If you are a younger millennial, or an elder gen z’er, then the name Rebecca Black would ring a bell from the deepest parts of your memory. In 2011, Rebecca Black took the internet by storm with the release of her debut song “Friday”. Met with an immense amount of criticism, and meme after meme being created from the song, Rebecca didn’t back down, and continued to spark an intense music career of her own. Making friends along the way with the likes of Katy Perry, who even appeared in her “TGIF” music video, Rebecca Black came back stronger than ever, and I got to witness her magic as she graced the stage at The Axis Club here in Toronto.
Opening the night was the duo Blue Hawaii. Gracing the Toronto stage from Montreal, the duo put on a show that was intense, and had the whole crowd moving along to every techno beat that chimed from the speakers. Playing a mix of some of their songs such as “Tan Lines”, “Not My Boss!” and “Belly Ring”, it got to the point I was nervous the floor might cave in from the crowd dancing and jumping so much as I felt the floorboards move beneath my feet. The duo was extremely interactive with the crowd, passing off the microphone to some of those in the front row, signing various body parts, and Raphaelle, the lead vocalist, even handed out the t-shirt she was wearing to a lucky person in the crowd. Blue Hawaii was one of the most hyped-up openers I had seen at a show, and a great warm up for Rebecca Black who was about to take stage.
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Afterward, a countdown appeared on the screen that stood at the back of the stage, and once it hit zero, a remix of her iconic song “Friday” began playing, with the lyrics accompanying it, dancing across the screen. The intro video, cut with some behind the scenes interviews gave me a nostalgic sense as it reminded me of Lady Gaga’s iconic “Candy Warhol” intro from The Fame Ball Tour in 2009. Finally arriving on stage, with strobe lights flashing at a fast pace, the music getting louder, and the crowd screaming at the top of their lungs, Rebecca graced the stage and immediately got into her set, opening with tracks “Tears in My Pocket”, “TRUST!” and “Twist the Knife”. I enjoyed the performance of “Twist the Knife” as she was being wheeled across the stage by her backup dancers on a platform as she danced around with a neon light stick. The use of trippy video backdrops and the glow from the lights really made it a favourable and memorable moment for me.
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A brief interlude, and Rebecca returned to stage in an outfit that had a long cone shaped bra, reminding me of some of Madonna’s looks. The crowd went insane, and I had to take a step back to appreciate this group of fans. This was easily the craziest crowd I had ever witnessed at Axis. After performing “American Doll” Rebecca took a moment to welcome the crowd to the Salvation Tour. With the crowd roaring, Rebecca laughed and said that Toronto had such unhinged energy, and joked, “okay Miss. Canada, I see you.” Returning to her set, Rebecca performed “Crumbs”, “Do You Even Think About Me?”, “Sick to My Stomach”, and Personal”.
Another interlude, and Rebecca returned to the stage in a leopard print dress and large fur jacket. She spoke to the crowd about how this was the first sold out show she was ever performing in Toronto. She also went on to explain about how SALVATION is her favourite album and music she has ever written, and that she has so much gratitude for the fans that turned up to each show. She also reminisced on what she would tell her 13-year-old self, and that if she could speak to her she would say that she is doing the right thing. She also said that if she had a nickel for every time someone told her that this exact thing in her life wouldn’t happen, she would be rich with nickels. Telling the crowd she loved them, Rebecca moved into a Sugar Water Cyanide challenge. She had a video play on the screen with TikTokers, who she had sent a package to. Inside the package was a bottle of water and a bottle of cyanide (really it was a juice or alcoholic beverage). The influencers on screen would drink the cyanide and pretend to die. She brought one lucky fan up on stage to perform the challenge, and after drinking the beverage the fan let out a celebratory scream before returning to the crowd.
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Rebecca continued with her set performing tracks “Sugar Water Cyanide”, “Better in My Memory”, and “Worth it for the Feeling”, and then closing the show with the encore track “Salvation”. Seeing Rebecca Black now as the artist she is, and seeing who she has become since the girl in the “Friday” music video is proof that you can capture your creativity, evolve and grow, and always come out on top. Rebecca Black’s tour may be wrapping up now, but you can catch her later this year as she opens for Katy Perry on her Lifetimes Tour.
Be sure to stream Rebecca’s latest album SALVATION below:
