I remember when I was 13 years old, just trying to survive middle school and looking forward to being a cool high schooler. But some people don’t wait for life to happen – they start breaking records the moment they get their shot. Back in 2003, a 13-year-old girl named Joanna Levesque competed on the television show “America’s Most Talented Kids.” Soon after, Joanna got a record deal and the stage name JoJo. Her debut single from 2004, titled “Leave (Get Out),” topped the Billboard Top 40 chart. While some 13-year-olds are thinking about their future successes, JoJo became the youngest solo artist in history to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at the age of 13. Over 20 years and six studio albums later, JoJo is still performing at her best; on Saturday, Feb. 22, she stopped by Marathon Music Works here in Nashville to open her “Too Much To Say” tour.
Most artists do not start their careers in their childhood, but they start in their twenties. The opener for the show was Emmy Meli, a 25-year-old from California. She recently released her debut EP, Hello Stranger, on May 10, 2024. Meli strutted on stage solo, yet her energy captivated the crowd as she held the energy and talent of ten people. She had such confidence and raspiness in her voice which highlighted her R&B style. She played some of her well-known songs like “I Am Woman” and introduced unreleased music.
“This next song is brand new. It comes out on March 14… this is my first time playing it live, so I’m a little nervous,” Meli shared. “It’s called ‘God’s Favorite,’ and, to me, it’s about how health is wealth. And when [health] comes from inside, [it] is the most important thing because that’s something nobody can ever, ever, ever take away from you.”
Meli brought a strong vocal range and choreography that made her opening performance quite memorable.
The part I look most forward to at a concert is when the lights go out for the headliner, the crowd takes a huge breath and the first few chords of the opening song play. It’s the anticipation in that moment that carries all the excitement festering among the crowd. JoJo’s entrance was no different, with the stage being lightly draped in fog. Her show at Marathon Music Works was the opening night of her “Too Much To Say” tour. The first song of the night was “Off Again” from her fourth EP, titled “NGL.” She was joined on stage by an all-female band, which JoJo mentioned she never had before. JoJo then introduced the tour and stated her purpose for the evening.
“This is very special to me. I love this city,” Jojo said. “Tonight is all about connection and us being together. And this being a safe space. I want you to feel free to be yourself, and I want you to know that I love and accept you for exactly who you are.”
The setlist featured many songs from her new album, which highlights her mental health struggles and recovery. Songs like “Fresh New Sheets” and “Bad Habits/Honest” demonstrate that journey. Additionally, JoJo sang some covers from her favorite artists, like SZA’s “Love Galore” and Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control.” She also had a fan join her on stage to sing her song “Weak,” and the fan held their own with an impressive sound. The fan sang the first half of the song, and JoJo finished the song with a longtime friend of hers, and fellow artist, Breland. Their voices mixed beautifully and was a surprise that was unexpected but invited.
The last leg of the show featured the two songs that I have been listening to since elementary school. JoJo played “Leave (Get Out)” and “Too Little, Too Late” back to back, causing the energy in the room to go up about 10 notches. The first note of “Leave (Get Out)” was met with a loud chorus of cheers and a big whoosh of phones shooting up into the air to capture the moment. Even with JoJo’s more mature vocals, the songs felt the same as they did 20 years ago.
(Abbie Bobeck)
JoJo was only a kid when she started breaking records with her catchy lyrics and impressive vocals. Her performance served as a time machine back to the early 2000s and a showcase of her wild journey from a child star to a grown woman becoming more sure of herself and her sound. Thirteen-year-old me was looking forward to high school, and now 20-year-old me is looking forward to the next chance to see JoJo perform again.
