Toronto Delivers

Everybody S-C-R-E-A-M! "Pegate" opens the show in an African-infused tempo. The latin pop idol is all grown up with a great concert, lots of screaming (not teens anymore) women and men and tag-alongs [dates maybe?] The Air Canada Centre was filled with a visual orgy at Ricky Martin's Black and White Tour. Gyrations, bumps and jumps, scantily clad dancers with perfect abs, and Ricky's chiseled smile and a well toned body, no one even dared looked beyond the stage lest they'd miss a beat of this latin god.

Ricky Martin's words of "Ready to have a good time and not be judged?!" almost ALMOST exposed us to his sexuality but nope, he didn't. We could hear men screaming "Come OUT already!" Nonetheless a very HOT HOT HOT performance.

Taking a page from Madonna's playbook, this man reinvented himself but with some missteps. The South Asianesque delivery of "Maria" with dancers posing Buddha-like seemed inappropriate (has Ricky Martin embraced an Eastern religion that we don't know of?). He sings "Jaleo" with martial arts moves that reminded us of Capoeira practitioners and though impressive, one would hear the audience-awww-scream-o-meter go down a notch.

Lots of positives - the disappearing acts throughout the show matched the fun side of watching any Ricky Martin show. Add a dash of social awareness (RickyMartin Foundation), a bit of sexy back (almost nude videos and swimming - water, Freud, hmmm.... ), a good helping of tats, a lot of Latin machismo and before you can say Boom Boom.... he's right at your face (we were sitting 20 rows from the stage) swinging his La Vida Loca. WOW! Definitely World Class.

Ricky talked to the crowd longer in this concert than in any other. (almost 10 minutes of chatting) The audience swooned, roared and almost a heatbeat stopped when he sang the romantic ballad "Vuelve." A slide show (why does every Latin friend of ours have a slide show?) while Ricky sang "Somos La Semilla" featured Third World children (get your wallets out). We did love "Asignatura Pendiente" as he talked about relearning to integrate his childlike personality back to his life. (yup! moving moments indeed).

Ricky changes costumes more than Cher or Diana Ross combined but one always want a peak off those bulging biceps (you'd notice that his perfectly picked backup singers also looked fabulous!) so seeing him frantically move to "Lola, Lola" in an all-white-ensemble was quite fitting to the show's title. The show would not end without "La Copa de la Vida, (The Cup of Life)" and after two other encores we shuttled our way back home with a smile, lots of stories, and about 1k calories off due to all the dancing we did in two hours. (you would not want to sit in a concert like this).

Definitely a world class concert - Cindy Lauper's True Colors 2007 where some of the proceeds of this concert went to Pride Toronto. The concert was emceed by Margaret Cho and the first act was The Cliks, followed by The Gossip, Dresden Dolls, Debbie Harry, Erasure and finally Cindy Lauper. Along the way the antics of Cho were LOL. The concert packed about 3/5 of the Molson Ampitheatre's capacity. It was a great day and everybody enjoyed themselves. Definitely a world class event. A Must See for all!

YAWO IS KNOWN AS THE MASTER OF AFROBEAT IN TOGO and an emerging artist in the genre of world music! With two solo albums on the market, Yawo was nominated in the US for both the 2003 and 2004 Minnesota music awards.

Yawo: A native of Togo, West Africa, Yawo started his musical career at the “École Expérimentale de Musique” of Lomé where he studied flute, classical guitar and electric bass. As the leader of the high school band he formed with his brother and sister, Yawo Attivor developed a talent for composing and arranging music that embraces both the traditions of the Ewe tribe and the influences of the western civilization. This multicultural approach to song writing led to the creation of the MIMI-Togo (International Movement for Innovative music-Togo branch) which Yawo directed until he left Togo in 1992 as a result of political turmoil in his motherland. In 1993, Yawo joined the international organization Up With People, traveling the U.S. and Europe, promoting peace and understanding among the citizens of the world. After Up with People, Yawo launched a solo career with the album “Celebrate” (Mia du agbe) followed in October 2004 by “Take Out the Fences”, a “refreshingly upbeat” (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) album that breaks musical barriers with an explosion of afrobeat, afrofunk and reggae.

Part of the proceeds of the tour will benefit Connexion Jeunesse Canada Afrique, a non-profit organization that promotes cooperation between the people of the world.
Thursday, November 22 at 9:00 pm

Lula Lounge
1585, Dundas St.West (off Dufferin) - Toronto
Tel : (416) 588-0307
Check Africana.ca