Here comes her reign again

As it happens, I have seen Annie Lennox sing live a couple of times. Given how long that she's been doing it, I realise that's not a huge statement, but at least it shows a fondness for her work on my part. The first was at the last show of Eurythmics' Peacetour at Docklands Arena in 1999 (Wikipedia says this was December 6th!) and the second was last summer at the Prince's Trust show at the Tower of London. Both were fantastic. And when I saw her for the third time last weekend, my first seeing her do a full solo show, I was not disappointed. In fact, for me, it was the concert of the year.

At times I was rendered speechless. Listening to her sing reminded me that a song of hers (and Dave Stewart) was one of two that really set me on the path of loving pop music in the first place. It was 1985 and I was ten years old. Madonna's Into the groove and the Eurythmics There must be an angel (playing with my heart) were released around that time and, taping them off the radio, I listened to both endlessly. I was too young to consider buy them (all that came later, with Kylie) but both were epochal records for me. Probably still are. As a result, hearing Annie sing the latter of the two songs on Saturday night in New York was not only pretty special but actually very moving.

It did help that the surroundings were extraordinary: the United Palace theater is the most elaborately designed venue, reminding one of an Inca Temple or Indian Taj. We couldn't quite believe that someone had gone to so much trouble at 175th Street. Apparently it's Cambodian Neo-Classical. Whatever the hell that means.

As Annie herself pointed out, she's a woman of strong beliefs and convictions; a passionate person. At that moment, she was referring to Sing, her fund and awareness-raising record about Mother-to-child transmission of AIDS in Africa, but this inner fire is emblematic of the reason everyone was there, some almost thirty years after she began singing: because she puts her all into it. With Annie, there are no half measures. This is an artist at work. One just stands back and watches the fireworks explode from within this skinny Scottish lady.

Of the songs on her set list, she was very generous with the Eurythmics ones, which surprised (and delighted!) me. And I wasn't alone in being thrilled by that. Having put out four solo albums, she's in a position to just perform those songs should she want, but clearly loves the oldies. One of the key moments in the show was when the band quietly disappeared (I think just a synth dude hid behind the sparkly curtain giving a sonic backdrop) and, the cleverly designed lighting twinkling, she performed a series of piano numbers. First was Here comes the rain again. As she finished, she suddenly broke away from the piano playing and, chatting away, recalled how the song had been written in New York at a cockroach-riddled hotel. And these seemingly unrepeated off-the-cuff stories told between each song were the magical centre of the show.

Only a handful of numbers from the new album were performed. Of these, Smithereens and a fantastically rumbunctious Ghosts in my machine had my friend LR (who hasn't heard Songs of Mass Destruction) dying to hurry out and get the new record. I could have stood more of the recent material, in truth, but she seemed to realise that most of the audience were there for the hits. Or at least the songs they knew well. A couple of these were surprises. Pavement cracks and Waiting in vain were thrilling. But, for me the unexpected highlight of the show was her performance of Cold, a song which I had always liked but never been in love with. Until Saturday night. In terms of it being a pinnacle of a superb show, I know I am not alone in this point of view. Bathed in frozen blue light, her crisp voice emoting love and bitterness, Annie held the whole audience in the palm of her hand. And that's the mark of a superstar.

Comments

[xolondon]

Well done! I have been so lazy about reviewing that show - you said it so well here. She just gives it all away live, doesn't she?

[Ben]

Looks like you had a great view as well.

[TRICKY]

xo: ah, whenever you're ready. I just have to write these things down otherwise I forget. She does give it all away - nothing is held back. Her passion was a delight.

Ben: hmm, I think the zoom on my camera slightly belies that the seats we had were only "ok" - rather high up and far away, somewhat different than had been advertised "front row of the balcony!" on eBay. However, we were there, that was the main thing.

[Tony]

Sounds brilliant. Hope she tours here soon!