# Music Saved My Life Tour

Music Saved My Life Tour was the eighth concert tour by American recording artist, Mary J. Blige. It was launched in support of her ninth studio Stronger with Each Tear (2009). It began in September 2010 and continued through February 2011. Concerts were held in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

## Background

Universal Music Group announced Blige's tour on September 1, 2010. The tour was described as Blige venturing back to her R&B roots from her previous festival performances, which focused on a heavy rock sound. Blige states the tour's title comes from her personal viewpoint of music after her battles with drug and alcohol abuse. She further commented:
   "Music makes us want to live. You don't know how many times people have told me that they'd been down and depressed and just wanted to die. But then a special song caught their ear and that helped give them renewed strength. That's the power music has. I believe there are certain things that God uses to get us out of a bad situation, and I believe music was one of the things he used for me. The first time I heard 'Keep on Moving' by Soul II Soul, I felt like somebody pumped a new spirit in me that made me want to go on. [Without music] I honestly think I would be in a really bad situation. I don't take it for granted. I have no doubt I was born to do this.

## Opening acts

* Jazmine Sullivan (North America)
* El DeBarge (North America)
* Miguel (North America)
* Lemar (England)
* Gyptian (England)
* Beatbox Drase (Manchester)
* Minmi (Japan)
* Mye (Japan)

## Set list

* "MJB da MVP"
* "The One"
* "Enough Cryin"
* "You Bring Me Joy"
* "Be Happy" / "You Remind Me" / "Real Love" / "Everyday It Rains"
* "I'm The Only Woman"
* "I Love U (Yes I Du)"
* "Love Is All We Need"
* "Reminisce" (contain elements of "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)")
* "Love No Limit" / "Mary Jane (All Night Long)"
* "Good Woman Down"
* "Everything"
* "All That I Can Say"
* "I Never Wanna Live Without You"
* "Seven Days"
* "Your Child" (contain elements of "The Lady in My Life")
* "Deep Inside"
* "I Am"
* "Sweet Thing"
* "Not Gon' Cry"
* "I'm Going Down"
* "Take Me As I Am" (acoustic)
* "No More Drama"
* "I Love You" (instrumental interlude)
* "I Can Love You" / "Work That"
* "Just Fine"
* "Family Affair"

### Encore

* "Be Without You"
Source:

### Additional notes

* "I Can Love You", "Work That", "The One", and "Family Affair". were only performed during select dates in North America and Europe.
* During the first concert in New York, Blige performed "I'm Goin' Down" with Katlyn Nichol.
* During the second concert in New York, Blige performed "Fancy" and "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)" with Swizz Beatz and Jazmine Sullivan.
* "Stairway to Heaven" was performed during the concert in Basel.

### Musicians

* Mary J. Blige - Main Performer, Vocals
* Omar Edwards - Musical Direction
* Rexsell Hardy - Musical Direction
* Devine Evans - Music Programmer
* Tiffany Bastiani - Vocals (Background)
* Carlos Battery - Vocals (Background)
* Robert "JJ" Smith - Bass
* Rexsell Hardy - Drums
* Jeff Motley - Keyboards
* Luke Austin - Keyboards
* Omar Edwards - Keyboards
* Shawn Hinton - Guitar

## Tour dates

List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| September 6, 2010 | Seattle | U.S. | Memorial Stadium |
| October 1, 2010 | Mobile | U.S. | Miller Lite Stage |
| October 2, 2010 | Atlanta | U.S. | Chastain Park Amphitheater |
| October 3, 2010 | Virginia Beach | U.S. | Virginia Beach Amphitheater |
| October 7, 2010 | Bristow | U.S. | Jiffy Lube Live |
| October 8, 2010 | Atlantic City | U.S. | Borgata Events Center |
| October 10, 2010 | Ledyard | U.S. | MGM Grand at Foxwoods |
| October 11, 2010 | New York City | U.S. | Radio City Music Hall |
| October 12, 2010 | New York City | U.S. | Radio City Music Hall |
| October 15, 2010 | Detroit | U.S. | Fox Theatre |
| October 16, 2010 | St. Louis | U.S. | Fox Theatre |
| October 17, 2010 | Chicago | U.S. | Chicago Theatre |
| October 20, 2010 | Los Angeles | U.S. | Gibson Amphitheatre |
| October 21, 2010 | Los Angeles | U.S. | Gibson Amphitheatre |
| October 23, 2010 | Concord | U.S. | Sleep Train Pavilion |
| October 29, 2010 | Basel | Switzerland | Messe Basel |
| October 30, 2010 | Basel | Switzerland | Messe Basel |
| November 2, 2010 | London | England | The O$_2$ Arena |
| November 3, 2010 | Birmingham | England | LG Arena |
| November 5, 2010 | Manchester | England | Manchester Evening News Arena |
| January 16, 2011 | Seoul | South Korea | Grand Peace Palace |
| January 19, 2011 | Tokyo | Japan | JCB Hall |
| January 20, 2011 | Tokyo | Japan | JCB Hall |
| January 22, 2011 | Osaka | Japan | Namba Hatch |
| January 26, 2011 | Perth | Australia | Fremantle Oval |
| January 28, 2011 | Sydney | Australia | Parramatta Park |
| January 29, 2011 | Melbourne | Australia | Sidney Myer Music Bowl |
| January 30, 2011 | Brisbane | Australia | Riverstage |
| February 2, 2011 | Adelaide | Australia | Thebarton Theatre |
| February 5, 2011 | Rotorua | New Zealand | Rotorua International Stadium |
| February 8, 2011 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | Plenary Hall |

### Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

    $^A$ This concert was a part of 2010 Bumbershoot
    $^B$ This concert was a part of Bayfest
    $^C$ These concerts are a part of the Raggamuffin Music Festival

## Cancelled shows

List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, and venue :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| October 5, 2010 | Raleigh | U.S. | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium |
| October 22, 2010 | Las Vegas | U.S. | Pearl Concert Theatre |
| October 26, 2010 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Heineken Music Hall |
| December 18, 2010 | Harare | Zimbabwe | Harare International Conference Centre |
| January 30, 2011 | Port Macquarie | Australia | Cassegrain Winery |
| February 3, 2011 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |

## Box office

List of concerts, showing venue, city, attendance and revenue :
| Venue | City | Attendance (Tickets sold / available) | Gross revenue |
| Radio City Music Hall | New York City | 11,150 / 11,896 (94%) | $1,200,835 |
| Fox Theatre | Detroit | 4,091 / 4,260 (96%) | $392,465 |
| Chicago Theatre | Chicago | 3,481 / 3,481 (100%) | $330,390 |
| The O$_2$ Arena | London | 8,148 / 8,148 (100%) | $550,439 |
| Manchester Evening News Arena | Manchester | 3,530 / 4,413 (80%) | $245,030 |
| TOTAL | TOTAL | 30,400 / 32,198 (94%) | $2,719,159 |

## Critical reception

Overall, the tour received praise from music critics and spectators alike. Blige was noted for her positive messages through her performances encouraging women to believe in themselves and know there is something "better" plan for them. Ines Min (The Korea Times) wrote, "A soulful train of songs, including 'Reminisce', was accompanied by her smooth dancing skills before breaking down the stage with the pique song 'Good Woman Down'. The performer shook, jumped and shimmied in perfect motion, spurring the crowd to rise in an emotional fervor." Anthony Langone (The Depaula) continued the praise for Blige noting, "Never have I seen such a venue this alive. The entire crowd was on its feet singing every word. This is a true testament of Blige's star power. The ability to not only command the stage, but all the people in a sold-out venue is no easy task. Blige did it with ease, making it look easy." Jon Pareles (The New York Times) stated, "In her songs Ms. Blige transmutes setbacks into determination; she confronts trouble, she cries, she wills herself to get over it, she finds the next love. Onstage she's a pop star as life coach, preaching sermons in self-esteem with gospel cadences."