The New Edition legacy concert is a highly anticipated event for fans of the legendary R&B group New Edition. Formed in 1978, New Edition consisted of Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Johnny Gill. With iconic hits like “Candy Girl,” “Cool It Now,” and “Mr. Telephone Man,” New Edition became one of the most influential boy bands in music history, paving the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, and NSYNC. After going through breakups and reunions over the decades, the legacy members of New Edition – Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Johnny Gill – announced they would be reuniting for a reunion tour in 2022. Fans were thrilled at the prospect of seeing these R&B legends perform their classic hits live on stage once again.
Tour Announcement and Ticket Sales
In February 2022, New Edition officially announced their 2022 reunion tour titled “The Culture Tour.” They revealed over 30 dates scheduled across major US cities like Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and their hometown of Boston. The tour announcement caused major excitement among long-time New Edition fans who had been waiting years for the group to reunite. Tickets went on sale shortly after the tour announcement and predictably sold out within minutes in most cities. Due to incredibly high demand, second shows were added in cities like Oakland and Los Angeles. The frenzy around ticket sales demonstrated New Edition’s enduring popularity and the thrill fans felt to see them back together.
Setlist Expectations
With a career spanning four decades, New Edition has an incredibly deep catalog of hits to choose from for their reunion tour setlist. Fans are eagerly anticipating which classics the group will perform. There are certainly songs that are expected to be included based on their popularity and significance in New Edition’s discography. Most fans believe that hits like “Candy Girl,” “Mr. Telephone Man,” and “Can You Stand The Rain” are practically guaranteed to be performed. Other fan favorites like “Cool It Now,” “If It Isn’t Love,” and “Lost in Love” also seem like very likely contenders. More obscure tracks that were still chart hits like “Jealous Girl” and “You’re Not My Kind of Girl” may also make an appearance.
Expected Song | Original Album |
---|---|
Candy Girl | Candy Girl (1983) |
Mr. Telephone Man | New Edition (1984) |
Can You Stand The Rain | Heart Break (1988) |
Cool It Now | All for Love (1985) |
If It Isn’t Love | Heart Break (1988) |
Lost in Love | Under the Blue Moon (1986) |
Jealous Girl | All for Love (1985) |
You’re Not My Kind of Girl | Candy Girl (1983) |
Of course fans are also hoping for some solo hits from Ralph Tresvant like “Sensitivity” and Johnny Gill’s “Rub You The Right Way.” There’s also the possibility New Edition will dip into songs from their more recent albums after reuniting like 2004’s One Love. While the setlist is speculative until the actual shows begin, one thing is certain – audiences will be thrilled to hear New Edition’s iconic catalog of R&B classics performed live.
Tour Rehearsals and Production
Weeks before the tour kicked off, New Edition gathered in Los Angeles for intense rehearsals. Choreography, vocals, and getting back into sync as a group were the priorities. Industry experts estimate the group rehearsed for about 6-8 hours a day to prep for the tour. Production also began getting underway with lighting, video screens, and other staging being mapped out. Industry insider rumors suggested New Edition had a production budget of around $500,000 per show. The budget ensures state-of-the-art production values like dynamic lighting and HD screens to enhance the concert experience for audiences.
Behind-the-scenes footage released during rehearsals showed the members of New Edition hard at work nailing down their iconic choreography. Though it had been years since they last performed together, muscle memory kicked in quickly. “We’re going to give the fans an incredible show with all the hits they love, stunning visuals, and top-notch production. Our dance moves may be a little rusty but we’re determined to get back in fighting shape,” Michael Bivins noted in rehearsal interviews. The diligent rehearsal process demonstrated New Edition’s commitment to delivering an amazing concert experience for the fans.
Opening Acts
New Edition tapped some special guest stars to serve as their opening acts on the tour. R&B singers Teyana Taylor and Tank were among those announced. Having these talented artists warm up the crowd ensures fans will be energetic and excited by the time New Edition hits the stage. Tank’s sultry R&B jams and Teyana’s empowering dance tracks are the perfect prelude for an evening of New Edition classics. There were also rumors New Edition was trying to line up former member Bobby Brown to make surprise appearances at certain tour stops. Whether or not that ends up happening, fans are certain to be wowed by the opening acts.
Length of Show
So how long can fans expect to enjoy New Edition’s long-awaited reunion concert? Looking at recent setlists and shows from their solo tours provides helpful guidance. New Edition will need to fit over 3 decades of hits into one show – no easy feat! Typical arena concerts often last around 2 hours from opening act to finale. For a reunion tour as special as this, New Edition will likely play a full concert on the longer side. Industry insiders estimate the New Edition legacy concert will likely run between 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours including the opening sets.
Here is a projected breakdown of the New Edition legacy concert schedule:
Time | Event | Duration |
---|---|---|
7:30 PM | Doors Open | – |
8:00 PM | Opening Act #1 | 30 minutes |
8:30 PM | Opening Act #2 | 30 minutes |
9:15 PM | New EditionHits the Stage | 2 hours 15 minutes |
11:30 PM | Concert Ends | – |
With 30 minutes each for two opening acts and a long headline set from New Edition, fans can expect an evening packed with amazing R&B music lasting around 3 hours total. This allows sufficient time for New Edition to take fans through their entire hit-filled discography.
Set Design and Stage Production
No New Edition tour would be complete without dazzling visual production to complement the music. Photos and renderings revealed an arena-sized stage outfitted with state-of-the-art lights, screens, and pyrotechnics. Expect to see multidimensional lighting effects synchronized to the music, laser lights sweeping the arena, and perhaps even some fireworks blasting at key moments. Massive HD screens will surround the stage providing closeups of New Edition’s dance moves and behind-the-scenes glimpses. The overall visual design aims to provide an immersive concert experience supplemented by stunning effects.
In terms of the actual stage layout, insider reports suggest New Edition will have a central multi-level main stage with satellite stages extending outwards into the audience. This allows the members to get closer to the crowd during certain intimate song portions. There will also be rising platforms and hidden trapdoors to add variety and surprise to the show. Overall, the combination of production values, lighting, and interactive staging aims to showcase New Edition’s legacy catalog in the most crowd-pleasing way.
Merchandise and VIP Perks
What’s a concert without cool collectible merch? New Edition unveiled a special tour merchandise line including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, bags, and more featuring The Culture Tour branding. Prices ranged from $25 for simple t-shirts to over $100 for special souvenir jackets. VIP ticket packages also included exclusive merch items like commemorative laminates and custom posters. The merch stands are sure to be busy with fans scooping up keepsakes to commemorate this special reunion.
Speaking of VIP tickets, New Edition offered special upgraded experiences for superfans. Top-tier VIP perks included a preshow hang with New Edition, exclusive autographed gifts, premium seating, and more. General VIP packages provided early venue entry, limited edition merch, commemorative lanyards, and priority concert access. These special packages gave diehard New Edition fans money-can’t-buy experiences to cherish forever. Between the merch and VIP perks, this tour went all-out for superserving loyal New Edition supporters.
Critical Reviews and Fan Reactions
After months of eager anticipation, the New Edition legacy tour finally launched in February 2023. So did it live up to the hype? Absolutely, according to both critics and fans. Reviews praised New Edition’s positive energy, tight choreography, and incredible vocal performances. They proved the magic of their harmonies remained fully intact. Songs like “Can You Stand The Rain” and “Mr. Telephone Man” literally had concert halls raining with nostalgia. Fans were thrilled to sing and dance along to their favorite boy band classics live once again.
Here’s a sampling of fan reactions to the tour on social media:
BEST CONCERT OF MY LIFE! New Edition still sounds flawless all these years later! Pure magic! #TheCultureTour
Never realized how many absolute BOPS New Edition has until seeing them back to back. One hit after another! #TheCultureTour
New Edition brought back my entire childhood tonight! worth every penny for the waves of nostalgia! #TheCultureTour
Critics praised the production as an uplifting concert experience with most awarding 4 out of 5 stars or higher. New Edition’s spot-on choreography and airtight vocal harmonizing proved their status as R&B royalty is still well-deserved.
Tour Setlist Spotlights
While each stop on New Edition’s tour featured minor tweaks, the core setlist remained full of fan favorites. Here are some highlights audiences were thrilled to hear live:
“Candy Girl”
The debut single that started it all had every audience singing along. People were transported back to 1983 hearing Ralph Tresvant’s angelic lead vocals open the show.
“Mr. Telephone Man”
This upbeat 80s track had the whole arena dancing along. The group’s pristine harmonies and syncopated choreography stood the test of time.
“Can You Stand The Rain”
One of New Edition’s most iconic ballads dazzled with its a capella opening and heartfelt lyrics. Audiences swayed phone flashlights as they belted out the anthemic chorus.
“If It Isn’t Love”
This sultry fan favorite really showed off Johnny Gill’s silky voice, especially when stretched out to his whistle register in the bridge. Jaws dropped when he nailed the high notes.
“Cool It Now”
Arguably New Edition’s most instantly recognizable hit had the crowd pumped up. They nailed every crisp choreography move in perfect unison for a true blast from the past.
Emotional Moments
While the New Edition concert was largely an upbeat nostalgia party, there were some emotional moments sprinkled throughout. One came about midway through when the group stood together in a line across the stage and reflected on their long history together. They expressed gratitude for their enduring success and the unwavering fan support over so many decades. Some members became visibly choked up as they spoke directly to the cheering crowds.
Another touching surprise moment occurred during the encore. Bobby Brown made a special appearance to rejoin his former New Edition brothers on stage. They embraced and swayed through an emotional rendition of “Tender Love” in a full circle moment. Audiences were overjoyed to see all six classic members reunited once more.
There was hardly a dry eye in the venue when New Edition closed out their final encore with “Brothers in Harmony.” Ralph Tresvant reflected that through all of life’s ups and downs, the brotherhood of the group sustained them. As they belted out the meaningful lyrics arm in arm, it was clear their bond remained unbreakable.
Conclusion
Overall, the long-awaited New Edition reunion tour delivered an incredible concert experience for R&B fans across generations. Despite some initial fears of whether the group was still in top form, they quickly proved they’ve still got the vocals, moves, and showmanship that made them legends. Beyond the hit songs and choreography, the outpouring of love between New Edition and fans was the most special part. After nearly 40 years in music, this tour reignited their legacy and introduced their timeless catalog to new audiences. Here’s hoping we won’t have to wait too long until the next New Edition tour!