December 9, 2023
Wendy Thompson, Editor-in-chief
Entertainment News
Patti LaBelle touched down in the DMV on December 8 at the MGM Grand National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. LaBelle used every moment of the show as a testament to a performer who has brought nothing but her best to each show. She began the show in high heels for a few numbers, but as fans who know LaBelle can attest, her best work and tunes come after the heels come off. She kicked off the night and the first half of the show with favorites such as “Feels Like Another One”, “The Right Kind of Lover”, “Stir It Up”, “On My Own”, and “New Attitude”.
As she got to the middle of the show, she began to interact with the audience back and forth. She brought several guys from the front row section of the audience onto the stage to dance with her. This was by far the best part of the night, as she comically interacted with them and their various dance moves. The audience loved it and responded in kind. She gave one of the guys one of her shoes. (It apparently pays to get front row seats at a Patti LaBelle concert.) One audience member (Gucci in orange) showed the most love to LaBelle, and she responded, “I need people like Gucci in my life.” She then began handing out flowers to front row seaters in the audience.
She also gave a tribute and recognized her backup singers who, some having been with her over 45 years, had began as workers and were now “dear friends”. She then beautifully led the audience into “You are My Friend.”
“If You Ask Me To”, “When You’ve Been Blessed”, “Somebody Loves You Baby”, “If Only You Knew”, and “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” followed in a melodic path down memory lane. Then there was “Lady Marmalade”, her most famous hit, which brought the crowd to their feet as only the French song could do. (It was one of her greatest hits from the group she formerly spearheaded, LaBelle, before her solo career.)
The concert turned from rocking to explosive when she dived into the gospel song “Something About the Name Jesus”. The roof of the room practically lifted. The entire audience stood up swaying and singing along. You have never heard “Something About the Name Jesus” until you hear it song by LaBelle. What a glorious praise it was on that night. (HINT: She should record the song on her next album…if she already has not in the past.)
There was only one dark spot of the night…when the concert ended and the audience realized that she was not going to sing “Over the Rainbow”. What a disappointment, as “Over the Rainbow” is her signature song. The high notes of that song showcases the best of LaBelle’s vocal acuity. For those who always wanted to see her sing the song LIVE, that must have been very disappointing. However, despite the omission of “Over the Rainbow”, the night was truly electric. Next year, in May of 2024, LaBelle will be 80 years old…but she has still got the all the magic.
