2008 Woodie Awards
Where would Gwen Stefani be without the Black Eyed Peas?
Dominique Dumadaug
Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: No Limits
- Page 1 of 1
The Arco Arena in Sacramento was rockin', literally, Sunday night, Oct. 23 as Gwen Stefani performed for her Harajuku Lovers Tour, along with guest performers the Black Eyed Peas.
Unfortunately for Stefani, the sold-out crowd was more enthusiastic during the Peas' performance than hers. The Black Eyed Peas had the crowd shaking what their mamas gave them throughout their whole performance with energetic songs "Hey Mama," "Let's Get Retarded," "Don't Phunk With My Heart," "My Humps," and "Pump It."
During the performance of "Where Is The Love," the Peas encouraged fan participation by urging everyone in the crowd to hold up their cell phones as a light to the world and pray for the victims of the hurricanes, our troops fighting in the war, and the victims of the huge earthquake in Pakistan. Seeing all the blue illuminated screens throughout the arena was incredibly breathtaking; it was nothing like I had ever seen before.
The Peas kept everything fun, light and family-friendly for all the young kids out in the crowd (there were a lot under the age of 10) by not swearing. They didn't even say "ass," which I don't consider a bad word anymore. This is more than what Stefani could say, with her occasional, jaw-dropping four-word expletives during her songs and conversations with the audience.
Stefani kept the crowd moving, with songs "Harajuku Girls," "Whatcha Waiting For," "Rich Girl," and "Hollaback Girl," but during the other songs "Crash," "The Real Thing," and "Serious," the crowd just stood in their places and eventually sat down.
Instead of dancing and jumping around, I was fascinated by Stefani's dancing and jumping around in seven- inch platforms and walking around in six-inch stilettos as if she were in sneakers.
Any fan of Stefani knows about her love of fashion and her LAMB clothing line, but she displayed that too much during her concert. After every song, she went backstage to change into a different outfit.
For the audience, this meant listening to her band for an extended period of time, or watching male breakdancers or Harajuku girls longer than they should have. The dancers and the band were extremely talented and deserve some recognition for it, but I know I didn't pay $60 to watch backup dancers or see a band of people I don't know playing. I paid $60 to watch Gwen Stefani perform. She was backstage almost as much as she was on the stage.
The concert was really good and a lot of fun. At the end, I couldn't hear anything, my throat was hurting, and my voice was hoarse from all the screaming. I'd definitely pay another $60 to go again, but to see the Black Eyed Peas perform. They stole the show from Stefani with all their fun-loving energy.
Unfortunately for Stefani, the sold-out crowd was more enthusiastic during the Peas' performance than hers. The Black Eyed Peas had the crowd shaking what their mamas gave them throughout their whole performance with energetic songs "Hey Mama," "Let's Get Retarded," "Don't Phunk With My Heart," "My Humps," and "Pump It."
During the performance of "Where Is The Love," the Peas encouraged fan participation by urging everyone in the crowd to hold up their cell phones as a light to the world and pray for the victims of the hurricanes, our troops fighting in the war, and the victims of the huge earthquake in Pakistan. Seeing all the blue illuminated screens throughout the arena was incredibly breathtaking; it was nothing like I had ever seen before.
The Peas kept everything fun, light and family-friendly for all the young kids out in the crowd (there were a lot under the age of 10) by not swearing. They didn't even say "ass," which I don't consider a bad word anymore. This is more than what Stefani could say, with her occasional, jaw-dropping four-word expletives during her songs and conversations with the audience.
Stefani kept the crowd moving, with songs "Harajuku Girls," "Whatcha Waiting For," "Rich Girl," and "Hollaback Girl," but during the other songs "Crash," "The Real Thing," and "Serious," the crowd just stood in their places and eventually sat down.
Instead of dancing and jumping around, I was fascinated by Stefani's dancing and jumping around in seven- inch platforms and walking around in six-inch stilettos as if she were in sneakers.
Any fan of Stefani knows about her love of fashion and her LAMB clothing line, but she displayed that too much during her concert. After every song, she went backstage to change into a different outfit.
For the audience, this meant listening to her band for an extended period of time, or watching male breakdancers or Harajuku girls longer than they should have. The dancers and the band were extremely talented and deserve some recognition for it, but I know I didn't pay $60 to watch backup dancers or see a band of people I don't know playing. I paid $60 to watch Gwen Stefani perform. She was backstage almost as much as she was on the stage.
The concert was really good and a lot of fun. At the end, I couldn't hear anything, my throat was hurting, and my voice was hoarse from all the screaming. I'd definitely pay another $60 to go again, but to see the Black Eyed Peas perform. They stole the show from Stefani with all their fun-loving energy.