Tuesday July 12th 2005
Jones Beach
Sugar Water Festival:
In order of appearance
Floetry *
Queen Latifah ***
Jill Scott *****
Erykah Badu *****

Those are my ratings. Allow me to say that Jill and Erykah were both
life altering experiences. Maybe just small alterations but enough to
be altering. Jill was sexy and sensual and powerful. She did a little
opera voice thing with one of her songs, which just blew me away. What
a super powerful voice. Just incredible. The way she grooved from the
audience was just superb. She didn't move more than 2 square foot of
where she was, which I normally wouldn't like but she still moved, and
flowed and her feet might've been planted but her arms and hips reached
both sides of the stage, and her Voice reached all corners of Long
Island. Super hyper incredible.
I've heard a few of her songs before and I thought she was cool, but on
Tuesday she made a fan of me. As soon as I can I am going out and
buying albums.
Erykah I love, but wasn't aware of her range. She played a beat machine
for a bit that was just crazy cool. Her voice surprised me as well. Her
monologue with the crowd was refreshing, and her musical selection,
precise. She was funny and knew how to rock a party, amp a crowd and
deliver every lyric with a punch. Some punches dead in the chest.
Jill gave me goose bumps, while Erykah made me hype and anxious. I
wanted more.

Giving proper props to Queen Latifah for doing some signing covers and
taking it back to just another day and UNITY. She fit well in the
concert.

Floetry was just there. The singer has a great voice that I would've
been able to enjoy if the damn MC wasn't so loud and annoying. If she
even had good rhymes or lyrics or whatever, how could I ever know? Her
lips were on the mic, muffled or something and the noise that came out
of her was just annoying. I've heard good things about her and her flow
but if they don't get her mic issues, or if she doesn't her mic
control issues resolved then she is gonna just suck. She shouted too
much, she should've spoke to the crowd. I would've listened.

The backup signers and bands for all four acts are something solid and
amazing the entire night. My friend Charlotte was doing back up for
Queen, and it was such a great surprise. I started shouting like a
school girl. Pretty funny actually.

Finally I have to give an incredibly give thanks to my hero for the day
Luciana. She planted the idea that made me Google Jill Scott and Erykah
to see when they were touring, She then blessed me by buying tickets and
having me of all people escort her to this magical night by the beach.

The wind was beautiful, the sky was majestic, and those three drops of
rain that made some people run like roaches when you turn on the light
was so refreshingly cool. It was lighter than a light drizzle that
didn't amount to a damn thing, and people ran during the Badu. What the
funk? That should never happen to the Badu, recognize bitches.
It was altogether a great great great time. I was so tired at the end
of the night, due to the pure joy that came out of me that night.

Next concert will be on September 25th at Keyspan park, to see the White
Stripes. Do I need to express how excited I am about this? Can't
funking wait.