A list of production credits scrolled on the video screen when Destiny's Child
finished its Saturday concert at the St. Pete Times Forum, just like the conclusion
of a movie or TV special.That was the feel of the show, too - long on stylish visual effects, which helped distract from the trio's overblown, unimaginative hits. The current tour is billed as the group's final road swing, at least until the reunion.
The fans that turned out for Saturday's show were enthusiastic, but there were plenty of empty seats in the upper sections of the triple-deck arena.
"Do we have any independent women out there?'' a voice boomed out of the darkness before the trio launched into the hit of the same name made famous in that Charlie's Angels movie. Answer: Not in the third deck, which was virtually deserted.
That song, accompanied by a Vegas-worthy arsenal of flashing neon lights, was among a flood of big hits that launched the show.
The opening "Say My Name'' followed an elaborate video montage that looked more like a big-budget movie trailer. There were flames projected on the narrow, horizontal video screen that stretched across the top of the stage. There was a grave symphonic overture and a montage of the many magazine covers that have featured the trio.
Another part of the pre-show entertainment was a video called "Divas,'' that put Destiny's Child clips into a mix with Whitney Houston, Madonna, Mariah Carey and others. Guess the group has a clear idea of its legacy, but it's laughable to think that Destiny's Child could touch one of Madonna's cone-shaped bras when it comes to cultural impact.
When Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams finally emerged, their limited and somewhat goofy choreography looked more silly than grand. From the back of the hall, the giant stage seemed to make the three women look smaller and less significant when they were standing out there alone.
Dressed in trendy-looking stage outfits of burnt orange, lemon and purple, the ladies tossed their hair and struck sassy model poses as they were singing. It looked better than it sounded, with the backing vocals submerged in a sludgy mix that became clearer as the show progressed.
Although the trio took the stage without extra characters, the women weren't alone for long. Most of the songs included between four and 10 dancers, which often turned the music into self-contained theatrical scenes.
There was a band somewhere back there in the darkness, but it wasn't the focus of the evening. The beautiful lighting and inventive special effects were much more captivating.
One neat trick was a row of talking photographs of the singers that was projected on the horizontal video screen. At times, it conveyed more of the group's fun personality than the real women did on stage.
Each of the singers emerged for featured solo songs, which unfolded with a "can you top this?'' array of vocal acrobatics and production touches. Beyonce, who climaxed her set with a fiery "Crazy in Love,'' offered the most diva-esque performance, right before the big "Survivor'' finale.
The ladies performed that song amid colorfully dressed, swirling toreadors, an extravagant production number capped by the firing of confetti cannons. After more than 90 minutes, some in the crowd headed for the exits, until the talking photos told them to stick around for the encore.
It featured a waterfall on stage that left the singers drenched. Like much of the show, the scene was unforgettable - but not the song.