Justin Timberlake and Jay Z Concert Recap

Dear Justin and Jay Z, Thank you for bringing your epic tour to Detroit.  This city is often passed over and in a bit of turmoil currently, so it was nice to see it on the tour schedule.  The concert did not disappoint.  I’ll admit I was a little nervous, the day before, almost asking myself why I bought tickets.  But the day of, calm hit me.  I was excited, realizing how lucky I was to be attending this concert about which I read rave review after rave review.  As soon as you hit the stage, I relaxed, pushing all the worries, fears, and hesitation out of my mind.  I sang at the top of my lungs, my crappy voice blending into those around me.  I screamed and cheered until my voice could take no more.  I danced, shimmied, and shook like it was no one’s business.  And when I left my feet were numb from standing in my most comfortable five inch heels, my voice was shot, and my ears were ringing.  But that’s how it’s supposed to be when you leave a concert, right?

I loved singing along to every word of “Big Pimpin’” and “Izzo,” one of my favorite songs of all time.  They brought me back to being an eleven year old watching MTV and jamming out.  Then I was singing the censored version, I swear!  I may not have known the verses to “Heart of the City,” “Tom Ford,” “99 Problems,” and “Dirt off My Shoulder” but I sang every word to the chorus.  One of the most powerful things about being at a concert is being in a mass of people that may not have a single thing in common other than the music, as they sing along.  But on a couple of occasions, the sheer awesomeness of your raps, Jay Z, put a hush over the crowd.  Even the most casual fan would stop and take notice of your breathtaking rhymes.  I am in awe of your talent.  The crowd was back in action with “Run This Town” and “Empire State of Mind” two more of my personal favorites.  “Empire has always been very inspirational to me and helps me to keep following my dreams.

Of course, Jay Z’s talent could only be matched by that of Justin Timberlake.  Perhaps the most talented man in Hollywood, your voice is seamless, dance moves outrageous, and musical talent on the piano and guitar fantastic.  Clearly there is nothing you can’t do.  I’m pretty sure I knew every word of every song old and new, and I love them all so much I could never pick a favorite.  But  “What Goes Around Comes Around,” “Senorita,” “Mirrors,” “Rock Your Body,” “Let the Groove Get In,” “Take Back the Night,” (my current ringtone), “Cry Me a River,” “Sexyback,” and “Tunnel Vision” all had me jiving to the beat.  And lip synching clearly isn’t even in your vocabulary.  Other entertainers should take note; no one can captivate an audience like you.  My only regret is that I didn’t stick around to search for those signed shoes because I think I would’ve found them.  Oh well!  And who knows, maybe you’ll be in a screenplay I write one day since you’re one of my favorite actors too.  Friends with Benefits and The Social Network never get old.

Ending the show with “Forever Young” and placing the spotlight on the crowd instead of yourselves is further testament to the incredible performers and people you are.  Not many artists would do that.  The concert released me from myself if only for a few hours.  I was the typical, normal twenty-three year old having the time of my life and it was the best feeling in the world.  I haven’t had that good of a time in a very long while.  Whenever I’m having a bad day and not feeling so normal, I’ll think of this show and look at the pictures and smile 🙂

Dear Ford Field, There’s no place I’d rather see a concert or spend an evening.  The stadium is beautiful.  Easy to get to, the drive around Comerica Park and to Ford Field is an oasis in an otherwise not so nice area.  Plenty of people are around to direct visitors to the proper location, including to our parking spot, right along the curb to honor our parking pass in a full lot.  It was fun as people looked at us, wondering what VIPs we must be, and my feet were happy it was only a few steps from the door to the car at the end of the night.  The employees were all friendly and the lines moved swiftly.  But you simply need better security.  The only dampers on the evening were entirely preventable.  We paid good money for our twenty-first row floor seats on the aisle, so it was unwelcome and inappropriate when people began filling the aisle, trying to get closer and closer to the stage, and even more unwelcome when they began bumping into Mom.  After about an hour the police finally broke it up, but it should not have lasted that long.  Even worse were the two bozos in front of us smoking marijuana.  I’d never seen or smelled pot in my life until that night.  It was bothersome and dangerous to have a lighter in the stadium.

Dear Mom, I bet you never thought you’d go to a Jay Z concert with your twenty-three year old daughter, but life is throwing all kinds of crazy things at us, isn’t it?  Thank you (and Dad) so much for buying the tickets.  I’m so glad I went, I wish I could do it all again, and it’s all thanks to you.  I hope you enjoyed it.  I also hope you know I enjoyed it even more because you were there with me.  Though the sleepless night that followed was tough, it was well worth it.  I know neither of us want to go to another concert tomorrow, but I can’t wait to party at another show with you very soon.  Because it turns out maybe I’m not twenty-three going on eighty-three after all – maybe just forty-three 😉