When Patti LaBelle took the United Center stage on Friday night, she wasn’t in fighting form.
Wearing glamorous blonde curls and a pink dress with a full skirt, she spoke about her ailments using slang popular with people a quarter of her age.
“I’ve got a broken ankle and a bad knee, but the show must go on,” said the 81-year-old Philly native. “Let her cook!”
The audience obliged and had a fine time honoring LaBelle, who was joined by Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills and Chicago native Chaka Khan at the Windy City stop on The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage Tour.
Though imperfect, the show was a powerful celebration of four icons who have a wealth of hits, multiple Grammys and a couple of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions between them. However, their contributions to American popular music, pop culture and Black culture during the last half-century are immeasurable.
Beyond LaBelle’s injuries, there were sound issues and some uneven performances during the night, but the women’s passion, pipes, stage presence and sisterhood were strong. They’ve more than earned a comfortable retirement, but they continue to serve generations of fans who either saw them live at their prime, or learned their classic songs at cookouts or while they cleaned up the house on weekends. “The Queens” show in Chicago felt like another legendary love letter to their admirers.
LaBelle’s set — a major highlight despite her injuries — came halfway through the concert and featured hits including “New Attitude,” “If Only You Knew” and a jazzy version of “The Right Kinda Lover.” Following “Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is),” LaBelle, ever the comedian, issued a command.
“Hold up, somebody … please get my shoe,” she said, pointing to one of her pumps that slipped off.
LaBelle completed a costume change after she performed a bit of the viral “Boots on the Ground” dance tune by 803Fresh. During “You Are My Friend,” she honored a long list of late entertainers with a moving slideshow. She closed out her set with “Lady Marmalade,” inviting several men onstage for a singing and dancing contest.
If LaBelle brought the humor, one could say Stephanie Mills brought the heart, Chaka Khan brought the fun and Gladys Knight brought the soul.
The latter superstar, who recently turned 80, opened the show following an introduction from comedian, talk show host and Chicagoan Sherri Shepherd. Of the four queens, Knight suffered the most from the sound system issues; the crowd was especially irritated when her mic went in and out during “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye).” Additionally, people were still trickling in during the Atlanta native’s set; she deserved much better.
Still, Knight was the consummate performer, showing off her rich tone during other soulful hits including “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me,” “If I Were Your Woman,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
More banter from Knight would have been welcomed, but seeing her have fun onstage and flash her thousand-watt smile was more than enough.
Stephanie Mills kept the energy going as she danced through her R&B songs including “What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin’” and “(You’re Puttin’) A Rush On Me.”
While much of her set was upbeat, a thread of sentimentality also stood out, including her comments about her tour mates.
“We’re so grateful that you came to see us,” the 68-year-old Brooklyn native told the audience. “We’re so happy. Those are my sisters.”
A highlight was Mills’ performance of the ballad “I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love,” which she used to showcase her background vocalists. In fact, all four queens took time to highlight their talented singers throughout the concert. Some even took on key solos in the ladies’ songs, perhaps providing the icons with a break from vocal acrobatics.
Mills ended her set with “Home,” the show-stopper from her starring role as Dorothy in the Broadway musical “The Wiz,” which debuted exactly 50 years ago. Her theatrical rendering seemed to tell a personal story of friendship, as images of late entertainers like Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston flashed on the screen.
Chaka Khan closed out the concert by essentially throwing a party. The 72-year-old’s set was enhanced by a team of dancers, though they sometimes obscured the view of the singer.
Khan kicked off her performance with energetic versions of “I Feel For You,” “Do You Love What You Feel” and “What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me.”
Later, the crowd provided robust vocal accompaniment to “Sweet Thing,” and Khan’s guitarist shone on “Through the Fire” and “Tell Me Something Good.”
Khan dedicated “I’m Every Woman” to “all women” and “My Funny Valentine” to her friends and family in Chicago.
It was a special reminder that the city played a role in shaping one of the four icons who worked so hard to bring the United Center audience — and the world — so much joy.
“It’s good to be back home,” Khan said.
Set List
Gladys Knight
“Taste of Bitter Love”
“Love Overboard”
“Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”
“I’ve Got to Use My Imagination”
“If I Were Your Woman”
“Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)”
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
“Stand”
“That’s What Friends Are For”
“Midnight Train to Georgia”
Stephanie Mills
“What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin’”
“(You’re Puttin’) A Rush On Me”
“Something in the Way You Make Me Feel”
“I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love”
“Never Knew Love Like This Before”
“Home”
Patti LaBelle
“New Attitude”
“Love, Need and Want You”
“The Right Kinda Lover”
“On My Own”
“I Think About You”
“My Love, Sweet Love”
“Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is)”
“When You Talk About Love”
“Boots on the Ground”
“If Only You Knew”
“You Are My Friend”
“Lady Marmalade”
Chaka Khan
“I Feel For You”
“Do You Love What You Feel”
“What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me”
“Like Sugar”
“Sweet Thing”
“Through the Fire”
“My Funny Valentine”
“Tell Me Something Good”
“I’m Every Woman”
“Ain’t Nobody”