Janet Jackson Sizzles at the Bowl

Wow, what a clean performance, meaning the entire show looked like an hour-and-a-half-long music video. Concertgoers were met with videos of Janet Jackson and a live twitter feed on the walk up to the Bowl. After 45 minutes of DJ Aktive, whose main job seemed to be hyping up the crowd, Jackson finally made her appearance in an all black attire and gold statement necklace. Throughout the night, she performed many classics and introduced remixes including “BURNITUP!” with bits of Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control,” and “Anytime, Anyplace” with blends of Kendrick Lamar’s Poetic Justice. The concert was broken up into two sections: The first included all dance hits and the second, an eclectic mix of mostly slow songs. Although the pit wasn’t packed with the usual standing crowd, the chairs didn’t stop anybody from dancing all night long.

Three curtains hung from the stage’s risers acted as screens, and after a brief video introduction, Jackson along with Missy Elliott (on screen) started BURNITUP!, a song from new album, Unbreakable. She continued with pop/dance songs of the past, a great impression of how the night will go. From “Nasty” to “Feedback” to one of her biggest hits “All for You,” the dance icon sang and showed off her moves with J Tribe (her nine backup dancers, two of who are just 12 years old). Following the first set change, Jackson got her boogie on with the support of a chair, and in that moment, everyone knew the sultry Janet Jackson was back.

After DJ Aktive returned as Jackson prepared for the second half of the concert, she started “After You Fall,” “Again,” “Come Back to Me,” and other slow songs that somehow did not overthrow the audience’s built up energy. Similar to “BURNITUP!,” “No Sleeep,” lead single of Unbreakable, starred J. Cole rapping on screen. She finished off with “Together Again,” an homage to brother, Michael Jackson, with “Scream,” and “Rhythm Nation.”

At 9:10 p.m., Jackson walked back on stage for an encore. As she and everyone in the stands pumped their fists in the air, Jackson shared a song of social change, “Shoulda Known Better,” as the video featured the homeless and the many others in need. Jackson rocked “Unbreakable,” blew kisses, introduced the DJ Aktive, band members, dancers, and thanked everyone for “the love and support throughout all these years, not just for me but my family. We’ve been in this industry for 50 years, because of you. Thank you!”

There’s no better way to describe the concert than to watch her “All for You” music video. Impressed and stunned, the audience left happy. Whoever tweeted “I’m checking off something on my bucket list #janetjackson #unbreakabletour2015” was right.