J. Lo gets 'goosies' opening her U.S. tour

By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

Posted July 21, 2012

"Goosies!" Jennifer Lopez squealed from the stage of the Prudential Center, pointing to a patch of flesh barely concealed by her glittering bodysuit. "Goosies everywhere!"

Kicking off the U.S. portion of her North American co-headlining tour with Enrique Iglesias Friday night (they played again Saturday), Lopez didn't avoid alluding to the high-profile gig that she resigned from a week earlier.

" 'Goosies' is something I used to say on American Idol," she explained. Her two-season stint on the TV talent competition had been "amazing … I'm going to miss it very much. But at the end of the day, this is where I belong — out here with you."

And for roughly 90 minutes, the multitasking machine that is J. Lo sought to remind fans that she was a performer before she became a judge. No matter that her singing (and speaking) could be shrill: The faithful got their fill of hyper-athletic backup dancers, costume changes, firecrackers and smoke.

A segment of Lopez's set that paid homage to old-school Hollywood pizzazz was followed by one that reminded the crowd of the star's humble Bronx origins. There was a romantic interlude, during which Lopez offered a slowed-down version of If You Had My Love, and a party sequence that wrapped with a breathless On the Floor.

Jenny from the block modeled a succession of sparkly, body-hugging outfits, including the blindingly blingy hoodie she wore to salute her old 'hood. Singing Until It Beats No More, she transformed a royal-blue micro-miniskirt into a flowing gown — while video images of her playing adoring mom to her twins with ex Marc Anthony flashed behind her.

"I love you," Lopez kept saying, to everyone and no one in particular.

Iglesias, in contrast, sought to connect individually with audience members, to the point that he wound up doing more schmoozing than singing. Dressed down in jeans and a baseball cap, the amiable second-generation crooner delivered hits such as Hero and Bailamos, as well as shout-outs to his Spanish-speaking fans.

Before the show, friends Daniela Sapkar, 33, of Elmwood Park, N.J. and Nicolina Paskowski, 26, of Lincoln Park, N.J. identified themselves as avid Lopez devotees — "because she's beautiful, and her music is upbeat," Sapkar said.

"We're going to miss her on Idol," Paskowski added. "But I'm sure she has bigger and better things ahead."