Film Review: Mr. Death

The Scoop

By Jake McKim
Daily Cougar Staff

Talent is rare in the music biz today.

Bubblegum pop artists with less-than-remarkable vocal skills currently dominate the national scene and push the musicians with far more talent to the background.

Photo courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

One artist whom many consider one of the premiere singer/songwriters ever to hit the mainstream is the soulful crooner Brian McKnight.

Thursday night at Arena Theatre, McKnight launched his powerful, sparkling vocals at everyone in attendance. In addition, the ballad-writing machine even strummed a few notes on the guitar and hammered out a few tunes on the piano to prove his virtuoso versatility.

Flowing marvelously through golden ballads such as "Anytime," "Never Felt This Way" and "One Last Cry," McKnight's voice shined like a freshly-polished diamond. The ladies in the audience screamed, begging for attention from the singer.

The stage at times was crowded with action, including sultry dancers who would have been much more effective given more space, and the usual assortment of background musicians and singers. McKnight also seemed fatigued and somewhat distracted, but his demanding schedule of late should be blamed, not any lack of interest on his part.

Beginning the one hour, 45-minute set with his upbeat jams, McKnight attempted to show off a few dance moves of his own, without much luck. However, his incredible voice overcomes any lackluster elements in his live performance, making it impossible to leave his show with a negative opinion.

Dressed in a dark, all-leather outfit to start the show, McKnight almost seemed shy and reluctant to grace the audience with his many musical abilities.

While it is quite entertaining to watch and listen to his mid-to-uptempo material, the man often described as the "King Midas of Love Songs," doesn't truly shine until he sits down in front of the piano. It is then, when all of the other musicians and dancers and other distractions leave the stage, that McKnight's unique talent and undeniable way of connecting to the audience becomes clearly evident.

To close his strong set, McKnight, as he should, played his smash hit "Back At One," which has spent considerable time at the top of the Billboard music charts.

As he stood in front of the microphone, gracefully belting the beautiful ballad, most in attendance sang along, turning the night into an almost spiritual experience for his loving fans.

It's a shame that artists like Brian McKnight do not receive the attention they deserve, but after Thursday night, you almost get the feeling that they, and the people who have listened to their music from the beginning, prefer it that way.