Mary F Blige and D’ Angelo The first concert I attended for the semester was by the legendary Mary J. Blige and D’angelo. The venue was the United Center on Sep 13, 2012 at 9:00. This had to be one of the best concerts I have ever attended, and coming from me I think that says a lot. This because I have attended hundreds of different genre concerts over the years.

Let me first start off with D’ Angelos opening performance. You could say his band began the show with an uplifting percussion performance. The bass from the drums and the shaking of the tambourine instantly brought the crowd to the re feet, everyone clapping and shaking there heads. This lead into the new jam he has with Questlove called Bonnaroo. This song really pumped the crowd up, I didn’t even know the song but some how found myself trying to sing and dance along with its good beat and rhythm. He toned down midset with his song , A Woman’s Worth. The piano being played by one of his band members although only a few simple notes made the song so deep and almost reflecting. Personally it brought a tear to my eye because you could tell he had so much feeling behind his chorus when he sang.

Mary J Blige began her set with one of her newer songs which I do not recall the name of. The song was very upbeat and had many instrumental solos in the beginning and end. Overall the song was not to my liking yet it did have a good melody throughout the song. “My Life” allowed her to assume the more regal posture of a jazz singer, accenting some lines with scat-like runs. But the performance was no less dramatic. She found joy again with – what else? -- a Rufus song, “Sweet Thing,” originally with lead vocals by Chicago soul great Chaka Khan. Blige clung closely to the original version, as she had when she kicked off the show with another Khan and Rufus song, “Ain’t Nobody.” The barefoot Blige was the most formidable of all. Midway through the set, she launched into a clutch of songs that doubled as public therapy session. With her right hand gesturing as though she were pleading for her life in front of an impassive judge dug “Not Gon’ Cry,” the singer spat, “You’re not worth my tears.” She was a spiritual counselor in “Love a Woman,” wagging her index finger at an unseen, would-be partner.

This performance really touched me both musically as well as emotionally. She is just another proof of how music effects people. For me personally it is therapy like for many others. As for this concert it will definitely be member able.