Tina Turner, Usher transcend generations
On one night, two singing and dancing dynamos will perform approximately .67 of a mile away from each other (according to MapQuest).
One is 68-year-old rocking soul legend Tina Turner, holding court Sunday and Monday at Philips Arena.
The other is 30-year-old Atlanta R&B superstar Usher, who is staging a more intimate Ladies Only set at the Tabernacle on Monday.
Obviously, they are of two generations. At the same time, there are at least five things Usher has in common with artists of (or around) Turner's era and vice versa ...
THE THOROUGHLY CONTEMPORARY TINA TURNER SHARES TALENTS WITH THESE ARTISTS:
1. Hit singles "Proud Mary," "What's Love Got to Do With It" and "Better Be Good to Me" have as much amiable sass as such current hits as Jennifer Hudson's "Spotlight" and Jazmine Sullivan's "Bust Your Windows" — and, of course, Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable."
2. The grit in her voice recalls Amy Winehouse and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins of TLC.
3. She is as much an immediate testament to fitness as a Ciara or LL Cool J.
4. Now that we're on physical attributes, who can forget the legs? Legs surely honed by walking around in high heels as good — or better — than Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie or (here comes that name again) Beyoncé.
5. Turner got an onstage tout on the Grammy Awards ("Ladies and gentleman, stand on your feet and give it up for the queen!") from none other than contemporary R&B superstar of the moment Beyoncé. (Sure, it might have upset Aretha Franklin. But it was an unforgettable moment and tribute.)
USHER SHARES A CLASSIC VIBE WITH THESE ARTISTS:
1. Usher has paid many a nod to late Godfather James Brown — with a split, a spin and an occasional one legged-slide across the stage.
2. As he has developed as a vocalist, we've heard moments from 2001's "8701" album to current album "Here I Stand" where he affects old soul reminiscent of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.
3. In terms of dress, especially of late, he has leaned toward a kind of classic style one would imagine Marvin Gaye might wear these days.
4. Usher has cited Sammy Davis Jr. as an influence, and that's one of the reasons he became interested in Broadway. (Remember him in the musical "Chicago" two years ago?)
5. Usher's Ladies Only Tour is something of an intended reprise of the concerts soul great Teddy Pendergrass used to do in the late '70s. "Of course, I can't prohibit anybody from buying a ticket, and coming," he said. "But guys should know this is uniquely designed with women in mind. ... You know how women did it for 'Sex and the City'? I want this to be like that for them; where they get their hair done, nails done, get their sexy on, and come let me give them a special 'Thank you' for being supportive."
Tina Turner and Usher. Their sound, their moves, their look. Remind you of anyone?
• You Decide: Do Tina and Usher share talents with these artists?
• Usher. 8 p.m. Monday at the Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. Tickets, $101-$126, at Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400 or www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information go to usheronenightstand.com.
