08.24.2000
Nelly Furtado at the Conga Room in Los Angeles

I am not one to go off on lyrical tangents, so bear with me and take this for what it is, my opinion. I may dwell in the songs more than the show but hopefully it will help you to realize what I saw.

Nelly performed at the Conga Room on this last Monday and it was a sweet, sweet experience. I believe Nelly and the band consisting of two back up singers, a guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist/samplers, and a percussionist, took the stage around 9:45 or so and played a good hour if not more.

Nelly and the band (I am not sure if they have a name for the band) tore through but not limited to her soon to be released first single I'm Like A Bird, Party, On the Radio and Baby Girl. All of the songs were really on. Nelly moved across the stage with a confidence that I have never seen and the band complimented her with every vocal as well as physical move.

I was floored by the whole set but the following songs are monumental in my eyes:

I'm Like A Bird, speaks for itself! To hear "your faith in me brings me to tears" live, will forever open my eyes to how important it is to trust each other. 

Hey Man, a favorite of mine for sure, something about the violins, the big sound to the effects and scratches. The lyrics "shadow in the sky" (always reminds me of the Los Angeles morning haze) and "ambivalence" address the questions that arise through all relationships whether they are for a day or forever. You want to know more.....

Scared Of You, has a latin guitar feel and vocal chemistry that gave me the good chills. The latter vocals of the song I can not describe due to the Portuguese/Latin/Italian dialect but they engulfed a part of my heart that I finally realized was there. Laugh if you may..... but the beauty of other languages is unexplainable, regardless if you do not know the meaning or origin, its all in the expression and pronunciation!

Turn Off the Light, like all of Nelly's songs is captured really well live. Killer samples, the beats are of course off the hook and you feel that from the first drop of the kick drum and bass. The raw power (if I may call it that) and Nelly's innate strength show through in the chant "tough, tough, tough." Nelly has an incredible way of incorporating rhymes and reasons that I can relate to. The lyrics about the Moon, its phases, the approach to all around feelings toward relationships and what path to take are true. Kind of a stay or go approach to, is this the right individual??? 

Well Well, new track that Karma kings and queens will whole heartedly believe. "What comes around goes around." 

My take on Nelly Furtado's show is my opinion and regardless of what I feel or hear from Nelly's music, does not matter, except to me. That is not meant to be rude in any form, that is the beauty of all art, trust your heart and gut and fall for whatever you may. Art is a question of what does it do to you, what do you feel and think? In Nelly's case, the brilliance and depth lyrically and musically are poetic and to me, beat generationish. Kerouac, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Ferlinghetti where you at? Whoa,Nelly!

For those of you who are able to see Nelly in your city, you will not want to miss her show, you will not be disappointed, it is a must! Nelly would love to see and meet you.

And don't forget that chivalry is key!

Thank you Nelly!

Best,

-Joey Muran

taken with permission from the nelly furtado e-group