Corinne Bailey Rae: The Black Rainbows Tour (2024) – Review

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Summary

Covering the making of her latest album, “Black Rainbows,” and the inspiration for each track, Corinne Bailey Rae walks and sings us through how learning about Black history in Chicago’s Stony Island Arts Bank was an inspiring and transformative experience.

Other Noteworthy Information

1. Alongside playing songs from her latest album, “Black Rainbows,” she sang “Put Your Records On” and “Just Like a Star.”
2. I wouldn’t recommend going to the Blue Note, for it is very uncomfortable to sit in the venue, and at times, the sound of the mic was drowned out by the instruments. It’s very much a club focused on packing in as many people as possible and hearing any instrument clearly besides vocals.
3. Set List:
   
   1. A Spell, A Prayer
   2. Erasure
   3. He Will Follow You With His Eyes
   4. New York Transit Queen
   5. Red Horse
   6. Before The Throne of the Invisible God
   7. Peach Velvet Sky
   8. Put It Down
   9. Earthlings
   10. Put Your Records On
   11. Just Like A Star

Review

Good If You Like

• Jazz, funk, r and b and rock
• Longer than expected stories that feel like she is thoroughly answering an interview question about what inspired a certain track

Highlights

When Rae Closes Her Eyes And Clearly Is Transported

You can tell when Rae is really into a song because she seems to close her eyes and get carried away. She may open them to make sure her finger placement is right on the guitar, but what some could maybe see as anxiety or being overwhelmed looks like the purest version of nostalgia as she is taken back to the place that led to the writing of the record.

But, as can be seen when she sings “Put Your Records On,” some songs she may appreciate in terms of where they have taken her, but they may not give her the same soul-stirring they may have.

How She Modernized Her To Final Songs

Speaking of “Put Your Records On” and “Just Like A Star,” Rae is unquestionably the type of musician who sounds better live than on the record – which is saying something. For on the record, there is a polish there, a seeking for the perfect track, but live, she goes for feeling, what groove feels appropriate for the moment.

One prime example is how she elongates certain parts of the song, takes you out of the familiar line you may have sung and moved on from since its release in 2006 (!), and makes you think and dwell on a particular line. It brings a sense that the lyrics evolve in meaning over time, especially with “Just Like A Star,” and pushes you to recognize how timeless those records are.

Her Walking You Through The Inspiration

A lot of musicians, if not artists of various media, like the idea of not hand-holding their audience regarding the meaning and background of their work. The idea is that if someone makes their own connections and meanings, that enhances the work and allows for natural longevity.

However, with Rae, she breaks down nearly every track in a way that makes it feel like you are watching an interview with performances sliced in. For as she talks about a perfume brand with the most intriguing, if not sometimes risqué of titles; songs inspired by a slave girl who hid away in her grandmother’s house for years before escaping; a woman who became the New York Transit Queen because the Subway Queen competition was Whites only; and more, it enhances each song since now it has its own meaning. It’s not just about a hook, a handful of potentially catchy lyrics, but a memory locked into a song, giving life to a figure who may not be forgotten but whose story formerly could only be discovered from stumbling upon it.

Yet now, thanks to Corinne Bailey Rae, their story has the chance to spread worldwide.

Background Information

Director(s)	N/A
Writer(s)	N/A
Language	English
Attendance Type	In Person
Event Status	On Schedule
Venue or Network (Blue Note New York)	131 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012
Performance Date	February 18, 2024
First Performance At This Venue	February 15, 2024
Opening Night Performance	February 15, 2024
Last Performance At This Venue	February 18, 2024
Venue URL	https://www.bluenotejazz.com/nyc/
Tickets Starting At	$55.00
Genre(s)	Solo Show, Concert
Duration	1 Hour 56 Minutes

Content Information

• Dialog: Nothing Notable
• Violence: N/A
• Sexual Content: N/A
• Miscellaneous: N/A

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