See the full 36-photo Black Eyed Peas at Sun Life Stadium slideshow.
Black Eyed Peas
With Cee Lo Green, T-Pain, Jason Derulo, and Sean Kingston
Sun Life Stadium
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Better Than: A nice nap on the beach that ends in a blistering burn.
In the history of final live performances by outrageously popular bands, last night's Black Eyed Peas show stands out for an unusual reason. The group's time onstage outlasted the audience's interest in them.
Yes, the audience stayed through all the songs. But the band could not (and would not) discontinue babbling and just let everyone go home and remember them fondly.
A six-hour concert isn't fun. It's like spending a full day in elementary school.
You know how to save a BEP concert that goes on too long? Well, Cee Lo did. He pulled through with a short, sweet set and brought out the best surprise of the whole night: Trick Daddy, Goodie Mob, and -- Lord have mercy! -- Queen Latifah. When she walked onstage to introduce Cee Lo, it was like all motor functions were lost, limbs went limp, peripheral vision failed. There was only one ruler in that stadium when she was on that stage.
But let's start at the beginning ... At around 6 p.m., a barely audible white dude named Jordan Hollywood in a white cap and a jean vest performed one song. The DJ continued to ask us to "Make some noise for Sean Kingston!" Who kept not appearing. Then local-yokel-with-a-nice-big-smile Sean Kingston finally came out and requested, time and again, that we put our hands in the air. He gave it up for the single ladies and Haitians.
The crowd trickled in, comprised mostly of Brazilians, kids, and Brazilians with kids. It was like a nightclub for babies.
Next up was T-Pain. How come nobody told us T-Pain can sing and dance? Dude killed it up there. With no Auto-Tune, he offered up something like a gospel vaudeville act. He was silly and cute, sliding around the stage, even twirling at one point. The tweens in the crowd copied his choreographed moves. The Tallahassee boy's set was a little lengthy, but a total pleasure.
While T-Pain was all goofily delicious, Jason Derulo was all serious and sexual. He was only up there briefly. But he managed to make up for any shortcomings by being muscle-y and sweaty, and eventually topless. A few female dancers were onstage, all jamming on him, and he didn't respond in a way that was hypersexual. The show was about him and his muscles, not a horny dance. His family was in attendance.
Now, back to Queen Latifah. If you've never seen Last Holiday, please go watch it immediately. Good. Now that you're back, you understand why she is the queen. The bodacious diva came out onstage for a minute and due to shock and the crowd's hysteria, we didn't hear much of what she said. Basically, she introduced Cee Lo, with whom she apparently she goes way, way, way back. She asked us to make some noise and we complied with her royal decree.
Cee Lo came out in a peach track suit like an emperor ready for bed. Not yet over the Latifah surprise, jaws dropped when Trick Daddy popped up for a "Dro in Da Wind" duet. When was the last time any of you saw Trick onstage? It was probably the '90s still. Trick loves the kids and the kids who know Trick love Trick. Next, Cee Lo brought out Goodie Mob, bringing ATL to MIA. Latifah also came out and performed a short song. 'Twas musical madness.
