Nelly Furtado, Pitbull, and Paulina Rubio
Lummus Park, Miami Beach
Friday, February 5, 2010
Better than: Plaxico Burress' Super Bowl Party
The Review:
Better than: Plaxico Burress' Super Bowl Party
The Review:
First, let me start off by saying, there is absolutely nothing in the world like the carnival atmosphere that takes the city by the throat when Super Bowl comes to town. I lived on the beach the last time the Big Dance brought us the Colts and Bears for SB XLI. And now, enjoying domestic life and marital bliss off in MiMo, I'd nearly forgotten what a fuckin' delightful zoo it can turn into. I wondered if it would carry over this year, and rest assured --the Pepsi Musica Super Bowl Fan Jam delivered as promised.
Promptly at 7:20 p.m., the lights began to swirl and Paulina Rubio took to the stage. La chica dorada played to the tastes of Latin pop fans, and judging by the response, they were in strong attendance. Her wildly successful first single off last year's Gran City Pop, "Causa y Effecto," and followup "Ni Rosas Ni Juguestes" both found their way into Pau's set list. As did hits from further back in the bag: "Tequila," "Lo Hare Por Ti," "Todo Mi Amor," "Y Yo Sigo Aqui" and "Te Quise Tanto" all made appearances, to fans' delight.
Pitbull followed her up, as rain began to come down, first in spatterings, then in sheets. But the crowd wouldn't be washed away. Luckily Mr. 305 did not disappoint. He came on with the energy typical of his performances, audience reacting in kind. He whipped them into a frenzy over the course of the following hour, tearing through jams both new and old as people bounced and shook ass in the sand.
Promptly at 7:20 p.m., the lights began to swirl and Paulina Rubio took to the stage. La chica dorada played to the tastes of Latin pop fans, and judging by the response, they were in strong attendance. Her wildly successful first single off last year's Gran City Pop, "Causa y Effecto," and followup "Ni Rosas Ni Juguestes" both found their way into Pau's set list. As did hits from further back in the bag: "Tequila," "Lo Hare Por Ti," "Todo Mi Amor," "Y Yo Sigo Aqui" and "Te Quise Tanto" all made appearances, to fans' delight.
Pitbull followed her up, as rain began to come down, first in spatterings, then in sheets. But the crowd wouldn't be washed away. Luckily Mr. 305 did not disappoint. He came on with the energy typical of his performances, audience reacting in kind. He whipped them into a frenzy over the course of the following hour, tearing through jams both new and old as people bounced and shook ass in the sand.
Retro-fitted jammy jams like "Go Girl," "Move, Shake, Drop," "Ay Chico," and "Toma" had the good people moving. And of course, new school jams from Rebelution showed up, like "Calle Ocho," "Hotel Room Service," "Shut It Down," and "Pearly Gates." That last one was performed as a duet with locally born and bred bombshell Nayer, whom you might recall from Pit's vids. No offense to the two lovely ladies on either end of the evening's musical sandwich, but the energy level peaked with Pit's performance.
The rain abated long enough for the Portuguese-Canadian pop songstress Nelly Furtado to take the stage, but the break wouldn't last song. Fans still didn't care. Nelly played a pretty even cross section of her English and Spanish repertoire, much of the latter off her successful full-length crossover disc Mi Plan.
The rain abated long enough for the Portuguese-Canadian pop songstress Nelly Furtado to take the stage, but the break wouldn't last song. Fans still didn't care. Nelly played a pretty even cross section of her English and Spanish repertoire, much of the latter off her successful full-length crossover disc Mi Plan.
A few older crossover tracks made it out as well in a medley that was a clear highlight, including her Calle 13 duet "No Hay Igual," "Te Buesque," a rendition of Wisin y Yandel's "Sexy Movimiento," and her Juanes duet "Fotografia," on which Javier Garcia was kind enough to join her. And of course, the lovely Nelly had to give fans some radio-friendly English fare as well, in the form of "Maneater," "Say It Right," "Turn Off the Lights," and "I'm Like Bird," as well as an English-language medley.
When the lights went up, a drenched, sand-strewn rabble ambled off the beach, tired and wet, but content.
Critics Notebook
Personal Bias: A VIP area with free food and booze gets you better than halfway there.
Random Detail: A roadie told me it took a full week of working nearly round the clock to build the beachside stage and VIP area.
When the lights went up, a drenched, sand-strewn rabble ambled off the beach, tired and wet, but content.
Critics Notebook
Personal Bias: A VIP area with free food and booze gets you better than halfway there.
Random Detail: A roadie told me it took a full week of working nearly round the clock to build the beachside stage and VIP area.
By The Way: Will the owner of a green Ford Focus please remove your car form the sidewalk near Eighth and Washington? If it hasn't been towed yet, it's in the damned way!
