You’d think Janet Jackson would retire after 51 years of performing. Opening night of her Resorts World residency showed the 58-year-old megastar still has it.
Jackson sang nearly 45 songs from her varied collection in a two-hour marathon. When Jackson performed “Night” and “2nite,” two house-heavy tracks from 2015’s Unbreakable and 2008’s Discipline, fans were ready to dance.
Jackson kept her best dance-pop tunes for the first 25 minutes, allowing the audience to absorb the growing excitement and anticipation.
The star added surprises between hits. They played “Velvet Rope” for the first time since 1999 and a stripped-down version of “I Get So Lonely.” Jackson stated, “I Get Lonely” hasn’t been done this way since 1998. “Back then, honey, my red hair was laid.”
On ballads like “Let’s Wait Awhile” and “Come Back to Me,” Jackson showed her fragility and vocal range. Then the fireworks began. The shrieking distortion of “Scream” and “Black Cat” made Jackson’s set sound like a rock gig. That was Janet Jackson’s first of 10 performances she will perform in Vegas.
