Because of Janet Jackson, our Isabel almost had a tuk-tuk accident
If you look at my Insta algorithm now, you would really think I’m some kind of nostalgic freak who drinks pumpkin spice lattes all day, lying on the couch with Christmas lights already in the window. In a way, that’s not too far from the truth, but I have to say that I hold back quite a bit when it comes to decoration. As for the nostalgic images; I’m talking about the artists from the 90s and 00s, who danced with large groups of dancers in music videos, and at performances with a call center-like microphone in front of their mouths. So when I was invited by Sony to go to Janet Jackson's concert at the Ziggo Dome, I immediately said: ’yes!’, because come on, the Jackson family claimed the 90s and 00s in music but also in news. It’s that feeling of: ‘I wish I could have seen her live once’, and then suddenly getting the chance. A throwback in real life.
After a super cozy dinner, we left in tuk-tuks to the Ziggo Dome, and while my life flashed before my eyes when the driver accidentally got on the highway (fyi: life-threatening in an open tuk-tuk without seatbelts, which can’t go faster than 45 km per hour), I enjoyed some music from Janet on the newest pink headphones. I don’t know all the songs by heart, but there are a few that make my heart skip a beat when they come on, so I secretly hoped I would finally see those live. The atmosphere was absolutely amazing. I can’t say there were people of all ages present. It was really mainly a 30+ crowd. And I mean really people from 30 to 60 years old, all dancing. The whole concert had the entire section where I was ‘sitting’, constantly dancing. The vibe was really fantastic. I was genuinely surprised at how good she still is. She not only sang fantastically but was also almost constantly dancing. I dare say I have a pretty good eye (and ear) for whether someone is lip-syncing, and that was really not the case with Janet. But not for a second was she out of breath.
When the song ‘Scream’ finally started, and images of her brother Michael were shown on the screens, there was such a loud scream that I briefly thought Michael himself was coming on stage. Even though I really know that can’t happen anymore. But Janet is just as fantastic on her own, including all the ‘ah’s between sentences; the signature sound of the Jackson family. I only heard enthusiastic reactions around me, from people of all different generations, all having different favorite Janet songs, simply because she has been the superstar she still is since the 80s. I hope this becomes a trend, and that these kinds of legends will go on tour more often.
