A MATCH MADE IN MUSICAL HEAVEN

June 3, 2011

Faces of a new generation of R&B are taking a retro approach. The pairing of Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae brought a unique musical experience to fans that packed into Rogers Arena Friday night.

The compilation of styles and sounds blended R&B, pop, and soul with an eclectic mix of influences reaching back through the decades.

Their sets were strikingly different but their ability to incorporate different genres and move between them connected the artists and offered a brilliant show for the Vancouver crowd.

Up first was Monae. A singer, songwriter, and dancer, Monae has made a name for herself and gained critical acclaim with her debut studio album The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III), a continuation of her Metropolis concept series and its fictional tale of a messianic android.

Dressed in her standard uniform a black suit, tie, and saddle shoes—a homage to her working class parents and a contrast to the futuristic theme of her music—Monae worked the crowd with "Dance Or Die", "Cold War", and "Tightrope".

A true talent, Monae and her band complete with a strings section, all dressed in black and white, held a dance party on stage. She slowed it down for a cover of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile", which showcased her vocal chops, before bringing the crowd to their feet with the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back".

Monae provided a phenomenal opening act that would have stolen show if the main attraction didn't deliver as flawlessly as it did.

Hitting Vancouver on their Hooligans in Wondaland tour, Inspired by a unforgettable performance at the 2011 Grammys, Mars and Monae are traveling North America, their fan base expanding in their wake.

Mars took the stage next standing front and centre as the curtain rose he was greeted by deafening cheers. Born Peter Gene Hernandez in Honolulu, the singer-songwriter and record producer is from a musical family and has been performing since his early days. It shows.

Mars gained recognition as a solo artist after lending his vocals and co-writing hits such as "Wavin' Flag" by K’naan, and "F--- You!" by Cee Lo Green. His debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans released in fall 2010 peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.

In jeans and a fedora, armed with a guitar, Mars made the female fans swoon with his charm, grin, and smooth voice. The crowd's energy only rose as Mars kicked into high gear with "Billionaire" "Runaway Baby", and "The Lazy Song".

Mars and his band danced across the stage laying down a mix of hip hop, R&B, reggae, and pop, saving his hits "Grenade" and "Just the Way You Are"—which earned him a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance—for late in the show whipping the stadium into a frenzy.

The night featured two young rising stars who are as versatile as they are talented, as creative as they are natural-born performers. And they put on a show worthy of the hype.