Review: Here Come The Girls, Royal Concert Hall
Three distinctive voices and three very distinctive ladies here.
With a combined age of about 156, it's hard for them to peddle the "girls" myth.
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Here Come The Girls (l-r) Lulu, Anastacia and Chaka Khan
Yet mere girls in the true sense of the world just wouldn't do this show justice. You need three strong women.
Almost every number a team effort, the show also played to their individual strengths.
But I've never really been a fan of that loud, little Lulu lady. Perhaps that's because they always get her to sing that Shout song – and so she did, to one of the biggest cheers of the night. But it didn't work for me.
I'm still not a fan of Lulu Kennedy-Cairns OBE (61). She's been plugging away since the mid-60s and although she earned some respect tonight she was the weak link among some very strong voices.
Of course there was the American, Chaka Khan (56), best known for the late 70s hit I'm Every Woman, the girls' curtain-raiser. She was the graceful elder stateswoman of the trio. Feel For You and Respect were among her big solo numbers and yet while she wowed with her disco and up-tempo catalogue, sadly her wonderful voice became somewhat indistinct for many of the soul classics.
The lovely Anastacia (a mere 41) proved the brightest star.
How she sprinted, jumped and moved around the stage in those heels remains a mystery.
Taking a lead in Dancing in the Street and (rather cheekily) Relight my Fire she was also allowed to perform her own biggest hits solo: Left Outside Alone and I'm Outta Love brought the house down.
Together, the girls sang along and danced to their favourite songs down the decades. An all-too-short disco medley, a meaty Motown set, the dancers and a couple of anthems set off this well thought-out show perfectly.
PATRICK ASTILL
3 Comments
by phil,derby, derby
Thursday, December 10 2009, 12:03PM
“An awful letdown, sound system drowned the voices and the lighting blinded you if you were on level 3. Why a search light had to be behind the artists facing directly into the eyes of the audience is beyond me and ruined the night.
On another point why are you denied the choice to stand at a football match but encouraged to do so at these concerts ?”
by AndiC, Hucknall
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 9:47PM
“Was a fantastic night... Chaka Khan, as brilliant as her voice is, was too powerful for the sound system on many ocassions (or at 36 am I just getting too old ;o). Lulu bought the house down with 'Shout' but for me, the night had to go to the beautiful, talented and truly brilliant Anastasia. What a voice, what a personality - what a night! Thanks ladies”
by Penny, Derby
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 10:00AM
“Went to the concert last night .
It was amazing ! That much talent on stage was mind blowing . Chaka has an insane voice and Lulu was holding her own . As for Anastacia , Well she is hands down one of the Best singers out there . Its
strange that we throw awards at mediocre stars when we a singer like Anastacia in our midsts . And what a lovely personality . Respect to the Girls it was a fantastic night .”