Track repeat go on and on

Kylie has been on tour now for about three months and last night finished her run of seven London shows at the O2. Over the years, I have been to see the same artist perform many times on different occasions, but never seen the same show twice, until Friday. After organising my original tickets, I was offered a fifth row seat, dead centre, to see the X2008 show - so about as up close and personal as it's possible to be, again something of a new experience. Having been a little set back when I first saw the show, the contrast was vivid - this was rather like viewing an elephant through a magnifying glass. You certainly saw detail, but it reminded me of sitting at the front of a cinema - rather overwhelming. That's not to take away from the experience at all, since seeing a particularly favoured pop star up close is a treat like few others, but my nose was really pressed up against the glass.

Anyone who's interested will have seen the millions of photos of the show online, but here are a brief selection of the best, most in-focus ones I caught (with the old digital rather than my new SLR). For those living in parts where Kylie doesn't reach (poor devils), I am also fairly sure it's possible to create a patchwork quilt showreel of the whole thing beginning to end from different places and performances across Europe. On Friday night cameras were swooping in left and right, from the rear of the stage and on rails at the front, so the inevitable DVD is bound to be a stocking filler come the end of the year.

One of my big things with Kylie the value for money. £49 for every single seat in the venue, two and half hours of live show, some twenty-seven songs. I mean, this is by no means half-assed. And it was a joy to watch: we all agreed how totally relaxed she seemed. Whether that's a result of having performed this show so many times it is practically on oiled wheels, or a regained confidence, it's hard to say, but there was no doubting she had a lot of fun with it. There were plenty of moments for improvisation and 'share with the crowd' sections: "My tickets don't say 'dress to impress' - but you all know it's there, just in very tiny writing," "you sir, in the gold bomber jacket, very nice," "a spotlight please on the gentleman in the singlet, are you enjoying the show?" and so on and so forth.

Musically, it was not quite what I expected. From the advance hype it seemed as if this was going to be some sort of sleek, minimal electronic extravaganza. The old hits clipped clean and new material to the fore with even unreleased songs amid a too-cool-for-school setlist. The latter point certainly happened (a very risky business at a pop concert of this scale) but I considered it rather successful - a particular highlight being the epic ballad 'Flower'. But whether the original intent was lost, or the temptation to create an extravaganza of camp prevailed, she ended up with a real crowd-pleaser. Step back in time, Shocked and the finale of I should be so lucky (untainted, as it appeared in 1987) could never have been a part of some über-cool agenda. And the inclusion of Copacabana, complete with cocktail shakers and dancers acting out Lola, Tony and Rico sealed it - this was a big sing-along-with-your-hands-in-the-air Kylie show.

A number of people who have seen the show all agree - the new songs from X sounded utterly fantastic. I stand by the hyperbole-heavy review of that album I wrote last Autumn. It's a record I listen to again and again and never get sick of. Performed live, the tracks that are perhaps less obvious - Speakerphone and Nu-di-ty particularly - were unexpectedly brilliant. Having the spikier melodies played loud, complete with dancers, flashing lights and a warm, live vocal transformed them. And if live performance made them zing, the arena setting made the best songs - In my arms, Wow, The one and No more rain positively anthemic.

So, yes, another no-questions-just-loved-it thumbs up for Kylie in concert. Quite what she's going to do with her utterly hopeless record company, I don't know, but perhaps that's a question for another day. If the less-than-great sales of X made anyone question her popularity, this triumphant and doubtlessly enjoyable show (having seen two, they are consistently energetic and joyous) offsets that. And Kylie can slip off for a few weeks on a tropical island somewhere to recouperate with a smirk, one raised eyebrow and the sublime knowledge that for a feel-good live pop experience, she sets the gold standard.

In my arms (fan-made live video from Budapest)

Comments

[xolondon]

One hopes that Guy Hands or his emissaries actually show up for one of her shows, but I imagine he's too busy golfing somewhere to bother.

[Phil]

Amazing pics! Who cares about Kylie! Have you got an agent?

Glad she's more relaxed...

[TRICKY]

Guy Hands! What a dolt.

Phil, dearest, you're too kind...