Live Review: (RnB) Fridayz Live 2023 – And The Hottest Party Goes To…
(RnB) Fridayz Live Lineup 2023 – Jason Derulo, Flo Rida, Boyz II Men, Kelly Rowland,112, Jojo, Travie McCoy Plus Naughty By Nature, Havana Brown and MC Fatman Scoop
11th of November at the RAC Arena Perth Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
He marches with a psyche bravado, flanked by a bevy of pouncing dancers who ooze empowerment, domination and subservience – an oxymoron fusion of the third kind. The possessive pack encircle the ravenous man, whose predilection is served through a matrix of caressing hands, clogging in a grinding festival of hedonism, while those in the background mirrored with less pomposity. They break away, while one remained, amorously dancing like a tribal leader surrounding a crackling fire. She offers herself through a compromising position; he seizes the opportunity and expels the crescendo in ecstasy, culminating into an orgy incantation of song, dance and flaunt, better known as old school RnB.
Welcome to the Class of 2023, the sixth edition of Fridayz Live – the hottest live performance in many years. And here’s why.
Just after doors were opened, the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia was already at three quarters capacity, or over ten thousand – which is a testimony of the immense support for the early acts.
The night commenced with Travie McCoy with the smash hit Billionaire, a collaboration with Bruno Mars. It sparked a wave of hands swaying between left and right with their mobile phones through the cover of darkness. Not bad for an opener. This was followed by hits Stereo Hearts and Cupid’s Chokehold, both from his Gym Class Heroes group.
It is surreal to think that JoJo is still in her 20’s. Her first single Leave (Get Out) debut at number 1 in the US – the youngest person at 13 to achieve that status. The singer brought the vocal sass and sensuality on stage. She slayed her vocals from expelling a smooth operator to a jackhammer in a split of second with hits such as Too Little Too Late and Baby It’s You.
112 is the first group of the night, commencing with the self expressive hit Dance With Me (if you’re sexy and you know it clap your hands – clap clap clap clap clap). Never has the RAC Arena heard such synchronised applause with the staccato’d conviction and enthusiasm. Heartfelt ballads and vocal performances served the groundwork for their setlist of a mix of soul, gospel and hip hop that formed the foundation of Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy or simply Diddy’s Bad Boy Records – thus their cover tonight of I’ll Be Missing You – a cover through the chorus by Diddy itself on The Police mega hit. The emotion reverberated across the arena, bringing tears to this writer/photographer.
The opening acts were more than appetisers – they were stars in their days and still garnering a huge following in the world of dance and RnB.
The intermission was never going to be a break with Naughty By Nature and MC Fatman Scoop banging out the old school club bangers such as Regulators, Gangster’s Paradise and The Thong Song. Even without the original stars, the atmospheric projection was filled with unbridled shenanigans.
Kelly Rowland rose in prominence through Destiny’s Child – one of the best selling girl groups of all time, and has since forged a successful career as a solo artist following the band’s disembarkment. Not to be overshadowed by Beyonce, the Grammy Award wininng artists has sold over 40 million records across 4 albums as a solo artist- a remarkable number, and another 60 million through Destiny’s Child. Her filmography resume is equally huge.
Rowland graced the stage with an elegant blue dress with a fishtail that rivalled the best dress at The Grammy’s, sparking with the compulsory Dilemma, before peeling off for a dancing outfit. Motivation gave the audience a perculated groove that’s as cool and breezy, oozing that sultry ode to sexual desire and empowerment across the RAC Arena. Seduction was cast though the seductive vocals and body slithering witchcraft of Rowland, backed by dancers mimicking a display of lust and desire. The songstress seamless transition between genres with the dance anthems. The biggest party was in full gear.
The artist’s vocal dexterity was evident tonight, while projecting her story telling forte with sincerity and fortitude which included a medley of Destiny’s Child music with Bootylicious, Soldier, Independent Woman, Jumpin’ Jumpin’ and Say My Name – a perfect ode to the family.
Boyz II Men were undeniably the soulful band of the 90’s, courtesy of their beautiful harmonies and a carpella distillation. The quartet, now trio, dominated the boy band demographic with several massive hits. They formed the blue print for the likes of 98 Degrees and N’Synch – which ultimately overtook their reign due to the intrinsic link between the boyish band and the teenage fans. But with over 50 consecutive weeks sitting at number 1 on US Billboard number 1, ranking 6th after the likes of the Beatles, the fans in Perth were reeled into the nostalgia for one fine day.
“Our music is mentally hip-hop, smoothed out on the R&B tip with a pop feel appeal to it,” said Boy II Men mentor Bel Biv DeVoe.
End of the Road was on the US Billboard 100 for 13 weeks – and even without Michael McCary, Nathan Morris (the baritone singer), Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman had more soul and harmony than the church choir at Westminster Abbey. People of all ages were singing in 1992 and loving it, and people who weren’t even born then are loving it at the RAC Arena in 2023, volunteering as the 4th member.
The trio glided on stage with their vocals, swaying in a mellifluous articulation of harmonies and ending with a capella that lifted the old and new generation to the time when music had the visceral connection. Girls and boys, men and women succumbed to I Made Love You, Bended Knees and End of the Road which had all the sheen of the 90’s; that swanky smooth caramel innuendo creamed all over Perth. The romantic pleading of their seminal hits was evident on their faces and vocals of Boyz II Men. The liquifying harmonies were smooth as they gave out roses to the audience during the love ballads.
“ I want you to remember the first time you heard this song” – so we did as we were serenaded by the biggest boy band of the 90’s – and by far – Boyz II Men had the biggest back up vocalist among all acts tonight.
If RnB singers were singing songs on being super horny, then the rappers especially Flo Rida carried the trophy into the 2000’s; assuming Whistle has nothing to do with an umpire expressing his delight at a soccer match. The party king of the new millennium from Florida USA has more nominees including the Grammy’s than most RnB singers through his feel good rap and pop.
The club banger Low was accompanied by thirty of so young ladies plucked from the crowd, perhaps enticed by the lyrics, “She turned around and gave that big booty a smack”. Flo Rida is no slouch, as he rocked back and forth on the stage like a wolf on heat, connecting with the crowd, popping champagne and fizzing onto them. He also slithered through on his bodybuard’s shoulder on a round trip across the massive RAC Arena.
The charismatic substance of Flo Rida is undeniable as he continued with club anthems such as Wild ones, Good Feeling and the metaphorical imagery of (blow my) Whistle.
DJ Havana Brown injected more energy as the clock approaches 10, spinning club bangers of the faster kind while occasionally taking the mic.
The evening culminated with Jason Derulo – perhaps the most contemporary artist of the nigh, and just like his predecessor, he’s full of energy with the stage filled with…as you guessed it, dancers of uber sensuality donned in hot pants, hotter than the weather in Melbourne during Fridayz Live 2023. The star, who has been a relatable presence in Australia – also thanks to X Factor, has been pumping radio grade hits for over a decade. Outside of the family TV show, his body is clogged with sensually energetic dancers with precise synchorinity as he Talks Dirty. As eye catching as the dancers were, Darulo ensured he was the centre piece – literally and metaphorically among the dancer as he oozed stardomship. The artist who has sold more than a quarter of a billion singles (with a b) is a vocal performer and a poetry in motion, while singing hits like Watcha Say, and the sing along Want to Want Me.
For the white evangelicals, this show is probably not for you. As for the rest of the 15,000 strong army in Perth, (RnB) Fridayz Live 2023 is the best show since…Fridayz Live 2022.
Thank you to Frontier Touring for the tickets and Press Accreditation. Tickets to the remaining shows are available through Frontier Touring
About the Writer/Photographer: Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have covered the hottest acts in Perth including KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fridayz Live 2022, Rod Stewart, Florence & The Machine, with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem and Toni Childs He has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) and forty other legends.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Frontier Touring for generously accommodating us at the pit.
