(Amway Center, Orlando FL) Demi Lovato performed to a sold-out Amway Center venue September 15, 2014. Whether it was a power vocal performance, a drum solo, or playing a classical piece on the piano, Lovato connected on all levels with her mostly under-21 audience.
The most notable segment of the concert wasn't the musical exhibits, or the grind-heavy dance routines, or the unexpected Michael Jackson cover of 'Thriller' -- it occurred in the second half of her performance when she took to the piano and personally addressed the crowd.
Lovato took to the piano when she broke off into a rather complex piano solo. She was doing very well until she struck an incorrect note on the keys. Rather than play off the mistake as though it didn't happen, and rather than blame the error on poor lighting or one of her crew, she stopped, smiled, and owned up to it immediately and said, 'Like anybody who plays piano in front of an audience, I get nervous, and I messed up, but that's OK. The tour is about me... the new and improved ME.'
She quickly transcended from her pop culture icon status, to the friendly older sister with whom many in the audience quickly related.
She proceeded, 'For those who said I saved your life, you saved your own life. So give yourself credit. Live the life you deserve. Tonight is about 'now' and the 'future' because if you look too much in the past, you're not going to grow. Let's grow. Let's grow TOGETHER.'
For some others at her status, her relation and association with the 'little people' would have been taboo, for I've seen firsthand where an artist will make it painfully clear that a definitive line exists between 'celebrity' and 'normal, everyday folk.' That was not and, apparently, is not the case with Demi Lovato. You could feel young eyes fixated to the stage awaiting the pop star's next insight.
She then continued to speak about an invitation she received to go to Kenya to participate in the 'Free the Children' initiative, stating that the itinerary dates coincided with her 21st birthday. She stated, 'Normally, everybody goes out, gets plastered, wasted, what not... and that's totally cool if you can do that, but I can't.' She details, 'So, for anyone who's not 21, society puts this rule that says you have to get wasted, and... you don't, because I did it... SOBER. It was pretty amazing.' She then references her friend, Spencer, who had made an appearance earlier in the show who had no legs but was able to climb Mt. Kilamajaroo, and states, 'Spencer climbed Mt. Kilamajaroo with no legs. YOU can stay SOBER!'
Just as I thought we had reached the pinnacle of her address, she references the merchandise booths throughout Amway, specifically the 'friend chains' located at each. She goes on to state that 'every single bead was put on there by the mamas of the tribes (of Kenya). All of the proceeds go to the women who made those necklaces.'
I was blown away. Never have I attended a concert in which the performer attempted to make such a positive impact on the concert-goers. Where others may have attempted to drive the audience into frenzy with sheer excitement, Demi Lovato took to a piano bench and used her powerful words to stir the hearts and souls, motivating those young attendees to action far beyond the limitations and hours of that night. Where others may have preached hate or why they themselves are the epitome of the musical industry, Lovato smiled in the face of making live mistakes in front of the audience telling them that (making mistakes) 'it's OK.' Where others would have glorified the use of alcohol and drugs, Demi took a very firm stance to assure her young audience not to give into peer pressure and to essentially do what they thought was right.
For about 7 minutes she may have spoken to an arena full of concert-goers, but in reality she delivered a very personal message on morality that will last a lifetime to each and every one of us who fortunate enough to hear it.
The most notable segment of the concert wasn't the musical exhibits, or the grind-heavy dance routines, or the unexpected Michael Jackson cover of 'Thriller' -- it occurred in the second half of her performance when she took to the piano and personally addressed the crowd.
Lovato took to the piano when she broke off into a rather complex piano solo. She was doing very well until she struck an incorrect note on the keys. Rather than play off the mistake as though it didn't happen, and rather than blame the error on poor lighting or one of her crew, she stopped, smiled, and owned up to it immediately and said, 'Like anybody who plays piano in front of an audience, I get nervous, and I messed up, but that's OK. The tour is about me... the new and improved ME.'
She quickly transcended from her pop culture icon status, to the friendly older sister with whom many in the audience quickly related.
She proceeded, 'For those who said I saved your life, you saved your own life. So give yourself credit. Live the life you deserve. Tonight is about 'now' and the 'future' because if you look too much in the past, you're not going to grow. Let's grow. Let's grow TOGETHER.'
For some others at her status, her relation and association with the 'little people' would have been taboo, for I've seen firsthand where an artist will make it painfully clear that a definitive line exists between 'celebrity' and 'normal, everyday folk.' That was not and, apparently, is not the case with Demi Lovato. You could feel young eyes fixated to the stage awaiting the pop star's next insight.
She then continued to speak about an invitation she received to go to Kenya to participate in the 'Free the Children' initiative, stating that the itinerary dates coincided with her 21st birthday. She stated, 'Normally, everybody goes out, gets plastered, wasted, what not... and that's totally cool if you can do that, but I can't.' She details, 'So, for anyone who's not 21, society puts this rule that says you have to get wasted, and... you don't, because I did it... SOBER. It was pretty amazing.' She then references her friend, Spencer, who had made an appearance earlier in the show who had no legs but was able to climb Mt. Kilamajaroo, and states, 'Spencer climbed Mt. Kilamajaroo with no legs. YOU can stay SOBER!'
Just as I thought we had reached the pinnacle of her address, she references the merchandise booths throughout Amway, specifically the 'friend chains' located at each. She goes on to state that 'every single bead was put on there by the mamas of the tribes (of Kenya). All of the proceeds go to the women who made those necklaces.'
I was blown away. Never have I attended a concert in which the performer attempted to make such a positive impact on the concert-goers. Where others may have attempted to drive the audience into frenzy with sheer excitement, Demi Lovato took to a piano bench and used her powerful words to stir the hearts and souls, motivating those young attendees to action far beyond the limitations and hours of that night. Where others may have preached hate or why they themselves are the epitome of the musical industry, Lovato smiled in the face of making live mistakes in front of the audience telling them that (making mistakes) 'it's OK.' Where others would have glorified the use of alcohol and drugs, Demi took a very firm stance to assure her young audience not to give into peer pressure and to essentially do what they thought was right.
For about 7 minutes she may have spoken to an arena full of concert-goers, but in reality she delivered a very personal message on morality that will last a lifetime to each and every one of us who fortunate enough to hear it.