Luis Miguel is, indisputably, one of the top voices of our generation, and his unmatched showmanship was on full display on Thursday (Oct. 8) at the sold-out, 19,500-capacity Madison Square Garden.
El Sol de México is midway through his ambitious Luis Miguel Tour 2023 of 65 shows, produced by CMN, which kicked off August 3 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His upcoming dates include Miami (Oct. 13), Oklahoma City (Oct. 26), Austin (Nov. 5), before Miguel makes his way across plenty of cities in his beloved Mexico; he will complete his tour on Dec. 17 in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Backed by an orchestra composed of string and brass sections, three backup singers and a band complete with guitar, percussion and bass, Luis Miguel was quite dapper in his elegant black suit — but still full of energy. Although the Mexican icon did not speak to the crowd, he did extend his arms to the front row attendees (Bad Bunny was also in the audience, along with rumored girlfriend Kendall Jenner). Yet, his on-stage dynamism was in full effect, while he delivered 40 years of hits, moments of vocal raspiness aside.
Amid a sea of neon-colored lights that adorned the scene — via bracelets that elated concert-goers wore on their wrists — and a screen behind the stage showing images of galaxy clusters, aurora borealis, and majestic forests, the nearly two-hour set was nothing short of spectacular. The bonafide hitmaker’s spanned whirling romantic songs (“No Sé Tú,” “La Incondicional,” “Hasta Que Me Olvides”), energetic pop (“Ahora Te Puedes Marchar,” “La Chica Del Bikini Azul,” “Isabel”) and even one number featuring a troupe of invigorated mariachi players (“La Bikina”).
If you missed one of his shows, fret not: The “Fría Como el Viento” crooner will resume with part two for Luis Miguel Tour 2024, kicking off in the Dominican Republic (Jan. 20), then hitting Puerto Rico (Jan. 23), before he makes his way throughout several major cities across South America, and eventually returns back to the United States.
Here are five things to know about his Luis Miguel Tour 2023:
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Tribute to the Late Legends
Michael Jackson, who passed away in 2009, became a heartwarming part of Luismi’s set, as the performer sang “Sonríe” (or “Smile”). It’s worth noting that El Sol had a profound admiration for MJ, and it all made perfect sense as he decided to include this tribute — which fulfilled one of his greatest dreams, to sing alongside the King of Pop. Luis Miguel then transitioned to performing “Come Fly With Me,” his duet alongside Frank Sinatra, creating another memorable moment.
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Romances
The countless romantic hits that Luis Miguel possesses are seemingly endless, and his knee-weakening ballads glowed on Sunday night. There were moments of euphoria among the sold-out crowd, especially when he sang the heart-rending number of “No Sé Tú” or the piano-laced “La Incondicional.” He occasionally changed the melody to some songs, or let the crowd complete some verses when the high notes were at their highest, but his golden pipes always shined, turning the night into an unforgettable one.
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Mariachi Medley
Another peak moment of the show was when a troupe of a dozen mariachi players took the stage to join the man of the hour. Armed with trumpets, a vihuela, a guitar, a guitarrón, and a harp, this moment electrified the crowd, as the Billboard chart-topper delivered “La Bikina,” and other hits for an invigorating medley (later including “Cucurrucucú Paloma.”) Meanwhile, a gigantic visual of the Mexican flag was projected onto the screen.
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The Latin Pop Era
No Luismi show would be complete without him performing some of his early ’80s hits, such as the synth-driven “Ahora Te Puedes Marchar,” “La Chica Del Bikini Azul,” and “Isabel,” energetic songs with a buoyant vintage-pop flair. The singer further enlivened the moment, as he danced along with his band in unison — prancing across the stage, swinging his hips, while also cuing the sonically powerful moments with his movements.
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A Sweeping Orchestra
His full orchestra — consisting of a dozen violinists, a complete brass section, soulful backup singers, and a masterful conductor — not only elevated the performance to another level, but also added an extra sonic dimension that was simply unparalleled. It was a reminder of the awe-inspiring live shows delivered by legends like Juan Gabriel. While the 53-year-old performer is renowned for his symphonic elegance — and he looked dashing, by the way — his orchestra added another crucial element to his 2023 tour that truly set it apart from the rest.
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