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Bobby Brown @ BB Kings in the Universal City Walk
Special Edition Music Review – by Eugenia Wright
(Courtesy re-print of the EURweb.com)
“Bobby is still the champ of the pelvic thrust that sends fans into an orgasmic frenzy but I wanted to know if he could still hit the notes.”
BB King’s at Universal City walk was jammed packed on all three levels to see Bobby Brown in a surprise performance. I received the invitation to stop by just the night before and although I never like to receive last minute notices about an event because I have to push everything aside, I knew I had to make an exception in this case. It’s not everyday you get to see one of music’s notorious singers and BB King’s was just a 10 minute drive away. I was curious to know if, since his television reality series with his uniquely beautiful talented ex, their personal separation and age factor was he still crisp on the music side? I wondered, could he still wow an audience or had he gotten soft with the less-demanding requirements of on-camera TV work vs. live performance?
Bobby arrived wearing loose fitting white pants, a white-checkered/striped shirt and a white matching Kangol looking very Poloish. I was lucky to be seated in a prime seating area because every chair was in-demand. Andre Russell from KJLH the host of the night let everyone know that Bobby was in the house and that he had entered through the front door and not the back artist entrance. But that’s how Bobby does things, he enters through the front. Once on stage, Bobby began to metamorphose into Bobby the performer, the alter-persona and you knew this was no conservative party. He was still the Bobby Brown who’s going to jam. The side of Bobby that is ready to cause an artistic explosion on stage at any given moment was evident. From the onset of his performance, Bobby told the audience that he didn’t like to see people sitting down and so he demanded that everyone “…get your a#% up” and everyone got up. Half the house was already standing while he was singing, “Don’t be Cruel,” and then he really got into the mode executing those boom, bang, busta pelvic thrusts, known to drive the ladies into an orgasmic frenzy. Elvis had that little round and round gyration thing going on, but Bobby is very straightforward. Oooooh, the screams that those big moves generated could be heard all the way from Universal City Walk to Inglewood and I didn’t’ hold back either. With every thrust there was the returned serve with those piercing high octave shrieks. Then little by little, the Ralph Lauren Polo look that he had earlier, started to come unglued as Bobby pared down his attire on stage. First to come off was the checkered shirt revealing a white Tee which soon after was doffed, to unveil a macchiato coffee toned torso that looked like he’s been pumping iron at the gym. I could see the beginning of a ripped form.
Bobby is so mesmerizing that I had to make sure I wasn’t getting distracted with his on stage antics and I then zeroed in on listening to his voice. The verdict is…Bobby’s still got it. He was on point, on key and hitting the notes. His band members were in sync too. What a performance! He relates to his audience very well especially the ladies and he gives it all he’s got. Bobby’s technique is to seduce you with his voice, mesmerize you with his sexy pelvic thrust, which in turn boggles the mind, then once you are deliriously euphoric, like a hypnotist he commands you to work too by raising hands in the air, standing to your feet and then an audience/performer kinetic chi energy starts to flow and you become completely enveloped in his sound. Whew!!!!! How did Whitney break away?
Bobby gives every bit of himself and every little step he takes, to his audience. He tried to end the performance but everyone wanted more and so we got more and more. He wasn’t through till we were whipped and ready to turn over and go to bed. It was his Prerogative and he came back even stronger. Then, to put the icing on the cake (just as waiters were serving brownies smothered in chocolate and vanilla ice cream with a whipped cream topping, which just happened to pass my nose); Stevie Wonder who was in the house got on stage with Bobby and they performed together. At that point it reached nirvana. Together they plucked a music chord along with Macy Gray also on hand and the house went zing!!!! It was wild frenetic adoration. The photographers jumped on stage. One photographer bearing the initials AT, who has a commanding presence and stands 6’4 or so, was guarding his territorial photo space. An expert shutterbug, he was click, click, clicking popping photos over people’s head like a behemoth to get the right shot, while another with initials T.J. was catching the shots from the down squatting angle, buzzing about like a bee. Everyone was moving, shaking singing along with Bobby, and snapping their fingers. Imagine all those people in a packed area all groovin’ to Bobby Brown? The temperature and humidity soared like rising steam and my hair was drenched. Everyone could feel that Bobby Brown fire. As I looked around the place I noticed celebrities galore. Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns, Ali Woodson, Indigo from the show Weeds, Macy Gray, Record Producer Bruce Jones, Sapphyri winner of Mo’Nique’s Flavor of Love “Charm School”, Publicity Prince Jonathan Clardy, Kenny Terry, Deon Allen, Dennica Abdo (English Gal), Andrew Markham III and Percussionist/Music Producer Ollie E. Brown were just a few celebs that I spotted.
During Bobby’s rendition of “Roni” he could not help showing off a little tongue vibration. I wondered if it works on high/low/medium speeds? From tongue to vocals to torso to pelvis, Bobby seems to be well in tact. I might add he looked healthy and happy.
Later at the end of the show I got a chance to speak with him and ask some questions. I asked at what age did he perfect those pelvic moves. He responded, “a little before puberty.” I also asked what did he want fans to know about his music that they don’t already know. Bobby said, “I take time with music, acting and even parenting.”
Bobby is busy getting ready to start another TV show, a comedy sketch. I asked him if he developed a comedic flair during the course of his last reality show and he commented that he is actually “goofy” so comedy comes natural for him. My last question was is he surprised that the fans still love him as much today as they did when he was with New Edition? He said that he was blessed and that when he performs “it’s a miracle.”
I got my answers, I witnessed the performance and if I ever had any doubts about his ability to still perform, they have been quashed. Bobby Brown has a formula that works and all I can say after seeing him, is that that Bobby is phenomenal, always has been and always will be.
I would be amiss not to acknowledge the intro performances of highly acclaimed singer/music producer Gordon Chambers and his band who did an exceptional job of warming up the house with some soulful sounds and also comedian Rod Man.
Shout out to my girl: Stephanie Abdullah
Eugenia Wright is a former actress turned freelance writer/publicist. You may write to her at kleopatragirl117@hotmail.com
Photo Credit: TJ Images
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