The Triumphant Return of A Diva
By Curtis
Location: Trump Plaza
Date: 11/15/98
Opening Act: Christopher James, comedian (brother)
Time: 8:00
Length of Van's performance: 1 hour 20 minutes
When I arrived at the concert hall at 5:50, there was not a line; however,
once there I started the line. Due to general admission, I wanted to get the
best possible seat available. Well, at 6:55, the doors opened and my
excitement rose. I was able to get a seat at the first row of tables, my
knees were touching the stage. I did not know heaven was this great.
Christopher was on stage for about 25 minutes. His routine covered such areas
as relationships, kids, and music. I won't dwell too much on Chris, because,
I know you all want to hear about the triple threat diva.
Van came down staging steps in a long black dress with slits singing the
Comfort Zone....... she took us there by taking control and giving our minds a
break from the day we made with the lights down low because she was here for
us...... cause we have just stepped into Van's Comfort Zone.
After our entry into the Comfort Zone, Van sang Dreamin'. After this song,
the audience was charged and ready for a night of great song, dance, and
acting.
As she was about to launch into her third song, Love Is, someone from the
audience shouted "Don't Hurt Me Vanessa." Van gave a slight chuckle. Then she
told us this song is from the Beverly Hills 90210 soundtrack and that Rob
Mathes will perform this song with me.
Van talked about this song, Colors of the Wind, being an Academy Award Winner
for the writers and not the singer, however, she was thankful for performing
the song on record and at the Academy Award Show. Her hand movements were
awesome.
To her three kids, she dedicated the Sweetest Days. As we all know, Van is a
dedicated mother to her beautiful kids.
Van decided to get funky with Work To Do. She was moving her hips and she
was rocking back and forth to the funky grooves. Even the background
vocalists were doing their thing. This was a high energy number.
Van said she is taking us to Brazil with the song Constantly and that she was
going to let the wind flow thru her hair (she tilted her head back to show the
audience how long it was - done her back). Another comment from an audience
member was 'You are Beautiful.' Rob Mathes played the acoustic guitar on this
song.
Are you ready to salsa? was Van's next comment. The song was You Can't Run. As
you may know, Rick, her dance partner in the competition from the movie Dance
With Me performed with her. They left the stage after the dance. The audience
was excited.
Rob Mathes who wrote the Easiest Thing began to perform this song. Rob has a
great voice. Van comes out in an orange gown (the one from the Pavarotti
concert) and finishes the song. They sound great together. I wonder will they
ever do a duet on record.....hmmmm.
Van said this is her jazz set and that she likes a lot of the songs from the
40's and she talked about the play St. Louis Woman. From St. Louis Woman, she
performed Free and Easy and I'm Gonna Love You. Also, in this set she
performed What Will I Tell My Heart and Peel Me A Grape.
Van decided to get funky with us again by performing Who Were You Thinkin
Bout'. She said this is a song for women who were done wrong. This is a lively
entertaining song.
Van took us to her first number one hit, Save the Best For Last. The audience
immediately recognized the song and started clapping. Clearly, a song that
everyone recognizes. After this song, Van left the stage and she received a
standing ovation and shouts of 'More, More, More.'
She came back in a silver dress and performed Betcha Never. Then her dance
partner came back and performed another routine with her. Seeing the dance
routine in the movie is great.................but seeing it in person is
totally awesome, fierce, extraordinary, etc. I could just go on and on.
Van left us excited, exhausted, and exhilarated.
There was a noticeable difference in the concert from 11/97 versus 11/98. The
difference that she was more relaxed and that she talked to the audience more.
Van is now a 'seasoned' triple threat diva.
I stayed in the Comfort Zone for several days.
Peace
Curtis
As a side note: The weekend before the show, I ran a marathon (26.2 miles).
What helped me was the forthcoming Van concert.
END
