Pop stars are often about self-image, choreography and flashy stage productions, but Demi Lovato opts for sincerity over such deception.
Lovato opened and closed her set with heart. After seeing Saturday night's show at Bridgestone Arena, which was the next to last stop on Lovato’s Neon Lights Tour, it was evident that heart is something Lovato wears on her sleeve. Opening with “Heart Attack,” the once Disney Princess got the crowd on its feet and ready for the night to come. Lovato closed with the show with massive-hit “Give Your Heart A Break” and left the crowd wanting more from the what could be the next big pop diva.
Lovato's show was tied together seamlessly with a progression of emotion. Much like her highly publicized personal struggles with drugs and self-harm, the show started off with fear and pain and ended with compassion and acceptance.
In an age of flashy stages with an overbearing amount of bad choreography, like fellow Disney Pop star Selena Gomez displayed last fall while in Nashville, Lovato gave a more raw and organic approach to connecting with her audience by taking several moments to connect with just a solo on guitar or piano performance. It was very much in the vain of country/pop goddess Taylor Swift.
Not forgetting her Disney roots, she closed the night out with her version of the Oscar-winning song “Let it Go” from the largest grossing animated film of all time Frozen, to an over ecstatic crowd of teen girls, soccer moms and a wildly populated gay crowd.
Lovato, who rocked all spandex and new half shaven buzzed cut, shows that the artist has more in common with Kelly Clarkson than her recent Twitter rival Lady Gaga.
Support act Cher Lloyd's performance was reminiscent of a cross between Gwen Stefani and Kylie Minogue and kept the fans engaged fully during her high octane 30-minute set. However, her sound was very much thrown off due to the combination of a live band and background track.
To my and other attendee’s surprise, opener Fifth Harmony, who resembled a highly over manufactured pop group singing to a back track, delivered arena sized vocals with a hint of sass. The ladies who were best known for their 3rd place finish on season 2 of The X Factor, really got the crowd up on their feet and moving with hits such as “Better Together” and their breakout single “Miss Moving On.”
photos courtesy of Lisa Florence (Clear Channel)