Music Saved My Life Tour was the eighth concert tour by American recording artist, Mary J. Blige. It was launched in support of her ninth studio Stronger with Each Tear (2009). It began in September 2010 and continued through February 2011. Concerts were held in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Background Universal Music Group announced Blige's tour on September 1, 2010. The tour was described as Blige venturing back to her R&B roots from her previous festival performances, which focused on a heavy rock sound. Blige states the tour's title comes from her personal viewpoint of music after her battles with drug and alcohol abuse. She further commented:"Music makes us want to live. You don't know how many times people have told me that they'd been down and depressed and just wanted to die. But then a special song caught their ear and that helped give them renewed strength. That's the power music has. I believe there are certain things that God uses to get us out of a bad situation, and I believe music was one of the things he used for me. The first time I heard 'Keep on Moving' by Soul II Soul, I felt like somebody pumped a new spirit in me that made me want to go on. [Without music] I honestly think I would be in a really bad situation. I don't take it for granted. I have no doubt I was born to do this.
Opening acts Jazmine Sullivan (North America) El DeBarge (North America) Miguel (North America) Lemar (England) Gyptian (England) Beatbox Drase (Manchester) Minmi (Japan) Mye (Japan)
Set list
"MJB da MVP" "The One" "Enough Cryin" "You Bring Me Joy" "Be Happy" / "You Remind Me" / "Real Love" / "Everyday It Rains" "I'm The Only Woman" "I Love U (Yes I Du)" "Love Is All We Need" "Reminisce" (contain elements of "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)") "Love No Limit" / "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" "Good Woman Down" "Everything" "All That I Can Say" "I Never Wanna Live Without You" "Seven Days" "Your Child" (contain elements of "The Lady in My Life") "Deep Inside" "I Am" "Sweet Thing" "Not Gon' Cry" "I'm Going Down" "Take Me As I Am" (acoustic) "No More Drama" "I Love You" (instrumental interlude) "I Can Love You" / "Work That" "Just Fine" "Family Affair" Encore "Be Without You"
Source:
Additional notes "I Can Love You", "Work That", "The One", and "Family Affair". were only performed during select dates in North America and Europe. During the first concert in New York, Blige performed "I'm Goin' Down" with Katlyn Nichol. During the second concert in New York, Blige performed "Fancy" and "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)" with Swizz Beatz and Jazmine Sullivan. "Stairway to Heaven" was performed during the concert in Basel.
Musicians Mary J. Blige - Main Performer, Vocals Omar Edwards - Musical Direction Rexsell Hardy - Musical Direction Devine Evans - Music Programmer Tiffany Bastiani - Vocals (Background) Carlos Battery - Vocals (Background) Robert "JJ" Smith - Bass Rexsell Hardy - Drums Jeff Motley - Keyboards Luke Austin - Keyboards Omar Edwards - Keyboards Shawn Hinton - Guitar
Tour dates + List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue Date City Country VenueSeptember 6, 2010SeattleU.S.Concert Review; Mary J. Blige and Jasmine Sullivan in Atlanta Memorial StadiumOctober 1, 2010MobileMiller Lite StageOctober 2, 2010AtlantaChastain Park AmphitheaterOctober 3, 2010Virginia BeachVirginia Beach AmphitheaterOctober 7, 2010BristowJiffy Lube LiveOctober 8, 2010Atlantic CityBorgata Events CenterOctober 10, 2010LedyardMGM Grand at FoxwoodsOctober 11, 2010New York CityRadio City Music HallConcert Review; El Debarge, Miguel and Mary J. Blige at Radio City Music HallOctober 12, 2010October 15, 2010DetroitFox TheatreOctober 16, 2010St. LouisFox TheatreOctober 17, 2010ChicagoChicago TheatreOctober 20, 2010Los AngelesGibson AmphitheatreReview, Mary J. Blige Live at Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles October 21, 2010October 23, 2010ConcordSleep Train PavilionOctober 29, 2010BaselSwitzerlandMesse BaselOctober 30, 2010November 2, 2010LondonEnglandThe O2 ArenaNovember 3, 2010BirminghamLG ArenaNovember 5, 2010ManchesterManchester Evening News ArenaJanuary 16, 2011SeoulSouth KoreaGrand Peace PalaceJanuary 19, 2011TokyoJapanJCB HallJanuary 20, 2011January 22, 2011OsakaNamba HatchJanuary 26, 2011PerthAustraliaFremantle OvalJanuary 28, 2011SydneyParramatta ParkJanuary 29, 2011MelbourneSidney Myer Music BowlJanuary 30, 2011BrisbaneRiverstageFebruary 2, 2011AdelaideThebarton TheatreFebruary 5, 2011RotoruaNew ZealandRotorua International StadiumFebruary 8, 2011Kuala LumpurMalaysiaPlenary Hall
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances This concert was a part of 2010 Bumbershoot This concert was a part of Bayfest These concerts are a part of the Raggamuffin Music Festival
Cancelled shows + List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, and venue Date City Country Venue October 5, 2010 Raleigh U.S. Raleigh Memorial AuditoriumOctober 22, 2010Las VegasPearl Concert TheatreOctober 26, 2010Amsterdam NetherlandsHeineken Music HallDecember 18, 2010HarareZimbabweHarare International Conference Centre January 30, 2011Port Macquarie AustraliaCassegrain WineryFebruary 3, 2011SydneySydney Entertainment Centre
Box office
+ List of concerts, showing venue, city, attendance and revenue Venue City Attendance (Tickets sold / available) Gross revenueRadio City Music HallNew York City11,150 / 11,896 (94%)$1,200,835Fox TheatreDetroit4,091 / 4,260 (96%)$392,465Chicago TheatreChicago3,481 / 3,481 (100%)$330,390The O2 ArenaLondon8,148 / 8,148 (100%)$550,439Manchester EveningNews ArenaManchester3,530 / 4,413 (80%)$245,030TOTAL30,400 / 32,198 (94%)$2,719,159
Critical reception Overall, the tour received praise from music critics and spectators alike. Blige was noted for her positive messages through her performances encouraging women to believe in themselves and know there is something "better" plan for them. Ines Min (The Korea Times) wrote, "A soulful train of songs, including 'Reminisce', was accompanied by her smooth dancing skills before breaking down the stage with the pique song 'Good Woman Down'. The performer shook, jumped and shimmied in perfect motion, spurring the crowd to rise in an emotional fervor." Anthony Langone (The Depaula) continued the praise for Blige noting, "Never have I seen such a venue this alive. The entire crowd was on its feet singing every word. This is a true testament of Blige's star power. The ability to not only command the stage, but all the people in a sold-out venue is no easy task. Blige did it with ease, making it look easy." Jon Pareles (The New York Times) stated, "In her songs Ms. Blige transmutes setbacks into determination; she confronts trouble, she cries, she wills herself to get over it, she finds the next love. Onstage she's a pop star as life coach, preaching sermons in self-esteem with gospel cadences."
Notes
References
External links Blige's Official Website