Live Review: Brandy

It's been a long wait for Australian fans to see iconic R&B singer Brandy live. And tonight Brandy teases us a little while longer as we wait patiently for her to make a grand entrance on a Melbourne stage for the very first time. She thumps her cane on the stage beneath a spotlight in a choreographed opening act inspired by her recent musical theatre stint. Like a scene straight out of Chicago, the multi-talented performer channels Roxie Hart (the character she played on Broadway) during the Afrodisiac routine. With two back-up dancers in tow, Brandy takes a big deep breath and transports us straight back to the '90s with a string of hits from the peak of her career, starting with the Top Of The World. And, of course, it wouldn't be a flashback without some sexy backwards chair dancing for Sittin' Up In My Room - inspired by one of her nostalgic music videos.

Newspaper props flash open to the headline "THESE STREETS" as an interlude featuring a recent social media skit preaches one of Brandy's key phrases. It's certainly a clear message to any haters out there: don't mess with her crew. The audience erupts for The Boy Is Mine and our singing drowns out Brandy's own verses. Brandy starts the song again, reminding us that she goes first and then cues us in to sing Monica's part of the duet. Brandy continues to slow things down a bit with Have You Ever and Almost Doesn't Count where she really harnesses the deep emotion of her smoky, soulful vocals. We raise our hands and click along to a mash-up featuring a cover of Coldplay's Magic with some additional verses that take a swipe at some complicated record label issues Brandy's faced.

After some smooth, flowing routines from her dancers, Brandy returns to the stage and we put our hands together as she pays a heartfelt tribute to Whitney Houston with a medley of some of her favourite tracks including How Will I Know, I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) and Exhale (Shoop Shoop). Brandy appears wearing a fresh pair of sneakers to burn some rubber during Wildest Dreams and initiates a few sing-off battles with front row audience members. She continues by showing us her krumping moves, which are packed full of attitude, on Put It Down. Brandy makes a dramatic departure as she leaves us with her latest single Beggin & Pleadin, a song that's released under her own newly formed Slayana Records label. The vintage, bluesy sound with a modern trap beat is a promising comeback that hints at a new direction as she throws down the microphone stand and bids us farewell.