View a slideshow from the concert here.
Y100 Jingle Ball
With Adam Lambert, B.O.B., Enrique Iglesias, FloRida, Jay Sean, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Taio Cruz, The Script, and Train
BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Better than: Staying home and watching whatever that sports documentary was on HBO...something to do with football I think.
A little something for everyone seemed to be the theme of the 2010 Y100 Jingle Ball. This year featured a little bit of urban hip-hop, a little bit of pop, a little bit of rock and little bit of Latin crooning.
The night had a sort of sleepy start with the crowd trickling in slowly so for the first several acts on stage -- anything but a full house. That said, opener Jay Sean and the Script both had an attentive audience. Disney artist Selena Gomez picked up the pace with her spirited, feel-good pop music that had all the young girls screaming.
By the time Train took the stage, the house was at full capacity, all the seats were pretty much filled and I started to wonder how the order of the acts was determined. I would have thought that Train would have been closer to the end of the show but admittedly, I was delighted to see them -- woke me right up. Lead singer Pat Monahan, along with guitarist Jimmy Stafford and drummer Scott Underwood performed a set that included their crowd pleasers "Hey, Soul Sister," "If It's Love," and, of course, "Drops of Jupiter" to an audience that was able to sing it right back to them. After their third song, Monahan did a quick on-stage wardrobe change, an unexpected treat for many in the audience.
When Katy Perry's set started, it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas -- finally! Perry remembered that it was the Jingle Ball and brought along with her some dancers, who were dressed in outfits that looked like holiday wrapping paper; some Christmas trees, snowmen, snow, gift boxes. She herself emerged out of giant gift box, dressed like Ms. Claus. Her set was wonderful and she got everyone's attention. Note to Jingle Ball hosts, try to keep Katy's stage set. Say it got lost in shipping, and use it next year!
Adam Lambert followed, back to a utilitarian stage, even Adam himself was scaled down. No elaborate costumes, just Adam and the band. But when you have Adam, all else is secondary. But I didn't catch the kiss, did I miss it or does he only kiss Tommy during his headlining shows?
Enrique Iglesias was charming, as any woman in the audience will attest to. During his song "Hero" he invited a woman on stage with him and sang the entire song to her. She got several hugs and a kiss from him for her effort. Accompanying Enrique on stage for his last song was Pitbull, making a surprise appearance. This was the perfect segue into the last performance of the evening, South Florida's own Flo Rida. The affable rapper (yes, dressed in white anti-gravity suit, and yes, white way after Labor Day) did his Flo Rida thing.
All in all, Y100 can claim success. The show started on time, might have even ended earlier than expected, with each act following the other with near seemless transitions. If there were any hitches, I don't think anyone noticed. Looking forward to next year!
Critic's Notebook
Personal bias: Enrique Iglesias... I love Enrique Iglesias, Train, Katy Perry, Adam Lambert, Enrique Iglesias... did I mention that I love Enrique Iglesias??
Curiosity: Why does Y100, a local South Florida radio station, relegate local press photographers who wish to photograph the Jingle Ball, to a spot alongside the soundboard. Wouldn't everyone be better served with better pictures from a spot a bit more proximate to the stage?
-- Sayre Berman
