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It takes so long for Tate McRae to finally appear on stage that people eventually start doing the wave out of boredom. It sounds a bit cheesy, but it’s a really nice feeling and a great start, with thousands of people in the packed Uber Arena cheering and celebrating together, even though nothing is actually happening at the front. Then, finally, the lights go down and Tate McRae appears. On video. Sitting half-naked in front of monitors, his legs partially spread. This kind of exaggerated sexiness is intended to be part of the show; more on that later.
Screaming like at a traffic accident
With a dramatic flourish, Tate McRae herself appears on stage. Out of nowhere. As if sent by a messenger. The audience screams like at a car crash. There’s no holding back. The audience consists almost entirely of young women and girls in high boots and short skirts, otherwise wearing something with a leopard print.
Every move Tate makes is met with screams. And there are many. She prances lasciviously across the tennis-court-sized platform, practically the second floor of the stage. In a glittering bodysuit, black boots, flowing blonde hair. It doesn’t even take a full verse before her backside jiggles directly into one of the many cameras projecting McRae onto three video screens so large they barely fit in the hall. Half-naked, steely dancers beside McRae, above her, below her. It can make your head spin. That’s how perfectly McRae and her up to eight-person dance crew perform.
World-class dancing
Before Tate McRae became a singer, she was a dancer, including a guest appearance on Justin Bieber’s show. She began ballet lessons at the age of six, winning numerous talent awards and appearing in various talent shows. Her dancing is absolutely world-class. It looks so effortless, yet possesses such incredible body control. Every movement, every facial expression (often a vampish look directed at the camera) is meticulously choreographed.
A little later, when she sits on stage in a bra and sweatpants, legs spread wide towards the audience, it’s somewhat reminiscent of Madonna. Is this a terribly oversexualized, total commodification of the perfect female body? Or the self-empowerment of a confident woman who simply enjoys showing off her body? Let others decide. The energy it generates is certainly captivating. The hall is shaking. After just a few songs, the first fans give up, exhausted, and stagger, gasping for breath, into the foyer.
Ingeniously designed stage(s)
And then there’s this stage. Actually, there are several. Two main stages stacked one above the other, one in the middle of the hall that can also be raised. And at the very back, there’s a small circular stage. The main stage is framed by two trusses in the style of yellow construction cranes, complete with operator’s cabins. This beautifully illustrates the amount of work involved in putting on such a show for the hundreds of people, including the main performer. And these cranes can do almost anything. They spit out fog, flashing strobe lights across the hall, or emit a thousand rotating spotlights. It makes you dizzy, but it’s fun.