(Photo by Greg Grudt/Mathew Imaging)
Janet Jackson kicked off the Hollywood Bowl’s opening night on her “Together Again” tour with an out-of-sight performance along with rapper Ludacris and the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles showcasing their talents.
Celebrating 50 years of her career, she dazzled with choreography, footage from her life, and performed hit songs like “Control,” “Rhythm Nation,” and “That’s the Way Love Goes.”
(Photo by Mathew Imaging)
Jackson has been on a 34-city nationwide tour with sold out shows, and most recently was stationed in Las Vegas in 2019 for her 18-date “Metamorphosis” show at the Park MGM.
The Hollywood Bowl publicists elaborated on the depth of her music and the impact it has had on addressing world issues by describing it as “classic LPs such as “Rhythm Nation 1814” and “The Velvet Rope” incorporated industrial and jazz elements as well as socially conscious lyrics that addressed poverty, injustice, sexual inequality, and the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Related Stories
OMEGA PSI PHI LAMBDA Chapter Celebrates 100 Years Of Service In Los Angeles California | LA Sentinel
Black Money Matters Ep. 6 – The Economic Empowerment of Taste of Soul Family Festival
“Daringly addressing same-sex love and loss in tracks such as 1997 hit single ‘Together Again’ turned Jackson into a LGBTQIA+ icon.”
Further evidence of Jackson’s incredible career is highlighted from her receiving five Grammy awards, 11 Billboard Music Awards, and nine MTV Video Music Awards. In addition, she won a Golden Globe and Academy Award for her original music from the 1993 film “Poetic Justice.”
Along with Jackson’s fruitful career, Saturday’s performance would not have been complete without Ludacris, who got the crowd energized by performing hit songs from his discography like “Southern Hospitality” and “What’s Your Fantasy.”
The Hollywood Bowl also recognized his acting career, noting that his “Oscar-winning ‘Crash’ and the independent film sensation ‘Hustle & Flow,’ Ludacris stands as one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood.”
To tie in this night in history, Thomas Wilkins and the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles performed alongside Jackson. Wilkins is principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra as well as the first Black conductor at the Hollywood Bowl. He has held a distinguished position at the Hollywood Bowl since 2008 and has served on an array of symphonies across the country.
Jackson also recognized YOLA’s accomplishments of being so young and performing on a stage like this. The Hollywood Bowl explained that “YOLA is inspired by Gustavo Dudamel’s own training as a young musician, the LA Phil and its community partners provide free instruments, intensive music training, and academic support to over 1,700 young musicians…aged 6-18…and engages players from more than 200 schools in culturally vibrant and ethnically diverse communities across LA County.”
Photo by Mathew Imaging
Janet Jackson’s “Together Again” was an excellent kickoff to the Hollywood Bowl’s summer concert season and will head to San Diego for the next date. The tour will finish in Seattle.
Visit thehollywoodbowl.com to find more information on future concerts throughout the summer and visit https://www.janetjackson.com/ for more information on the “Together Again” tour.
