British band Rixton served as her opening act, warming up the stage for Grande.
She began her set with an explosive performance of “Bang Bang,” as she was backed by her talented dancers. “What’s up Madison Square Garden?” Grande shouted, as she belted out a lilting version of “Hands On Me,” where the stage was graced in purple laser lights.
Flew on top of the crowd on a cloud as she sang the soothing, piano-driven ballad “Best Mistake,” displaying her impressive whistle register. She continued with “Break Your Heart Right Back.”
“How ya’ll feeling tonight?” she asked, prior to hitting the high notes in the passionate “Be My Baby.” “Right There” had an orchestral arrangement, with a classic and nostalgic feel to it, which she performed while coming down from a chandelier, dressed in an elegant white dress.
She changed the pace of her set with the upbeat “The Way,” where confetti drizzled from the ceiling. “C’mon, New York,” she said, prior to breaking into the breathy yet beautiful “One Last Time.”
“Madison Square Garden, New York City, Thank ya’ll so much,” Grande said graciously, as she greeted the fans on the large televised screen, and was able to name the majority of them in the front row. “I love you guys a lot. You’re the best ever. I am honored and excited to be here,” the songstress added, wiping tears from her eyes.
The ballad “Tattooed Heart” was another gorgeous vocal performance by Grande. “Love Me Harder” was uplifting and fun, and it resonated well with the fans, and she had them jumping along to “All My Love.”
“Thank you guys so much. I cried 65 times during this show. I don’t want to start crying again. You guys mean so much to me. I love it when you sing along and dance. It’s really cool,” she said, prior to introducing “Honeymoon Avenue,” which included pyrotechnics.
Most impressive about her show was that the young girls in the crowd were wearing “cat ears,” and the colors alternated, as each song changed throughout the evening.
Grande closed with “Break Free” and for her encore, she returned to sing her smash hit “Problem,” which was the fan-favorite tune of the night.
The Verdict
Pop music has a new princess: Ariana Grande. Her show was fun and entertaining, with a top-notch production, choreography and outfit changes. She interacted well with the fans, showcasing her gratitude and appreciation towards them. Grande’s vocals were melodic, captivating and she had the audience in the palm of her hand, while simultaneously commanding the stage. Grande is worth seeing live whenever she is in the area. Her Madison Square Garden “Honeymoon” concert earned 4.5 out of 5 stars.
For more information on Ariana Grande and her forthcoming “Honeymoon” tour dates, check out her official website.
