March 4, 2004

Checking into the ONYX HOTEL

Glendale Arena, March 03 2004 - Phoenix, Arizona

By Crystal Coons, West48 Magazine

If there's one thing to be said about a Britney Spears concert, it's the ability to take you into another world. Every time, she manages to take what seems to be an ordinary arena and create a place where you can let loose, be free, and be taken into a world where Britney is your guide and you leave your thoughts and troubles behind. It really is what makes her the total package. From the look, to the videos to the tours, Britney is an empire within herself, and has proved it once again with her latest production; The Onyx Hotel.

The show kicked off at about 730 with an unknown, but soon to be known rocker girl named Skye Sweetnam. I'll be the first to say that opening acts are usually undesirable and unwanted, but she brought fantastic energy and music. It set the tone for a night of great performances. Skye was then followed by the "Milkshake" girl, Kelis, who rocked the house with her unique blend of r & b, hip hop and rock. After about 45 minutes of surprisingly enjoyable opening acts, the crowd grew impatient and began chanting her name.

"Britney, Britney, Britney…"

Ask, and you shall receive. The room went dark, and we were taken into her world, the world of the Onyx Hotel, where people are gorgeous, everything has an artistic flair, and you can't help but be sucked in. The entire show seemed to be very "Moulin Rouge" in feel, and very vintage, right down to the costumes, and the emcee, who was reminiscent of an overweight Boy George. After an introduction from the emcee, the music began, and dancers fell from the sky. Then began Toxic.

From then on it was a mix of the new and old. There were old favorites from her 2002 release such as "Overprotected" to fun and funky cabaret style remixes of her first two major hits. In the midst of what was a party, a moment came where she sat at a piano, and took a few moments to talk to the crowd. She spoke of the turbulence that was the past 6 months of her life, and how regardless of who does what, "the world keeps on moving, and we keep moving with it". She then went into confirmed next single, "Everytime". What made this one of the most memorable moments of the night was how she made everyone in that audience feel like they were having that moment with her. She played the piano and sang live, but was impossible to make out, as the entire crowd was singing with her. It was a moment that surely touched her heart.

Once the moment was over, it was back to the party. She launched into "The Hook Up" and then her first controversial hit, "I'm a Slave 4 U." Once the set was done, we were taken into a room in the Onyx Hotel where Britney lay in a bathrobe. Next came "Touch of my Hand" and "Breathe on Me" where she performed in no more than a pink lingerie ensemble. While parents weren't thrilled, this performance brought the most out of the crowd, from the screams to the dancing, it is a moment that will surely live on in everyone's dreams and fantasies.

Overall, the show was a lot less "flashy" than previous tours, focusing more on the quality of the performances. It showed great character for her to be able to laugh at herself in the midst off all of the negative press and highs and lows that currently plague her life. She didn't take her mind off the game and delivered a 15-song 6 costume change performance that certainly goes down in time as one of her best.

The Onyx Hotel Tour continues on nationwide throughout April 10th, when she heads off to Europe for the second leg of her tour.