The singer and rapper may be the most capable steward of self-esteem in 21st-century pop music since Pink, but where the latter’s mama-bear persona offers the promise of hard-won acceptance and protection, Lizzo is cheerfully (but not tearfully) inclusive. Throughout the evening, Lizzo provided a concrete example of what loving yourself actually looks like by living it out loud.
It came through in the joy radiating from her from the moment she rose through the floor wearing a contoured, chartreuse bodysuit to announce “Hi, mother[friend]ers, did you miss me?” to the flute trills of the closing “About Damn Time.” It was so pervasive, in fact, that she briefly broke down with laughter a couple of lines into “Grrrls,” while there was a moment during “Like a Girl” when she grinned so wide that it looked like she might botch her next line. [Boston Globe]
Lizzo released a new album, Special, in July, and she's been on on tour with Latto supporting it, stopping in NYC for a pair of shows at Madison Square Garden on Sunday and Monday (10/2 & 10/3). She and her dancers put on a joyful, positive show, emphasizing self-love, and getting plenty of fan interaction in -- Monday night's show found Lizzo singing happy birthday to one attendee, celebrating another coming out, signing someone's flute, and taking selfies.