I went to both Urban League Conference concerts. And as much as I love Erykah Badu, I must admit that somethin’ wasn’t quite right with her show on Thursday. What was she doin’ with that laptop on stage, checkin’ her Myspace page? I love her voice, her music and black to the basic style, but that particular performance…not so much. I was groovin’ at the end, but by the time I got up out of my seat to get down, she was saying “thank y’all and good night.”
But Teena Marie tore it down (just like at the Pageant!)!Her soccer grandma swagger had me a little nervous when she stepped up to the mic. I am still confused by the yellow penguin tailed tuxedo outfit with orthopedic white tennis shoes and librarian bifocals. But after seeing her perform, there was no question why she is the third most beloved white person (only Bob Barker and Bill Clinton get more props) in the black community. By the time Lady T had the crowd dancin’ up out the America’s Center folks were probably like Erykah Ba-Who? On Friday, Kenny Lattimore, Chante Moore and Kelly Price gave the crowd a good time too, but I left there disgusted with Chante Moore. I mean come on, do you have to be that pretty, sing your face off and have a great personality too? That just ain’t fair! I know I am gonna be getting some hate mail for weeks for sayin’ this – but I didn’t think Kenny Lattimore was that great. He gave his all, but his singin’ was pretty re-gu-lar. Kelly Price was good, but she did more preachin’ than singin’. I guess it was the inspirational night. But her set would have been much better if she would have hollered and moaned some of those sermons like a storefront preacher!