REVIEW: Black Eyed Peas delight fans at Musikfest despite soggy weather, heavy rain

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Despite Thursday's soggy weather, fans at the Black Eye Peas show, I Gotta Feeling they had a good, good time.

A sea of people — mostly sporting plastic ponchos — danced and cheered in the rain as Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap and Taboo arrived onto Musikfest's main Steel Stage.

The six-time Grammy winners didn't disappoint (even if they appeared half-past 9 p.m.) during the nearly 90-minute setlist.

The high-energy show featured hits from top-selling albums such as 2003's "Elephunk" and 2020's "Translation."

Hitting the high notes was J.Rey Soul, the group's current lead singer.

The Filipino-American songstress joined the Black Eye Peas in 2018, and after seeing her live, it was if she had been there since the beginning (no offense to Fergie, who stepped away six years ago).

Accompanying them was guitarist George Pajon Jr., who has been touring with the band for 26 years.

Let's Get It Started

The group led with "Let's Get It Started," a fitting tune that got the crowd moving as they wiped droplets off their faces and lit up cell phones.

They continued with 2009's "Boom Boom Pow" and 2020's "RITMO," a Latin Billboard hit with Colombian singer J. Balvin.

Will.i.am delighted fans with a freestyle rap and nod to Musikfest, now in its 41st year.

"Pennsylvania, the home of the 'Steel/This is the steel factory/The steel for real," he said. "In the next days/Incredible rock/And you're going to [rap] with the ZZ Top [that band headlines Sunday]

"But right now it's Black Eye Peas/All up in the place with the energy."

Each member of Black Eyed Peas had solo time onstage, beginning with Taboo.

"Rain can't stop the party," he said, before opening up about the group's cultural influences and diversity.

"It's an honor to be here," he said. "I represent the first nation, Shoshone, and I'm very proud to be representing for all my Latinos."

Taboo then rapped the first lines of off 1998's "Joints and Jams," the first song the played live in Pennsylvania, at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia.

In another display of cultural pride, Apl.de.ap's solo set included "Bebot," a 2005 tune that he raps in Filipino.

"We have beautiful beaches," Apl.de. Ap told fans, urging them to visit his native country.

Will.i.am's solo time included 2012's "This is Love," which ironically included visuals of the performer playing piano as the rain fell on his face.

Britney Spears, 'Dirty Dancing'

Micaela Hood

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LehighValleyNews.com

In some visual fun, Britney Spears appeared onscreen during Will.i.am's performance of "Scream and Shout."

The "Toxic" singer made the crowd erupt as she appeared on the jumbotron to say, "It's Britney, bi—h!"

The last remaining songs of the night included 2010's "The Time (Dirty Bit)," which interpolates 1987's "I've Had The Time of My Life" from the film "Dirty Dancing" and, of course, "I Gotta Feeling."

Cursing the continuing rainfall, Will.i.am jumped up and down, encouraging the crowd to match his unstoppable vibe, fists in the air.

They obliged, heads of plastic ponchos bopped up and down — weather be damned.

J. Rey Soul's rich, sultry vocals capped off the stormy night during the last three songs: 2003's "Where is the Love," 2009's "Meet Me Halfway" and 2016's "Rock That Body."