Review: Jackson firmly in control at MGM Grand

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Oct. 8, 2001 | 8:16 a.m.

The name of Janet Jackson's tour, "All For You," could not be more appropriate.

Jackson, in her Saturday show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, gave the sold-out crowd exactly what it wanted -- lots of energy, high production value, tightly choreographed dance numbers and, most important, a hearty sampling of her hit tunes.

Granted, they weren't all sung in their entirety (sizable snippets is more like it), nor were they all actually sung by Jackson -- it was fairly obvious the songstress was lip-synching more than a few of the songs. But no one seemed to mind. The crowd remained on its feet throughout the show.

Up-and-coming Atlanta R&B quartet 112 opened on a sparse stage and presented its sexually charged single "Peaches & Cream." But the group didn't create nearly the hubbub that ensued when Joseph Jackson, patriarch of the Jackson brood, entered the Grand Garden and took his seat among the commoners.

Minutes later the arena erupted into cheers, with people standing on chairs to catch a glimpse of another family member taking his or her seat. Said Jackson's face was partially concealed by a wide-brimmed white hat: Was it brother/king of pop Michael? Or tabloid queen sister Latoya? Speculation spread through the audience like wildfire, but confirmation remained elusive as the lights dimmed.

In the span of an hour and 45 minutes, little sister Janet presented no less than two dozen songs. For the most part she was accompanied by a small army of dancers who tackled moves straight from Jackson's dance-heavy videos (the military-themed "Rhythm Nation" and 1940s ode "Alright" among them). Costume changes happened every few tunes.

Following a video montage of her varied looks throughout the years, Jackson (decked out in a white-fringe number) kicked off the show with "Come on Get Up" from high atop a pedestal that descended to the stage.

That was followed by "You Ain't Right," and "All For You," the technicolor video for which played on a screen behind her and the dancers.

"Love Will Never Do Without You" rounded out the set, and on Jackson's lead the audience threw fists in the air while chanting the song's refrain.

In a "Cirque du Soleil"-inspired turn, the next music block had dancers donning otherworldly masks and flowing suits on the fog-shrouded stage, which Jackson, in a black bustier (all the better to show off her amazingly toned abs), took to rock out to "Trust a Try."

That segued into a slow-jam set in which a sweat-sopped Jackson, accompanied by a guitarist, sat center stage on stools. She acknowledged the cheering crowd with polite nods, her famous coy smiles and by mouthing, "thank you."

Jackson sang a medley of ballads -- no lip synching here -- that included "Come Back to Me," "Let's Wait Awhile" (the video for which played on screen, featuring the New York skyline and a pair of shots of the World Trade Center) and "Again," backed by images from the film "Poetic Justice" staring Jackson and slain rapper Tupac Shakur, before tossing to the audience her sweaty towel.

The next segment saw dancers, seemingly out of a Sid and Marty Kroft show, dressed in brightly colored bird, bug and gnome getups, prancing around giant inflatable jack-in-the-boxes, candies and presents. Jackson donned a silly hot-pink outfit. The set was a perfect backdrop for the fluffy pop favorites "Runaway" "Miss You Much," "When I Think of You" and "Escapade."

"Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song is About You)", featuring a video singalong by Carly Simon (her classic tune "You're So Vain" was sampled in the song), opened the next segment, followed by Jackson, in plaid pants, explaining, "This is the part of the show where we like to groove for just a bit."

Then it was on to "Got 'Till It's Gone" and "That's the Way Love Goes."

Returning to some old favorites, a funked-up version of "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" led into the anthem "Control," which paved the way for "Nasty," with the line "Miss Jackson if you're nasty" sending fans into a frenzy. Another costume change -- sequined zoot suits -- set up the dance spectacle that was "Alright."

Then we came to the dominatrix portion of the evening. "It's getting kind of lonely up here," a black-cat-suited Jackson said, prompting stagehands to pull an all-too-eager male fan from the audience and strap him onto a contraption that tilted vertically and horizontally as Jackson, singing "Would You Mind," writhed around and straddled the man before both disappeared below the stage.

Dancers, also in black and moving in robotic fashion, joined her for "Rhythm Nation," which ended with brief pyrotechnic explosions and a salute from Jackson.

Time to wait -- several minutes that seemed excessively long amid chants of "Janet, Janet" -- for the three-song encore: the pleasant "Doesn't Matter," "Someone to Call My Lover" and "Together Again."

The show wrapped up with a few more blasts of fireworks and the obligatory "I love you, Vegas" from Jackson.

What's not to love? Fans were clearly grateful for an evening of solid entertainment, and the upbeat, personable Jackson seemed more than happy to oblige.