The era of Fifth Harmony has exploded upon us, bursting in air with fierce swag, stunning choreography and sweetly layered but biting harmonies. These are the best qualities pop girl groups are made of. When you add empowering messages of feminism to these five budding superstars, you get a pop recipe for an industry smash.
The opening acts nicely pumped up the animated crowed at one of Louisville’s most eye-catching locales: The Louisville Palace. Even during the first hour of warm-up acts, the audience members couldn’t resist rising from their seats. Natalie La Rose and her backup dancers exuded strength and effortlessness, bringing some Beyonce-reminiscent attitude.
Bea Miller, another X Factor alum, showcased impressive stage presence, unafraid to make the stage her own. She asked, “Do you mind if I play a song that hasn’t been released yet?” with an enticing introduction of “Perfect Picture.” The opening acts also included interesting takes on covers, like Bea Miller’s rock-tinged spin on Nick Jonas’s “Chains” (the ultimate guilty pleasure jam).
Debby Ryan + The Never Ending opted for an exciting cover choice of The Bleachers’ “I Wanna Get Better,” citing it as a “song we wish we wrote.” After a soft, introspective, acoustic set, it was the just-right jam to get everyone pumped for Fifth Harmony’s feisty introduction.
Five black chairs on stage, the song that started it all for these ladies (read our interview with Fifth Harmony here) began to roar from the speakers. Drumbeats thrashed hypnotically as Camilla Cabello, Dinah Jane Hansen, Normani Kordrei, Lauren Jauregui and Ally Brooke dance-soloed like sassy tornadoes in and out of swirling hazes of spotlight and shadows. “Boss” was the perfect dramatic kick-start of The Summer Reflection Tour and set an energetic bar for the rest of the concert.
**
The full Summer Reflection Tour Setlist:
“Boss.”
“Reflection.”
“Going Nowhere.”
Mash-up of original with covers: “Miss Movin’ On”/ Queen’s “We Will Rock You”/Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood”/Rihanna’s “B**** Better Have My Money.”
“Sledgehammer.”
“Suga Mama.”
“Them Girls Be Like.”
“Top Down.”
“Better Together.”
“This Is How We Roll.”
“Brave Honest Beautiful.”
“Like Mariah.”
“We Know.”
“Who Are You.”
Mash-up of covers: Jason DeRulo’s “Want to Want Me/ Mariah Carey’s “Dreamlover”/ The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face”/ Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t” and “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”/ Nico & Vinz’s “Am I Wrong.”
“Everlasting Love.”
“Worth It.”
Confetti Encore: “Body Rock.”
**
One of the most rewarding aspects of seeing Fifth Harmony live occurs during bolder, up-to-date renditions of songs from its EP days, like “Miss Movin’ On,” “Better Together” and “Who Are You.” That electric potential they first showcased is still there, skating across each note, each high heel kick. But now, in the heat of their “Boss” and “Worth It” transformation, these five burgeoning talents have never sounded so confident.
Once-shy girls lit up with dreams of owning radio waves are now entering the powerful stage of what happens when big dreams turn to superstardom. They swivel their hips with muscular poise, and you can’t help but be drawn into the dance party. If Sean Bankhead is a choreographer’s Michelangelo, he should feel proud of the Sistine Chapel of sisterhood he has unleashed.
Two major highlights of the show were when Fifth Harmony showcased its artistry in addition to its evolution in performance. The mash-ups of current hits like global heavyweight Taylor Swift or R&B “Good Girl Gone Bad” Rihanna are cleverly woven into old school classics like Mariah Carey’s “Dreamlover” or Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” It all ebbs and flows with such style that you feel as though you're witnessing the musical equivalent of a Vogue mixed-pattern runway show.
The fans sashayed until the final dropkick of the beat. As the confetti glided, rocketing into the air, the mood was palpable. Louisville witnessed something truly special last night. When the moment came for these five ladies to strut off stage, they concluded their first night of the Summer Reflection Tour with an exhilarating sense of promise. Clearly those sparkly Cinderella shoes will be dancing to all new “boss” horizons. Don’t have a ticket for the tour? Fifth Harmony is beyond “worth it.”
Cover Photo, Photo of The Louisville Palace and Photos of Natalie La Rose and Bea Miller: Courtesy of Julie Lamb; all Other Photos courtesy of Rob Metzger Photography
