Nothing but Love World Tour
Tour by Whitney Houston | |
Promotional poster for Houston's 2010 tour | |
Associated album | I Look to You |
---|---|
Start date | December 9, 2009 |
End date | June 17, 2010 |
Legs | 4 |
No. of shows |
7 in Asia 6 in Australia 37 in Europe 50 in total |
Box office | $36.3 million |
Whitney Houston concert chronology |
The Nothing but Love World Tour[1] was the ninth and final concert tour for American recording artist, Whitney Houston. It was her first tour in over a decade and was used to promote her seventh studio album I Look to You. Prior to Houston performing two dates in Russia mid-December 2009, the official tour started on February 6, 2010 in Asia; also visiting Australia and Europe. The tour was the 34th highest-earning of 2010, grossing over $36 million worldwide.[2]
Background
The tour was announced on October 12, 2009 on Houston's official website.[3] By way of introduction, she stated:[4]
“ | This is my first full tour since the My Love Is Your Love tour and I am so excited to be performing for my fans around the world after all this time. I am putting together a great show and cannot wait to perform the songs from my new album 'I Look To You', along with some of your favorites. | ” |
The tour began with two rehearsal dates in Russia, under an unadvertised title.[5] At the end of the rehearsal, the tour's title was changed to "Nothing But Love World Tour" with an "official" commencement in February 2010. Houston explained the meaning behind her tour's title is how she overcame her tough times. "I chose this title because what I had under any circumstance was love […] I wouldn't have overcome tough time without my mom and my daughter. My daughter is especially like a friend who supported me and stayed with me at the studio when I was working on the album".[6]
Public criticism
On February 22, the opening night of the Australian leg of the tour suffered bad reviews from critics. Her performance in the Brisbane Entertainment Centre was poorly received, and some fans reportedly left.[7] Houston's vocal condition was described as hoarse. Another action which came under fire from fans was when she paused from singing her song "I Will Always Love You" for many moments while she took a drink of water.[8][9]
Houston's promoter commented that Houston smokes cigarettes and stated "It is what it is. She's comfortable with the show she's performing. She knows she's not hitting every note like she used to. But it's value for money; it's Whitney Houston warts and all."[10] Houston received a similar response during her concert at the Forum Copenhagen. Some spectators stated the performance was not up to par on what they had expected; others stated that the singer is a legend, has been on the music scene for 25 years at the time, and considering what she had been through, the performance was fine.[11] Having grossed over $36 million, the tour itself was a financial success, however the promoter, Andrew McManus, lost $2 million bringing her to Australia.[12]
Opening acts
- Anthony Callea (Australia)[13]
- Waylon (London)[14]
- Azaryah Davidson (England, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland)[15]
- Alex Gardner (Scotland)[16]
- Karima (Italy)[17]
- Marc Sway (Switzerland)[18]
- Moto Boy (Sweden)[15]
- Axl Smith (Finland)
Set list
- "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
- "How Will I Know"
- "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
- "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
- "My Love Is Your Love"
- Medley: "Saving All My Love For You" / "Greatest Love of All" / "All at Once"
- Michael Jackson Tribute: "Man in the Mirror" (contain elements from "Missing You")
- "I Will Always Love You"
- Medley: "Revelation" / "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" / "I'm Every Woman" (performed by backing vocalists')
- "I Love the Lord"
- "I Look to You"
- "Million Dollar Bill (Freemasons Radio Edit)"
2010
- (Video Introduction) (contain elements of "For the Lovers", "Queen of the Night", "I'm Every Woman" and "How Will I Know")
- "For the Lovers"
- "Nothin' But Love"
- "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
- "My Love Is Your Love"
- "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
- "If I Told You That"
- "It's Not Right but It's Okay"
- "One Moment in Time" (Video Interlude)
- "For the Love of You" (performed by Gary Houston)
- "Queen of the Night" (performed by backing vocalists')
- Medley: "Saving All My Love for You" / "Greatest Love of All" / "All at Once" / "I Learned from the Best"
- "I Love the Lord"
- Michael Jackson Tribute: "Missing You" (contain excerpts from "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "The Way You Make Me Feel")
- "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
- "How Will I Know"
- "I Look to You"
- "Step By Step"
- "I Will Always Love You"
- "Million Dollar Bill (Freemasons Radio Edit)"
2010
- (Video Introduction) (contain elements of "For the Lovers", "Queen of the Night" "I'm Every Woman" and "How Will I Know")
- "For the Lovers"
- "Nothin' But Love"
- "I Look to You"
- "My Love Is Your Love"
- "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (contain excerpts from "Like I Never Left")
- "Step By Step"
- "For the Love of You" (performed by Gary Houston)
- "Queen of the Night" (performed by backing vocalists')
- Michael Jackson Tribute: "A Song for You" (contain excerpts from "The Way You Make Me Feel")
- Medley: "Saving All My Love for You" / "Greatest Love of All" / "All at Once" / "I Learned from the Best"
- "I Love the Lord"
- "I Will Always Love You"
- "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
- "How Will I Know"
- "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
- "Million Dollar Bill (Freemasons Radio Edit)"
Notes
- December 12: the concert at the Ice Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia; Houston performed "Step by Step" in lieu of "Exhale (Shoop Shoop.)"
- During concerts in Korea and Japan, Houston performed "When You Believe".
- During concerts in Australia, Houston performed "Hallelujah!" in lieu of "Missing You."
- Houston did not perform "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" and "Step by Step" in Dublin, and select nights in England.
- March 1: the concert at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, Houston did not perform "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" and "If I Told You That." Additionally, she briefly performed "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Like I Never Left."
- March 4: the concert at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, Australia, Houston performed "Who Would Imagine a King" and "I Have Nothing" with a fan.[19]
- April 13: for the concert at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England, Houston performed "I Am Changing." Additionally, Houston included the video interlude for "One Moment in Time".
- April 20: the concert at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, Houston was joined on stage by an audience member to perform "Greatest Love of All".
- On select tour dates in Europe, Houston performed "Stormy Weather" as a tribute to legendary singer/actress Lena Horne.
- May 1: at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, Houston did not perform "It's Not Right but It's Okay." The song was also not performed at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan, Italy and Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland.
- May 3: the concerts at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan, Italy and May 9, at Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, Houston began the encore with "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)".
Band
- Musical Director/Drums: Michael Baker
- Percussion: Bashiri Johnson
- Keyboards: Jetro DaSilva
- Bass guitar: Matthew Garrison
- Keyboards: Shedrick Mitchell
- Guitar: Sherod Barnes
- Keyboards/Orchestrater: Adi Yeshaya
- Background vocalists: Gary Houston, Sharlotte Gibson, Cindy Mizelle, Valerie Pinkston
- Dancers: Dres Reid, Ryan Chandler, Tre Holloway, Shannon Holtzappfel
- Choreographer: Jeri Slaughter, Assistant choreographer: Paul Monte
Tour Manager: Tony Bullock
Tour dates
Date | City | Country | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
Europe [20][21] | |||
December 9, 2009 | Moscow | Russia | Olimpiyskiy |
December 12, 2009 | Saint Petersburg | Ice Palace | |
Asia [20][21][22][23][24] | |||
February 6, 2010 | Seoul | South Korea | Olympic Gymnastics Arena |
February 7, 2010 | |||
February 11, 2010 | Saitama | Japan | Saitama Super Arena |
February 13, 2010 | |||
February 14, 2010 | |||
February 17, 2010 | Osaka | Osaka-jō Hall | |
February 18, 2010 | |||
Oceania[20][21][25][26] | |||
February 22, 2010 | Boondall | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
February 24, 2010 | Sydney | Qudos Bank Arena | |
February 27, 2010 | Pokolbin | Hope Estate Winery Amphitheatre | |
March 1, 2010 | Melbourne | Rod Laver Arena | |
March 4, 2010 | Adelaide | Adelaide Entertainment Centre | |
March 6, 2010 | Melbourne | The Plenary | |
Europe[20][21][27] | |||
April 13, 2010 | Birmingham | England | Genting Arena |
April 14, 2010 | Nottingham | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham | |
April 17, 2010 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Arena |
April 18, 2010 | |||
April 20, 2010 | |||
April 22, 2010 | Newcastle | England | Metro Radio Arena |
April 25, 2010 | London | The O2 Arena | |
April 26, 2010 | |||
April 28, 2010 | |||
May 1, 2010 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre |
May 3, 2010 | Milan | Italy | Mediolanum Forum |
May 4, 2010 | Rome | PalaLottomatica | |
May 9, 2010 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
May 10, 2010 | Geneva | SEG Geneva Arena | |
May 12, 2010 | Berlin | Germany | Mercedes-Benz Arena |
May 13, 2010 | Leipzig | Arena Leipzig | |
May 16, 2010 | Hanover | TUI Arena | |
May 17, 2010 | Hamburg | Barclaycard Arena Hamburg | |
May 19, 2010 | Vienna | Austria | Wiener Stadthalle |
May 21, 2010 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle |
May 22, 2010 | Stuttgart | Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle | |
May 24, 2010 | Antwerp | Belgium | Sportpaleis |
May 26, 2010 | Oberhausen | Germany | König Pilsener Arena |
May 27, 2010 | Nuremberg | Nuremberg Arena | |
May 29, 2010 | Mannheim | SAP Arena | |
May 31, 2010 | Frankfurt | Festhalle Frankfurt | |
June 3, 2010 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Forum Copenhagen |
June 4, 2010 | |||
June 6, 2010 | Stavanger | Norway | Sørmarka Arena |
June 8, 2010 | Stockholm | Sweden | Ericsson Globe |
June 10, 2010 | Helsinki | Finland | Hartwall Arena |
June 16, 2010 | Manchester | England | Manchester Arena |
June 17, 2010 |
- Cancellations and rescheduled shows
March 6, 2010 | New Plymouth, New Zealand | TSB Bowl of Brooklands | Cancelled[28] |
March 6, 2010 | Perth, Australia | nib Stadium | Cancelled[29] |
March 7, 2010 | Perth, Australia | nib Stadium | Cancelled[29] |
April 6, 2010 | Paris, France | AccorHotels Arena | Initially postponed to June 1, 2010 but later cancelled[30] |
April 8, 2010 | Manchester, England | Manchester Arena | This performance was postponed to June 16, 2010[31] |
April 9, 2010 | Manchester, England | Manchester Arena | This performance was postponed to June 17, 2010[31] |
April 11, 2010 | Glasgow, Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | This performance was postponed to May 1, 2010[31] |
April 30, 2010 | Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain | El Recinto de la Autoridad Portuaria de Santa Cruz | Cancelled[32][33] |
Box office score data
Venue | City | Tickets sold / available | Gross revenue |
---|---|---|---|
Brisbane Entertainment Centre | Queensland | 14,386 / 14,732 (95%) | $2,083,980[34] |
Qudos Bank Arena | Sydney | 11,157 / 11,634 (96%) | $1,610,830[35] |
Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne | 10,366 / 11,206 (92%) | $1,375,490[36] |
3Arena | Dublin | 25,574 / 25,574 (100%) | $3,533,122 |
The O2 Arena | London | 40,937 / 43,773 (93%) | $5,271,620[37] |
Barclaycard Arena Hamburg | Hamburg | 9,377 / 9,953 (94%) | $527,352[37] |
Sportpaleis | Antwerp | 11,629 / 12,399 (94%) | $957,024[38] |
Manchester Arena | Manchester | 11,831 / 12,265 (92%) | $1,087,150[39] |
TOTAL | 103,683 / 108,962 (92%) | $11,913,446 |
Critical reception
Despite upsets from spectators, the tour received mixed to negative reviews from critics for the Australian and European legs of the tour.
- Kathy McCabe (The Daily Telegraph) was not impressed with Houston's performance at the Acer Arena. She states, "Her acoustic set of old favourites unfortunately could not hide the very obvious problems with her voice, the strain and those coughs that punctuated the Brisbane show were back. By the time she got to the gospel section of the show a steady stream of disappointed, saddened and angry fans started streaming out the doors."[40]
- Cameron Adams (Herald Sun) gave Houston's performance at the Rod Laver Arena a positive review, despite media upset from her performance in Brisbane. He writes, "Houston is just a more human superstar in 2010, now with added flaws that give her character. She hits all the right notes in I Look to You, the new song about what she calls her 'down times'. Indeed every time she hits a huge note her devoted audience break into applause."[41]
- Candice Keller (The Advertiser) states that Houston still has "it" after viewing her performance at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. She continues to write, "She knows how to engage a crowd and keep the fans eating from the palm of her hand. She'll tease with a knowing and tuneful hum, or tell a story about what brought her to today."[42]
- Kim Dawson (Daily Star) found the performance at the LG Arena "forgettable" stating, Boos and jeers of: 'Where are you' filled the arena. When Whitney returned in a much wiser choice of black sparkly frock she said: 'I heard you got a little p***ed off while I changed my clothes and dried off. But I'm here now.'[43]
- Morwenna Ferrier (The Observer) applauds Houston's concert at the Trent FM Arena Nottingham. She further writes, "She kicks off successfully with two ballads from her 2009 album, I Look to You, 'For the Lovers' and 'Nothin' But Love' (love really is a theme with Houston.) The crowd, now warmed up, begins rattling with joy as she struts around all finger-clicky, black and proud during 'It's Not Right'. The songs include moments of genuine bonkersness."[44]
- John Meagher (The Independent) praised Houston's backing vocalist and her brother, Gary Houston for the performance at The O2 in Dublin. He continues to write, "She spends more time chatting to the audience than singing in the early stages, although her conversation rarely strays beyond the 'I love you, Dublin' type. At one point she fixates on a young girl in the front row, but what initially is charming tries the patience of the audience and eventually becomes tedious. Even the more tolerable songs -- 'My Love is Your Love', for instance -- are carried by the strength of her backing vocalists and the enthusiastic singing of the crowd. There are slivers of the super-talented young Whitney -- a high note here, a spine-tingling pause there on 'I Will Always Love You' -- but they arrive so infrequently it hardly matters. Instead, you are left with the memory of her botched attempts to wring some magic from 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' and 'How Will I Know?'"[45]
- John Aizlewood (Evening Standard) gave her performance at The O2 Arena one out of five stars, stating "Where once she soared, now she wheezes and croaks, bludgeoning her perfect pop single I Wanna Dance (With Somebody Who Loves Me) into karaoke submission; stripping the moving My Love Is Your Love of all emotion and inflicting grisly carnage on I Will Always Love You (if she is late-period Judy Garland, this is her Over The Rainbow)."[46]
- Fiona Shepherd (The Scotsman) gave the show at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre two out of four stars. She writes, "It was obvious from this performance that she has lost her vocal agility, her stamina, her poise and her wits – or so it seemed from her nervous laughter, repetitive thank yous and rambling personal tributes. Her band were practiced at covering for her while she took time out to pat away the sweat, re-apply her make-up, impart another nugget of eccentric insight and generally procrastinate."[47]
External links
References
- ↑ "Andrew Mcmanus Presents: Whitney Houston". Andrew McManus Presents. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ↑ "Pollstar's Top 50 Tours Worldwide" (PDF). Pollstar. Associated Press. 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- ↑ "European Tour Dates" (Press release). Sony Music International. 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston returns to UK". The Boston Globe. 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ↑ Galouchko, Ksenia (2009-12-17). "Double Date Begins Whitney's Comeback". The Moscow Times. Sanoma Corporation. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston to Begin World Tour in Seoul". The Dong-a Ilbo. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
- ↑ "Comeback Whitney hits a flat note Down Under". Google News (in conjunction with American Free Press). 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- ↑ Argetsinger, Amy; Roberts, Roxanne (2010-02-24). "This just in: Whitney Houston disappoints in Australia, Charlie Sheen enters rehab, Placido Domingo to undergo surgery". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston's disappoints fans". NDTV Movies (in conjunction with Press Trust of India). 2010-02-25. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston's smoking to blame for tour problems". MSN Music. Microsoft Corporation. 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston croons audience away". The Copenhagen Post. 2010-06-04. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/promoter-andrew-mcmanuss-year-of-dud-deals/story-e6frf96f-1226223322391/
- ↑ "22years on, Whitney Houston returns to Brisbane". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Digital. 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
- ↑ Dutch Daily News Staff (2010-04-02). "Waylon on tour with Whitney Houston". Dutch Daily News. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- 1 2 "Whitney Houston". Stockholm Globe Arenas. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ "Supporting Whitney Houston in Glasgow was fantastic, says rising Scots star Alex Gardner". Daily Record. 2010-05-06. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ "Karima: il nuovo album, aspettando Whitney Houston" [Karima: the new album, waiting for Whitney Houston]. Virgilio Musica (in Italian). 2010-04-13. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Lanz, Barbara (2010-05-07). "Heiss auf Eis und Whitney Houston". Schweizer Illustrierte (in German). Schweizer Wochenmagazin. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Bachelor, Blane; Jordan, Julie (2010-04-03). "Whitney Houston Surprises Daughter with Cake – and Tunes – on Stage". People. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "Events". Whitney Houston's Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- 1 2 3 4 "Whitney Houston: Concert Schedule". Pollstar. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ↑ "단독오픈: 현대카드슈퍼콘서트 VIII - 휘트니 휴스턴 첫 내한공연" (in Korean). yes24.com. January 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
- ↑ 이언혁 (January 7, 2010). "휘트니휴스턴 첫 내한공연 '10년만의 정규 월드투어 한국서 시작'(Whitney Houston, Her First World Tour in 10 Years Will Begin in South Korea.)" (in Korean). newsen.com. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
- ↑ "Japan Tour 2010". Sony Music Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston Australian Tour". LiveGuide. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ↑ Taylor, Christian (2009-11-18). "Whitney Houston for Mardi Gras?". SameSame. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ↑ Lindø, Leif Tore; Olav Olsen Rege (2009-11-17). "Whitney Houston til Sørmarka Arena". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2009-11-17. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston - NZ Concert Cancelled" (Press release). Publicity Plus. 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
- 1 2 "Whitney Houston heads to New Zealand". TVNZ. Television New Zealand Limited. 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston cancels Paris concert over illness". The Sydney Morning Herald. April 6, 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (2010-04-07). "Whitney Houston postpones three UK gigs". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Lyons, Beverly (2010-05-01). "Music superstar Whitney Houston arrives in Scotland with a scowl". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston viajará a Tenerife dispuesta a exhibir su buena forma" [Whitney Houston will travel to Tenerife ready to show in good manner]. Paroles Paroles. 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ↑ "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 2010-03-06. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ↑ "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 2010-03-13. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ↑ "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 2010-05-01. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
- 1 2 "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 2010-06-19. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
- ↑ "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 2010-10-16. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
- ↑ "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- ↑ McCabe, Kathy (2010-02-25). "Sydney fans bail on woeful Whitney Houston". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Adams, Cameron (2010-03-02). "Willing Melbourne fans urge on Whitney Houston at Rod Laver show". Herald Sun. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Keller, Candice (2010-03-04). "Whitney shows fans at Adelaide Entertainment Centre concert she still has diva quality". The Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Dawson, Kim (2010-04-10). "GIG REVIEW: WHITNEY HOUSTON, LG ARENA, BIRMINGHAM". Daily Star. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Ferrier, Morwenna (2010-04-18). "Whitney Houston: Trent FM Arena, Nottingham". The Observer. London. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Meagher, John (April 19, 2010). "Review: Whitney Houston, The 02, Dublin". The Independent. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Aizlewood, John (2010-04-26). "A horrible and heartbreaking evening with Whitney Houston". Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ↑ Shepherd, Fiona (2010-05-03). "Music review: Whitney Houston, SECC, Glasgow". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 1 January 2011.