TORONTO - "I'd be divine, show you light," belted out mesmerizing neo-soul singer Erykah Badu as she neared the end of her show before a besotted crowd on Monday night at Massey Hall.

That line about sums up her delightful hour-and-45-minute performance in support of New Amerykah, Pt. One: 4th World War, her first disc in seven years.

Naturally, a lot of material from that new record made up the Dallas-based singer's concert although she also threw in older crowd pleasers like On And On, Other Side Of The Game, Danger, Time's A Wastin', Orange Moon, Green Eyes, and Bag Lady.

Anticipation for her dramatic stage entrance was slowly and expertly built with blue flashing light panels lit up behind her seven piece band, followed by the arrival of four luscious female back-up singers, dressed in revealing grey mini-dresses with orange sashes, and then finally Badu - a vision in head-to-toe-black including a black strapless dress, and a black netted cap underneath a feathered bowl-shaped hat, the latter which gave her a lot of trouble as the concert progressed.

"Next time we leave this damn hat at home, "she sang towards the end of the show with a smile on her face.

Walking carefully, slowly and positively model-like towards the front of the stage, Badu's stage presence was regal and her performing style thoroughly original and charming.

Just think of Badu as a cross between Billie Holiday and Bjork with her own unique twist.

For example, the encore featured Badu dressed down in a black knitted sweater, black tights and barefoot as she playfully danced around the stage with two uncooperative red balls while her backup singers waved green and purple silk cloths behind her.

At one point, she even hit one of her backup singers right in the face with one of the balls causing her targeted victim to burst out laughing.

It was like rhythmic gymnast meets performance artist.

And later as she sang Bag Lady, she sat down at the front of the stage before eventually jumping into the crowd where she sat on a woman's lap, allowing for their picture to be taken, and later climbed up on one of the chairs and wrapped one of her legs around a man's neck from behind while he sang into her microphone.

This is a fearless and risky performer.

"Thank you for allowing me to share my creativity," she said towards the end of her show.

Opening with the new songs Amerykan Promise, The Healer, Me, My People, and Twinkle, Badu moved dramatically but gracefully, often bent over her computer to one side of her, or a mini-synth to the other, where she appeared to make space-age sounds between songs when she wasn't sipping some liquid from a tiny silver cup or making percussive noises with various instruments.

Basically, it was hard to take your eyes off her, particularly when she was letting a really big, high note rip.

Watching Badu, and her tight-sounding band, which included a flute player and turntablist, it was hard to believe that Toronto was only the second date on their six-week North American tour.

Other song highlights was the new anthems Soldier and Master Teacher.