Singer Mýa brought nothing but love and positivity to the August Wilson African American Cultural Center on Friday night, and you could feel it all throughout the audience.
Performing at the Center as part of its “Soul Sessions” series, she played an ebullient set full of hits, mashups and soulful jams that made the whole evening feel like a party.
Last in Pittsburgh in 2022, the multi-talented star was excited to be back in town. “It’s always wonderful to see your beautiful faces,” she said onstage. “Are you ready to go back down memory lane?”
Mýa — with the aid of a band, DJ and backup singers — went on a musical journey that stretched even beyond her own 26-year career. Weaving old-school hits including Stevie Wonder’s “As” and Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk” into seamless mashups, she shared her love of music with the crowd — and had everyone singing along.
That’s not to say her own music didn’t get plenty of attention and excitement from those in attendance. After starting with two smooth, sultry songs in “Space” and “House Party,” she crashed into her 2000 hit “Case of the Ex,” to the delight of the audience.
She danced along exuberantly to the thumping drums and bass, then transitioned to the 1998 hit “Ghetto Superstar,” on which she was featured singing the chorus. Here, she really let loose with her voice — where it was smooth and even sprightly before, she really let the power of it show through.
Tapping into another of her collaborations, she also “took it to the islands” with “Girls Dem Sugar,” a track she made with dancehall artist Beenie Man.
Mýa’s stage presence is mesmerizing, and she seemed thrilled to interact with the crowd. Positive energy shone from her even brighter than the stage lights. In a moment of vulnerability, she spoke to the room about the importance of self love and working on yourself, but also seeing the joy in everything.
“I wake up and see love all around me,” she said. “Allow yourself to love you, allow love in and allow love out. This is a celebration of self, a celebration of life … I love you, this is for all of you.”
Throughout the evening, she enjoyed looking back at songs from her early career, including “Movin’ On,” often with more soulful, stripped-down arrangements that showed off her knack for singing with emotion. At the end of “Movin’ On,” she went on a spiraling vocal run that wowed the crowd.
Much like “Movin’ On,” not all of her songs were about the sunny side of love. In “Late,” she showed off a bit of her acting ability, projecting worry and anger over the driving beat.
“I guess it’s time to take you there,” she said, before launching into “Take Me There,” another collaboration that she did back in 1998 for the soundtrack for “The Rugrats Movie” with R&B quartet Blackstreet. “If you want to get up out your seats and sing with me, you can,” she invited everyone, and most of the audience was happy to oblige.
Mýa herself bounced around the stage along with the song, smiling through every note. She ended the song with a giggle.
The evening’s final run of songs was especially fun and nostalgic, starting with her hit “My Love Is Like … Wo,” and then moving into “It’s All About Me,” where she did some call-and-response with the audience, having everyone sing repeated “me “and “you” in harmony with one another.
The last slow song of the set was “Man In My Life” from her 2000 “Fear of Flying” album, and her voice was rich and warm. She used the slinky instrumentation as an opportunity to showcase the stunning range of her vocals.
And everyone knew what was coming when she asked, “where are my soul sisters?”
Mýa was one of several stars to appear on the 2001 smash hit single “Lady Marmalade,” and she sang it Friday night just as beautifully as she did 23 years ago. Not letting the energy die down, she finished off with “Sex Machine,” from the soundtrack to the 2001 film “Legally Blonde,” and everyone was on their feet and dancing.
“Thank you for sharing this evening with me, you all are so lovely,” she said as the musicians behind her pulled out all the stops. They were jamming even as the house lights came up and the grinning, still-grooving crowd cheered their appreciation for a magical evening.
Alexis Papalia is a TribLive staff writer. She can be reached at apapalia@triblive.com.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vdHJpYmxpdmUuY29tL2FhbmRlL211c2ljL215YS1zaGFyZWQtdGhlLWxvdmUtYXQtYXVndXN0LXdpbHNvbi1jZW50ZXJzLXNvdWwtc2Vzc2lvbnMtZnJpZGF5LW5pZ2h0L9IBAA?oc=5
2024-04-27 11:25:00Z
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