Mary J. Blige

If there’s one thing you’ve got to give Mary J. Blige credit for, it’s her entrances (featuring thunderous drums, flashing lights and a gruff voiceover worthy of a Slipknot gig).

The 4000 strong crowd respond emphatically, chanting “Mary! Mary! Mary!” before lurching forward to test the barrier’s mettle against their own as she saunters down a centre stage staircase, bathing in the glow of rapturous applause.

Her voice oozes soul, resonating across every inch of the RDS in waves of luscious harmonies and free flowing melismatics, complimented by the slick beats and bassline groove of her backing band. Dotted around the perimeter of the venue, pockets of girls dance around their handbags while the blokes gaze uncomfortably, pints in hand, between the stage and their significant others.

Seeming genuinely shocked at the magnitude of her reception (she cites Dublin as one of the warmest crowds on the tour), she does procure the odd cringe, namely in the field of new age speeches about self belief, self confidence, self improvement and God (to whom she is a work in progress, apparently.)

Nevertheless, older songs such as ‘I’m Going Down’ are lapped up just as hungrily by the ravenous onlookers as more recent hits ‘No More Drama’ and ‘Family Affair’.

She remains the Urban Queen of Soul, and judging by tonight’s performance, there’s no sign of abdication.