Weak Songs Undermine K-Ci & JoJo’s R&B; Talents

Romance clearly means different things to different people. At a pre-Valentine’s Day concert at the Universal Amphitheatre on Saturday, romantic gestures from the artists on the bill came in the form of enough crotch-grabbing to do Michael Jackson proud.

Headliners K-Ci & JoJo took this in-your-face approach several times during their set. When it comes to Generation X soul singers, K-Ci & JoJo are among the best. They possess a dramatic, church-reared vocal style that is already being imitated by their peers. While their technique invites comparison to R&B; icons, they falter in choice of material.

K-Ci & JoJo expend lots of sweat and energy trying to make many of their own lightweight compositions come to life. However, it is only when K-Ci wails on a fiery version of Bobby Womack’s “If You Think You’re Lonely Now,” or JoJo gives a dramatic reading of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately,” that you get a sense of what this pair is really capable of expressing.

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Like K-Ci & JoJo, Ginuwine also spent too much time trying to sell songs that weren’t on par with his vocal and showmanship abilities. But the screaming female fans lining the stage didn’t seem to notice. It may have been his toned physique and flashy dance moves that served as a distraction.

Ginuwine has often cited Michael Jackson as an influence, and that was evident in his choreographed steps. Ginuwine’s stage instincts are undeniable. With stronger songs, he could easily move up a level in his career.

Donell Jones also relied on choreography quite a bit, but it was his warm, easygoing vocal style and personality that made him a hit with the audience. Also on the bill was Ideal, a group whose recent hit, “Get Gone,” gave it plenty of opportunity to exhibit those pelvic-thrusting dance moves that were the mainstay of the evening.