I drove to Bridgestone Arena for a much-needed study break from finals week on April 23. It was a rainy night — the perfect recipe for a cozy movie night — but I would instead be seeing the queen of over-the-knee boots (and not to mention hip hop and R&B) dazzle in the center of a huge stadium. 

Mary J. Blige’s tour was titled “The For My Fans Tour,” and that label was no understatement. Half of the floor seats on the general admission floor held plush couches, offering a luxury experience for fans to watch Blige up close when she would later twirl around on a B stage. A DJ held a spot in the center of the same stage playing an array of hip-hop hits, encouraging fans to sit back or do what made them most comfortable.  

After enjoying some tunes and an overpriced stadium snack, the lights dimmed in preparation for the opener: NE-YO. Sporting a white suit jacket, a cowboy hat and a singular studded black glove, his smoothness could only be equated to Michael Jackson. Just like Jackson, NE-YO has extreme vocal and dancing talent on retainer, and he made sure that his setlist lived up to the memories of his glory days in the early 2000s. With a boosted bass and backup dancers galore, NE-YO’s performance was reminiscent of a Super Bowl halftime show.

Switching his cowboy hat for a wide-brim fedora, NE-YO played classic tunes like “Miss Independent” and “Champagne Life” with swagger. With lyrics about making girls feel like they’re the only one in the world supported by a funky bass line and groovy synthesizers, NE-YO combined all the elements for a perfect show. He ended with “Give Me Everything,” a fan-favorite originally performed in collaboration with Pitbull. This perfect recipe made him more than just an excellent opener — in my opinion, he reflected the elements of a headliner. 

After a brief intermission, the queen of hip-hop and R&B finally arrived. Her live band treated her to a dramatic entrance, creating emotion and building tension for fans awaiting her arrival. Blige arose from the base of the B stage toward the back of Bridgestone Arena, sporting a black fur coat and sparkly gold and black boots (a coincidental homage to the ‘Dores, perhaps). Starting with a chill vibe, Blige squeezed the hands of a few audience members near the stage, making sure to share that this experience was “for my fans tonight.” Though I came in not knowing much of her music, I sat in my seat in awe, ogling everything from her outfit to the range of her voice as she sang her first few songs calmly into the microphone.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more magical, Blige stepped into a capsule that transported her across the arena from her smaller B stage to the main stage. While floating, she looked just like Galinda from the Wizard of Oz, floating over the audience while rose petals fell above her head. 

On the main stage, Blige transitioned into a more upbeat hip-hop set, riffing into her mic while her backup dancers performed beside her. Attempting to stay fan-centric, she played a little bit of everything from her discography, alternating between a few of her greatest hits and newer tunes from her 2024 album, “Gratitude.” 

Despite Blige’s generally chill music, fans continued to dance in the audience, shouting “Mary” throughout each song and waving their hands over their heads. She continued by playing “Everything,” highlighting the talent of her backup vocalists while still including her signature belting.

Later in the set, she covered “I’m Going Down” by Ross Royce and sang her own “Not Gon’ Cry” and “I Can Love You,” creating an emotional segment of her setlist worthy of a slow dance.

To wrap it up, Blige changed into another pair of her signature over-the-knee boots (these were maroon), ending the show with comfort and class in a sporty outfit and a baseball cap. She played iconic songs like “MJB Da MVP” and “Just Fine,” which had the crowd cheering in between verses. To end the show, Blige played “Family Affair,” her most popular song, which recently had a revival on TikTok. 

This show took me back to the early 2000s and reminded me what classic R&B and hip-hop were meant to be. Blige showcased the gold standard at Bridgestone Arena, both literally and figuratively, and I agree wholeheartedly that this show is “for the fans.”