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My Review
29 January 2004, Suntec City Auditorium, Singapore.
I had been preparing myself mentally for this moment for many years now and
finally, my dream of seeing Dionne Warwick perform live here in Singapore became
a reality on 29 January 2004 at 8:15pm at the Suntec City Auditorium.
Dionne had performed here in Singapore way back in 1983 at the Neptune Lounge.
At that time, I was still in secondary school and could only afford to buy a
cassette tape of 'Hot! Live and Otherwise'. The cheapest tickets at $50.00
at the gallery was simply out of my reach financially. The closest I could
get to 'see' her live was to wait for the reviews that appeared in the then
'Radio and TV Times', 'The Singapore Post' and 'The Straits Times'. I
recall her wearing a sequined purple gown, reminiscent of her 'Sold Gold' days
with her trademark short, curled grey hair. I also remember that the
reviews were not too kind as the reviewers felt that she performed note for note
from her 'Hot! Live & Otherwise' album, almost by rote.
When it was announced in the local press last year that Dionne Warwick was to
perform here in Singapore in May 2003, my friend Kelvin immediately called me to
arrange to attend the concert together. I readily agreed as he is as
passionate about Dionne as me, though my collection/memorabilia is slightly more
comprehensive than his.:)
Unfortunately, the concert in May 2003 was postponed due to the SARS epidemic.
Apparently, Dionne was unfazed by the outbreak as she felt that Singapore had
taken all the necessary precautions but the concert promoter in Indonesia
cancelled the gig there was he was worried that it may affect ticket sales.
As it didn't make economic sense to travel to South East Asia with one less
destination, the Singapore gig was postponed indefinitely.
Fast forward to the end of 2003.
As soon as her new date in Singapore was announced, I got another call from
Kelvin who promptly went to down to get tickets on its first day of sale.
He had tried to book them over the internet but the seats given were dismal.
We had long suspect that the best seats in the house were reserved for the
sponsors. We understood that without sponsors, Dionne would probably not
perform here but being ardent fans, we could only feel disappointment.
Kelvin managed to get seats only in the second block. We were both disappointed
but I told Kelvin that it didn't really matter to me as long as I get to sit in
a seat where I could watch her perform and soak in her voice and the music.
Having the 'never-say-die-until-you-try' attitude, Kelvin emailed and made calls
to the organiser nearer to the performance date. Finally, he did manage to
speak to the organiser who told him that she would 'upgrade' our seats. Of
course, he couldn't resist asking if we could meet Dionne in person. She
said she would try.
On the day of the performance, we still hadn't heard about our 'upgraded' seats
so we decided to go to the venue early. At 7.00pm, all we could see were
the local stage crew and a staff manning a counter with some flyers and
envelopes. After checking through the stacks of envelopes, none were for
us. The counter girl was kind enough to call the person in charge to
enquire. By then, I was on my way down to buy a pen in case we were lucky
enough to get Dionne's autograph. At that moment, I did feel rather
schoolboy-ish but what the heck! ;)
On my way back to the venue, Kelvin called my mobile to say that he managed to
get an invite for the
post-show reception organised by the American Embassy from
the organiser. We were in seventh heaven. All I ever wanted was to
just see her perform live and now, we may even have the opportunity to see her
in person. We were keeping our finger crossed as we read that some
celebrities don't even show up for post performance receptions.
Kelvin managed to take a look at our seats with the organiser and it was indeed
better to stay where we were originally located which turned out to be the first
row of the second block. This second block was elevated and about fifteen
rows behind the first block which was on ground level. So instead of
accepting the last row of the first block, we stuck to our original seats.
At 8.15pm sharp, Dionne appeared from the curtains behind the drummer in a beige
blouse, shorts and sneakers! Kelvin was flabbergasted! Is this the
lady-like Dionne that we had known?
I had earlier read that her son, David opened the show for her and told Kelvin
that she was probably only introducing her son. Rightfully so and like a
proud mother, she introduced her dashing and very talented son, David Elliott.
Looking cool in a white long jacket and black pants, he sang five songs from the
jazz era with his combo of four musicians. And what a magnificent voice he
has. That man can sing! Thank goodness he has his mother's singing
genes. Singing and swinging to 'Love Me or Leave Me', 'S'Wonderful', and 'Besame
Mucho', he concluded with a soulful version of Frank Sinatra's 'Fly Me To The
Moon' and an upbeat 'Pick Youself Up' by Nate King Cole. This boy has
certainly whet our appetites for more good music to come.
Just after 8.40pm, a resplendent Dionne Warwick appeared. No longer in her
trademark gowns that I have come to associate her with, she was decked in a
shimmering black top with coloured patterns and black pants with a silver stripe
on each side. Ahh...finally, the moment has arrived.
Our eyes were transfixed on her. Neither talking to the other, both Kelvin
and I just soaked in the atmosphere and that deep husky voice that we had been
listening to for almost twenty years! The only way I could describe it is
to quote a line from Abba's song, 'Thank You For the Music' which goes, 'What a
joy, what a life, what a chance.....aaance...So I say, thank you for the
music..'. An epiphany to say the least.
Sticking to the same repertoire that I had read about in her earlier concerts,
Dionne started out with 'Don't Make Me Over'. I had enjoyed her live
version from the 'Hot! Live and Otherwise' album years ago where she sang it in
its originally key ...'mmm .. mmm'. This time in a much lower key, that
all familiar tune was still exciting to listen to. It was good to listen
to her sing it in its entirety and not as part of a medley.
Next came 'Walk On By' which brought the house down because it is such a
recognisable tune. A lady behind me started to sing along which slightly
annoyed me because all I wanted was to absorbed Dionne's voice and not the voice
of some American Idol that didn't make the Hollywood cut! Thankfully, she
stopped after a couple of lines. Following that, it was the heartfelt
'Anyone Who Had A Heart'. Honestly, I preferred her live version from the
Tribute to Burt Bacharach and Hal David concert DVD. But I'm not
complaining.:)
Next was the safe song, 'You'll Never Get to Heaven'. I say its safe
because she didn't need to stretch her vocals until the next tune, 'A House Is
Not A Home'. On this tune, her voice had already warmed up a little and
she managed to pull a couple of note out from her safe vocal zone. Deftly
altering most of the high notes on 'But a chair....', and 'I'm not meant to live
alone...', she improvised from the original notes but still made it sound warm
and familiar.
'I'll Never Fall In Love Again', which won her a 1970 best vocal performance
Grammy award was the next number and a crowd pleaser. It was an
effortless, swinging number which Dionne handled well. From that, she did
part of 'Message To Michael' which she has performed before beginning with the
bridge.
Apparently, 'This Girl's In Love With You' sounded like she was singing in its
original key. Sadly, her husky voice couldn't climb up on 'don't let me be
the last to know..' even using her falsetto. But a little bending of the
notes here and there, she managed to round off the song nicely.
Dionne then took a breather to talk about her upcoming projects. First,
she spoke about her 'shameless' plug of her 40th Anniversary souvenir program
booklet and talked about never-seen-before photos only to be found here unless
you've been to her home.
Next, it was about her upcoming CD, 'My Friends and Me' which all true-blue fans
have been frustratingly waiting for for the longest time. She mentions Stevie
Wonder, Elton John, Gladys Knight, Pink, Mya as well as the individual members
of Destiny's Child, Kelly, Michelle and Beyonce. That got the audience
ooh-ing and ahh-ing away.:) I will only ooh and ahh when I have the CD in
my hand!:) As each artist got to choose a favourite Dionne Warwick song,
she announced that the next number was in the groove that this artist is know
for. Out came her son, David, now in a red long jacket and they launched
into 'I Say A Little Prayer'.
Both mother and son soared in the jazzed-up version and harmonising on the
words, 'Say a little for you..'. Never since Cissy and Whitney doing 'You
And Me Against The World' have I heard such a beautiful family thing going on.:)
Alas, it was not meant to be when Dionne announced that George Benson would be
doing that duet with her on the CD. Not to put a damper on that fabulous
duet, they proceeded to sing 'Love Song' from Dionne's 1972 self-titled album
from Warner Bros which is the song that David will be singing with her on her
new album.
All fresh from loosening up her vocal chords, it was exam time. The
hardest song to sing, in my opinion, of which I do respect, 'Alfie' was up next.
Comparisons are bound to be made from her previous performances of this song so
I decided to just concentrate on her current capabilities and she did not
disappoint. Wrought with enough emotions and vocal acrobats to make any
reviewer mesmerised, she delivered as only Dionne could.
Earlier in the evening, someone in the audience had shouted 'Heartbreaker' after
her first couple of songs. Obviously this guy knew nothing of her previous
concerts but now here is was, one of the biggest hits of her career,
'Heartbreaker'. I believe she sung it in its original key, straining a
little but still managing to liven up everyone's spirit with the singalong line
... 'Why do you have to be a ........(audience) Heartbreaker!'.
As most fans would know by now, Brazil is also known as home to her and sounding
every inch like a spokesperson for the Brazilian Tourism Board, she cooed and
promoted the beautiful country and encouraged one and all to choose Brazil as
our next holiday destination. Of course, the music of Brazil was
highlighted at this point in time and selections from her 'Aquarela Do Brasil'
CD, though not commercially successful made some members of the audience get up
on their feet. The spirit obviously moved them and made them all hang
loose.:) I loved the way she described Brazilian music as music that would
make something in you move and if it doesn't, then you're dead.:) Her
comic timing and delivery of that line was spot on.
Continuing in the same vein, she performed 'Do
You Know The Way To San Jose' with a Brazilian flavour as what was heard on her
'Dionne Sings Dionne' CD from 1998. It got more members of the audience on
their feet. Belying her 63 years age, Dionne used up the entire stage
during the performance; dancing and showing some fancy latin footwork and
working the stage from one end to the other and clearly enjoying herself.
At the end of the Brazilian segment, she sat on the stool beside the piano.
It was time for her 1979 come-back hit and Grammy award winner number, 'I"ll
Never Love This Way Again'. The first two bars of the piano got the
audience roaring with delight. Most, I suspect, came to hear her sing this
signature song and it was perhaps the only song they associate Dionne with
despite her numerous hits.
Very relaxed and rather reserved, she cooed effortlessly into the song.
The repeat of the chorus, 'I'll Know...." was not as powerful vocally as I hoped
it to be but seeing her perform live for the first time, all was forgiven.
Her trademark ending of the song where she sings 'hold ............... on
............', stretching, controlling and mesmerising the audience for that ten
seconds or so resulted in roaring applause, cheers and whistling from the
audience. They certainly appreciated her artistry.
Personally and from the point of view of an avid follower, I was slightly
disappointed because I missed the chance to see her as a powerhouse during her
hey-days in the eighties and have to be contented to viewing the DVDs and
video-tapes from that era of that solid performance.
Being ever socially conscious of the world's plight, it was only appropriate
that she did 'What The World Needs Now Is Love'. It got me all mushy and
karaoke-y. She made the audience sing along to the title of the song and
they did it obligingly.
Finally, her last hit of the evening, 'That's What Friends Are For'. Out
came David again, doing Elton, Stevie and Gladys' parts. It was obvious
that Dionne was letting her son shine and he certainly showed us his powerhouse
vocals with all it's Stevie-esque runs and high notes. He certainly
inherited his mother's vocal genes. Towards the last line of the song,
there was a pregnant pause after David did his runs and ad-libbing. There
were applause for him and Dionne was supposed to follow-up with the next line
but she mockingly looked at him and said, 'show off!' where upon David came back
with 'I learned from the best'!:) There was much laughter and then they
ended with 'you see, that's was friends are for....orrrr' in sweet harmony.
Everyone was on their feet with thunderous applause. I was mighty pleased
with the audiences' appreciation of the night's performance. The clapping
still continued after everyone left the stage in anticipation of an encore but
sadly there was none but with an hour and 15 minutes worth of performance time,
no one was complaining.
I saw many smiling faces leaving the auditorium.
Kelvin and I were on a high after the performance. We just looked at each
other and knew that our dreams of seeing her finally came true. As we went
out of the auditorium and headed towards the post-performance reception area, we
again anticipated the joy we would feel if we got to meet her in person.
At the ballroom where the post-performance reception was to be held, it was
mainly an expatriate crowd. Drinks and finger food was served but all we
really wanted was a glimpse of Dionne Warwick. After waiting for about
half an hour, there she was, walking towards the ballroom in her beige blouse
and shorts that she wore when she first introduced her son on stage earlier.
Everyone started applauding and some some people went forward to shake her hand
and took pictures. Kelvin and I just stood there reeling in delight.
She's much much smaller in person than I ever would imagine. Kelvin wanted
very badly to talk to her and have his picture taken while I was really
contented to see her mingling with the crowd.
Kelvin finally managed to get close to her and quickly handed me his digital
camera for that once in a life time shot! I was caught rather unaware and
didn't know how to operate his camera. By instinct, I just aimed and
snapped. I don't think I took a good shot and Dionne probably knew it too
and indicate that I should take another shot which came out perfect! Upon
reviewing the pictures, the first shot was out of focus but the second came out
alright with both Kelvin and Dionne
smiling.:)
Kelvin had motioned me to take a shot with her but seeing so many people wanting
the same thing, I let it passed. By then, she was ushered to take a group
shot with some sponsors and the US Ambassador to Singapore.
Another small crowd had formed around her son,
David. We waited for it
die down before approaching him for his picture and autograph. He obliged
with the brightest smile ever! David looks so cool and handsome in person.
He is not very tall too but wearing a tank top and track pants, it was evident
that his muscled bound body had seen many hours in the gym. He's in
excellent shape! With a body, face and a voice to die for, I wonder why
he's not as famous as Will Smith! His time should come soon. We
asked him about his debut album and he told us that it should be released
'around June' this year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Dionne received a souvenir from Singapore Airlines just after we took pictures
with David. She thanked everyone and after giving a hug to the concert
promoted, she left the ballroom, visibly tired but still with a smile on her
face.
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