Justin Bieber delivers in style at Tulsa BOK Center
BY JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Thursday, January 10, 2013
1/10/13 at 9:15 AM
Read more Read more of Jennifer Chancellor’s review.
Related story: Biebering heights: Preshow turns concert into street festival.
Dramatic, industrial-themed wings and a suspension system carried Justin Bieber to the stage like a steampunk-pop angel.
He sauntered onto the extended catwalk and into the ecstatic cries of a sold-out audience filled to the rafters with howling girls and pre-teens. There were older fans there, too, who joined the rapturous chorus of squeals.
Dressed in white, he shed the wings for hip-hop inspired dance moves as he greeted Tulsa. His dance motor revved hot and promised a ride "All Around the World."
Each pelvis grab and every finger-point from the Biebs caused an eruption of wails that overpowered the young artist's vocals.
The din is impossible to explain. I imagine it's much like being underneath a space shuttle before launch - but at Chipmunks pitch.
One thing is not arguable: The post-show ringing in the ears won't come from the amps or mic feedback.
The pain, the glorious, teen-girl-rite-of-passage ache, is caused by the screaming girls themselves, who quickly rocketed the decibel level well above that of the state-of-the-art sound system.
Bieber let loose with up to a dozen support dancers and at least as many costume changes, including a gold lame, sleeveless, puffy jacket-slash-hoodie. That's indisputable stage bling on the level of anything as gaudy and loud as Mick Jagger's donned on stage, for real.
Much like how Michael Jackson wore sequined white socks with high-water pants to draw attention to his feet, Bieber often wears red or purple shoes for the same purpose. That, folks, is how proper arena stagewear is done.
His hits included "All Around the World," "Catching Feelings," "Eenie Meenie," "Take You," "Somebody to Love," "Love Me Like You Do," "She Don't Like the Lights," "Die in Your Arms," "Beauty and a Beat," "One Time," "Boyfriend" and "Baby."
The 18-year-old Canadian's stage presence was assured, moves polished, coyness gone, especially in comparison to his sold-out concert here in 2010. The transformation into an adult soul-pop star, I dare say, is nigh complete.
Original Print Headline: Descending into BOK, Bieber delivers in style
Jennifer Chancellor 918-581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Justin Bieber performs at the BOK Center in Tulsa. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
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