Last night, four-time Grammy-nominee Angelique Kidjo gave a stellar performance at the Ordway Center for the Performing
Arts. Despite her relatively
petite stature, Kidjo is a ball of energy. She brought life and
vitality to the stage as she sang and danced to the rhythm of African
drums and electric guitars.
Kidjo’s music is inspired by her childhood home
of Benin, but also includes elements of American R&B, funk, and jazz,
and influences from Europe and Latin America. From the very beginning
of her performance, Kidjo was clearly able to energize her audience.
Her powerful voice and catchy African beats make it hard for the audience
to resist dancing along.
Calling
her microphone her "weapon of mass love," Kidjo also brings activism
to the stage. Kidjo preaches love, peace, and the need to unify
all human beings. Her goal is to touch lives through her singing
and her message of love. The audience at the Ordway Center seemed
to truly embrace Kidjo’s message as they unabashedly sang and danced
along to her music, sometimes swaying back and forth with their neighbors
and embracing those around them. Kidjo’s positive attitude reverberated
through the crowd along with her powerful voice.
To
compliment her strong vocals, Kidjo was backed by an equally strong
band. The three guitarists and two percussionists not only provided
an energetic backdrop for Kidjo’s songs, but were also let loose to
perform a purely instrumental segment of the show while Kidjo took a
break offstage. The band gave the show depth through their lively
performance and constant interaction with Kidjo.
Kidjo’s
connection with her audience was incredible. It takes a special
kind of performer to gain the love and appreciation of a crowd, but
Kidjo seemed to accomplish this feat effortlessly. She danced
among the audience, told jokes, and even encouraged audience members
to come dance on the stage with her. The level of interaction
Angelique Kidjo had with the crowd at the Ordway made her
show unforgettable.
Before
you buy a ticket to her next show, however, keep in mind that if you
have trouble losing yourself in a performance, the amount of audience
participation may be daunting instead of delightful. In order
to truly enjoy Kidjo’s performance, you have to let yourself be enveloped
by her music and the excited atmosphere it creates.
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