Vanessa at Atlantic City: A Family Affair -November 21, 1997
The line for general admission started at 6:30 to get into the concert hall. You were not allowed into the concert hall until 8 o'clock for the 9 o'clock show. While in line I recognized Van's brother but only after he went thru the concert doors.
The opening act was Christopher James a comedian. He elected not to use his last name of Williams. As we all know this is Van's brother. He does use his last name in tv appearances. He talked about the sextuplets in Iowa, parents 37 year marriage, and relationships. He received a fair amount of applause from the audience. Clearly, the audience was eager to see the older sister, Vanessa Williams. Well at 9:25 the show of all shows began:
Van came down a staircase in a gold dress with side splits singing the Comfort Zone. She looked fantastic and she sounded great. Then, Van began Dreamin. Van then introduced Love Is by saying this is from the Beverly Hills 90210 Soundtrack and that Rob Mathes will sing it with me.
Van said it was pleasure to be in Atlantic City and she really appreciated the support of her friends, fans, and family for support in her endeavors: tv, screen, broadway, and recordings. Then she began singing Surrender.
Van asked the audience Is Everybody Happy? and she said Lets sing the Happy Song.
On the song Work to Do - Van worked the stage by dancing with her background singer, surrounding herself between the bass and the guitar player and saying "Yes I am Trying to Work."
Van had a fantastic poise on the song Colors of the Wind. She mentioned that this song won a little award called the Academy. Her hand movements really helped to illustrate the wording, phrasing, and music of the song.
She then followed by saying she was going to a song that had nothing to do with Brazil and she was going to perform it a Brazilian fashion. The song was Constantly. After the song she introduced the band and the background singers.
Next, came You Can't Run. Then as she sings smoke comes onto the stage and a male dancer comes out and they perform a fantastic dance number and then the dancer escorts Van back up the steps and she has left the stage.
Rob Mathes begins to sing The Easiest Thing. Van then comes back in a red satin dress and she finishes the song and tells the audience Rob is the writer. She proceeded into What Will I Tell My Heart and she said this is her tribute to Dinah Washington from her second album.
Van stated she was going to perform a song that was recorded in 1966 andwritten by Burt Bacharach. I then yelled: "Alfie!!". Then she completed her sentence by saying the song is Alfie and it was recorded in Japan. "Oops, guess i spoiled the surprise for the audience."
Van then followed with Somebody Like You. And after this she said since she was in a jazz mode that she would sing Peel Me a Grape. The audience lovedher poise on the chair and the theatrics she displayed.
Van said the next song is for the ladies, Who Were U Thinkin Bout?. She really acted upset in the staging and singing of this song.
Finally, Save the Best for Last. She received a standing ovation from this song. Clearly this is and will always be her signature song. The audience kept yelling more,more, more.
And.................Van came out and did Betcha Never in a black shiny dress with splits. Then again the male dancer came out and they performed another hot dance number. They worked the audience. The audience was left in amazement. Van Ruled the Night.
All in all, Van was excellent vocally; however, she did not have spontaneous interacitive conversations with the audience. I thought she would have comeback at me when I blurted out Alfie. In time, as Van goes out on the road she will begin to develop spontaneous interactive conversations with the audience.
If you ever get the opportunity to see Van in concert......GO! I was fortunate to have seen her twice in one year, as a support to Luther and in Atlantic City.
Van is Number One!
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