Mariah Carey brings joy to the inner city in Maryland.
Mariah Carey’s Christmas tour took a stop at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md. (Aicha Bangoura/The Black Explosion).
How festive can you get for the holidays? Seeing the Christmas Queen herself sounds like the whole nine yards. Mariah Carey made a stop in Baltimore on December 15 for her “Merry Christmas One and All!” tour and I couldn’t miss the chance to see it.
Carey’s tickets were a great bundle for your money, especially in the most expensive time of the year. Unlike other artists whose tickets can leave you feeling like the Grinch stole Christmas, hers was a great bet.
This being my first concert, it was necessary I plan ahead, even for a legend who can be “fashionably late.” I wasn’t too game about it taking place in the city of Baltimore due to the high crime rates there, yet that seems like the only place artists ever consider in Maryland.
Many of Carey’s songs are imbedded in my soul and there’s no way that I would just attend a concert willingly without being keen on an artist's discography. Since this was a Christmas tour, I was anticipating her Christmas songs were to be the focal point of the set list and I was quite anxious because ‘Joy to the World,’ ‘Baby Please Come Home’ and ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ are the only three classics I could sing along to. There was no time to mesmerize the other Christmas songs.
When the day came, I was really excited. It felt surreal and I wasn’t even at the arena yet. I made sure to manage my time of getting ready to move miles for Mariah. Getting to my destination was a hassle since I had never gone there, though it was helpful seeing all the lambs - which is what Carey calls her fans - in a long line dressed in Christmas attire.
There were people hustling on the street selling Mariah Carey merch such as t-shirts and I felt the need to comply and support since it’s Baltimore, a place where the poverty line is up and a place where I couldn't just run back home if I declined. I went down to my section and the seats were quite comfortable. I saw people of many different ages, genders and races. I guess you can say Carey attracts a versatile fanbase.
Prior to the show starting, musician DJ Suss One made an appearance and gave big ups to the multiple late artists who influenced him, such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner.
“Point up to so and so” was what Suss would say for all the late artists mentioned and the arena of folks would do just that. It was quite reminiscent of "Bye, Bye," a song that Carey released back in '08, in which she sings, "Put your hand way up high, we will never say bye-bye."
There were two big Christmas boxes onstage and a fellow audience member and I presumed she would pop out from there, yet we were proven to be wrong when Carey suddenly strutted onstage from the back. Wearing a red gown, Carey had the whole crowd beaming.
I lowkey missed the very second from late comers blocking my view, but I was still awestruck. The initial song she performed was called “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” I was super excited: I didn't even care if I didn't know the words.
Selfie of Aicha Bangoura (Aicha Bangoura/The Black Explosion).
Before introducing her second song “Oh Santa,” Carey greeted the audience and revealed how she was “excited for these last two concerts to be with you guys and share the moments.” Carey performed “Oh Santa!” sans her other two divas Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande from their internet breaking remix in 2020. Hudson and Grande had joined Carey in a performance in Madison square Garden six days prior and fans were raved, since it was the first live performance with each of them. I wasn’t riled up about not seeing them, she did immaculate on her own.
Carey brought her kids Roc N’ Roe to perform onstage for a few songs, like “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Jesus Born on This Day.” Carey seemed very impressed and full of love for her kids to take part in the concert.
“Did you guys hear Rocky rapping,” is what she asked with a positive response from the crowd. “Bringing out Dem Kids,” which is what Carey often refers to when speaking on her twins, can give you a cute card and it did to me; seeing Carey being a proud mom was sweet.
There were a lot of qualms in the crowd about whether or not Carey was going to perform her biggest Christmas hit ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ since she sang her magnum opus hit “Hero.” I mean how can you not end off with such a powerful song like such?
With her prior concerts of more recent memory, she would often end the show with “Hero.” One man two seats away from mine asked me if Carey performed ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ in the set and if he “were going crazy.”
“That's our favorite, I’m going to give terrible reviews,” he said. I had a feeling there was going to be beef with the lambs until we heard the bells.
Carey brought ruckus when she walked on stage with her Christmas ensemble and entourage around a sleigh. Carey sang with her gut and there seemed to be only several moments where the backing track was used. Carey involved confetti in the end and you can feel the spirit.
“We love you, thank you so much, Merry Christmas,” were Carey’s signature lines before she left on the sleigh with her children.
In all, Mariah Carey is a staple to many people's lives, especially in the holidays and for her to bring some light in a year that’s been quite rough just solidifies her Christmas Queen title. I had many experiences going to Baltimore and meeting those who admire Mariah Carey as I do. It was fun, I took a chance and would do it again.