Reality Tour (Jessica Simpson) Explained

Concert Tour Name:Reality Tour
Artist:Jessica Simpson
Location:North America
Album:In This Skin
Number Of Legs:1
Number Of Shows:56
Attendance:249,471
Gross:$7.1 million
Last Tour:DreamChaser Tour
(2001)
This Tour:Reality Tour
(2004)
Next Tour:...

The Reality Tour was the second concert tour by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. Predominately visiting the United States, the tour supported Simpson's third studio album, In This Skin (2003).[1] According to the singer, the title derives from her recent success on the reality TV series, , while showcasing her music on a natural level. The tour began in Chula Vista in May and ended in October in West Springfield.

Despite early reports of poor ticket sales,[2] Simpson's tour became one of the biggest summer tours in North America.

To date, the tour serves as Simpson's last major concert tour. The tour ranked number 86 on Pollstar's "Top 100 Tours 2004", earning over seven million dollars out of 41 shows.[3]

Background

While promoting the re-release of her album, Simpson stated in several interviews the possibility of a tour, wanting to break away from filming her TV series and connect with her fans. The tour was officially announced in May 2004 through various media outlets,[4] with sponsorship from Ice Breakers[5] and Proactiv Solution.[6]

During an interview with the Associated Press, the singer says she wanted the concerts to focus on her music and her personality.[7] Onstage, Simpson was joined by a seven-piece band, with no dancers or choreography for the show. Simpson would perform songs from her three current albums, while providing anecdotes about her life and the songs. Unseen footage from her reality series and variety show (entitled The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour) were included in the show as well. Each night, the singer dedicated "I Have Loved You" to the American armed forces and conduct a Q&A session with contest winners.[8] Before the tour commenced, Simpson performed at several radio-sponsored music festivals including: Your Show,[9] Wango Tango,[10] Summer Music Mania,[11] Zootopia,[12] Kiss Concert,[13] Last Chance Summer Dance,[14] and Play Safe in the Park.[15] To introduce the tour, Simpson stated:

"This is definitely a big tour for me. I'm a little nervous. It's like you're a little shaky about will I sell tickets to such a big market? […] But it's cool to put together such a huge production. And we're calling it the 'Reality Tour', from the show ['Newlyweds']. And there'll be all kinds of stuff showing never-seen clips and just kind of putting my personality into the tour, which will be a lot of fun."[16]

Opening acts

Set list

  1. "I Think I'm in Love with You"
  2. "A Little Bit"
  3. "Forbidden Fruit"
  4. "I Have Loved You"
  5. "She Works Hard for the Money"
  6. "Take My Breath Away"
  7. "Angels"
  8. "Be"
  9. "Everyday See You"
  10. "You Don't Have To Let Go"
  11. "My Way Home"
  12. "Loving You"
  13. "Sweetest Sin"
  14. "I Wanna Love You Forever"
  15. "Irresistible"
Encore:
  2. "With You"

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
North America[18] [19]
May 14, 2004Chula VistaUnited StatesCoors Amphitheatre
May 15, 2004PasadenaRose Bowl
May 20, 2004Glendale Arena
May 21, 2004New York CityMadison Square Garden
May 22, 2004Rumsey Playfield
May 22, 2004
June 4, 2004New OrleansNew Orleans Arena
June 5, 2004PelhamOak Mountain Amphitheatre
June 6, 2004JacksonvilleJacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
June 8, 2004AntiochStarwood Amphitheatre
June 11, 2004OrlandoTD Waterhouse Centre
June 12, 2004West Palm BeachSound Advice Amphitheatre
June 13, 2004TampaSt. Pete Times Forum
June 15, 2004CharlotteVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre
June 17, 2004UncasvilleMohegan Sun Arena
June 18, 2004New York CityRadio City Music Hall
June 19, 2004BristowNissan Pavilion
June 20, 2004RaleighAlltel Pavilion
June 25, 2004ClarkstonDTE Energy Music Theatre
June 26, 2004ColumbusGermain Amphitheater
June 27, 2004IndianapolisVerizon Wireless Music Center
June 29, 2004MilwaukeeMarcus Amphitheater
June 30, 2004CincinnatiRiverbend Music Center
July 2, 2004HersheyStar Pavilion
July 3, 2004BurgettstownPost-Gazette Pavilion
July 4, 2004CamdenTweeter Center at the Waterfront
July 6, 2004Tinley ParkTweeter Center
July 7, 2004Maryland HeightsUMB Bank Pavilion
July 8, 2004Bonner SpringsVerizon Wireless Amphitheater
July 10, 2004DallasSmirnoff Music Centre
July 11, 2004Oklahoma CityFord Center
July 14, 2004HoustonToyota Center
July 16, 2004San AntonioSBC Center
July 17, 2004LubbockUnited Spirit Arena
July 18, 2004AlbuquerqueJournal Pavilion
July 20, 2004DenverUniversal Lending Pavilion
July 21, 2004Salt Lake CityUSANA Amphitheatre
July 23, 2004VancouverCanadaGeneral Motors Place
July 24, 2004AuburnUnited StatesWhite River Amphitheatre
July 25, 2004RidgefieldThe Amphitheater at Clark County
July 27, 2004Mountain ViewShoreline Amphitheatre
July 28, 2004SacramentoSleep Train Amphitheatre
July 30, 2004Los AngelesUniversal Amphitheatre
July 31, 2004Costa MesaPacific Amphitheatre
August 1, 2004Paso RoblesMain Grandstand Arena
September 11, 2004PensacolaPensacola Civic Center
September 12, 2004JacksonMississippi Coliseum
September 15, 2004MemphisMud Island Amphitheater
September 17, 2004ClevelandPlain Dealer Pavilion
September 19, 2004FairfaxPatriot Center
September 21, 2004AtlantaChastain Park Amphitheater
September 27, 2004ManchesterVerizon Wireless Arena
September 28, 2004ProvidenceDunkin' Donuts Center
September 30, 2004BostonBank of America Pavilion
October 2, 2004Bridgewater TownshipCommerce Bank Ballpark
October 3, 2004West SpringfieldComcast Stage
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

This concert was a part of "KHTS-FM's Channel 93.3 concert"

This concert was a part of "KIIS-FM Wango Tango"[20]

This concert was a part of "Summer Music Mania"[21]

This concert was a part of "Z-100 Zootopia"[22]

This concert was part of "Play Safe in the Park"[22]

This concert was a part of "KISS-108 FM"

This concert was a part of "Summerfest"[23]

This concert was a part of "Q Concert"[24]

This concert was a part of "97.1 ZHT Birthday Bash"[25]

This concert was a part of the "Orange County Fair"[26]

This concert was a part of the "Budweiser Grandstand Concert Series"[27]

Cancellations and rescheduled shows
<--Date--><--City, (State or Country)--><--Venue--><--Reason/Additional Info-->
June 22, 2004Providence, Rhode IslandDunkin' Donuts CenterCancelled; rescheduled to September 28, 2004
June 23, 2004Manchester, New HampshireVerizon Wireless ArenaCancelled; rescheduled to September 27, 2004[28]

Broadcasts and recordings

Rehearsals and select performances from the tour were seen on Simpson's MTV show and her sister's show, The Ashlee Simpson Show. The show was filmed at the Universal Amphitheatre for DVD release. The DVD was released in November 2004 and omitted the performances of "A Little Bit", 'She Works Hard for the Money" and "I Wanna Love You Forever". The set featured the music video for "Angels" along with a behind the scenes look at the making of the video.[29] The DVD showed strong sales within its first week[30] and was certified platinum by the RIAA, recognizing shipments exceeding 100,000 copies.

Critical reception

Overall, the tour received mixed reviews from music critics. Many applaud Simpson's onstage persona but felt the show itself felt unfinished. Jim Farber (New York Daily News) felt Simpson's vocals during her show at the Radio City Music Hall were "overdramatic". He followed with, "Not that Simpson didn't give it her all as a singer. Pulling a Mariah Carey, she belted every note to the rafters. While she clearly lacks Ms. Carey's pipes, a gross excess of amplification, and some apparently recorded vocal helper, allowed her to simulate diva-status. Too bad the songs from her three CDs all sound like pieces fished out of Britney Spears slush pile".[32] Dustin J. Seibert (The Cincinnati Enquirer) felt the singer's concert at the Riverbend Music Center was "honest and warm" He elaborates, "Simpson's reliance on her high-octane voice and bubbly personality set her apart from some of her pop counterparts. Her shows featured no pyrotechnics or funky choreography, just her butter-melting octave range over a smooth six-piece band and two backup singers".[33]

Neva Chonin (San Francisco Chronicle) criticized Simpson's vocal performance at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. She writes, "A rendition of Berlin's 'Take My Breath Away', dedicated to her husband, sounded like an ode to autoerotic asphyxiation. [...] With her band successfully drowning out her tuneful but wispy vocals, Simpson led sing-alongs for anesthetized funk number 'The Sweetest Sin' and an encore of 'With You'".[34] Joey Guerra (Houston Chronicle) admired Simpson's personality during her performance at the Toyota Center; but felt the singer's concert was "uneven". He explains, "Her material is also a bit thin to sustain a full concert. Many album tracks began to sound alike after a while, and her few certifiable hits popped up late in the evening. 'Irresistible' came at the end of the show, and the feel-good anthem 'With You' was the expected encore. Even odder was the omission of 'I Wanna Love You Forever', Simpson's breakthrough single."[35]

Notes and References

  1. USHER, KANYE WEST, HOOBASTANK, YELLOWCARD, JET, & JESSICA SIMPSON SET TO PERFORM AT THE "2004 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS" . MTV Networks . 24 July 2004 . 11 July 2011 . 12 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312012112/http://sunsetlaneentertainment.com/files/2004VMA.pdf . dead .
  2. Web site: MADONNA, PRINCE SIZZLE, BUT MOST SUMMER TOURS FIZZLE . Trakin, Roy . Hits Daily Double . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107035232/http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news05135m01 . live . 7 January 2016.
  3. Web site: 2004 Top 100 Tours . 7 March 2005 . Pollstar Online . 15 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20050308032632/http://www.pollstaronline.com/sf-ye2004-top100.asp . 8 March 2005.
  4. News: Simpson Tour . The Blade. 12 May 2004 . 11 July 2011. D5.
  5. Web site: Jacobs hopes Simpson can turn Ice to gold at Hershey . Thompson, Stephanie . 31 May 2004 . . . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107035232/http://adage.com/article/people-players/jacobs-hopes-simpson-turn-ice-gold-hershey/99393/ . live . 7 January 2016.
  6. Jessica Simpson Puts Her Best Face Forward on Her Summer Concert Tour, Thanks to Sponsor Proactiv(R) Solution . . 10 June 2004 . 11 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014151828/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jessica-simpson-puts-her-best-face-forward-on-her-summer-concert-tour-thanks-to-sponsor-proactivr-solution-74917817.html . dead . 14 October 2012.
  7. Web site: From malls to arenas: Simpson hits big time. 1 June 2004 . . 11 July 2011.
  8. Web site: Jessica Simpson gladly leaves home for a reality check on tour . Stout, Gene . 22 July 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018041644/http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/music/article/Jessica-Simpson-gladly-leaves-home-for-a-reality-1149948.php . live . 18 October 2012.
  9. News: N&D PRIME PICKS . . 13 May 2004. D1 .
  10. Web site: William Hung Overshadows Backstreet Reunion, All-Star Lineup At Wango Tango . Moss, Corey . 15 May 2004 . VH1 News. 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20070808084159/http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1487059/05172004/nerd.jhtml . dead . 8 August 2007.
  11. Web site: The Buzz . 6 May 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://archive.today/20110712084139/http://www.pe.com/entertainment/stories/PE_Ent_buzz506.ec32.html . dead . 12 July 2011.
  12. News: POP REVIEW; Offerings From Aspiring Underdogs (and Swagger From a Top Dog) . Sanneh, Kelefa . 24 May 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309123428/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/24/arts/pop-review-offerings-from-aspiring-underdogs-and-swagger-from-a-top-dog.html . live . 9 March 2014.
  13. Web site: Give Chasez a fair shake and he'll move you, too . Righi, Len . 16 May 2004. . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20040616191430/http://www.projo.com/music/content/projo_20040516_chasez.eb66e.html . dead . 16 June 2004.
  14. Web site: 2004-08-10. Let's Get Physical. Willamette Week. en-US.
  15. Web site: Jessica Simpson Singing for Skin Care . Silverman, Stephen M. . 6 May 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110109092648/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,633702,00.html . dead . 9 January 2011.
  16. Web site: Jessica Simpson Crossing Her Fingers For Some Good Ol' Boys . Moss, Corey. Vineyard, Jennifer . 24 May 2004. MTV News . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107131656/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487248/jessica-simpson-talks-dukes-hazzard.jhtml . dead . 7 November 2012.
  17. Web site: Simpson a better singer than dancer . Iwasaki, Scott . 23 July 2004 . . Deseret News Publishing Company . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023145931/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595079057/Simpson-a-better-singer-than-dancer.html . dead . 23 October 2012.
  18. Web site: Jessica Simpson Heats Up With Summer Tour . Wiederhorn, Jon . 7 May 2004 . MTV News . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107131701/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486875/jessica-simpson-heats-up-with-summer-tour.jhtml . dead . 7 November 2012.
  19. Web site: Jessica Simpson cancels second straight show. 23 June 2004. . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20040626020721/http://www.livedaily.com/news/6713.html . 26 June 2004.
  20. Web site: Rosemary Jean-Louis. Music festivals unite artists, fans . May 13, 2004 . . 2022-06-11.
  21. Web site: Summer Music Mania show focuses on TV.
  22. Web site: Jessica Simpson announces 2004 Summer Tour with special performance at NY Central Park.
  23. News: Simpson steps in to replace Aguilera at Big Gig. Tarlach, Gemma. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 7 May 2004. 10B. 11 July 2011.
  24. News: Summer mix Simpson heats up Camden; Best rocks Sellersville; Guster, Wainwright hit Philly . Franzen, Marty . . 2 July 2004. 10D .
  25. News: The Sounds of Summer. Nailen, Dan . . 28 May 2004. D1.
  26. Web site: Summer calls – put the phone on hold . Lehman, Chrystal . 28 May 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20040607162950/http://www.pe.com/entertainment/guide/stories/PE_Ent_Guide_double28.a13a6.html . dead . 7 June 2004.
  27. News: CONCERT LINEUP AIMS FOR DIVERSITY, MAIN STAGE VEERS FROM TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ACTS . . 22 April 2004. The McClatchy Company. B1 .
  28. Web site: Jessica Simpson Scraps Another Show Due To Kidney Infection . Rashbaum, Alyssa. Vineyard, Jessica . 24 June 2004 . MTV News . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107131722/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1488646/jessica-simpson-scraps-another-show.jhtml . dead . 7 November 2012.
  29. Web site: Jessica Simpson readies Christmas album, live DVD . Zahlaway, Jon . 4 November 2004 . LiveDaily . Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20041110204751/http://www.livedaily.com/news/7286.html . 10 November 2004.
  30. NuTech Digital Expects Strong Early Sales from Jessica Simpson Concert DVD; Initial Reality Tour Concert Revenues Anticipated at $350,000 . Business Wire. 18 August 2004 . 11 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040830105122/http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2004/Aug/1066566.htm . 30 August 2004.
  31. Web site: Jessica Simpson Chart History | Billboard . www.billboard.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191012062801/https://www.billboard.com/music/Jessica-Simpson/chart-history/VDM . 12 October 2019 . dead.
  32. Web site: It's Jessica's Show, But It's All About Nick . Farber, Jim . 21 June 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120531081645/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2004-06-21/entertainment/18262692_1_jessica-simpson-slush-pile-suzanne-somers . dead . 31 May 2012.
  33. Web site: Simpson puts stage smarts on display. Seibert, Dustin J. . 2 July 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://archive.today/20120731004859/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/07/02/tem_conc02.html . dead . 31 July 2012.
  34. Web site: Jessica Simpson makes it safe for Barbie to belch . Chonin, Neva . 29 July 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107080126/http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-07-29/entertainment/17434485_1_robbie-williams-angels-jessica-simpson-simpson-phenomenon . live . 7 November 2012.
  35. Web site: Songstress Jessica Simpson gets real for Houston crowd . Guerra, Joey . 30 July 2004 . . 11 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20040823080656/http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/ae/music/concerts/2683247 . 23 August 2004.

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