Alicia Keys @ Target Center
Posted on April 30th, 2008 – 11:21 PMBy Jon Bream
You could say it was an off-Keys performance but I just don’t think Alicia Keys belongs in an arena. I’ve seen her in clubs and theaters and at the State Fair and now Target Center. She’s not an outsized personality or performer, she’s an introverted artist whose work would fit better in a theater or auditorium. Moreover, I thought this performance was too long and too busy.
 Here is her set list from Target Center on Wed:
1. As I Am intro 2. Ghetto Story 3. Waiting for Your Love 4. Where Do We Go From Here 5. You Don’t Know My Name 6. Teenage Love Affair 7. Lady Marmalade (by her backup singers) 8. Heartburn 9. Sure Looks Good to Me 10. Prince’s How Come U Don’t Call Me 11. Butterfliez 12. Goodbye 13. Prelude to a Kiss 14. Superwoman 15. I Need You 16. Reckless Love 17. Diary 18. My Boo 19. Unbreakable 20. Like You’ll Never See Me Again 21. Feeling You Feeling Me 22. Go Ahead 23. A Woman’s Worth 24. Lesson Learned 25. So Simple 26. Karma 27. Thing about Love 28. Fallin’ 29. It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World 30. No One  encore 31. If I Aint Got You
What did you think of the show? Please post your comments here:Â
37 Responses to "Alicia Keys @ Target Center"
what was jordin’s set list? did she sing before or after neyo?
Jordin opened the evening, singing before Ne-Yo. She sang Freeze, Now You Tell Me, Permanent Monday, One Step at a Time, Tattoo and No Air.
Sparks and keys were good but the rest was way too jig-a-booish for me.
Jigga-boo? Pretty racist…
I agree about Alicia. Some performances are made for smaller theatres. Everyone seems to want to go on stadium tours if they are a big enough name. I don’t think you have to do that every time. For some artists, it hurts them. Hopefully, she gets back to where she needs to be.
Well Jeff, I don’t consider Sparks or Keys “jig-a-boos” as they don’t grab their junk over and over like Ne-yo and the dancers grabbing their “imaginary” junk. Just sickening.
I can’t believe you would even say that word!!! Do you even know what you are talkin about? Specialy to call Alicia Keys that. I thought her performance was great and I really enjoyed. Why don’t you take a minute to think about the music instead of thinkin about racial discrimination!!!!!
I wasn’t talking about her. Why the heck would I go to the concert if I thought that of her? I enjoyed it. Learn to read and comprehend.
Ya’ll need to learn about what types of music you be writing about. Keyes is SOUL, not pop and Britney spears NEVER had the IT factor!!! Keyes in an elite status, the LADY status and puts soul back into today’s crappy music. If we didn’t have her and Mary J in today’s music, we wouldn’t have music on the female tip. Alicia is no entertainer on her feet, she is the master on the piano. So please know your music industry and histroy of it before you open your mouth. Oh I forgot, being in a all white state, you don’t know nothing bout that (and I am white) diversity in music if it’s not on the top 40. They were playin REAL music in between Neyo sets, like Frankie Beverly and Teddy P!!
I would have to say that overall the show was a success but I think it would have been better in a smaller and more intimate setting. Even if they would ahve had the concert at the Excel Energy Center or Even the Orpheum, i think it would have touch the fans a little more. All considering with Jordin’s, and Alicia’s vocal issues I think they sounded good, I think Ne-Yo was good but he needs to do more of his songs in full.
I thought that Jon Bream’s article about the concert was completely wrong. It sounds like you don’t like Alicia’s type of music. I have went to a couple of her concerts and would go again in a heartbeat. She is an excellent singer and I didn’t think for a second that she was boring the audience. Maybe you should stick to writing articles about music that you like. Alicia Keys is one of the most talented singers. Alicia definitely has IT!!
And to the guy who doesn’t like Ne-yo and feels the need to make racist comments…maybe you should have thought twice about going to the concert when you bought the tickets. For you to make such a comment about him is ignorant.
LOVED IT! I don’t agree with the article at all! You can tell a man wrote it, maybe because it was so powerful for women, I totally connected! I would have went to watch her wherever she played! She was motivating, inspirational and exquisit! Beauty, voice and talent make her an amazing star! not all singers need to be dancers!
I agree with Rochelle P! I loved it! I thought she was amazing! I actually cried, I have never cried at a concert before. ‘As I am’ is a great cd, I really love it and I think Alicia is wonderful. She isn’t mainstream and writes her own music and plays the piano.
I LOVED IT! To each their own.
Oh wow! I have been to concerts all over the twin cities, from the Target Center to the underground Dinky Towner. I am always a little concerned about going to ANY concert at the Target Center. You are stuck in a designated seat/area with little space to dance. To my surprise however, Alicia Keys at The Target Center is by far one of my favorite concerts! She made a great performance! She has an amazing natural talent that really comes to life when hearing it live! I do agree that Ne-Yo should play out some more songs in full and what was Jordin wearing?! I loved the skinny jeans but change the top! Suggestions to some, Next time, get better seats. About being to long…Too many times I have left a concert feeling gipped. I felt that I got my moneys worth at the Keys concert. I would pay again tonight to see that concert at the Target Center. ‘It’ was that good!
Maybe some people went to the show expecting to see yet another “Diva” lip-synch her own music during a tightly controlled and contrived performance. Not me.
Maybe some peoples expectations have been formed from spending too much time watching artists that MUST depend on flashy choreography and pyrotechnics to distract you from the fact that what they’re singing could be a commercial for a new brand of potato chips if one simply removed the Timbaland “hook”. Not me.
Maybe some people don’t appreciate an artist that just gets on stage and puts it all out there, perfection be damned.
Again, not me.
I for one would have paid double to see Ms. Keys throw down- imperfections and “un-natural” dancing(huh?)included. Those imperfections make it real and are what makes me feel connected to a performer.
Thank you Alicia for coming to Minneapolis and doing your thing!!!
this show was fantastic. i was near the back opposite the stage, and did think that it would’ve been better at a smaller venue because the entire upper floor was empty, but with this aside, she was inspiring and magical. talk about a woman with passion- i loved it and will definitely be seeing her again. if possible (and i’m straight), i feel in love with her a little bit. ha!
Jon - I didn’t see “It” either . . . at least, not when Alicia was busy dancing. I had unrealistic hopes of this being Alicia, a piano, and a few band members. When she’s at the piano, she’s incredible. Unfortunately, she was never there for more than a song or two at a time. The terrible acoustics of the Target Center, at least where I was sitting, did nothing to help her.
Those who say the audience wasn’t bored must not have looked around them. I had plenty of time to look around, and there were plenty of people doing the same. I’ve been to concerts where the whole place is into it, and this wasn’t one of them.
If Alicia ever tours concert halls, I’ll be there. The arena performance was not my taste.
I had a blast at the concert last night. Although Jordin was a bit disappointing (somehow her outfit set the tone for a so-so performance), Ne-yo is so talented and put on a good performance, but he could have toned down the ‘act’ a bit to highlight his vocals more.
Alicia was the star though last night. She’s the ultimate artist/performer and really connected with the audience. True, the Target Center isn’t the best venue for any concert, but she wowed me. She had ‘it’ last night and has had it since the beginning.
I didn’t pay to see Ne-yo and his dancers rub their junk. Sorry. Not ignorant at all. Repeating the word “ignorant” over and over is ignorant.
yes, you can tell an older male wrote the review, because Alicia was amazing. Jordan had trouble keeping the beat and pitch. Neo was alright. Alecia sounded great, it got a little redundant when she was just playing the piano and I personally did not like her choices of songs to play without the band, but overall, she was great.
plus, very impressive that the show started on time, I hate waiting around
read TINA’s blog, she sums it all up very nicely.
Well first, I enjoyed Alicia and her performance,the acoustics system for the Target Center could be better.
Alicia brought it last night and what proves that is, when you look a the dollars spent and the return on that money for a talented and intelligent woman, this is a profitable artist.
Well critics who are entitled to their opinion(s),I understand that, others must remember that artist(s)work hard at what they do,and passionately do it in hopes of sharing and entertaining us.
So critics should not think that everyone will base the choice to spend or not spend money on a ticket base solely on the critics .
Thanks Amy and Amen to James Q’s blog too. And for ya’ll haters who didn’t quite understand what type of music Alicia and Ne-Yo’s beats are…they are Neo-Soul and R & B. Thus, know your music before you go buy a ticket and then hate on talented performers. The best song writer in the biz (ne-yo) that can entertain and Alicia, who sings from the soul and doesn’t need back up music of her own, that womans puts it down better live than in the studio and most importantly defines for our ppl today and of tomorrow what being a superwoman is about…can I get a witness!
Wases revoewer even at the sohw? Alice KEyes and Amerian Idol alum Jordan Spark did pertty well on duat. Rapper Neo dnanced well to energize cowrd,
This concert was worth every dime - and so many aren’t. I feel sorry for anyone who missed “It.”
I agree with Jon’s comments… I love Alicia Keys, and I thought it was a good concert, but it wasn’t great, either. She definitely would be better in the Orpheum, State Theater, or Northrop. Stadium tours are not for her.
Like prettymuch else here… I agree that Keys was at her best at the piano, and was just so-so while dancing around.
I had zero interest in watching Ne-Yo… so I didn’t. I sat in the basketball city tavern while he played.
Chris
I enjoyed the effort Alicia put into her performance and the length of the show, but the sound engineer should be fired. I had excellent seats on the side in Secction 111 about 10 rows up but the acoustics were disgraceful. The sound was distorted and this is something the sound technicians should have picked up on. It was far worse for Alica than Jordin and Ne-Yo.
I have attended many concerts at Target over the years since it was built: Prince, Michael, Janet, Tina, Luther, Kenny G, Lionel, and more, so I can’t blame the poor acoustics last night on the Target Center. I have heard some excellent concerts there.
It totally spoiled what for me could have been a great concert. Hope the majority of you were sitting in seats where the acoustics were better.
I loved the show…I, like Taryn, cried a few times during the show. Alicia is an amazing artist and I feel priviledged to have seen her last night!
I agree about the acoustics.We had nosebleed seats for Prince and they (acoustics )seemed alot better than seats we had last night.Section 111 2nd row.I like Jordan Sparks but what was she thinkin? 99% of the fans were better dressed,yes I know she is an artist……and shouldn’t matter…….
I caught the show in Philly and I feel robbed!
No Jordin and Alicia didn’t perform 31. If I Aint Got You!
And these tix were overpriced! 
Haha
I most have went to a Different Concert!!!
It was a unbelievable Good concert!!
The more I think about the concert The better it gets!!! Want to Re-Live it Again!
Youtube Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_NmWPL1nOc
here are some of the pics I took & I Put them on Alicia Keys Web site Forum Omg read my review! & see what I Saw!
http://publicforums.aliciakeys.production.sparkart.net/showthread.php?t=3602
Butch Diana Ross? HOW DARE U JON! You’re obviously not a true original alicia keys fan so you can’t appreciate waiting for you love, wreckless love, heartburn and any other song that isn’t at her piano. The Target center Was definitely full. I bet you couldn’t even fill up 1/4 of section 112 so chill! That concert was Da Bomb! I love Alicia Keys..there’s no one out there like her that can ATTEMPT to call themselves stadium status. That concert was the ish and if it came back tomorrow I would go 1000 times over. Next time StarTribune send someone who actually likes at least one song by the artist and isn’t a tight booty critic. A.Keys is the ish! AK47 KILLIN EM DEAD WITH THE MUSIC!! KRUCIAL KEYS!!!
A.KEYS PUT IT DOAWWNNN!!!
Great pics Steve.What kind camera did you use? I was afraid of the “no cameras allowed” so only brought my shirt pocket point and shoot.I was paranoid and hid it at that.If I had known otherwise I would had brought my DSLR.
Your welcome!MNMAN
I Have a Kodak Z7590 10x zoom 5meg
10x zoom is good , but if you don’t use manual mode it’s worth nothing!
Did you read about My run in with the security Guard? I was Luckey to get it into the building I just got Really luckey!
Anyway I will be adding more pic’s Later!
The Picture’s & Video show a different Show than what Jon Bream saw & I really feel sorry for him how could he miss a show like this & how he did not see that amazing Big screen, is beyond me & how could he not see Alicia Keys Jumping all over the place & How could he miss the amazing Classic light show !
Well at least he is Legally alive, I thing?
I did not like the warm up Bands & They were WAY WAY TO LOUD! But the dancers kept me Looking! Lol & I Hope Alicia Keys Pay the warmup band by the group & not By the amount of people in the group Haha I cant see her doing this again with that many people! I was LOL thinking about the BIG warm up band when Alicia Keys was all by her self playing the Piano for one of her songs!
!!!About Cameras!!!
Did anybody see a security Guard deny anybody into the building with a camera? & what did they do after they found one?
Or
did anybody see a security Guard allow a camera into the building after finding it?
Security guard by me was taking her own pics (:>).
At Disney on Ice they took our camcorder,gave us a number,and locked it up in a room.We just got it after the event.
Just Added some new Pic!
Jon Bream Did not see any of this!
I have broken Down the pic’s into 8 catalogues
First One Four Pics
01 Alicia Keys on top of the World (Stage)
02 Alicia Keys Amazing Light Show & Big Screen
http://publicforums.aliciakeys.production.sparkart.net/showthread.php?t=3602
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