The Heartbeat Tour[1] was the debut concert tour by singer-songwriter Jessie J in support of her debut studio album Who You Are (2011). The tour visited Europe, South America, Oceania, North America, and Asia.
Background
The tour was announced on June 1, 2011, on London radio station Capital FM.[2] General sale tickets for the Heartbeat Tour were released on June 3, 2011. She originally announced 11 UK dates, however, due to high demand, Jessie J added an extra London and Birmingham date to the tour. She announced the extra dates on Twitter, saying, "I just added a second London Hammersmith Apollo and Birmingham Academy date due to demand.#boyyyya".
There's definitely ideas floating around my mind and I've already written stuff down,' she revealed. 'But there won't be a trapeze with 80 dancers and me being lowered from the ceiling. I'm looking to push a few boundaries[3]
Jessie J performing during the tour.
The international part of the tour was announced in September 2011 and was due to begin late February in Auckland, New Zealand.[4] However, the show was cancelled a few days prior[5] and therefore began in Brisbane, Australia on Thursday, March 1, 2011.[6] During a TV talk show appearance in support of the Australian dates, she agreed to be sawed in half by local magician Sam Powers in his "Thin Model" sawing illusion. After Australia, the tour visited Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore[7] and returned to the UK for several major UK Festivals including the Isle of Wight Festival and the Wireless Festival.[8][9] She also made an appearance at the 2012 Teenage Cancer Trust concert.[10]
Reception
Neil McCormick from The Telegraph gave the tour a 3/5 star review saying, "The only thing louder than her tonight is her audience, packed with mothers and daughters who seem to find something empowering in Jessie J's aggressively stomping approach to feminism, kicking cymbals with her black bovver boots and grabbing her crotch to deliver Do It Like a Dude, replete with uncensored Oedipal insults and bold declarations of equal-opportunity sexism. Her other principal message to her admirers is that hoariest of pop empowerment clichés 'be yourself', which she expounds upon at some length in formulaic power ballad Who You Are. Her rather pedestrian band crash in behind her as she works herself into a spiritual frenzy ('Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing!')."[11]
Ian Gittens from The Independent also gave the tour 3/5 stars saying, "Jessie J comes into her own live. Strapped into a skimpy purple bondage costume like a PrimarkCleopatra, she turns in an exuberant, personality-plus performance that succeeds in temporarily distracting you from the awfulness of her material."[12] Loretta D'Urso from The Music Network said, "The set's simplicity and Jessie J's upheld vigor were admired features of the show. Not fancy in the slightest, the singer encompasses the knowledge that her powerful and kinky voice is enough to snare an audience and keep them pinned for as long as she wants."[13]
Opening acts
"This tour I wanted to have someone tour with me who I respect, who is super talented, I love listening to and who is an amazing performer.... @DevlinOfficial welcome to the #heartbeattour #essexking :)" — Jessie J via Twitter.[14]
