I See You Smile Again” and “Do Me”. Bobby came back with his banger “Don’t Be Cruel” while New Edition performed “Can You Stand The Rain”. It was a pass the mic night as Bobby came back hard with “Every Little Step”…dance routine and all proving that he still has it. They all came together for the BBD anthem “Poison”. 40 years later they still brought the same moves, energy and vibes like they were still 12 year old New Edition. Now for the K.O. Ending their show, they knocked it out the box with “N.E. Heart Break”. Join us at UnRated as we CONGRATULATE New Edition on 40 years of longevity.
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