Music Saved My Life Tour

Last updated
Music Saved My Life Tour
Tour by Mary J. Blige
Mjb msmlwt.jpg
Promotional poster for the tour
Location
  • North America
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Australia
Associated album Stronger with Each Tear
Start dateSeptember 6, 2010 (2010-09-06)
End dateFebruary 8, 2011 (2011-02-08)
No. of shows30
Mary J. Blige concert chronology

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.

Contents

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. [1] 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. [2] [3]

Opening acts

Set list

  1. "MJB da MVP"
  2. "The One"
  3. "Enough Cryin"
  4. "You Bring Me Joy"
  5. "Be Happy" / "You Remind Me" / "Real Love" / "Everyday It Rains"
  6. "I'm The Only Woman"
  7. "I Love U (Yes I Du)"
  8. "Love Is All We Need"
  9. "Reminisce" (contain elements of "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)")
  10. "Love No Limit" / "Mary Jane (All Night Long)"
  11. "Good Woman Down"
  12. "Everything"
  13. "All That I Can Say"
  14. "I Never Wanna Live Without You"
  15. "Seven Days"
  16. "Your Child" (contain elements of "The Lady in My Life")
  17. "Deep Inside"
  18. "I Am"
  19. "Sweet Thing"
  20. "Not Gon' Cry"
  21. "I'm Going Down"
  22. "Take Me As I Am" (acoustic)
  23. "No More Drama"
  24. "I Love You" (instrumental interlude)
  25. "I Can Love You" / "Work That"
  26. "Just Fine"
  27. "Family Affair"
Encore
  1. "Be Without You"


Source: [9] [10] [11]

Additional notes

Musicians

Tour dates

List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue
DateCityCountryVenue
September 6, 2010 [A] Seattle U.S.
[6] [12]
[13] [14] 		Memorial Stadium
October 1, 2010 [B] Mobile Miller Lite Stage
October 2, 2010 Atlanta Chastain Park Amphitheater
October 3, 2010 Virginia Beach Virginia Beach Amphitheater
October 7, 2010 Bristow Jiffy Lube Live
October 8, 2010 Atlantic City Borgata Events Center
October 10, 2010 Ledyard MGM Grand at Foxwoods
October 11, 2010 New York City Radio City Music Hall [15]
October 12, 2010
October 15, 2010 Detroit Fox Theatre
October 16, 2010 St. Louis Fox Theatre
October 17, 2010 [a] Chicago Chicago Theatre
October 20, 2010 Los Angeles Gibson Amphitheatre [16]
October 21, 2010
October 23, 2010 Concord Sleep Train Pavilion
October 29, 2010 Basel Switzerland
[6] [17] [18] 		Messe Basel
October 30, 2010
November 2, 2010LondonEngland The O2 Arena
November 3, 2010 Birmingham LG Arena
November 5, 2010 Manchester Manchester Evening News Arena
January 16, 2011 Seoul South Korea
[19] 		Grand Peace Palace
January 19, 2011TokyoJapan JCB Hall
January 20, 2011
January 22, 2011 Osaka Namba Hatch
January 26, 2011 [C] Perth Australia
[6] [13] [20] 		Fremantle Oval
January 28, 2011 [C] Sydney Parramatta Park
January 29, 2011 [C] [b] Melbourne Sidney Myer Music Bowl
January 30, 2011 [C] [c] Brisbane Riverstage
February 2, 2011 [C] [d] Adelaide Thebarton Theatre
February 5, 2011 [C] Rotorua New Zealand Rotorua International Stadium
February 8, 2011 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
[22] 		Plenary Hall
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
A This concert was a part of 2010 Bumbershoot
B This concert was a part of Bayfest [23]
C These concerts are a part of the Raggamuffin Music Festival [24]

Cancelled shows

List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, and venue
DateCityCountryVenue
October 5, 2010 Raleigh U.S. Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
October 22, 2010 Las Vegas Pearl Concert Theatre
October 26, 2010 Amsterdam Netherlands Heineken Music Hall
December 18, 2010 Harare [25] [26] Zimbabwe Harare International Conference Centre [e]
January 30, 2011 Port Macquarie AustraliaCassegrain Winery
February 3, 2011Sydney Sydney Entertainment Centre

Box office

List of concerts, showing venue, city, attendance and revenue
VenueCityAttendance
(Tickets sold / available)		Gross revenue
Radio City Music HallNew York City11,150 / 11,896 (94%)$1,200,835 [27]
Fox TheatreDetroit4,091 / 4,260 (96%)$392,465 [27]
Chicago TheatreChicago3,481 / 3,481 (100%)$330,390 [27]
The O2 ArenaLondon8,148 / 8,148 (100%)$550,439 [27]
Manchester Evening
News Arena		Manchester3,530 / 4,413 (80%)$245,030 [27]
TOTAL30,400 / 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." [28] 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." [29] 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." [9]

Notes

  1. ↑ The October 17, 2010 show at Chicago Theater, Chicago was originally set to take place on October 16 before being rescheduled.
  2. ↑ The January 29, 2011 show at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne was originally set to take place on January 28 at Royal Melbourne Showgrounds before being rescheduled.
  3. ↑ The January 30, 2011 show at Brisbane Riverstage, Brisbane was originally set to take place on January 29 at Pine River Park before being rescheduled due to the Queensland Floods. [21]
  4. ↑ The February 2, 2011 show at Theabarton Theatre, Adelaide was originally set to take place at Memorial Prive Drive before being rescheduled.
  5. ↑ Originally set to take place at Jaggers Msasa Warehouse.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary J. Blige</span> American singer (born 1971)

Mary Jane Blige is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Awards, twelve NAACP Image Awards, and twelve Billboard Music Awards, including the Billboard Icon Award. She has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, including one for her supporting role in the film Mudbound (2017) and another for its original song "Mighty River", becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One (U2 song)</span> 1992 single by U2

"One" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track from their seventh album, Achtung Baby (1991), and it was released as the record's third single on 24 February 1992. During the album's recording sessions at Hansa Studios in Berlin, conflict arose between the band members over the direction of U2's sound and the quality of their material. Tensions almost prompted the band to break up until they achieved a breakthrough with the improvisation of "One"; the song was written after the band members were inspired by a chord progression that guitarist the Edge was playing in the studio. The lyrics, written by lead singer Bono, were inspired by the band members' fractured relationships and the German reunification. Although the lyrics ostensibly describe "disunity", they have been interpreted in other ways.

<i>The Tour</i> (album) 1998 live album by Mary J. Blige

The Tour is a live recording album by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige, released July 28, 1998. The album was recorded from two shows in Los Angeles at the Universal Amphitheater during her Share My World Tour in 1997-1998 in the U.S.

VH1 hosted the first annual VH1 Divas concert in 1998. VH1 Divas Live was created to support the channel's Save The Music Foundation and subsequent concerts in the series have also benefited that foundation. The VH1 Divas concerts were a follow-up to the channel's annual VH1 Honors benefit concert that ran from 1994 to 1997, airing annually from 1998 to 2004. After a five-year hiatus, the series returned in 2009 with a younger-skewed revamp. In 2010 the concert saluted the troops and in 2011 it celebrated soul music, doubling the previous year's ratings. After a dance music-focused 2012 edition aired live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on December 16, 2012, the show took another hiatus before being revived on December 5, 2016, at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York with a holiday theme and achieved its highest ratings in over a decade.

<i>My Life</i> (Mary J. Blige album) 1994 studio album by Mary J. Blige

My Life is the second album by American R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige, released on November 29, 1994, by Uptown Records and MCA Records. Many of the topics on My Life deal with clinical depression, Blige's battling with both drugs and alcohol, as well as being in an abusive relationship. Unlike her debut, What's the 411? (1992), Blige contributed lyrics to fourteen of the album's tracks, making it her most introspective and personal album at the time. Similar to her debut album, My Life features extensive production from Sean "Puffy" Combs for his newly founded label, Bad Boy Entertainment, which was at the time backed by Arista Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart of the City Tour</span> 2008 concert tour by Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z

The Heart of the City Tour was a co-headlining concert tour by American singer Mary J. Blige and American rapper Jay-Z. The North America tour supports Blige's eighth studio album, Growing Pains (2007) and Jay-Z's tenth studio album American Gangster (2007). According to Pollstar.com the Heart of the City Tour grossed over $34.2 million, making it the most successful male-female hip-hop/R&B tour in history. The-Dream was the opening act for the tour, supporting his 2007 debut album Love/Hate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazmine Sullivan</span> American singer

Jazmine Marie Sullivan is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. She has won two Grammy Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, and two BET Awards over the course of her career. In 2022, Time placed her on their list of the 100 Most Influential People.

<i>Fearless</i> (Jazmine Sullivan album) 2008 studio album by Jazmine Sullivan

Fearless is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan. It was released on September 23, 2008, through J Records. Production for the album took place during 2007 to 2008 and was handled by several record producers, including Missy Elliott, Stargate, Carvin & Ivan, Wyclef Jean, Jack Splash and Salaam Remi.

The Breakthrough Experience was the fifth concert tour by American recording artist Mary J. Blige in 2006, the tour supports her multi-platinum seventh studio album, The Breakthrough (2005). Blige performed four initial dates which kicked off on June 24, in Chicago, Illinois at the Bridgeview Stadium. The official tour began in July 2006 and continued through September 2006, visiting over 30 cities across North America.

The Growing Pains European Tour was the sixth concert tour in by American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, in support of her platinum eighth studio album, Growing Pains (2007). It began in May 2008 and continued through July 2008. In addition to visiting cities throughout Europe, Blige also performed four dates in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)</span> 2010 single by Jazmine Sullivan

"Holding You Down (Goin' In Circles)" is a song by American singer Jazmine Sullivan. It was written by Sullivan, Cainon Lamb, and Missy Elliott for her second album, Love Me Back (2010), while production was helmed by Elliott, with Lamb credited as co-producer. The song was released as the album's leads single in July 2010. It reached number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>Love Me Back</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Jazmine Sullivan

Love Me Back is the second studio album by American R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan. It was released by J Records on November 30, 2010 in the United States. The follow-up to her 2008 debut album Fearless, Sullivan reteamed with producers Salaam Remi, Missy Elliott, her protégé Cainon Lamb and duo Carvin & Ivan to work on the album. New collaborated included Anthony Bel, Chuck Harmony, Los da Mystro, Bei Maejor, No I.D., and Prolyfic as well as singer Ne-Yo. Sullivan co-wrote every song on Love Me Back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazmine Sullivan discography</span>

American singer and songwriter Jazmine Sullivan has released four studio albums and 15 singles. Sullivan signed a record deal with J Records in 2008, and released her debut album Fearless in 2008. The album was immediately certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America while debuting at number one. Fearless has spent 12 weeks atop the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums since its US release. The album's first single, "Need U Bad", also reached number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her first number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The second single, "Bust Your Windows", was released in September 2008 and reached the charts in the US and the UK. It also became her second top forty in the US. "Lions, Tigers & Bears" was released as the third single off the album in late 2008 and became her third top ten in the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the US. In 2009, it was confirmed Jazmine would open for American singer Ne-Yo's tour. In February that same year, she released the fourth and final single, "Dream Big".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Real Thing Tour</span> 2008 concert tour by Jill Scott

The Real Thing Tour is the fifth concert tour by American recording artist, Jill Scott. Visiting North America and Europe, the tour promoted the singer's third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3. The trek yielded the singer's first concert special for TV One entitled, Jill Scott: The Real Thing Tour . The tour featured singers Raheem DeVaughn and Bilal as opening acts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anything (To Find You)</span> 2011 single by Monica featuring Rick Ross

"Anything (To Find You)" is a song by American recording artist Monica taken from her seventh studio album, New Life (2012). It features additional vocals from American rapper Rick Ross, and was written and produced by longtime contributors Missy Elliott and Cainon Lamb with additional penning from fellow R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan, Henry Fuse, Miguel "Pro" Castro, and William Roberts. The song samples 1995's "Who Shot Ya?" performed by The Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy, and uses an interpolation of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's 1968 hit, "You're All I Need to Get By".

<i>My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1)</i> 2011 studio album by Mary J. Blige

My Life II... The Journey Continues is the tenth studio album by American singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige, released on November 21, 2011, by Geffen Records and Matriarch Records. Titled as the sequel and serving as a thematic extension to her 1994 breakthrough album My Life, which portrayed a dark period in Blige's personal life, it talks about the themes of struggle, heartbreak, and strength while reflecting the growth and evolution she had experienced since the release of its predecessor.

<i>Share My World Tour</i> 1997–98 concert tour by Mary J. Blige

The Share My World Tour was the first headlining concert tour by American recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was launched in support of her multi-platinum third studio album Share My World (1997), and also contained material from her first and second studio albums What's the 411? (1992) and My Life (1994). The eight-month tour began on September 2, 1997, in the United States and continued through May 3, 1998. Concerts were held in North America and Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The London Sessions Tour</span> 2015 concert tour by Mary J. Blige

The London Sessions Tour is the eighth headlining concert tour by American recording artist, Mary J. Blige. The tour supports Blige's twelfth studio album, The London Sessions. Beginning June 2016, the tour started in Europe playing various music festivals. During the fall of 2015, Blige briefly performed in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thick of It (Mary J. Blige song)</span> 2016 single by Mary J. Blige

"Thick of It" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Darhyl "DJ" Camper Jr., and Jazmine Sullivan for her thirteenth studio album Strength of a Woman (2017), while production was helmed by Camper. The song embodies portions of the song "Give a Little Love" (1975) by Scottish pop rock band Bay City Rollers. Due to the inclusion of the sample, John Goodison and Phil Wainman are also credited as songwriters. The song was released as the lead single from the album on October 7, 2016. "Thick of It" went to number one on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strength of a Woman Tour</span> 2017 concert tour by Mary J. Blige

Strength of a Woman Tour was the tenth concert tour by American R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige, in support of her thirteenth studio album, Strength of a Woman (2017). The tour began on April 2, 2017 in London and ended in Oakland on September 9, 2017. According to Pollstar's 2017 Year End top 200 North American Tours, the tour grossed over $9 million in North America alone and over $15 million worldwide.

References

  1. ↑ McLean, Craig (1 November 2011). "Mary J Blige – devil diva? Exclusive interview". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  2. ↑ Vaziri, Aidin (17 October 2010). "Mary J. Blige beats high odds". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  3. ↑ Roura, Phil (2 October 2010). "Moving spirit: Mary J. Blige is on a soul-stirring crusade while on tour". New York Daily News . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  4. 1 2 Concepción, Mariel (1 September 2010). "Mary J. Blige Announces Tour with Jazmine Sullivan, El DeBarge, Miguel". Billboard . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  5. ↑ Bland, Bridget (13 October 2010). "Newcomer Miguel Making Big Moves With Opening Gigs for Mary J. Blige, Usher". Black Voices. AOL, Inc. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Jay (1 September 2010). "Blige Taps Sullivan, Miguel For Tour". Pollstar . Associated Press. Archived from the original on 8 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Gyptian joins forces with Mary J Blige". The Jamaica Observer . 6 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  8. 1 2 "MINMI and Mye to join Mary J. Blige on her Japanese tour". Tokyo Hive. 6Theory Media, LLC. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  9. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (12 October 2010). "Attention, Ladies: After Heartbreak Can Come Redemption". The New York Times . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "Mary J. Blige set list". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 17 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  11. ↑ Cox, Calvin (17 October 2010). "Show Review: Mary J Blige, El DeBarge and Jazmine Sullivan Thrill at the Fabulous Fox, Saturday, October 16". Riverfront Times . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Events: Tour Archive". Mary J. Blige's Official Website. Universal Music Group . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  13. 1 2 Hall, Tara (2 September 2010). "Mary J. Blige hits the road with Jazmine Sullivan". SoundSpike. MTV Networks . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  14. ↑ Concert Review; Mary J. Blige and Jasmine Sullivan in Atlanta Archived 2013-06-16 at archive.today
  15. ↑ Concert Review; El Debarge, Miguel and Mary J. Blige at Radio City Music Hall
  16. ↑ Review, Mary J. Blige Live at Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles Archived 2013-06-16 at archive.today
  17. ↑ "Mary J Blige announces UK tour". The Belfast Telegraph . 1 September 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  18. ↑ Williams, Sarah (1 September 2010). "Mary J. Blige Returns To U.K." Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  19. ↑ "Mary J. Blige: Music Saved My Life Tou". CNNGo . Turner Broadcasting System. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  20. ↑ "Mary J Blige to headline Raggamuffin". Fairfax New Zealand . 14 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  21. ↑ "Mary J Blige gigs to raise flood funds". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  22. ↑ "MARY J BLIGE TO PERFORM IN KUALA LUMPUR" (Press release). PR Canada. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  23. ↑ Specker, Lawerence F. (8 July 2010). "BayFest adds R&B superstar Mary J. Blige to lineup". Press-Register . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  24. ↑ McCabe, Kathy (26 January 2011). "Putting her soul into it". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  25. ↑ Showbiz Reporter (19 December 2010). "Mary J Blige pulls plug on Zimbabwe tour". New Zimbabwe. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  26. ↑ Manhango, Simbarashe (19 December 2010). "Fans wait in vain as Mary J Blige gig is cancelled". The Standard. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  28. ↑ Min, Ines (17 January 2011). "Mary J. Blige breaks down the walls". The Korea Times . Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  29. ↑ Langone, Anthony (25 October 2010). "Mary J. Blige serenades Chicago Theater". The Depaulia . DePaul University. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.