Nelly Furtado made her long-awaited return to the American stage after a five-year hiatus on the opening day of the Portola Music Festival in San Francisco.
The Portuguese Canadian singer, clad in head-to-toe black leather-based, teased followers with a shock early look on the digital dance music-themed occasion on Saturday, Sept. 30, performing her high-energy collaboration, “Eat Your Man,” with Australian home music producer Dom Dolla on the out of doors Crane Stage at Pier 80.
Nevertheless it wasn’t lengthy earlier than Furtado, whose final Bay Space efficiency was in 2007 on the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, made her first full U.S. competition debut on the Pier Stage. Delving into her deep repertoire of 2000s pop hits like “Flip Off The Gentle,” “Maneater,” “Say It Proper” and “All Good Issues (Come to an Finish)” — the latter, she reminded the gang, was co-written with Chris Martin of Coldplay — she provided the ocean of festivalgoers earlier than the stage a candy nostalgia journey.
Furtado requested what number of had seen her play at Bimbo’s 365 nightclub in 2001 when her profession was taking off on the wings of the irresistible pop hit “I’m Like a Bird,” which she delivered with renewed enthusiasm as the gang — most of whom had been most likely not born on the time — sang alongside.
“I really like San Francisco,” the 44-year-old Grammy-winning singer stated as she seamlessly blended her pop tunes right into a lineup dominated by digital acts like Polo & Pan, Main Lazer and Flying Lotus.
Furtado’s music has discovered a brand new viewers lately by way of TikTok, prompting the comeback which is predicted to be adopted by a new studio album — her first since “The Experience” in 2017.
“Thanks a lot,” she informed the viewers, visibly emotional at occasions throughout her set. “I really like you, for actual. Thanks for being right here. It means a lot to me.”
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She additionally paid tribute to her Portuguese roots and confirmed off her multilingual expertise by performing songs from her 2009 Spanish-language album, “Mi Plan,” which earned her a Latin Grammy Award.
Furtado then segued right into a family-friendly cowl of Missy Elliot’s “Get Ur Freak On,” utilizing the phrase “chick” instead of the unique lyric.
“I nonetheless can’t say ‘bitch’ on stage. I’m such an excellent woman,” she stated, with amusing.
Clearly invigorated by her return to the stage, Furtado closed her set along with her first U.S. No. 1 hit, 2006’s “Promiscuous,” earlier than bringing it full circle with an encore of “Say It Proper.”
“Y’all are wonderful,” she proclaimed, at one level taking a selfie video with the competition crowd. “You made me chortle and cry!”
The 2-day competition closed out Sunday, Oct. 1, with a virtually two-hour blaring set by famed dubstep producer — and former San Franciscan — Skrillex, in addition to headlining units by Paris-based digital duo The Blade; veteran home and techno DJ Carl Cox; and Swedish electro pop band Little Dragon.
Portola Music Pageant 2023: 1-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Normal admission begins at $229.95; VIP begins at $324.95. Pier 80, 401 Cesar Chavez St., S.F. https://portolamusicfestival.com
Attain Aidin Vaziri and Mariecar Mendoza: avaziri@sfchronicle.com; mmendoza@sfchronicle.com