The widely sold-out New Kids On The Block (NKOTB) tour, featuring special guest TLC and Nelly, is another stepping stone of musical genres merging for diverse audiences. The collective performed for two nights in the Big Apple, which was a special treat for New York City natives. It was twice the fun and twice the excitement for the fans.
The first act for the evening was multi-platinum rapper Nelly, who curbed the crowd's appetite when he performed his singles. His performance was considered to be the "pre-show." For the fans, it was great to see the St. Louis native perform his array of hits including "Country Grammar," "Pimp Juice," "Shake Ya Tailfeather," or "Hot in Here." Nelly is still vibrant, full of energy, and can roar the crowd.
TLC, the greatest R&B female group of all time, followed suit and delivered their gifts and talents to their endearing fans. Chilli and T-Boz were overwhelmed with joy when the audience began calling out their name profusely during signature songs such as "Ain't too Proud to Beg," "What About Your Friends," "Unpretty," "Creep," "Baby, Baby, Baby," the seductive single "Red Light Special," and "Diggin' On You." The duo also paid homage to their beloved sister, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes, when they sang the heartfelt single, "Meant to Be." T- Boz and Chilli already made it clear to everyone that they will never replace Left-Eye because they were to mean to be. It was necessary for them to highlight Left Eye's contributions to the group because she played a significant role in their success as a group and sisterhood. TLC ended their segment with their biggest hit to date, "Waterfalls," and the choreography for the song was spectacular. And how can we forget the groundbreaking and inspirational rap from Left-Eye that added more flavor to the song.
The main event for the evening was pop legends New Kids on the Block's performance on stage. Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood, and Donnie Wahlberg began their segment with their hit, "Block Party." It was the perfect record to get the crowd jumping because NKOTB was ready to party with them for the evening.
NKOTB sang a plethora of hits including "Step by Step," "You Got It (The Right Stuff)," "I'll Be Loving You Forever," "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind)," "Single," "We Own Tonight," "Please Don't Go Girl," "If You Go Away," "Summertime," and "Hangin' Tough." The group also brought out rap pioneer Biz Markie, 50 Cent, and former member and actor, Mark Wahlberg. Fans were full of astonishment when they saw these artists, especially Mark because he left the group 20 years ago. The stage was more explosive when lead singers Donnie, Jordan, and Joey performed as solo artists. The audience were able to see Jordan and Donnie's impeccable abs and Donnie's softer and gentle side when he sang, "I Need You," "Lean on Me," and he dedicated "Cover Girl" to his wife and television personality, Jenny McCarthy.
20 years later, NKOTB has maintained their legacy. It looks like the group will not be retiring from the stage anytime soon, especially since they are aging well. They are still well-groomed and kept their physique in tact. For two nights, women were reliving their teenage years when the group sang their classics and recent material. The Hollywood Walk of Fame recipients continues to influence other pop artists including LFO, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and 98 Degrees. In 2015, the group is still captivating people's hearts with their vocal abilities, stellar dance moves, and last not but not least, their stage presence.
Photo: Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images
