Erykah Badu: Live From Badubotron in San Diego
Erykah Badu is a multi-faceted and multi-genre singer, producer, DJ, and doula. She is dubbed the queen of “Neo-soul” which is a genre that derived from the soul and R&B music within the 90s. She is eclectic, funky, daring and most of all a visionary. She has an array of music that varies amongst genres and styles. Many of her songs include elements of Afro-futurism, spirituality, and activism. Her most popular works include but aren’t limited to On and On and Next Lifetime from her first album Baduizm.
On her 2021 tour: Live From Badubotron, Badu has recently played Austin City Limits and The Hollywood Bowl with Steve Lacy. All over social media there has been praise for her “life-changing” concerts.
Badu at ACL. Photo by Daniel Cavazos.
Is her show really what it is made out to be? Her show in San Diego proves just how magical she is.
Before Badu came on stage, she first set the tone with audio Dial'Afreaq with accompanying visuals. Dial’Afreaq is a song that starts with a monologue about how cellphone radiation makes bees act erratically which then transitions to an eclectic new age funk song. However, Badu chooses to start her show with the monologue which instead transitions into a drum-off. By the time the epic drum solo is over and the backup singers are in place, Badu finally graces us with her presence. It is an entrance quite like no other. She’s wearing a large fur coat lined with sequins on the inside, a black t-shirt dress layered with large gold necklaces, with blue fuzzy and stringy leg warmers while barefoot, and with her traditional tall leather hat. Erykah strutted out like royalty and commanded the presence of the crowd like a queen. Then Erykah resumes Dial’Afreaq post monologue with the lyrics “Here I am Miss Badu” amidst the crowd going wild. She then transitions into a harmonious version of her song Hello, the perfect song to greet the crowd.
Throughout the show, Erykah pulls out all the crowd favorites including Love of My Life, On and On, Bag Lady, and Tyrone. However, one of the highlights of the show had to be her performance of Back in the Day. Prior to performing the song, Erykah announces that she has to take a break and goes on about new Covid regulations. During this announcement, one of her backup singers lights a large joint which Erykah proceeds to grab and smoke. Everyone is rolling with laughter and Badu is walking around the stage smoking the joint for her so-called “break.” She then proceeds to the microphone where she sings Back in The Day and is joined by her power-house backup singers. The entire song and performance is a joyous fun feel-good song. The song then transitions into a very spiritual puissant vocalist session that I’m sure left many with goosebumps. Later in the show Badu, goes to sing On & On where she is accompanied by a shining down rainbow laser beam.
Beyond the eclectic outfits and lit joints, there is another thing that makes Erykah stand out and that is her ability to communicate with the crowd. Badu ultimately facilitates an intimate and personal concert. Badu ends the show with Tyrone, or so we think… But honestly admits that because she saw an audience member hit someone in the head, she got distracted and didn’t end the song properly. So she takes a few minutes to end it in a powerful and dazzling way. A few minutes later she comes back out and asks the crowd what song she should play. It’s decided that Bag Lady will be the ending song. The entire show illustrates the pioneering artist Erykah Badu is, but also her talent as a performer, songstress, DJ, and even comedian. Badu facilities an intimate concert experience that constitutes as magical, enlightening, spiritual, and enchanting.
