Amel Larrieux's voice calmed me at the Blue Note, August 27, 2008

Thursday night at the Blue Note in New York City, I had the pleasure of seeing Amel Larrieux for the 5th time in my life. This performance pierced me straight in my gut and soul. A little something something was much different from her previous shows. Amel's energy level was at an all time. Part of the reason may have been that her fans from www.blisslife.com were out in FULL force. I am humbled to say I was a part of this posse which was acknowledged by her in her performances.

What made her performance extremely special was that she was personalizing songs and was singing them to her fans meaning she would capture your eyes and sing directly into your spirit. I've never connected with an artist like that nor have I ever sat that close to have that experience. This experience was one that I cannot explain well but having Amel or any singer sing directly into your eyes without flinching is a testimony of how they can even feel and feed off your energy! Amel actually called out my screen name from her website which was a complete shocker to me! And what was even more adorable she was surprised to see me so she said, "2Serenity!" I wanted to leap under my chair but I knew to behave myself and to give Amel the energy she needed to do her thing! I was humbled by the acknowledgment!

Amel sang to other blisslife.com members who made requests for songs that they wanted to hear and she even sang a birthday request to loyal blisslife.com member. Fortunataely, a blisslife.com member requested, "I Like The Sunrise" which was made popular by Ella Fitzgerald but covered by Amel in her album, Lovely Standards. One of my favorites!

In addition to amel singing songs from her entire catalogue from Groove Theory's Tell Me to Lovely Standards, the audience was given a preview of a new song, "Have You" which had an infectious beat that I enjoyed!

Another surprise treat was a duet with Sky Larrieux who is Amel's oldest daughter who is 13 years old (she will be 14 in September) on the song, "No One Else." Sky Larrieux plays the piano like a child prodigy for she had learned the song recently and played it as though she was the original musician recorded on Amel's album, morning, which includes the song, "No One Else." I felt like a proud Momma watching Amel and her daughter perform

No One Else - Amel Larrieux (from Morning album)

Other treats were Amel honoring her backup singers and the musicians accompanying her that evening. Amina and Mary are the backup singers that always accompany Amel to the shows I have attended here in New York! Their dispositions are always fun loving and peaceful. They compliment Amel exteremly well. I even enjoyed the "dance off" that Amel and Amina had showing off some African tribal dancing moves while in high heels! This was something I had never seen. Amina was working her dance moves as well as Amel as they were feeding off of each other doing copy cat gestures for a good three minutes.

Though I always enjoy Amel's performances, this one was extra special for it seemed as though amel was feeding off the audience's energy that knew her songs extremely well. It seems as though all of us die hard Amel Larrieux fans were in the packed house. (the standing room only section was packed) Once you experience Amel, you always want more!

My wish is for Amel Larrieux an Michael Jackson to do a duet together! I did not realize until I read an interview of Amel on askmen.com that she has the same wish!

I felt with Amel wearing her high heel tie up patent letter black heels with white socks to her performance that she was channeling Michael's spirit as when he wears his black loafers with white glitter socks.

In honor of Michael Jackson celebrating his 50th birthday today, August 29, Amel gave Michael a silent tribute with her taking Michael Jackson's trademark look to the 21st century!

Thank you, Amel, always being a trendsetter and respectful to those who influenced you!

Setlist for the 10:30pm show

1. sweet Misery

2. all I Got

3. earn my Affections

4. I Like the Sunrise

5. magic

6. No One Else (performed with Sky Larrieux)

7. Preview of new song - Have You

8. giving something up

9. gills and tails

10. Bravebird

11. We Can Be New

By the way I pleasantly surprised to see poet Ursula Rucker in the audience. I was so tickled to see her and humbled that she was so shy when I kept on sharing my appreciation of her work. She was surprised that I was familiar with her work and have her albums. I shared with her that a friend in Amsterdam introduced me to her work through www.last.fm! The power of SOCIAL MEDIA!

Thank you to Miss Sacha from blisslife.com for allowing me to share the video she had taken from Amel's performance at the Blue Note on August 27:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBKwFXi_2-U