On the stage of the Melkweg in Amsterdam is a huge neo -gactic fence with curly lines and an ‘A’ in the middle. Above that is a chandelier with crystal garlands that dangling between the different fake candles. “Do I Provoke You With My Tone Of Innocence?In the meantime, Addison Rae sings with high whisper voice in ‘Fame Is A Gun’, the opening song of her debut show in the Netherlands. The young American became known as Tiktokker, but she actually wanted the music. Now she is standing with her sold -out European Tour in Amsterdam.
Disapped in neon-colored lingerie and with a leather agent cap on her head, she draps over her dancers in a glowing haze of blue, orange and pink light. Just like in her high -profile video clips, her performance is theatrical. This is an artist who is not just about the music: Rae wants to entertain. It is a bit awkward to see such an unashamedly great pop production on the relatively small stage of the Melkweg, but Rae makes it successful. Her sensitive lyrics to escape over the urge are more than at home on the intimate Melkweg stage.
The American pop artist brought her debut album last June Addison out. On the record, which received praising criticism, she sang the divorce of her parents, her idols Lady Gaga and Madonna and her escape desire. Rae’s goal – becoming famous – is already clear from childhood, but the means changes over the years: as a child she wanted to become a dancer, later she made films on Tiktok and gathered 88 million followers on the platform. Since a few years she is aspiring to a career in pop music. At first that failed, but thanks to mentor Charli XCX, Rae managed to sing out of oblivion.
Collective
The remix of Charli XCX ‘Hit number’ Von Dutch ‘, who made Rae together Charli XCX, is received jubilantly by the public. Rae invites two fans to the stage to scream the high final note with her. What follows is a fusion of Rae, her dancers and her fans in one collective scream.
In terms of singing, Rae sometimes falls short. Her hands-free microphone gives her the space to move freely on the stage. When she dances, she doesn’t seem to sing everything live. Yet she is sufficiently standing as a singer: she is never really false, but her high voice is not impressive either. With such a production, you forgive her quickly.
Read also
Also read: Fresh but sugar sweet: the transformation of Tiktokker Addison Rae into the pop star of the moment
Rae always balances the grand and theatrical with intimate proximity. For example, when she welcomes the audience to her show for the first time, she sits down, a hip hydro flask water in her hands. She can hardly suppress her own giggling. As if we, as an audience, are the lucky ones who can attend the general rehearsal before they relocate with dancers and decor to a larger stage. But beware: there is no disappointment whatsoever that she is still in a smaller venue tonight than she had taken. She slides smoothly over the stage, probably the last time we will see her so close.